Captivated By A Gunslinger (Emerald Falls Book 3)

by Ivy McAdams

  “And you’re a free man,” she whispered as she cleaned his wounds. “You brought enough wealth to your family to set them free, just as you said you would. You’re amazing.”

  “I couldn’t have done it without your help.”

  “You’ll never have to.”

  His alluring eyes captivated her, and she leaned closer as he lifted his good arm to caress his fingers over her cheek. “That’s the best news I’ve ever heard.”

  She grinned, feeling like a lovestruck fool, but it was no matter. It was the best feeling she’d ever experienced, and she’d let it go on forever if she could.

  “I want to stay here, Ace,” she whispered. “In Emerald Falls. With my family.”

  He watched her with partially raised eyebrows as if waiting for her to say more.

  Her thumb ran over his cheek as a warm, content smile spread over her face. “I want you to stay with me.”

  The lopsided grin on his face widened and tickled her insides. “I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to watch you flourish. As long as you’re happy and in my bed every night.”

  Her blood ran hot, and she blushed.

  “If I’m there I’m sure I’ll be plenty happy.”

  His chest moved with a breathy laugh. Then he winced. “For the moment though, sugar, a sip on that whiskey to knock out this fire in my shoulder would make me quite happy.”

  “Oh, right.” She dropped her hand to pluck the bottle from the floor and uncorked it.

  She set to work on properly bandaging his shoulder while he took a long swig of liquor and winced against the burn. Then he set the bottle next to him and gazed at her, the edges of his smile a little softer.

  “Thanks.” Then he reached for her, wrapping his fingers around the back of her neck as he pulled her closer.

  She leaned in, careful to rest her hands on the right side of his chest, and he pressed his smile to her lips. She melted against him. She’d spent the last two days anxious that she’d never know his kiss again. To feel his soft, smiling lips on hers was enough to turn her to putty.

  A throat clear behind her brought her back to reality.

  "Sorry to interrupt," the Sheriff said. "But I've got our paperwork ready. A statement of self-defense from you is all I need to drop this case across the county. It's not anything you should worry about anymore."

  She let out a long breath, beaming a smile at her father and Ace in turn.

  She was free.

  Free to come home again. Free to walk the streets of her hometown. To be with her family and the man she loved.

  Her hand dropped down to grip Ace’s as a jitter of excited nerves coursed through her.

  "I also couldn't help but hear," her father muttered, rubbing a hand along his mustache, "that you'll not be alone when you return to town."

  Clara’s cheeks warmed as she stared up at him from her spot on the floor. She felt like a teenager again, under the watchful eye of her parent.

  “Well, Daddy.” She cleared her throat. “Y-you’ve met Ace, and―”

  The Sheriff smiled and held up a hand. “Blossom, I have met Ace, and he’s a good man. He’s bonafide as far as I’m concerned. And you―girl, you’ve been married and grown into a mature woman. You’re as strong a widow as I’ve ever seen, and if you’ve decided this young man has earned your seal of approval...well, I’m just glad to see you home. Both of you.”

  A thrill shot through her bones, and she leapt to her feet, throwing her arms around her father’s neck. He laughed, hugging her close. Then he patted her back with a comforting hand.

  “I also thought you might like to know,” he continued, “that word has been going around over the last month that Mr. Williams is set to retire.”

  Clara gaped at her father with wide eyes.

  “That’s right. And I have heard him mention a time or two how he regretted he didn’t get to finish bringing you up in law. That you would have made a good partner.”

  Her heart thrummed. “Oh, Daddy. Do you mean it?”

  "That's what I heard. I think he plans on finishing out the rest of the year and closing his practice. There’s not any other lawyers around here. The mayor would have to put in a request to one of those firms back east to get our hands on a new one. Unless Mr. Williams would be up for taking you on again. For a refresher, of course."

  Clara leapt against her father with such excitement that he nearly toppled backward into the barred wall behind him. He held her close as he laughed.

