Dulcina

by Linda Carroll-Bradd

  At the sharp reports of gunfire, she froze, not wanting to think about the consequence of those shots, then again crept forward. Please don’t be shot. Her legs shook, but she kept moving, glancing down at the multiple hoofprints in the dirt. When the wide line converged into a wide circle of prints, she glanced around for Gabriel. This was where she’d left him. What if the gunshots meant he’d been captured and dragged away?

  Speaking wasn’t smart, but she had to know. She’d just opened her mouth when a small rock landed near her boot. She squinted. Not a rock…a reddish-purple berry. What? After scanning the area, she saw him wave from behind a hawthorn bush ten feet away. Walking as fast as she could without stepping on twigs, she reached his hiding spot and crouched behind him, grabbing hold of his waist with her left hand. Leaning forward, she rested her cheek against his back, needing the connection with his solid body. She didn’t move until her breathing normalized.

  “Listen, the horses are moving away.” Gabriel squeezed her hand then stood, shaking out each leg in turn.

  “Don’t do that ever again.” She threw herself against his chest, breathing in his woodsy scent, and wrapped her hands around his neck. Tugging, she lowered his head to mash her lips against his. When she pulled away for a breath, she cupped his cheeks and stared. “I am your wife, Gabriel. I should be with you, facing trouble at your side. I love you and can’t lose you.”

  “Those words touch my ears like the voices of angels. Do you know how long I have waited to hear them? How long I have held my love and devotion for you, and only you, in my heart?” Grinning, he rained kisses on her forehead, cheeks, noses, ears, and finally settled on her lips. When he eased away, he rested his forehead against hers. “You are so right, Dulcina. We are stronger together.”

  Hours later—after herding the horses safely to the Curdy’s Crossing livery, making a report to the sheriff, and booking the most expensive room in the Palace Hotel—Dulcina walked through their suite consisting of a sitting room, a bedroom, and an attached bathroom. From her carpetbag, she pulled her silky dressing gown with the trim of ostrich feathers.

  Cocking an eyebrow, Gabriel eyed the garment and grinned. “Thought we were going to dinner?”

  “Not before I soak my tired muscles. You promised.”

  “I suppose I can wait a little longer to eat.” He sat and pulled off his boots. “Might as well be comfortable.”

  Two maids carrying four empty buckets each exited the bathing room and curtsied. “If you need more water, ma’am, just pull the bell cord for the front desk.”

  Gabriel stepped forward and extended a dollar toward them. “Thank you, ladies.”

  Tossing the dressing gown over her shoulder, Dulcina sauntered into the bathing room then turned and smiled at Gabriel before closing the door behind her. Heart racing in anticipation of what she planned, she inhaled the steamy water scented with lavender and smiled. Then she shoved down her new split riding skirt and went to work on undoing the shirtwaist buttons. When she wore only her chemise and drawers, she turned toward the door and cupped both hands around her mouth. “Oh my, this tub is big enough for two people.” Fighting back a smile, she added, “And, Gabriel, mí novio, I didn’t lock the door.”

  Thank you for reading

  Dulcina

  From the series

  The Widows of Wildcat Ridge

  Each of my books is a sweet Western Historical

  Romance. You may find all my books on my Amazon author page.

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  Both of my books in

  The Widows of Wildcat Ridge series

  are written to be a stand-alone novel.

  However, I hope you will look for my second book

  Hazelanne

  Scheduled to be published April 15, 2019.

  OTHER BOOKS BY LINDA CARROLL-BRADD

  Laced By Love

  Book 1, Entertainers of the West

  A vaudeville troupe arrives in Morgan’s Crossing late in the traveling season. When an event occurs that shakes up the troupe, seamstress Cinnia decides to say no to older sister Nola who has made the sisters’ decisions since being orphaned a decade earlier. Leather worker Nicolai Andrusha is lying low and using an alias until the patent is approved on his family’s leather tanning formula. But he finds the auburn-haired poetess irresistible. Will Nicolai oppose his family obligation to help the stranded beauty who has caught his eye?

