My Father The Gamekeeper

I wrote this book in the hope that everybody could share the memories of my father and have a glimpse of the alternative lifestyle to those who lived in the towns and cities at that time. Follow the journey of my father's humble upbringing in the wilds of Norfolk in the thirties and forties amidst nature's playground. I'm sure you will smile and chuckle as you turn the pages and follow the life path of my father, the mischievous boy, turning into the most respected gamekeeper I know. Those of you who grew up in similar backgrounds may recognise the hardships and difficult days, along with the sense of freedom and exploration of that time, which had very few rules and regulations. This book may awaken your own memories of when the countryside was pure, untouched and full of life.

It has been brought to my attention that not everyone knows what a gamekeeper really is, in fact, while going over some thoughts on the subject before I started writing, I now realize how complex and difficult this task is going to be. He is hired by the Laird, the owner of an estate, to protect all the game from predators and poachers (people who take game illegally). An estate may consist of hundreds of square miles and a few dozen farms also owned by the laird and leased to individual farmers. In the case of very large estates such as this, it would be necessary for him to hire as many as six gamekeepers each with his own section, or beat, to look after. In addition to a small wage, he would also have the use of a house owned by the estate with firewood, coal, milk, and oatmeal included, for as long as he remained in the employment of the laird. A gamekeepers day would start at daybreak and end at dusk seven days a week, but he did have some time to himself during the day when all his work was taken care of. When he was not out setting or checking his traps or snares for rabbits, he would be in his workshop repairing them. He had to maintain about forty traps and twice as many snares. He made all the snares from scratch, including the wooden pegs. He made all his bolt nets too. These were about three feet square with a drawstring woven in and out round the perimeter to which was attached a peg. He usually made them in the long winter evenings, sitting by the fire and listening to the radio. He was also required to protect the nests of game birds, such as partridge, pheasant, and grouse from predators, the worst offender being the hooded crow, a very wily bird that would nest in the tall pine trees. The gamekeeper would build a hide close to the nest and sit and wait sometimes for hours until the crow returned and he could shoot it. Weasels and badgers also created havoc on the birds nests and had to be controlled too. Poachers were always a problem. When he would find some strange traps or snares on his rounds, he would leave them intact and find a secluded spot nearby and wait until the poacher returned and apprehend him. His traps would be confiscated and sent on his way with a swift kick on the posterior and the threat of death should he ever be caught there again. The police were seldom involved. The gamekeeper was well respected in the community and was classed with the doctor, minister, schoolteacher, and policeman and was regarded as one of the main sources of information in rural areas since there were no telephones and few folks had radio. We had a radio (a Christmas gift from the laird), so he was much sought after for information regarding the progress of the war with the Germans. Anyone could depend on him for comfort or advice in any situation, and he was always a willing giver.

Queen Victoria's top assassin, Lord Alexander Stokes harbors his fair share of dark secrets. Chief among them his membership in an elite brothel. When a damsel-in-distress appeals for his help, he ponders the consequences, yet her similarity to his first love intrigues him. He offers to help her with a single condition: that the beauty consents to be his chattel for an entire year. Given no choice, Julia agrees to his terms. Anything is better than going to the gallows for a murder she did not commit, especially when the real killer is stalking her. Despite her misgivings about being the masked man’s chattel, his raw masculine power lures her in like a hawk to her falconer. Can they learn to trust one another and live long enough to know true love?

This is a steamy historical romance short story (word count 5,275). Alexander, the Earl of Southwark is besotted as soon as he lays his eyes upon Sian, the gamekeeper’s daughter. He knows he will not be able to rest until he makes her his! A conviction that grows even stronger when the gamekeeper offers Sian to him. But when Sian finds out about the agreement between Alexander and her father, she is left in a turmoil of emotions. She doesn’t want to be owned by anyone, and yet she finds herself powerfully drawn to the Earl!

A gripping tale of love, sacrifice and determination in the aftermath of the First World War. He was broken in the trenches... She was broken by her husband... He is trapped by his inheritance... She is trapped by her past Martha Walters is the impoverished widow of an abusive man. Christopher (Kit) Shipley is the reluctant heir to a substantial family fortune. They never intended to fall in love, but sometimes the wrong person turns out to be the right one – until a terrible secret threatens to tear Martha and Kit apart forever. From an English country house to the jungles of Borneo, The Gamekeeper’s Wife, is sure to keep you up reading all night.