Beltane Bride
BELTANE BRIDE - A BELTANE WORLD NOVELLA
Charlie (Charlotte) Fitzhugh will need all her courage and daring to survive the hard times on her Uncle’s ranch.
Left homeless and destitute by the treachery of her cousin in England, she travels to America with her young brother and arrives in Beltane just after the bank has been robbed.
Adam Gilmore is a wealthy rancher who thought he only wanted a presentable wife who would give him heirs. When he meets Charlie, against his will, he is smitten. Can he ever hope to capture the heart of this beautiful English rose?
This book is one of five which center around the fictional town of Beltane.
Others in this series are:
Unlikely Outlaws - Susan Horsnell
Clint Maxwell and his men of the Lazy I ranch were honest, hard working ranchers who looked out for people in their local community when times were tough.
So, what changes to cause them all to become the most unlikely of outlaws?
Why are they robbing the bank in Beltane, 25 miles away and who will be caught up in their trap?
Capturing Hannah’s Heart – D’Ann Lindun
Hannah Johnson is a lady in a man’s clothing. Orphaned at a young age, she is forced to take over her father’s livery to survive. She works hard to save enough to buy a house of her own. When the bank in her town is robbed, she has only one choice—go after the money herself.
Roan Maxwell rides into Beltane, Arizona, looking for a bed for the night, but instead gets a bullet in the back during a bank robbery. Afraid folks will think him one of the robbers, he flees. When Hannah stumbles over him, he’s rather her think him a robber than yellow bellied.
Can these two learn the truth about one another, catch the robbers and fall in love, too?
Her Captor’s Spell – RaeAnne Hadley
Having been accused of using witchcraft, Jacqueline is on the run for her life. She’s a train ride away from escaping to London and to safety but is kidnapped before boarding the train.
Tommy is out to prove himself in the trapping industry. Being young is more of a hindrance than a help. When his future partner loses his betrothed, Tommy knows what he has to do to gain his trust; return his bride.
Both Jacqueline and Tommy are running from their past but as they fight each other for different futures they begin to realize that their desires aren’t that different. Magic is in the air and nothing is black and white.
Crossroads – Becca Turner
A woman stole Joseph Wade's heart--and his mother's priceless diamond necklace. She's elusive and savvy to the cruel ways of the world. No matter what, he's always a step behind her, but when he's the victim of a bank robbery, he sees that in the West, men can say, do, or be anything they want. When his father dies and his presence at home is requested, he turns his back on the law and sets his heart on revenge.
Lucy Hawley sees that Joe isn't a criminal, despite his best attempts. Underneath his somewhat fumbling--and so far lucky--robberies, there's a confused man. A good one too, if only he can get back on the right path. She'd give her heart to someone like that, but not if he can't forgive himself for his past mistakes and change his own future.
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Excerpt
Chapter One
Beltane - Arizona
Like pieces of flotsam, the stage had dumped them
here in the middle of nowhere. Well, the town of Beltane looked like nowhere to her.
Charlie Fitzhugh wiped her damp forehead with a lace handkerchief. Perspiration ran in rivulets between her breasts, pooling at the waistband of her gown and leaving a damp patch. Coughing, she tried to clear the dust clogging up her throat.
“I don’t like it here.” Her little brother, Ben, kicked one of their leather sea trunks, she was tempted to do the same. “Why doesn’t someone come?”
A few boxes and trunks stacked on the ground outside the stage depot held all their possessions. Just thinking about how the once proud Fitzhugh family had been betrayed and reduced to such pernicious circumstances caused tears to build up at the back of her eyes. She wouldn’t cry. She couldn’t afford such a luxury. I have to be strong, resolute.
Sick dread washed over her. It was sheer madness
sailing thousands of miles across the sea to start a new life in the American west, but what other choice did they have?
Once they had been rendered homeless by a greedy relative, Uncle Henry’s long time invitation to come and live with him had been a lifeline.
Their skin was pale, not only because they were blue-eyed blondes, but they came from England’s gentle, temperate climate.
“I’m hungry.” Ben’s bottom lip quivered.
“Uncle Henry will come soon,” Charlie reassured him.
“Why doesn’t he hurry up?” He scuffed his boot on the dusty ground and tugged at the swathe of corn-colored hair flopping across his forehead.
A tall, slim young man strode up to them. “Ya be the Fitzhughs?”
Charlie took a step forward and shook the other man’s hand. “Yes, I’m Charlotte Fitzhugh, but my friends call me Charlie. And this is Ben.”
“Howdy. Jim Cavendish at your service. Sorry I’m late, but the bank was held up. Call me Jim, everyone else does.”
“The bank was held up?” Could anything else happen to them? “Was anyone hurt?”
“One man was shot, but not real bad. I heard they got away with a lot of money. Jonas McCallum, the Bank Manager, is all fired up. Henry sent me to meet ya. He’s been feeling poorly of late.”
“Oh no!” Charlie’s hands flew to her mouth.
“He’s getting better, so don’t worry, he just didn’t feel up to the long drive.”
“I’ll get my wagon.” He swung on his heel and strode off.
They waited until Jim returned with what Charlie could only describe as a decrepit cart drawn by one horse.
Ben jumped up and down in excitement now. The long sea voyage from England and the train and coach rides had not bothered him over much. With the resilience of the young, he soon forgot the traumatic events of the last few months.
Of course, he hadn’t understood the true situation or the vicious behavior of their cousin Reginald, Lord Cumberland, as he had inherited his father’s title and property.
Almost the first thing he did after his father’s funeral was tell Charlie they could no longer live in the manor house she had called home. She had always known the place belonged to her mother’s brother, who had promised they could all live there for life. The mistakes her Uncle had made were not putting it in writing, and believing his son would be as honorable as he had always been.”
Jim helped her up on to the cart seat. Ben settled in the back amongst their luggage and looked ready to nod off.