  ~o0o~

  An Unlikely Marriage

  Book 2, Entertainers of the West

  Helping injured cowboy Torin Quaid drive mustangs north seems like a good way for vaudevillian Nola York to earn a train ticket east—and get one step closer to her goal of auditioning for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West stage production. Easy-going Torin liked the pretty brunette the first night he saw her performing on stage, and he admires her determination to complete the drive.

  The temporary marriage is solely for propriety’s sake to avoid scandal on the week-long overland ride to Meadowlark. Until disaster strikes, and the two must rely on each other—emotionally and physically—to safely reach Torin’s ranch. Will a marriage of convenience turn into more on a trail drive through Montana Territory?

  ~o0o~

  Dance Toward The Light

  Book 3, Entertainers of the West

  Ex-vaudevillian Dorrie Sullivan decides Morgan’s Crossing, Montana Territory needs a community dance. From the first night, things have a way of not going as planned, but Dorrie vows to persevere. Even when a mysterious stranger in town drives her to distraction.

  Haunted by the past winter, trapper Valerik Andrusha is seeking refuge with his brother. Instead, Valerik meets vivacious Dorrie who has a knack for drawing him from his depression. Living in adjoining shops, the pair draws close over the summer but do their futures lay on the same path?

  ~o0o~

  Baling Wire Promises

  Book 4, Entertainers of the West

  Healer Fantine Pomeroy and five children, aged five to eleven years, are the only survivors of an orphanage fire. She vows to transport them safely to another orphanage, and then she can return to her music studies. But she soon discovers the task may be more than she can handle.

  Bounty hunter Pete Andrews is beaten after delivering his last bounty. Unsure if robbery or retaliation is the motive, he sets out to lay low and make a visit to his brother in Morgan’s Crossing. Unable to leave them on their own, he promises to get the woman and children safely to the next town. When he suspects his old life has followed him and threatens the group who has become dear, he vows to protect them. But will that be enough?

  ~o0o~

  Hearts in Rhythm

  Book 5, Entertainers of the West

  Ballerina Savina Lombard’s recuperates on her cousin’s Montana Territory ranch from an injury preventing her from returning to the stage. Now her eye is set on Buffalo Bill’s Wild West exhibition. Estefan del Vado arrives at the ranch for his annual visit for breeding and training Appaloosas. Collaborating on an act involving her dance skills and his horses draws them together. Ultimately, they’re faced with chasing their separate goals or finding a path they both can walk.

  ~o0o~

  In His Corner

  Book 6, Entertainers of the West

  Viktor Andrusha spent the past decade muscling his way from bare-knuckle street brawler to heavyweight boxing champion. A brutal battle two years earlier left him with impaired vision and his opponent dead. At the urging of his manager, Viktor settles for bouts in smaller venues farther west until he can land the opportunity for one last big match to restore honor to the family name.

  Thwarted from attending medical college, nurse Odette Hildebrand leaves
her father’s clinic to help her relatives relocate to Montana Territory. In the woods near Sweetwater Springs, she is drawn by the sound of sweet music and meets a shy man, Viktor Andrusha, with a battered face. They make a pact: he’ll agree to receive her treatments while she studies the effects of different herbs, hoping to create a marketable remedy. Her skill heals his wounded exterior, but can she live with the fact he’ll receive more, or worse, injuries in the upcoming exhibition fight?

  ~o0o~

  Love’s Target

  Book 7, Entertainers of the West

  When a casino owner demands her hand in marriage to cancel her father’s outstanding debt, Vanora Deverell and her father go on the run. No matter what Vanora does, she’ll never do it as well as her late brother, even though she’s stepped in as her father’s apprentice. Having to dress as a boy to enter shooting contest grates on her nerves, but her shooting skill is their best chance to get out of debt.

