Thank goodness for pockets.
That may sound funny, coming from a woman, but over the past two years as Sheriff of Bronwyn County, here in the foothills of Appalachia in Ohio, and as a widowed mother, I’ve really come to appreciate some of the smaller details that make my life easier. Pockets—which I’ve sewn into all my dresses. Tote bag. Holster.
My day starts early, with more morning chores since we’ve moved to a small farm just outside the county seat of Kinship than I had when we lived in town in the sheriff’s house. On the other hand, the county jailhouse is not in my backyard. I pushed for a new jail addition when the courthouse was renovated last year—better conditions for prisoners, and a proper sheriff’s office in the courthouse. The county commissioners took over the sheriff’s house to use for county records storage. With my income, and what Daniel—my husband and the sheriff before me—left me, I was able to purchase the farm. Even with the help of hired farm hands, I get a tidy sum from corn and buckwheat crops. We keep chickens, a few milk cows, and a large garden. Better yet, my land includes my beloved Kinship Tree—a fusing long ago of saplings of sycamore, maple, beech, and since grown into a grand, unique tree—which shades a still spot along Coal Creek.
And after morning ablutions and chores, I take a few moments by myself down at the Kinship Tree, breathing in and savoring nature before heading off to work.
Of course, I don’t do all the chores myself. Mama and my little brother Caleb Jr. have moved in with me and my children, Jolene and Micah. The boys are the same age, six, and Jolene is eight, but they take care of feeding animals and helping in the garden and with household chores, which seem never-ending.
Mama is such a blessing, but I know she worries about my job, and doesn’t understand why it matters to me to serve as sheriff. Part of that, is that even with all the progress women have made in 1927, Mama clings to old-fashioned ideas about women—even widowed women—belonging solely in the home. I admit, at first I filled my husband’s term after he was murdered in the line of duty so that I could investigate who killed him and why. But then, I realized how much it fulfilled me to serve my community. Often that means simply checking on people, especially in the far reaches of remote hills and hollers of the county. Every now and then, it means investigating serious crimes, even murder. Thank goodness for help from the community, especially Marvena Whitcomb Sacovech who now serves as my deputy in the eastern portion of the county—coal mining territory.
At the end of a long day, I drive my Model T—which is showing signs of wear and tear and may need to be replaced, although I keep our mule and cart as back up—down Kinship Road and my heart lifts as I come around the curve to see my farmhouse nested at the foot of a grassy stretch. The front porch beckons like arms outreached for an embrace, and inside awaits my beloved family, hearts of my heart.
The Stills, A Kinship Mystery #3
Genre: Historical
Release: March 2021
Purchase Link
With compassion and insight, Jess Montgomery weaves a gripping mystery and portrait of community in The Stills, the powerful third novel in the Kinship series.
Ohio, 1927: Moonshining is a way of life in rural Bronwyn County, and even the otherwise upstanding Sheriff Lily Ross has been known to turn a blind eye when it comes to stills in the area. But when thirteen-year-old Jebediah Ranklin almost dies after drinking tainted moonshine, Lily knows that someone has gone too far, and—with the help of organizer and moonshiner Marvena Whitcomb—is determined to find out who.
But then, Lily’s nemesis, the businessman George Vogel, reappears in town with his new wife, Fiona. Along with them is also her former brother-in-law Luther Ross, now an agent for the newly formed Bureau of Prohibition. To Lily, it seems too much of a coincidence that they should arrive now.
As fall turns to winter, a blizzard closes in. Lily starts to peel back the layers of deception shrouding the town of Kinship, but soon she discovers that many around her seem to be betraying those they hold dear—and that Fiona too may have an agenda of her own.
About the Author
Jess Montgomery is the “Literary Life” columnist for the Dayton Daily News and writes a new Writer’s Digest magazine column, “Level Up Your Writing (Life).” Based on early chapters of the first in the Kinship Series, The Widows, Jess was awarded an Ohio Arts Council individual artist’s grant for literary arts and named the John E. Nance Writer-in-Residence at Thurber House in Columbus. She lives in her native state of Ohio. Reach Jess via her website, jessmontgomeryauthor.com or her Facebook Author Page at @JessMontgomeryAuthor.
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Giveaway: Comment below about your favorite part of morning for a chance to receive a signed hard copy of The Stills or an e-book copy—your choice. U.S. entries only, please. Giveaway ends March 18, 2021. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
I am not a morning person, But I love a good warm shower to start the day!
Ah… long, warm showers! I always think I’ll take a quick shower, but then I linger!
I always think I’ll take a quick shower, but there’s something so soothing about a warm shower that I end up taking long ones!
The perfect way to start the day!
Thanks Lily and Jess for stopping by the blog today.
