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Melissa's Musings

Protecting His Wolfe: Missing Scene {Contest}

6/9/2012

 
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Welcome to my blog.  Thank you for being a part of the Rebel Ink Blog Hop. Here is a missing scene from Protecting His Wolfe which releases this month from Rebel Ink Press.  One random commentor will win a copy of my book "Second Time's the Charm". 

Picture
Jonah Pigg ran into the house and slammed the door shut.  The window on the front door shook from the force of his anger.  Jonah was determined not to cry.  Squeezing his face tight and his eyes shut, he bounded up the stairs to his room. Whacking the door shut with his foot, Jonah surveyed his sanctuary—his “man-cave”, his “safe-house”.  

“This was the worst day of my life,” he screamed as the tears began to fall.  “I’m not a baby but it hurts so much.”

Throwing himself down on his bed, Jonah let the tears come.  He was tired of being strong.  As the oldest of the three boys, he watched out for his brothers and shouldered his fair share of chores for a twelve-year-old.  It made him feel older and responsible.  But now he felt beaten and abused, whipped by the words of Steve Vincent.  

“What does he know. Steve is such a little prick.” Jonah choaked out among the tears.  Wiping his nose with his arm, he sat up as a knock sounded on the door to his room.  “Yeah?”

Jonah’s dad peeked his head into Jonah’s bedroom.  “Is it safe to come in?” he asked with a smile on his face.

“I guess, but it’s been a bad day.”

“I could tell.  The doors must have done something to upset you. They were sure taking a beating. Do you  want to talk about it?”

“Not really…but Steve is such a jerk.  Do you know what he did today?  At lunch he stood up and recited the story of the Three Little Pigs in the cafeteria and when he got to the part about the pig who made his house out of straw, he said that the pig’s name was Jonah. Everyone was laughing at me.  He even started chanting ‘This little piggy went wee-wee-wee all the way home’.  I was so mad that I wanted to hit, punch or even kick him.  I knew that I shouldn’t use my fists, so I dumped my lasagna on his head.  Of course, I got in trouble with the principal, Mr. Stevens.  You would think that he would have understood.  Steve is such a idiot that he didn’t even get in trouble.” Jonah shared his day with the passion of a prize-fighter after a winning battle.  He never seemed to take a breath.

“I see.  Steve sounds like a real loser.  I’m sorry that you  were
teased. I’ve taught you to let it bounce off your back but this sounds like more than ordinary teasing.  It sounds like Steve has targeted you.  Maybe we can go to the basement later and practice throwing some punches.  It might help you feel better. 
But I want to share a story with you about your Great-Grandpa Pigg.  It will give you a different perspective on things.”

Jonah sat up and listened intently to his dad.  He was interested in hearing more about his family.  His dad didn’t really share much about his great-grandfather except that he had served in Vietnam and was a decorated veteran.

“You knew you were named after your great-grandpa.  His name was Jonah too.  When you were born, we saw something in your face that reminded us of his strength and compassion. 
Great-Grandpa Jonah was serving in Vietnam. This was not a popular war.  Many people didn’t believe that the United States should have gotten involved. But you couldn’t tell Great-Grandpa that.  He wanted to do anything he could to keep the world safe.  

He was overseas and met this Vietnamese family who lived in the jungle near the US base. The family was trying to hide from the enemy and thought that by living nearby the Americans, they would be safer. The father of the family would sometimes
interpret for your great-grandfather’s unit.  In turn he used to sneak them his extra rations or would sometimes give them extra blankets, money, or whatever he could get. Your great-grandpa became one of their family.  One day when he was out on a recon mission, the enemy came in and slaughtered the family, right down to the sixteen-month old baby.  In blood on the people’s hut was the words ‘Evil American Pig’.  When your great-grandfather found out, he set out to track down those
responsible.”

“Did he kill the bad guys who killed the family?”   

“Yes, your great-grandfather did find those responsible.  He refused to speak about what he did when he found them.  But the whole incident changed him.  When the war was over and he came home, he once explained the whole story to me.  He said that seeing the word Pig in a derogatory way, made him ashamed of his name until he settled the score.  When he made those men pay for what they did to that family, he celebrated in his name. He was a Pigg but a proud one.”

“And I was named after him?” Jonah asked with awe in his voice.

