Silver Belles and Stetsons

by Caroline Clemmons

  “Yes, he is, but face facts, Jessie. The boy has nothing to call his own but a saddle and the clothes on his back. He doesn’t even own a horse.”

  “True enough, yet I’ve heard of men who started out with nothing and gained wealth through hard work and determination.”

  He sighed. “Darlin’, those men are few and far between and Vittorio has more than lack of money against him.”

  Jessie sat up, clutching the covers to her chest. “David, are ye saying Vito’s not good enough for Nora because he’s Mexican?”

  “No!” He straightened, grasped her shoulders and leaned in close. “You know that’s not true! I wouldn’t have named his pa top hand if I thought like that. But honey, most whites will see Vittorio as beneath them. If he was to marry Nora or any white woman, the bigots would make life miserable for them. Some might get violent.”

  His warning made Jessie shiver. “Oh, David, I don’t want to think of something terrible happening to them.”

  He drew her against him, enclosing her in a comforting embrace. “I don’t either, sweetheart, which makes me glad Vittorio took the job Tye and Del offered him. With time and distance between them, Nora will eventually forget any crazy ideas she has about him.”

  “Aye, maybe so,” she whispered, knowing that was unlikely to happen and wishing she hadn’t told Nora about her vision. She feared she had just steered her down a dangerous path, one her daughter oughtn’t to tread. But if that was so, why had she been given the vision? Was she meant all along to recount what she’d seen to Nora?

  Jessie remembered the water vision that had sent her west in search of love all those years ago. Her journey had certainly been fraught with danger, but if she hadn’t trusted the sight, if she’d remained safely back home in Chicago, where would she be now? Likely wed to that blowhard Da had chosen for her, and miserable. For a certainty she never would have met David, the only man she could ever love.

  Perhaps the same held true for Nora. If she did not heed the vision and wait for it to come to fruition, she might very well end up with the wrong man instead of her one true love. Knowing she would never be happy in such a situation, Jessie believed she had done the right thing, regardless of the possible danger involved.

  ***

  Nora lay awake thinking about the wonderful vision her mother had shared with her. She hated thinking of the long years ahead, before the vision came true, but she would wait for Vittorio no matter how long it took. She just prayed Mama was right and he wouldn’t fall in love with some other girl in the meantime. He’d better not! That would spoil everything. Unless, of course, the girl jilted him. Yeah, that would be all right. Or maybe she would die of some awful disease, leaving Vito sad and lonely.

  Goodness, she mustn’t wish that upon him or on the poor girl. She shouldn’t even think such things. Better to hope he never fell in love with anyone but her.

  Her thoughts wandered to her mother’s warning not to tell anyone about the vision. She wished she could at least tell Vito. After all, the vision concerned him just as much as it did her. But she’d promised not to say a word. She didn’t want to break her promise and betray Mama’s trust.

  As far as telling any outsiders about her family’s strange gifts, she would never be stupid enough to do that. Her mother had told her and her brothers too many frightening stories about how other people treated those who possessed special powers. They used to call such gifted ones witches, she’d said, and had even burned them alive in ages past.

  The thought of dying so horribly made Nora’s insides churn. She didn’t think anybody would do such a terrible thing to a person nowadays, but she’d rather not find out for sure. Besides, she would be embarrassed to tell others about her gift. Ha! They would probably laugh at her if she said she sometimes saw ghosts and even spoke with them. Although, come to think of it, Vito did know and he’d never laughed. He had actually seen her talking to a ghost once, she recalled.

  They’d all ridden up to Auntie Rose and Uncle Jack’s place near the Red River for a house warming. She and Vito and a bunch of other boys and girls were playing in the yard. It was getting dark and they were chasing fireflies when all of a sudden she saw a girl standing under a big oak tree. She said hello and the girl answered back. They talked a little more. Then the girl disappeared. Nora had gone back to playing with Vito and the other children. None of them, including him, had poked fun at her.

  She hadn’t recalled that night in a long time. It had also been quite a while since any spirits visited her. Maybe she’d outgrown her unusual ability to see the dead. Was that possible? She would have to ask her mother, she thought just before falling asleep.

  ***

  Vittorio tossed back and forth on his bunk in the C bar D bunkhouse, unable to clear his head and drift off to sleep. He kept rehashing everything that had happened between Nora and himself during his Christmas visit to the River T. He’d been a fool to let her kiss him and an even bigger fool to kiss her back. The girl was loco to think they could ever be together. Encouraging her would only bring trouble.

  He had to stay away from her, which also meant not seeing his family, a saddening thought, but if it was the only way, then so be it.

  Chapter Ten

  February 1886

  “Señor Tye, may I talk to you?” Vittorio asked, removing his hat as he approached his boss, who stood near the branding fire watching his men burn the C bar D brand onto the rump of another yearling calf. The spring roundup was in full swing.

  Turning to face him, the Irishman mopped his face with his bandanna. “Sure, Vito, what d’ye need?”

  Tired and sweaty after chasing cattle all day, Vittorio cleared his throat. “I have heard you and Señor Del plan to send the herd to Montana this year. This is so?”

