A Bargain Struck (Choc Lit)

by Liz Harris

  ‘Do you think they’ll catch him?’

  He gave her a wry smile. ‘I’m guessing they won’t. I reckon he’ll hole up somewhere till he’s fairly sure that they’ll have given up, and then he’ll move. But he’ll still be watchful. He’s been hunting since he was a lad. He’ll know the way that hunters think, and he’ll be able to work out what to do for as long as there’s the slightest risk of someone out there looking for him.’

  ‘Being with Oonagh will slow him down.’

  ‘That’s true, but he’ll plan for that. I reckon he’ll get out of Wyoming Territory as fast as he can and go somewhere where it’ll be hard for them to follow him. With the cold spell coming, and few warm clothes and provisions, they’ll probably head for the south west, putting mountains and bad weather between us and them.’

  They heard the kitchen door close, and Bridget came into the room.

  Ellen smiled at her. ‘I’m getting lunch, Bridget, but it’s not quite ready. Would you like a glass of milk?’

  ‘No, thanks. I sure am glad we came back when we did. I’m tired.’

  ‘That’s not to be wondered at,’ Ellen said. She stood up and helped Bridget with her coat. ‘This was your first day back at school after being ill. If you want, you can go to bed now. Take your Mother Goose book with you. If you’d like, I’ll bring your lunch into your bedroom.’ She smiled at her. ‘Would that be a good idea?’

  Bridget nodded, her eyes on Ellen’s face.

  ‘Can I get you anything first?’ Ellen asked, taking the coat, hanging it on the hook and coming back to Bridget.

  Bridget shook her head.

  ‘Off you go to bed, then,’ she said. ‘I’ll bring you in a biscuit to keep you going until lunch is ready.’

  Still Bridget didn’t move.

  ‘What is it, Bridget?’ she asked quietly, bending down towards her.

  Bridget lifted up a hand, put it on Ellen’s shoulder and pulled her nearer to her. Half-smiling into her face, Ellen looked at her curiously.

  Raising herself on to her toes, Bridget angled her head to look closely at Ellen’s left cheek. Then she gently touched the scarred skin. Her breath warm against Ellen’s face, she ran her fingertips along the ridges and lightly pressed the livid skin, moving her fingers backwards and forwards across its roughness.

  Then she sank back down to her heels, wrapped her arms around Ellen’s waist and hugged her hard. Her arms fell to her sides and she stepped back, her face serious.

  ‘I’m real glad Pa wed you, Ellen,’ she said, and she ran off to her room. She reached the door and turned back. ‘Real glad,’ she repeated. Her face broke into a wide smile, and she flung the door open and ran into her room. ‘You can read to me if you like,’ she called.

  Connor stared after Bridget, and then he looked up at Ellen’s face.

  He got up, went over to her, picked up the corner of her apron and wiped first one eye with it and then the other.

  ‘Bridget’s come to love you, Ellen,’ he said quietly. ‘And so have I. I’m glad you didn’t tell me about your scar in your letter. You were right. It would have stopped me from choosing you, and I would’ve lost the chance of having you as my wife. I couldn’t have found myself a better wife, nor one I’m happier to look at.’

  ‘Oh, Conn,’ she whispered.

  He smiled down at her. ‘I reckon Bridget had the right idea. She wanted to do something, and she did it. There’s something I’ve been wanting to do for quite some time now, but I listened to you and I held off.’ He took her face between his hands. ‘But I’m not gonna hold off any longer. What I want to do is kiss my wife, the woman I love.’

  Her eyes opened wide as he lowered his lips to her left cheek, and kissed the mottled centre of the damaged skin.

  She drew in a long, deep breath.

  ‘And now the other side,’ he said, ‘or it’ll feel left out.’ He leaned down and kissed her on the right cheek.

  Raising his hands to the sides of her face, he ran his fingers down each of her cheeks, his eyes burning into her with deep blue intensity.

  ‘I love you, Conn,’ she said, gazing up at him, her voice shaking.

  His face broke into a slow smile. ‘Then I insist on you joining in with this, wife,’ he said, and he lowered his lips to her mouth.

  She started to reach out to him, hesitated a moment, then she slid her arms around his back, sank against his chest and met his lips with the same passion as his met hers.

  Epilogue

  Laramie Sentinel

  Saturday, June 30, 1888

  MAGUIRE – In the town of Liberty on the 4th instant, to the wife of C.D. Maguire, a son.

  Crowning almost a year of marital felicity, the arrival of Daniel Connor Maguire, named after his paternal grandfather and his father, brought great happiness to Connor, his wife and his daughter, securing as it did for posterity their homestead, name and lineage.

  About the Author

  Liz was born in London and now lives in South Oxfordshire with her husband. After graduating from university with a Law degree, she moved to California where she led a varied life, trying her hand at everything from cocktail waitressing on Sunset Strip to working as a secretary to the CEO of a large Japanese trading company, not to mention a stint as ‘resident starlet’ at MGM. On returning to England, Liz completed a degree in English and taught for a number of years before developing her writing career.