  Rancher Trent Melbyrne wants to be recognized as a horse breeder in his own right. In a Bozeman shooting contest, he’s chagrined when his accomplishments are bested by a boy…until he learns a secret about his opponent. By revealing the shooter’s secret, he sets off a string of events that lead to a showdown on his ranch in Morgan’s Crossing, Montana Territory. Can he atone for the danger he’s caused?

  ~o0o~

  Chasing Adventure

  Book 8, Entertainers of the West

  Dime novelist, Thora Alviss, travels west to locate ex-US marshal, Harte Renwyck, for an interview, but he wants no more publicity about his past life. Determined to make her stories better, city-bred Thora rushes into exploring the frontier life. Thora’s thirst for a good story is stronger than her ability to get herself out of danger, and Harte comes to the rescue time and again. Will she give up and return east, or will she learn the survival skills she’s been writing about?

  Ex-US marshal, Harte Renwyck, left his past behind and looks for no more acclaim, but a pesky author wants to interview him about his former profession. While Harte can’t deny a growing respect for her efforts to make her stories stronger, he’s been wronged by the press in the past and fights to keep his distance. Can he look past his prior grudge and see the adventurous woman close at hand?

  ~o0o~

  Wandering Home, Book 1 of Dorado, Texas series

  Widow Vevina Bernhard sees mysterious lights at night and believes her Texas ranch Shady Oaks is haunted. She needs protection for herself and her 4-year old son but the town’s sheriff offers no help. On hiatus from his Texas Ranger duties, Kell Hawksen hires on as a farrier at the ranch while keeping an eye out for clues to a stagecoach robber in hopes of collecting the bounty. On Samhain, fire erupts and Vevina and Kell battle both the danger and the depth of their feelings.

  ~o0o~

  Storybook Hero, Book 2 of Dorado, Texas series

  Relocating to Texas has lessened Clari Rochester’s health problems, and she yearns for adventure. And she spots it outside her family’s mercantile when a quiet, but compelling, cowboy rescues a small child. Trevor Driscoll is the type of hero she’s come to admire through her love of books, and the type of man she secretly pens in her dime novels. But they’ve never had a real conversation. Trevor knows the logging accident that left him with only eight fingers limits his options, but he’s learned to manage. Until he rescues a fine lady from a runaway horse, spends the afternoon transporting her to safety, and gets a glimpse of what he’s always wanted. How will he respond to the unique present this special woman bestows?

  ~o0o~

  My Heart Knew, Book 3 of Dorado, Texas series

  From the moment tomboy Maisie Treadwell meets cowboy Dylan MacInnes, the sparks and words fly. To rectify causing his ankle sprain, Maisie is at the mercy of meeting Dylan’s demands. A shared interest in adventure stories draws them closer. Soon, Maisie can’t wait to spend time reading aloud to the recuperating virile man. Until the afternoon she overhears him explaining that his demands were meant to teach her a lesson. Can Dylan find a way to again win her trust?

  ~o0o~

  Sparked by Fire, Book 4 of Dorado, Texas series

  Ivey Treadwell, cook at her family’s boarding house, wants to accomplish something big. For now, she satisfies herself with improving on the traditional recipes for the boarders by adding gathered herbs and spices. An incident with a broken pot causes her to see Berg Spengler, the town’s blacksmith, in a new light.

  Stigmatized for his huge size and blamed for his brother’s injury, Berg has discovered being alone is safer for his heart. But when he sees interest spark in Ivey’s eyes, he decides to take a chance and approach her. The pair discovers an attraction that heats up each time they are alone together. Will Ivey convince Berg his wandering days are over and his home is here with her in Dorado?

  ~o0o~

  A Year of Romance, Books 1-4 of Dorado, Texas series

  Wandering Home: Will a justice-seeking wanderer find solace on a ranch with a stubborn widow determined to protect what is hers?