Drinking coffee is my favorite part of the morning.
My book club read The Widows and I really enjoyed it. Would love to catch up with Lily and Marvena.
Thank you, Sharon! I appreciate that your club read The Widows, and that you enjoyed it!
My pleasure! Thank you for having me!
I leave early and I love when I am still on the road to see that first peek of sun on the horizon. Thanks!!
Sounds lovely!
I love this series. And I love being up early to start my writing day!
Thank you, Edith!
My favorite part of the morning is when I get up before anyone else. It’s so peaceful and quiet. The sun is just coming up on the horizon. I put my coffee on and after it is done I get my book I am reading at the time and read for awhile. Enjoy the silence and my escape into an adventure in my book. A great way to start the day. Maybe if I won a copy of your book, I can start my day reading a copy of it. Thanks for a chance to win.
I like that it’s quiet. I can be more productive & get less interruptions in the morning.
I love the quiet of the morning, too!
My favorite part of the morning is right after I get up, when I feed the deer out back and then settle in with a hot chai tea latte to read my email. I enjoy this quiet time because it gives me time to really wake up and become more sociable ~
Thanks for sharing a day in Lily Ross’ life with us.
How lovely to feed the deer, and then have tea!
Morning is my best time of the day. I love watching the sun rise while I drink my hot lemon tea. The beauty of the morning never ceases to inspire me. Being an early riser gives me great pleasure.
It is a soft, promising part of the day.
I enjoy drinking my coffee while I check email at my desk in the kitchen and read the newspapers in the living room.
That sounds like a lovely, relaxing start to the day!
I always get more accomplished in the morning!
I admit I am most energetic in mid afternoon, but I love the quiet of morning.
I wake up early every single morning and I am grateful for the sun that shines which gives me hope and strength. After a hot drink and the easy chores are done I go for a walk and enjoy my surroundings.
How lovely that you arise with gratitude! And so smart to take a morning walk–I need to get into that habit!
My mornings usually begin with a paw or tongue to the face, depending upon if it is feline or canine.
Some mornings I enjoy it more than others but it doesn’t take long before i am enjoying being greeted and together we greet each new day.
Aren’t our furry friends the best? One of our cats loves to come sit on our feet!
I don’t know how long my favorite part of morning will continue. That is not meant to sound dire. Some years ago, we moved in to help my mother-in-law when she was diagnosed with dementia and it had progressed. Our children had just left for college and there wasn’t other family in the US. She passed while napping a few months ago. I have taken to sleeping in and receiving coffee in bed, my husband rises before I do. It is very indulgent to so slowly awaken and to snuggle back into the covers to read for a half hour. So my favorite part is from that first whiff of the not-so-bitter-brew that I have not had to rise to make, all the way through to reading in bed for a bit as a start to my day.
I’m sorry for the loss of your mother-in-law. Your husband bringing you coffee in bed, so you can sip it and read a bit before fully rising, sounds wonderful!
I have learned to be an early morning person with my fly fisherman husband getting up early to coax fish onto his line. Now I love early mornings, especially sunrises on mornings when the sky flames up pink, golden and deep red. This morning on an early walk an owl swooped down in front of us and landed on an overhanging branch. As we approached the owl fluttered away straight down the road to another branch. When we disturbed him again, he decided to veer off into the side trees and we lost sight of him. What a way to start the day!
What a joy to see that owl! (And I love the description of the sunrise.) Do you cook the fish, or toss them back? I’m slowly learning to fish. Very, very, very slowly, in a fishing pond near where I live. (My plan is to throw ’em back, for now.)
My husband is a catch and release fisherman!
My favorite part of the morning is my first cup of coffee, would love to get a hard cover copy!
That first hot beverage (I’ve recently switched, at least temporarily, to tea) each morning is a delight!
My early morning starts with letting out my two German Shepherds to “take care of business”. Then I bribe them with Milkbones and go back to bed for an hour or so. It seems so indulgent to go back to bed after having to get up very early for 30 years to teach school.
Thank you for teaching for 30 years. THE STILLS is dedicated to teachers! And yayyy for going back to bed for an hour or so–you’ve earned it!
I work third shift. So I miss just being awake in the mornings. JL_Minter@hotmail.com
Ah–that makes sense. I hope your wake up routine is still soothing!
My favorite part of morning is a hot cup of coffee and checking in with my Sister by phone to see how things are going iwith her.
How lovely to have a cup of coffee and a check in! That sounds like a good routine.
Hi Lily, I love that you have a Kinship Tree. I, too, have a tree special to me and my kin. And my name is also Lily. My tree is an oak on Gallows Hill in Salem. Thanks for introducing yourself! Best, Lily Scott