  Liz has written several short stories, articles for local newspapers and a novella. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. The Road Back, her debut novel, won a 2012 Book of the Year Award from Coffee Time Romance & More.

  For more information visit www.lizharrisauthor.com

  and you can follow Liz on twitter @lizharrisauthor

  More Choc Lit

  From Liz Harris

  The Road Back

  Liz Harris

  Winner of the 2012 Book of the Year Award from Coffee Time Romance & More

  When Patricia accompanies her father, Major George Carstairs, on a trip to Ladakh, north of the Himalayas, in the early 1960s, she sees it as a chance to finally win his love. What she could never have foreseen is meeting Kalden – a local man destined by circumstances beyond his control to be a monk, but fated to be the love of her life.

  Despite her father’s fury, the lovers are determined to be together, but can their forbidden love survive?

  ‘A splendid love story so beautifully told.’

  Colin Dexter, O.B.E. Bestselling author of the Inspector Morse series.

  Visit www.choc-lit.com for more details including the first two chapters and reviews.

  Find out more and purchase in the kindle store (http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Road-Back-ebook/dp/B008RMKX0U)

  Introducing Choc Lit

  We’re an independent publisher creating

  a delicious selection of fiction.

  Where heroes are like chocolate – irresistible!

  Quality stories with a romance at the heart.

  Choc Lit novels are selected by genuine readers like yourself. We only publish stories our Choc Lit Tasting Panel want to see in print. Our reviews and awards speak for themselves.

  Come and support our authors and join them in our Author’s Corner, read their interviews and see their latest events, reviews and gossip.

  Visit: www.choc-lit.com for more details.

  Available in paperback and as ebooks from most stores.

  We’d also love to hear how you enjoyed A Bargain Struck. Just visit www.choc-lit.com and give your feedback. Describe Connor in terms of chocolate and you could win a Choc Lit novel in our Flavour of the Month competition.

  Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/ChocLituk

  and facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Choc-Lit/30680012481.

  More from Choc Lit

  If you enjoyed Liz’s story, you’ll enjoy the rest of our selection. Here’s a sample:

  A Stitch in Time

  Amanda James

  A
stitch in time saves nine …or does it?

  Sarah Yates is a thirty-something history teacher, divorced, disillusioned and desperate to have more excitement in her life. Making all her dreams come true seems about as likely as climbing Everest in stilettos.

  Then one evening the doorbell rings and the handsome and mysterious John Needler brings more excitement than Sarah could ever have imagined. John wants Sarah to go back in time …

  Sarah is whisked from the Sheffield Blitz to the suffragette movement in London to the Old American West, trying to make sure people find their happy endings. The only question is, will she ever be able to find hers?

  Visit www.choc-lit.com for more details including the first two chapters and reviews.

  Find out more and purchase in the kindle store (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stitch-Time-Choc-Lit-ebook/dp/B00BNGXVTC)

  Highland Storms

  Christina Courtenay

  Winner of the 2012 Best Historical Romantic Novel of the year

  Who can you trust?

  Betrayed by his brother and his childhood love, Brice Kinross needs a fresh start. So he welcomes the opportunity to leave Sweden for the Scottish Highlands to take over the family estate.

  But there’s trouble afoot at Rosyth in 1754 and Brice finds himself unwelcome. The estate’s in ruin and money is disappearing. He discovers an ally in Marsaili Buchanan, the beautiful redheaded housekeeper, but can he trust her?

  Marsaili is determined to build a good life. She works hard at being a housekeeper and harder still at avoiding men who want to take advantage of her. But she’s irresistibly drawn to the new clan chief, even though he’s made it plain he doesn’t want to be shackled to anyone.

  And the young laird has more than romance on his mind. His investigations are stirring up an enemy. Someone who will stop at nothing to get what he wants – including Marsaili – even if that means destroying Brice’s life forever …

  Sequel to Trade Winds.

  Visit www.choc-lit.com for more details including the first two chapters and reviews.

  Find out more and purchase in the kindle store (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Highland-Storms-ebook/dp/B00629ZK0I)

  To Turn Full Circle

  Linda Mitchelmore

  Life in Devon in 1909 is hard and unforgiving, especially for young Emma Le Goff, whose mother and brother die in curious circumstances, leaving her totally alone in the world. While she grieves, her callous landlord Reuben Jago claims her home and belongings.

  His son Seth is deeply attracted to Emma and sympathises with her desperate need to find out what really happened, but all his attempts to help only incur his father’s wrath.

  When mysterious fisherman Matthew Caunter comes to Emma’s rescue, Seth is jealous at what he sees and seeks solace in another woman. However, he finds that forgetting Emma is not as easy as he hoped.