  “Aye, ’tis true. We’ve thrown in with the River T and hired a trail contractor to drive the steers north. Why d’ye ask?”

  Vittorio shifted his feet nervously. “I . . . I would like to go on the drive.”

  The boss raised his eyebrows. “Well now, I’m surprised to hear that, Vito. ’Tis a very long way to Montana. The drive could take up to six months, I’m told. Why d’ye want to undertake such a journey? Are ye not happy working for Del and myself?”

  “Oh no, that is not so. I like working for you, but . . . I wish to see more of the country,” he said, studying the ground.

  Señor Tye chuckled. “You’ve the wanderlust, have ye?”

  “I do not know what that means,” Vittorio said, shrugging.

  “It means ye want to go wandering. Traveling, that is.”

  “Ah sí, this is what I wish to do.”

  “What of your folks? How will they feel about ye being away so long?”

  “They will understand. Mi padre knows what it is like to be young and eager for adventure.”

  “Mmm.” The boss crossed his arms and thought for a long moment, keeping Vittorio on edge waiting. Finally he said, “All right, I’ll arrange with the trail contractor to hire ye on. Could be he needs a wrangler, and you’re near as good with horses as your da.”

  “Thank you, Señor Tye! I am most grateful.” He started to turn away but the boss raised his hand to stop him.

  “One thing I want your word on. I expect ye to inform not only your folks, but also my niece Nora that you’re leaving. I happen to know how she feels about ye.” He pinned Vittorio with a sharp blue stare. “Don’t leave it for me to tell her you’re gone.”

  Swallowing hard, Vittorio nodded. “I will tell her, but it must be in a letter. If I go to see her and tell her, she will try to stop me. That cannot happen. I must leave for her sake, you see.”

  “I thought she might have something to do with your request to join the drive.” The señor clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re a good lad, son. I’ll make the arrangements.”

  ***

  Four weeks later, a day after the big drive to Montana got underway, one of the C bar D hands rode over to deliver a letter to Nora. She
accepted the envelope, wondering if it came from Vittorio and why he would be writing her. Did he want to meet her somewhere? Oh, she hoped so. She hadn’t seen him since Christmas.

  Running to her room, she eagerly tore open the envelope. Inside was a thin sheet of paper with a few lines scrawled across it in Vito’s uneven handwriting. She started to read and caught her breath.

  Pequeña, by the time you read this I will be gone. I have signed on as wrangler for the trail drive to Montana. My folks know but I asked them not to tell you. You would have tried to stop me, and I must go. It is the only way to protect you from what might happen if I stayed. You are most precious to me. I could not live with myself if I dishonored you. Think of me as your friend. We can be nothing more.

  Vittorio

  Nora read the last few lines through a blur of tears. Letting the letter fall to the floor, she threw herself face down on her pillow and poured out her grief. He was gone! He hadn’t even been brave enough to tell her in person that he was leaving.

  “I hate you, Vittorio Medina! I hate you!” she cried into the pillow, pounding her fists on the bed. Even as she said that, she knew it wasn’t true. She loved him with all her heart. Why couldn’t he give her time to grow up? All that nonsense about not wanting to dishonor her was just an excuse to get away. Because he didn’t love her, not really.

  Or did he?

  She sat up, sniffling, and retrieved his letter. Re-reading it, her eyes locked onto one sentence. “You are most precious to me.” Did that mean he did love her? Did it matter? He would love her one day. Mama’s vision promised he would.

  Drying her face, she held up the letter and lightly kissed it. “You can run off to Montana or anywhere you want, but someday you will come back to me, and I swear I’ll be here waiting for you. You’re destined for me, Vito. Mama’s perfect gift told me so.”

  ~ The End ~

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you enjoyed this Christmas tale of young love and the surprise gift that paints a happy future for Nora and Vittorio. I certainly enjoyed writing it.

  This novella is a sequel to my Texas Devlins series and a lead-in to a full length romance about the young couple as adults, which I hope to write in the not too distant future. If you would like to catch up on the adventures of Jessie, Tye and Rose Devlin and the ones they love, Amazon links are included below.

  Thank you for taking time out of your busy life to read my book.

  Sincerely,

  Lyn Horner

  ***

  Amazon Author Page

  White Witch (Texas Devlins, Book One)

  Darlin’ Irish (Texas Devlins, Book Two)

  Dashing Irish (Texas Devlins, Book Three)

  Dearest Irish (Texas Devlins, Book Four)

  Best Bargain:

  Texas Devlins Four Book Bundle

  I also invite you to try my new romantic suspense series Romancing the Guardians.

  Rescuing Lara (Romancing the Guardians, Book One)

  Decoding Michaela (Romancing the Guardians, Book Two)

  Capturing Gabrielb (Romancing the Guardians, Book Three) Coming in Fall 2015

  About the Author

  Lyn Horner resides in Fort Worth, Texas – “Where the West Begins” – with her husband and several very spoiled cats. Trained in the visual arts, Lyn worked as a fashion illustrator and art instructor before she took up writing. She loves crafting passionate love stories, both historical and contemporary. Lyn also enjoys reading, gardening, visiting with family and friends, and cuddling her furry, four-legged children.