  Then a hand was on her back, smoothing up her spine. She turned to find Ace behind her, standing tall over both her and her father, and another wave of excitement hit her as she jumped into his arms. His hand slid up her back and into her hair to hold her close as he lowered his forehead to hers.

  “You did it, Clara,” he breathed. “Though I always knew with a brain like that you’d find a way to conquer your dreams.”

  She grinned, gazing up at him as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I may have reached a few dreams today, but I have more popping up now.”

  “Is that so?”

  The perk of his eyebrow was enticing, and she couldn’t deny the stir of heat it caused in her belly.

  “That’s right. So you best be healing quickly so we can get started on the rest of our lives.”

  He gave her a wicked grin, and his fingers tightened in her hair. “I can’t wait.”

  Epilogue

  Clara cleared what had been a platter of bread and meats from the front desk in the foyer of Mr. Williams’s practice. Or at least what used to be his. After their small celebration that afternoon, the practice was now officially Clara’s.

  She’d mingled with her family, Mr. Williams and his wife, and a few townspeople that had been invited. She’d ridden a wave of excitement and, if she was honest, a tad bit of anxiety over starting the next chapter in her life.

  Once everyone had gone, Clara cleaned things up and prepped the building for her first morning alone on the job with a smile. A small room in the back had counter space and cabinets, and she stacked the leftover food there. A window pointed toward the back alley, and she glanced up at it as she prepared a plate.

  A pair of brown wool pants moved in and out of the windowpane, the same beautiful form that'd been standing on the ladder out there for the better part of the afternoon. Clara smiled as she picked up the plate and hurried to the back door.

  “You ever going to come in out of the cold?” she called, shielding her eyes from the light falling snow.

  The first snow of the season had fallen a few weeks before, while she was busy studying under Mr. Williams and preparing to take over. He’d been impressed by how much she’d retained from her previous studies, but Ace had just laughed. He hadn’t been surprised at all.

  He had helped her pour over statute books and study state law while he’d been recovering from his injuries and out of work. Ace Wilder, as he’d come to call himself, had taken up a job as soon as he could. He’d joined a construction crew and added some carpentry and contracting skills to his ranch maintenance repertoire. It hadn’t taken him long to pick up side jobs and projects, including his current project: adding on to the lawyer’s office in town.

  A dusting of snow coated Ace’s black hat and coat. He looked down at her from the ladder, hammer poised in the air, and smiled.

  “I suppose I can take a break for a while. This part of the wall is nearly complete.”

  He’d built the foundation and basic skeleton of the addition she’d wanted, and the walls were going up quickly. He’d have the room done soon.

  Jeremiah had stopped by to help complete the foundation, mostly because he was in town and they enjoyed catching up with the others.

  After the robbery, things had been so chaotic with two of them being detained and the other deputies focusing on all the mysteriously deceased bodies inside the bank, the Van den Berg men had gotten away free and clear. They hadn't gotten their hands on all of Jed Tanner's money, but they'd brought back
well over half of it. Mason had taken over as leader in Ace's stead and divided the money equally among them, even sneaking out a week later to deliver Ace's and Clara's share. They'd hidden theirs away as a simple nest egg for later, so as not to arouse any suspicion.

  The rest of the gang had split up and gone separate ways, as Ace had always intended. Clay and Sadie had moved further out west and settled in a new town. Much to Clara's delight, Mason and Bridget had bought a vacant house in Emerald Falls, and she'd seen them across town a time or two. Once a safe amount of time had passed, she planned on snatching her friends in close once again.

  Jeremiah had been living in a small campsite around town and lately had expressed interest in moving into Emerald Falls as well. No one was sure where Jack and Otis had run off to, but Clara wished them well all the same.

  The ladder creaked as Ace stepped down.

  “You should have come in to eat,” she said as she stepped forward to offer him the plate of food.

  “I know, but I was on a roll.”