  Matthew is kind and charismatic, but handsome Seth is never far from Emma’s mind. Whatever twists and turns her life takes, it seems there is always something – or someone – missing.

  Set in Devon, the first novel in a trilogy.

  Visit www.choc-lit.com for more details including the first two chapters and reviews.

  Find out more and purchase in the kindle store (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Turn-Full-Circle-Choc-ebook/dp/B0080HDVO2)

  The Silver Locket

  Margaret James

  Winner of 2010 Reviewers’ Choice Award for Single Titles

  If life is cheap, how much is love worth?

  It’s 1914 and young Rose Courtenay has a decision to make. Please her wealthy parents by marrying the man of their choice – or play her part in the war effort?

  The chance to escape proves irresistible and Rose becomes a nurse. Working in France, she meets Lieutenant Alex Denham, a dark figure from her past. He’s the last man in the world she’d get involved with – especially now he’s married.

  But in wartime nothing is as it seems. Alex’s marriage is a sham and Rose is the only woman he’s ever wanted. As he recovers from his wounds, he sets out to win her trust. His gift of a silver locket is a far cry from the luxuries she’s left behind.

  What value will she put on his love?

  First novel in the trilogy.

  Visit www.choc-lit.com for more details including the first two chapters and reviews.

  Find out more and purchase in the kindle store (http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Silver-Locket-ebook/dp/B004D4ZYTQ)

  The Importance of Being Emma

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  Winner of The Big Red Read’s Fiction Award 2011

  A modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma.

  Mark Knightley – handsome, clever, rich – is used to women falling at his feet. Except Emma Woodhouse, who’s like part of the family – and the furniture. When their relationship changes dramatically, is it an ending or a new beginning?

  Emma’s grown into a stunningly attractive young woman, full of ideas for modernising her family business. Then Mark gets involved and the sparks begin to fly. It’s just like the old days, except that now he’s seeing her through totally new eyes.

  While Mark struggles to keep his feelings in check, Emma remains immune to the Knightley charm. She’s never forgotten that embarrassing moment when he discovered her teenage crush on him. He’s still pouring scorn on all her projects, especially her beautifully orchestrated campaign to find Mr Right for her ditzy PA. And finally, when the mysterious Flynn Churchill – the man of her dreams – turns up, how could she have eyes for anyone else …?

  Visit www.choc-lit.com for more details including the first two chapters and reviews.

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  Dream a Little Dream

  Sue Moorcroft

  What would you give to make your dreams come true?

  Liza Reece has a dream. Working as a reflexologist for a troubled holistic centre isn’t enough. When the opportunity arises to take over the Centre she jumps at it. Problem is, she needs funds, and fast, as she’s not the only one interested.

  Dominic Christy has dreams of his own. Diagnosed as suffering from a rare sleep disorder, dumped by his live-in girlfriend and discharged from the job he adored as an Air Traffic Controller, he’s single-minded in his aims. He has money, and plans for the Centre that don’t include Liza and her team.

  But dreams have a way of shifting and changing and Dominic’s growing fascination with Liza threatens to reshape his. And then it’s time to wake up to the truth ...

  Visit www.choc-lit.com for more details including the first two chapters and reviews.

  Find out more and purchase in the kindle store (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dream-Little-Choc-Lit-ebook/dp/B009K6KB2W)

  The Elephant Girl

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  Peek-a-boo I see you …

  When five-year-old Helen Stephens witnesses her mother’s murder, her whole world comes crumbling down. Rejected by her extended family, Helen is handed over to child services and learns to trust no-one but herself. Twenty years later, her mother’s killer is let out of jail, and Helen swears vengeance.

  Jason Moody runs a halfway house, desperate to distance himself from his father’s gangster dealings. But when Helen shows up on his doorstep, he decides to dig into her past, and risks upsetting some very dangerous people.

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  Visit www.choc-lit.com for more details including the first two chapters and reviews.

  Find out more and purchase in the kindle store (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elephant-Girl-Choc-Lit-ebook/dp/B00DC3XHWA)

  Never Coming Home

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  Winner of the Joan Hessayon New Writers’ Award

  All she has left is hope.

  When Kaz Elmore is told her five-year-old daughter
Jamie has died in a car crash, she struggles to accept that she’ll never see her little girl again. Then a stranger comes into her life offering the most dangerous substance in the world: hope.

  Devlin, a security consultant and witness to the terrible accident scene, inadvertently reveals that Kaz’s daughter might not have been the girl in the car after all.

  What if Jamie is still alive? With no evidence, the police aren’t interested, so Devlin and Kaz have little choice but to investigate themselves.

  Devlin never gets involved with a client. Never. But the more time he spends with Kaz, the more he desires her – and the more his carefully constructed ice-man persona starts to unravel.

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  Visit www.choc-lit.com for more details including the first two chapters and reviews.

  Find out more and purchase in the kindle store (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Never-Coming-Home-Choc-ebook/dp/B007FU93TM)