“Yes, but while your great-grandpa was recognized for his time in Vietnam and the work he did there. He never forgot the family who paid the ultimate price for being a friend to him.  When people looked down on his name or teased him about it…he’d remember Vietnam. Soon he developed a sarcastic tone that kept other people away from teasing him about his name.  His tongue was as sharp as a tack and no one wanted to feel its sting. Using humor to throw the other person off, was his way of coping with the teasing.  He never felt that his name was a bad
one again.”

“I want to be like him. What can I do to not let the teasing bother
me?”

Wiping his face with his hands, Jonah looked up at his dad with
red and tired eyes.  However, a smile was beginning to show on his lips. That look of determination was there in his gaze as well.  
 
“I will teach you how to use humor and sarcasm to put Steve on the offensive.  And I want you to always remember your great-grandfather.  His name wasn’t derogatory.  It was the name of a hero. Now, come on and let’s get some punches in before mom calls us to dinner.”


Grabbing his son by the shoulders and giving him a hug, Mr. Pigg knew that this was only the beginning of a rough road for Jonah but hopefully he had given him a push in the right direction.  After all, family and honor are always
the most important to the Piggs.

Don't forget to stop by other blogs on the hop for more chances to win fabulous prizes.
JL Oiler          Bethany Cross          DonnaSteele

Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy          Blair McDowell

Sarah Bella       Virginia Nelson       Nora Snowdon

E Jaime            Lila Munro             Nancy LaPonzina

Cassandre Dayne       DH Black             Patricia Logan

Dakotah Black
      Janelle Lee         Kate Roth

KT Bishop    Kharisma Rhayne    Elicia Seawell

Kiki Howell    Ursula Whistler     Eden Glenn 

Siobhan Kinkade      Michel Prince

Sarabeth Gordon     Valerie Muller       Britni Hill

Wendy Smith   Suzzana C Ryan
Jen Dinh link
6/10/2012 04:13:46 am

Thanks for the give away. I have your books in my TBR, promise I'll get to it soo. :)

Melissa link
6/10/2012 04:30:34 am

Thanks Jen! I'd love to hear your thoughts on them. They aren't long books but that way you can read them right before bed and not worry about staying up late!

Angelica Dawson link
6/10/2012 05:12:32 am

Right! The three Piggs. I can't remember which blog I read about your books on, but they intrigued me. Please include me in the giveaway!! authorangelicadawson at gmail

Melissa link
6/10/2012 08:06:47 am

Thanks Angelica! I'm glad that you are interested in the books. :) I will definately add you to the contest!

Julie Newberry
6/10/2012 08:33:28 am

Awww, that was a lovely excerpt, about father & son, I loved it, your books are on my TBR list, nice to meet you, Thankyou for a wonderful giveaway x x
julienewberry(at)btinternet(dot)com

Melissa link
6/10/2012 08:57:33 am

Thank you Julie! It is nice to meet you too! I hoped that this missing scene shows why Jonah is proud of his name, even after a little teasing. In the book, he likes to joke about his name with Betsie. I think that sarcastic tone comes from this one conversation with his dad.

Nancy LaPonzina link
6/10/2012 10:18:37 am

Hi Melissa!
Had to stop by and hop your blog! Great excerpt ... so very right for Father's Day ... or any day!
Have a great Hop!
Nancy LaPonzina

Melissa link
6/10/2012 10:22:31 am

Thanks for stopping Nancy! I'm glad you liked the excerpt but you can't get it in the book. It is a scene I wrote for just this blog hop! I'm hoping that people will see the true character of Jonah!

Krystal Shannan link
6/10/2012 01:43:37 pm

Congrats! Happy blog hop! Looooooooved the excerpt!

Melissa link
6/10/2012 01:49:09 pm

Thanks Krystal! Glad you stopped by! :) I can't wait to see your cover!

Karen Geheb
6/11/2012 03:41:40 am

Enjoyed! Now I need to read one of your books:)

Melissa link
6/11/2012 11:29:41 am

Karen, I appreciate your time reading this and saying what you said. It means a lot to me! :)

Shadow
6/12/2012 01:59:10 pm

Hi! Congrats on your release! Sounds great! Loving the excerpt! Cant wait to read more!! :D Thanks for sharing!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

Melissa link
6/12/2012 02:24:19 pm

Thanks Shadow! I'm glad that you enjoyed the excerpt. It is a piece I wrote just for this hop. It doesn't appear in the book. But it does show you why Jonah has that wicked sense of humor.

Suzanne
12/4/2012 11:58:41 am

I really loved that excerpt. so much- that I am going to buy it. I see it is really about a much older Jonah, but this childhood story made him the man I am sure he is--I want to find out about "him".


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