  His grin was infectious, and she found herself smiling back as he pulled her in close.

  “You have gotten a lot done.”

  His hands slid over her waist and locked her in against his body. “I have. Maybe it is break time.”

  She couldn’t hold back the soft giggle as his nose dug into her hair and his fingers pressed her hips into his.

  “Maybe this is a better break time anyway,” she murmured. “Everyone’s gone.”

  He looked down at her with an intrigued perk of his brow. “Maybe so, Boss Lady.”

  She laughed, pulling away and shaking her head. “I am not your boss. You’re just helping add on to the practice. I’m not even paying you.”

  He held onto her hand as she tried to escape and pulled her back in with a wicked grin. “Things happened quite nicely while I was the boss. I’m okay with the role reversal.”

  She pressed into his body, running a hand up his chest and neck. “That’s true. I suppose things did work out nicely. Even if you did become intimate with someone beneath you.”

  The playful snarl on his face ignited her blood.

  “That may have happened, but I don’t regret it for a moment.”

  Her fingers slid along his neck and into the dark hair beneath his hat. She pulled him with her as she backed toward the door.

  “Nor do I. Now come inside so I can show you what a real boss can do.”

  Thanks for reading!

  I was a little intimidated by Clara and Ace’s story, but let’s face it, they’re intimidating people. But I knew they would be lots of fun together!

  They were. :)

  Even though all these books were stand-alones, they had an overarching storyline as well. The outlaws wanted to straighten themselves, for the most part. Bringing that all to a conclusion was difficult but I loved it.

  If you enjoyed Clara and Ace’s story, please consider leaving a review. I love to hear what my readers have to say!

  To stay on top of new releases and exclusive content, sign up for my emails.

  Want to go back and experience Bridget and Mason’s story? A prequel to Emerald Falls is coming! Read ahead for a preview of Rescued by a Desperado!

  We’re hopping back in time to the prequel for Emerald Falls!

  Rescued by a Desperado

  Turn the page to read a sample now!

  Chapter 1

  The stray hoarse call of a blue jay in the hot afternoon sun sounded nearly as lonely and lost as Bridget Steele felt. She trudged through the tall swaying grass to a nearby stream she'd spotted the day before. Even while her group was on the move, she made sure she knew where the closest water supply was.

  A pair of jackrabbits startled as she walked over the small green knoll above the water and shot along the stream's edge, leaving tiny tracks and disappearing into a bush. The further she got away from camp, the better she felt, and she smiled at the paw marks as small as her thumbprint.

  Her eyes rove over the other tracks that marred the soft silty bank. Deer, boar, bear, birds of all types. She enjoyed seeing the array of animals out on the Wyoming frontier. They were a good distraction from her imprisonment, and she'd seen nothing like them growing up in Boston.

  "That looks like a good spot," the woman next to her said.

  Linda barely came up to Bridget's shoulder, but she held herself high and wore a scowl hard enough to scare even the trees away.

  The dark-headed woman had been her constant escort on the group's week-long trip. Linda wore a revolver on her hip to protect them, but Bridget knew it was more to be sure she wasn't trying to make a run for it than to ward off any strangers or stray animals.

  Bridget lowered the wicker basket on her hip to the stream's edge and settled herself on a flat rock on the bank. She slipped off her shoes and rolled the hem of her thin blue dress back to avoid the water. Then she set to work, pulling a dark long-sleeved shirt from her basket. She ignored the blood and grime smeared into the cotton, instead focusing on the twinkling of summer sunlight peeking in through the leaves overhead.

  "The boys got a little extra dirty yesterday, if you know what I mean." Linda cracked a grin and winked.

  Bridget tried to ignore what that implied and continued to scrub without focusing too much on the clothes in her hands.

  "We've hit two of the four camps we've targeted over this way," Linda said, resting her hands on the gunbelt strapped low over her hips. "We'll be back home in a few days. Don't be getting homesick on me now."

