Gunpowder Tea (The Brides Of Last Chance Ranch Series) (39 page)

It wasn’t until he uncovered an assassination plot on President Lincoln that the Pinkerton name became a household word. Lincoln
then hired Allan to organize the Secret Service in an effort to stop rampant counterfeiting.

Allan was many things to many people. He was accused of being a traitor, a tyrant, and a patriot, but the one thing that can’t be argued is that he and his sons changed the law-enforcement business forever. By 1870, the agency had the world’s largest collection of mug shots in its criminal database and more agents than the standing army of the United States.

Pinkerton operatives tracked outlaws throughout the Wild West, but their heavy-handed and sometimes ruthless pursuit of outlaws like Jesse James (which resulted in the death of a child) soon earned the agency a bad reputation and tarnished the agency’s name.

Following Allan’s death in 1884, his two sons took over, but the Pinkerton National Detective Agency never recovered its former glory. The agency still exists today as a security consulting firm.

I hope you enjoyed Annie’s and Taggert’s story and wish them well as they start their own detective agency. This book wraps up the Brides of Last Chance Ranch series, but you can track my future projects on my website:
MargaretBrownley.com.

“Excellent,” says he.

“Elementary,” says she.

Until next time,

Margaret

Gunpowder Tea

G
unpowder tea is from the Zhejiang province of China. Originally the leaves were hand-rolled and looked like little gunpowder pellets. Today the rolling is mostly done by machines. It’s fun to listen to the little popping sounds as the leaves unfurl during brewing.

Brought to this country during the California gold rush, the tea was especially popular during the Civil War, and any soldier fortunate enough to secure some for his knapsack considered himself lucky indeed.

Gunpowder tea is good for what ails you and its health benefits range from preventing tooth decay to lowering blood pressure. It can even slow aging.

You won’t find this in health books, but as Annie so aptly demonstrated, gunpowder tea can also issue a strong warning to an annoying (though nonetheless handsome) hero.

Gunpowder Tea Bread

by Chef Daniel

This is a recipe my son-in-law cooked up special for this book.

I
NGREDIENTS

1 pound mixed dried fruit

12 tablespoons well-steeped gunpowder tea

6 ounces soft brown sugar

1 egg

1 ounce melted butter

9 ounces white flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ cup sugar in the raw

D
IRECTIONS

Cut up fruit to raisin size. Mix tea, fruit, and brown sugar in bowl. Cover and leave overnight. In the morning, preheat oven to 360 degrees. Coat loaf pan with butter and flour. Stir in egg and melted butter. Sift flour and soda and blend into wet mixture. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 1½ hours. When partially cool, top with sugar in the raw.

Discussion Questions

1. Annie included John 9:25 in her “God the Father” file: “I was blind, now I see.” In what ways does this verse describe your spiritual journey?

2. Annie’s job as a Pinkerton detective made her see things through worldly eyes instead of God’s eyes, which meant she was more likely to see bad than good. In what ways did living at the ranch change her vision?

3. It’s been said that we see in others what we need or expect to see. Is this a hindrance, a blessing, or both?

4. Annie first met Taggert during a train robbery and this colored her judgment. Have you ever had a first impression turn out to be false?

5. Annie felt she had to work harder to prove herself because she was a woman. Do you think the same is true for women today?

6. Annie’s relationship with Miss Walker got off to a rocky start, but they ultimately grew close. Can you think of a similar relationship in your own life?

7. How did Annie’s faith mature during the course of the story?

8. Annie’s father said that a person had only one important decision to make in life and that was whether or not to follow the Lord; everything else was secondary. Do you agree or disagree?

9. As a Pinkerton detective, Annie/Miranda played so many roles through the years that she lost track of who she was. We all play many roles in life. In what ways can we fulfill these roles and still stay true to self?

10. Name a favorite scene in the book. Why did this particular scene stand out?

11. The telephone connects people verbally while at the same time disconnecting them physically. How do you think the telephone strengthens or weakens relationships?

12. What character did you most identify with? Why?

13. Annie strived to earn her father’s approval but felt she never got it. How did this affect her? Have you ever done anything for the sole purpose of gaining approval?

14. The 1890s were a time of great change and upheaval. Banks failed, unemployment was high, and technology (telegram, electricity, telephone, and horseless carriages) changed the way people traveled, communicated, and lived. Miss Walker wanted to hold on to the old way of doing things. What changes have you resisted in recent years? Were they changes for the better or worse?

Acknowledgments

S
ome of my most pleasant memories involve tea parties. As a child I spent hours wobbling around in high heels and pouring tea down my doll’s throat. Those days are long gone, of course, but I still love a good tea party with friends—without the high heels. I also enjoy tea for two. This is what I call spending time with the Lord. He isn’t much for tea, but He sure is good company.

Speaking of company, a tip of the teakettle goes to the many people who helped make
Gunpowder
Tea
possible. First and foremost is my dear friend, champion, and agent, Natasha Kern, whose wisdom, knowledge, and encouragement deserve the highest praise.

I can’t say enough good things about the talented Thomas Nelson team that turns each book into a labor of love. Special thanks to Natalie Hanemann, whose input helped strengthen my story and who has, through the years, made me a better writer. A big thank-you also goes to Amanda Bostic, Rachelle Gardner, Katie Bond, Ruthie Dean, Ami McConnell, Daisy Hutton, and the terrific art department and sales team.

I don’t know what I’d do without my dear friend, mentor,
adopted sister, and first reader, Lee Duran. I’m also grateful for Diantha Ain’s friendship and the many laughs we’ve shared over a cuppa.

Heartfelt gratitude goes to my family, who so graciously and lovingly put up with this writer’s idiosyncrasies. Finally, I raise my cup in an Irish toast of appreciation to all my readers. Thank you for your continued support. May all your wishes come true but one, so that you always have something to strive for. Cheers!

About the Author

N
ew
York
Times
best-selling author Margaret Brownley has penned more than twenty-five historical and contemporary novels. Her books have won numerous awards,
including Reader’s Choice.
A
Lady
Like
Sarah
was a Romance Writers of America RITA finalist. Happily married to her real-life hero, Margaret and her husband have three grown children and live in Southern California.

Visit
MargaretBrownley.com
for more information.