  The author’s Texas Devlins series blends authentic Old West settings, steamy romance and a glimmer of the mysterious. This series has earned multiple awards and nominations, including Crowned Heart reviews and a Rone Award nomination from InD’Tale Magazine.

  Lyn is now hard at work on her romantic suspense series, Romancing the Gaurdians. These books combine her trademark flashes of psychic phenomena with Irish folklore and a chilling apocalyptic theme. Along the way, readers are treated to thunderous action, terrifying suspense and sizzling romance.

  Marshal Mistletoe

  by Susan Horsnell

  Marshal Mistletoe

  By

  Susan Horsnell

  Copyright © 2015 Susan Horsnell

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental.

  About Marshal Mistletoe

  Penny Turner is the most beautiful girl in Bare, North Wyoming.

  She is deeply in love with Eric Miller, the Marshal of Bare. She is the love of his life.

  So, why does she end up married to Eric’s friend, Walter Adamson?

  What happens to place her daughter, Larissa in danger?

  Can Eric save her?

  Will these two finally find happiness?

  Chapter One

  Bare

  North Wyoming 1870

  Penny sighed as Eric released her from the searing kiss. She loved this man with all her heart and knew he must love her. A man wouldn’t kiss a women like that if he didn’t cherish her.

  “What are you thinking, honey?” Eric asked.

  “I was thinking about how good I feel in your arms. I know what we just did would be considered wrong, but it felt so right.”

  “Regrets?”

  “Not at all.” Penny had never felt so wonderful. She was now a woman and she had given her innocence to the only man she would ever love.

  “I should get you home.” Eric started to rise from where they had made love on the blanket. Penny held him tight. “We have to go, honey. It’s past midnight. April and Mitchell will worry.” Since Penny’s family had returned to their native Ireland, the Kelly’s had been kind enough to give her a home. They treated her like a member of their family.

  “They know I’m safe with you. Can’t we stay here? Please? Make love to me again.” She placed her finger into the cleft in his chin.

  Eric found it difficult to refuse Penny. Hell, she had managed to talk him into making love to her on a blanket by the river. Twice already! He had always promised himself, he would take her innocence in their marriage bed. Slowly, seductively. He knew he was well endowed and hadn’t wanted to hurt her. Making love had been frantic. It had been like trying to tame a wildcat. A wildcat who was possessed. She’d had no trouble taking him. His gal was going to be a handful in bed and he looked forward to it.

  Penny was the most beautiful girl Eric had ever set eyes on. Their attraction to each other had been instantaneous. She was tall, only a few inches shorter than his own six feet one inches, with curves where they should be. Her sparkling blue eyes captivated him and he loved the feel of her silky blonde hair as it slipped through his fingers. Her hair was now tangled with pieces of grass caught within it. Thanks to their frantic lovemaking.

  He leaned forward and captured her lips in another bone melting kiss. “We have to go. I start work in a few hours.”

  Penny grumbled but allowed her lover to stand. Eric was a tall man, handsome and well-muscled. His stormy grey eyes hid nothing as the color changed to reflect his emotions. She watched as he covered his sensuous body with clothes. It was almost sinful to cover such male perfection, but she wouldn’t like any other woman to see him in all his glory. It was hers, and hers alone to worship. She had loved seeing him naked. It seemed like she had waited forever for tonight and she wanted to lie there and bathe in the after-love glow for as long as she could.

  “Penny, please.” Eric held out his hand. />
  She reluctantly stood and allowed him to help her dress.

  ***

  Eric strutted into the jail the following morning. His chest puffed out like a rooster, a triumphant grin on his face.

  “Good night, boss?” Zac, his Deputy asked.

  “Why do you ask?”

  “I can see it all over your face.” Zac smirked when Eric reddened. “John Pringle is in your office.”

  “What’s he doing here?”

  “Don’t know. He didn’t say.”

  Eric frowned. “Make a pot of tea and bring it through, please.”

  Eric strode to his office. John Pringle, a Pinkerton Agent, stood and shook his hand.

  “Eric.”

  “John.”

  Both men sat. Eric in the chair behind his desk.

  “What can I do for you, John?”

  “I have a sensitive case I need investigated and I need you to take care of it for me.”

  “Why? You have plenty of agents who could work for you.”

  “No-one I trust like you.”

  Eric had worked for the Pinkerton Agency before becoming the Marshal in Bare. John had been his partner and a trusted friend. He wasn’t sure he wanted to get tangled up in the intrigue again but he decided he would hear John out. He owed him that much after he had pulled his backside out of trouble on the last case they’d worked on.

  It was after the case that had almost cost Eric his life, he had decided to accept the offer of becoming a lawman in a small town. It had been the best decision of his life. He had met the love of his life – Penny. That had been almost a year ago, and he didn’t want to leave her, especially now.

  John explained he needed a man to go undercover to get information about an illegal liquor enterprise in Chicago. The agency needed someone the Chicago mobsters didn’t know. Someone who could worm his way into their business without being suspected.