  Bridget swallowed the vile taste that rose in her mouth and nodded gingerly. "Looking forward to it."

  Linda's long dress was ragged at the seams and stained along the bottom. It needed to be in the stream as well, but she didn't often remove it.

  Truthfully, all of Linda begged to be dunked in the water. She smelled of sweat and there was an ever-present smear of ash on her face.

  "I've got some things to take care of at camp," Linda said, casting a final look around. "You good out here by yourself?"

  Bridget pushed the soapy shirt into the water and nodded. "I'm fine. I just have these clothes. It shouldn't take too long."

  Linda craned her neck to peer into the basket. "Maybe want to give ‘em twice a wash." She wrinkled her nose and whispered. "Really dirty."

  Bridget grimaced and peered down at the newly rinsed shirt. Dull crimson and brown splatters marred the cotton. She plopped it back down in the water.

  "I'll take care of them," she said, trying to hold back the ill feeling tickling up her throat and into her cheeks.

  Linda marched back over the knoll and disappeared over the ridge.

  Bridget watched her go before slapping the soggy shirt up over a rock and getting to her feet. She stooped over to be sure her tall form wasn't visible beyond the ridge and crept along the water's edge.

  Frogs and newts scurried into the shallow stream. Sunlight glinted off the fish that swam along the bank line. Bridget found solace in them. Creatures free to enjoy the wide-open world around them. She'd gone from feeling trapped in the cold, brick streets where she'd grown up to her new reality: being held prisoner by a dirty outlaw gang on the western frontier.

  What she wouldn't give for the true freedom she'd been searching for when she'd answered that stupid ad.

  She slipped her toes into the water. The stream was cold but refreshing.

  "Nothing like this in Boston," she whispered, dragging her feet through the mud.

  She paced a few steps downstream, sidestepping rocks and an occasional fish. A particularly muddy spot on the bank pushed silt up between her toes, and she giggled.

  Something on the far side of the stream cracked, and she jerked her head up. A moment of panic seized her, and she wished she hadn't dismissed Linda with her gun.

  Then someone called out.

  "Hello?" A man's voice drifted through the trees.

  Bridget's insides clenched. The voice was muffled by the running wat
er, so she couldn't tell if it was Oscar or one of his boys, but she wasn't about to wait around and find out. She scrambled back along the stream to her basket of clothes and planted herself on the rock next to it. Footsteps approached as she snatched the shirt she'd been working on and set to scrubbing it again.

  The last thing she needed was for Oscar to catch her not working.

  She built a heavy lather of soap, keeping her eyes on her task.

  The footsteps drew closer and stopped. She held her breath. When he didn't say anything, she glanced up.

  The first thing she noticed was the smooth white cowboy hat.

  It wasn't Oscar. It wasn't even any of his men.

  It was a stranger.

  The hat popped up when he caught sight of her. He froze on the far side of the stream, boots planted on the rocky bank. He wore a thin flannel shirt tucked in at the waist, open at the neck to expose his sun-kissed chest and the strong chords of his neck. Bridget's breath caught as her gaze rose higher, to his strong, smooth jaw and a face half-hidden beneath the rim of his hat. Bright eyes peered back at her, a curious but stern crease in his brow.

  It'd been at least a month since she'd seen a man so clean and put together. Not to mention handsome.

  She'd just begun to consider that she might have slipped in the mud before and hit her head, throwing out outrageous hallucinations, when he spoke.

  "Oh, hello. I didn't mean to disturb you." His voice was deep and pulled at her soul as if he had it at the end of a rope. "I heard someone laughing."

  Heat rose in her cheeks. She hadn't realized anyone else was around when she went scampering through the water. She'd not only alerted someone to her whereabouts, but she'd been caught acting like a child, playing in the mud. Or at least she had if he'd seen her before she bolted back to her chores.

  She licked her lips, trying her hardest to pull her eyes away and back to the shirt in her hands, but the darn things just wouldn't budge.