by Tina Leonard
“That sounds wonderful,” Harper said. “In fact, it sounds like a dream come true.”
Which it was.
And she finally had hers.
Epilogue
Mayor Judy Jasper walked into Ivy’s Honky-tonk and Dive Bar wearing a grin as big as Texas, making a beeline straight for the woman sitting on the bar holding court. “I win, cousin!” Judy announced. “Hand over the keys to this crab shack!”
Ivy glared at her. “Never.”
Judy laughed. “You have to. It’s in our agreement. You bet me that I couldn’t make Hell a good place, a place where families wanted to raise their children. Well, I brought on a whole team of great girls, and every one of them are starting families.” She waved a piece of paper she pulled from the pocket of her white-with-glitter jeans. “You did your damnedest to stop me, but you didn’t understand one thing: Hell is full of good people with good hearts. And we work together.”
“Three families doesn’t change anything.”
“Ah. But you see, there’s a new team being built. Jael, Missy, and Holly are the new team. Best of all, you lost Cassidy and Micaela. They’ve rejoined our team. That’s five right there, and then Ava, Cameron, and Harper.” Judy was jubilant. “That’s eight, more than I ever dreamed might want to settle in Hell!”
“It’s not over,” Ivy said, annoyed, and Judy laughed.
“But you didn’t stop me. We’re building a new school, and making other changes.” She stared down her cousin. “And only I know why you shot Declan.” She put up a hand. “Don’t deny it, it’s common enough knowledge that Steel will be by to talk to you again. What I haven’t told him is just how good you are with a compound bow and arrow.” She let that sink in for a moment. “And I won’t tell him, as long as you don’t try to renege on our bet. Face it, Ivy. You lose.” Judy put her hand out. “I’ll take the keys to this roach trap. Our mothers should never have bound us together with property, anyway.”
“You always have to be the queen.” Ivy huffed into her office. “I’ll get it back.”
“You were hoping to move your business into town and take over Hell. But you underestimated how much we love Hell.” Judy couldn’t remember the last time she was this happy—except when she was in Steel’s arms. “Hell means more to me than just about anything. And you over-wagered, cousin, because you figured we were just a little backwater no one would ever love as much as I do. But everyone who comes here loves Hell.”
Ivy slapped the keys into her hand. “Double or nothing?” she asked, in an I-dare-you tone.
Judy felt positively triumphant as she held the keys to the Honky-tonk at long last—which wouldn’t be the blot on Hell that it was much longer. Not once she got done with it. “What are you wagering, cousin?”
“Are you interested?” Ivy demanded.
Judy pondered that, but only for a second. She was a woman of Hell, steeped in its lore—and sometimes to win, you had to raise a little hell. That was when you found out what love was all about. It had worked so far, hadn’t it?
“Name the wager,” she said. Whatever it took to grow Hell into the most family-friendly community in Texas, she was game. Because happy endings was what it was all about. And anyway, she knew the secret Ivy would never know: Hell, Texas, might be lean and tough on the surface, but down deep, it was a beautiful place full of magic and giving hearts and gentle souls who cared about each other.
And that was why, as Judy walked out of the Honky-tonk into Steel’s waiting arms, she knew Hell would always be home sweet home.
Other Titles by Tina Leonard
Last of the Red-Hot Cowboys: A Hell's Outlaws Novel
Last of the Red-Hot Riders: A Hell's Outlaws Novel
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Tina Leonard has sold over 3 million books, making the USA Today, Waldenbooks, Bookscan, and Ingrambook bestseller lists, and publishing over seventy titles. Her work has been contracted by Random House Loveswept, Samhain Publishing, Harlequin, London Bridge, and most recently Diversion Books. Leonard is known for her sparkling sense of humor, endearing communities, snappy dialogue, and memorable characters that include sexy hunks with attitude and heroines with plenty of sass. Join her at her website, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter for more on her upcoming releases.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Epilogue
Other Titles by Tina Leonard
About the Author