  Storybook Hero: Can a starry-eyed dreamer’s search for adventure overcome a taciturn man’s belief he has nothing to offer?

  My Heart Knew: Will falling in love with a strong-willed cowboy be the adventure a tomboy maid has been seeking?

  Sparked By Fire: Can a wounded soul find solace in the attentions from a cook who nurtures through her culinary creations?

  (in print)

  ~o0o~

  Mail-Order Haven, book 5 in Dorado, Texas series

  Rancher Fitz Saunders is reminded that to receive his inheritance, he must be married by his thirtieth birthday. Less than a month away. A mail-order bride seems like the most practical solution.

  Tavia Naughton seeks a haven from a childhood raised in Army forts and plunges into a mail-order marriage. Traveling to her new home involves a disaster, and she arrives with an orphaned baby in tow. Nothing is how Fitz envisioned, and Tavia is surprised at Fitz’s resistance to change. Both wonder if they’ve made the right decision.

  (also in print)

  ~o0o~

  Ione’s Dilemma, book 6 in Dorado, Texas series (and book 8 in Grandma’s Wedding Quilt series)

  When Ione Forrester calls off her wedding, she becomes the social pariah of Des Moines. Much to her society parents’ chagrin. To escape the gossip, Ione accepts a teaching job in Dorado, Texas, vowing to avoid scandal at all costs. Relocating from a doctor’s household with cook and maids to a room in a boarding house is quite an adjustment. Then she has to face her biggest challenge—a schoolhouse full of students.

  Carpenter Morgan Shipley’s business is doing well and now he’s looking for companionship. An ad for a mail-order bride brings a deluge of letters, which prove more than he can handle. To his surprise, an intriguing woman from a big city arrives in his small Texas town. Correspondence is nothing like interacting with a flesh-and-blood woman every day. But gossip-leery Ione wants nothing to do with Morgan’s attempts at courting, which makes him try even harder.

  ~o0o~

  Tending Troubles, book 7 in Dorado, Texas series (also book 6 in Lockets & Lace series)

  Traveling west to become a mail-order bride is the most adventurous act Bostonian Imogene Franklin ever did. Unfortunately, the groom chose another so she must tables in the Dorado café.

  Guilt hangs heavy over Reggie Othmann, who thinks his childhood illness caused both his parents’ lives. His goal of becoming a doctor is met, but he’s unsure of his abilities with patients. When illness descends on the town, Reggie and Imogene tend the townspeople, but is their emotional tie born of the closeness of the ordeal or perhaps something more?

  (also in print)

  ~o0o~

  Perfectly Mismatched

  Book 1 of Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs series

  Shame over her father’s arrest sends socialite Aurelia Northcliffe running for a new home and a new name. After she makes sure her younger sister is secure, she travels west to become a mail-order bride in Jubilee Springs, CO. No
t only is she shocked at the size of the tiny mining town, the men she’s matched with make her second guess her decision. One potential groom is much too unsophisticated and the other much too discerning--even if he’s the one who makes her feel safe.

  Mine Manager Declan MacNeill prides himself on following rules to the letter. Initially resistant to the upcoming bride event, he remembers his short marriage in Ireland and realizes what he’s been missing. His first sight of his potential bride sets his protective instincts on high alert. Everything about her behavior indicates she’s keeping secrets. And Declan is determined on finding out why.

  ~o0o~

  Perfectly Unscripted

  Book 9 of Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs

  Rilleta Northcliffe’s world has already been turned upside-down with her father’s arrest. While traveling to Colorado as a mail-order bride, she is traumatized by a gang of thieves. Only the steady green gaze of a stranger keeps her sane. Dairy farmer Wit Vanderveer wished he could have done more to prevent the blonde’s involvement with the gang. Safely in Jubilee Springs, neither can stop thinking of the other. Is the shared danger the lure between these individuals, or did Rilleta and Wit discover they have much more to offer one another?

  ~o0o~