Freebie Week

Return to Texas is Free today and tomorrow, April 22 & 23, on Amazon!














That's Just the Way It Is is Free Thursday and Friday, April 24 & 25, on Amazon.

Excerpt from "That's Just the Way It Is"

This is an excerpt from That's Just the Way It Is -  a real turning point for Becky in her relationship with John...

“What the devil’s wrong with you? Carryin’ on with a scalawag like that? Good thing I came in when I did. In a couple more minutes he’d of had you bare-assed on the table.”

“For heaven’s sake, John. What’s the matter? Calm down. The children will hear you, and I’m sure Jake already did.”

“I’m not the problem. And don’t you ever go against what I say in front of the cowboys, or anybody for that matter.” John was getting red in the face and his lips were starting to protrude. I thought for a moment he was going to spit on me. I stood up, and he suddenly raised his arm and slapped my face with the back of his hand, followed by a harder slap on my other cheek with the front of his hand.

“I won’t have you carryin’ on with him. I’m firin’ him tomorrow,” he shouted.

“John,” I cried. ”Please come to your senses. There’s absolutely nothing going on between me and Mr. Johnson. Stop being so unreasonable. Don’t you dare fire him. That man has children depending on him.”

Emily and the boys had run into the kitchen by now. They stared in silence, four pairs of eyes wide open with fear. Emily hurried over and put her arms around my waist.

“Get away from her, Em. I’m not through yet,” he said angrily while he took off his belt.

I nodded to Emily and she stepped back. “Take your brothers into the parlor,” I told her.

John grabbed me by the arm. I struggled when he began hitting me with the buckle end, leaving deep gashes in the skin on my neck and arms. I tried to cover my face, and my hands became streaked with blood. After I started screaming, Emily came running and tried to pull his arm back. John accidently knocked her down.

“Stop it! Let me go! I’m pregnant,” I shouted angrily.

Ask Becky a Question

I love how characters come alive when I'm writing a story. Rebecca Coulter became very real to me, and I hope she will be for you also. If you would like to ask her a question, leave it in the comment section. Let's find out if she will respond!

Return to Texas

Return to Texas was released in March, 2014. This stand-alone sequel is the second in the Western Short Story Series.

In this captivating short story, Becky Coulter leaves Philadelphia with her youngest child, Matty, and returns to Fort Worth where she left an abusive husband and three children a year before. She moves in with her married daughter, Emily, who invited her back for the birth of the first grandchild. Becky struggles with the guilt of having left her family while husband John tries to win back her love. Has John changed his violent ways? Will she go back home with him and her two sons? Discover how this strong, determined woman makes a new life for herself on the Texas prairie in the 1880’s.

Fans of “That’s Just the Way It Is” will delight in Becky’s new adventures in this stand-alone sequel.

Rebecca Coulter from "That's Just the Way It Is" Speaks Out

It’s me, Becky Coulter. Thanks for stopping by today. I invite you to read That's Just the Way It Is if you haven’t done so and to say thanks if you have.

It was difficult to find the love I had dreamed of in my Texas cowboy, John, but I did discover incredible love with my children, and well, as you’ll see in the sequel there were a few bright spots in my later life. My children were the most important thing to me; I sure hope I did right by them.

It’s a terrible thing for a mother to bury a child and even harder when the father had a part in the deed. Johnny was the love of my life and my biggest disappointment. I always told the young'uns, “don’t expect too much of anyone else, just yourself. That way you won’t feel let down, but you can always be proud of the person you are.”

I hope you like my pictures. My parents took them before they left Texas with one of those new fancy cameras from Philadelphia so they’d have something to remember me by. Pa had to close his store when the war got underway ‘cause Mama wanted to go back East. In 1862 I was only twenty-three and so full of hopes and dreams. I was happy then, and it was good to feel that way.

John never wanted his picture taken so you can only see a glimpse of him. Thinking back, that’s just the way John was. He never let anyone, even me, completely know him. It was like he held on to a part of himself too fragile to share with the world. I don’t think he was a bad man, just carried too many wounds from childhood that scarred his soul a bit. It gave him a dark side and placed a shadow over the way he looked at life. He and I never did see the world in quite the same way; it’s really sad when you think about it.

I believe life is what you make it, but the Lord had a spoon in the batter so when it was all over it was the right life for me, just not what I expected. A year after I left John, my youngest, Matty, and I took that long dusty ride back to Texas into the second half of my life. My saddest moments came along then, but also many of the best. I look forward to sharing more of them with you soon in Return to Texas.

That's Just the Way It Is

That's Just the Way It Is was released in September 2013. This unique short story is the first in the Western Short Story Series written by Shirley Sorbello and is available on Amazon.com.

Becky’s hopes and dreams are on the line when she marries John Coulter six months after meeting him. Finding true love on the Texas prairie in the 1860’s may not be as easy as she thinks with a man who has a dark past. Marriage between an educated young woman from Philadelphia and a Texas cowboy with shaky values are bound to create some sparks. 

Does John allow his jealousy and controlling ways destroy their relationship and their children’s lives, or can the strength of their love keep them together? Find out if true love conquers all while Becky shares with you many poignant memories from this lifetime. A rather unconventional short story of love, violence and clash of values with a spiritual twist.