Much Ado About Mavericks Read online

  “Unhitch the team before you come in,” Jake hollered from the window.

  Good advice, because once he went into that house, neither of them was coming out again for a very long time. He got the job done and the horses into the corral in record time, then stopped by the pump and washed before he claimed his bride.

  One step into the house and a loop fell around him and tightened. Jake was behind him with a pistol pressed against his back.

  “I’m going to let you turn around, but first you have to promise that you will never, ever tell a soul what you seen tonight.”

  “Jake, what goes on between a man and a woman is their business. I’d never talk about it to anyone.”

  “Cross your heart.”

  “I can’t. You have my arms pinned to my sides with the rope.”

  “Say it, then.”

  “I cross my heart and promise never to tell a soul what I see tonight.”

  She tugged the rope and it dug into his arms. “You mean it?”

  “I mean it most sincerely. I swear it.”

  Jake loosened the rope. “Then you can turn around, but if you laugh, I’m gonna hogtie you.”

  What Ben saw when he faced Jake was nothing short of a miracle. Her waist-length red hair fell in ringlets over a clinging blue silk negligee. She looked like a Greek goddess, the low V-neckline hugging her breasts. The silken flow of material draped around her shapely hips making his mouth dry and his fingers ache to touch her.

  “I told Susan I’d look foolish in this git-up.”

  Ben could hardly think, let alone talk. He shrugged off the rope and stepped toward her. “Jake.” He slid his hands over the smooth material on her shoulders. “Janelle Kathryn O’Keefe Lawrence, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

  “You ain’t just saying that?”

  He pulled her tight against him. “I’m not saying anything. All night.”

  ~~~ THE END ~~~

  Please post a review and tell others what you think of Much Ado About Mavericks!

  ♥ Hearts of Owyhee ♥ series:

  Much Ado About Marshals

  *** NOR Top Pick ***

  Buy a copy and see for yourself what everyone is talking about. Once you read just one of Ms. Roger's books, I can assure you that you'll be a fan...

  ~Diana Coyle, NOR Reviewer

  *** CTRR Award ***

  Jacquie Rogers creates a witty, delightful, and downright amusing book with impressive charming players.

  ~Cherokee, Coffee Time Romance and More Reviewer

  Much Ado About Madams

  * A story this good can only come from the imagination of Jacquie Rogers

  ~ Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews

  * A rollicking riot of a good read!

  ~Ann Charles, author of Nearly Departed in Deadwood

  * A romantic trip to the Old West stamped with Jacquie Rogers' special brand of humor

  ~ Caroline Clemmons, author of Brazos Bride

  Other books to try

  Like short stories? Try the first in the Merlin’s Destiny series:

  Willow, Wish For Me

  * A Magical, Romantic Romp in the Old West!

  ~BookwormForever

  Have you read Taylor Lee’s Struck by Thunder?

  1890: In a world marked by corruption, prejudice and hate, Lei Chang is determined to be the first woman kung fu master in the country. Little does she know that the grandmaster, everyone's hero, is as accomplished a lover as he is a warrior.

  Copyright

  Much Ado About Mavericks

  Copyright 2012 Jacquie Rogers

  Mélange Publishing

  All Rights Reserved.

  No portion of this work may be reproduced in any way without express permission from the author in writing, except reviewers and booksellers have permission to use short quotations in their reviews and sales materials.

  All characters and events in this story are products of the author’s imagination.

  Dedication

  In loving memory of the most wonderful grandpa anyone ever had, Alfred Neil Walker, to the best brother and sister-in-law anyone ever had, Ken and Sherry Walker.

  And always dedicated to my hero in real life, Mark Rogers.

  Acknowledgements

  There’s a core group of people who never give up on me and are always willing to lend support, whether critiquing, researching, or cheerleading. Writing a book is a marathon and sometimes it’s hard to make it to the finish line. So here goes:

  Judith Laik, thanks for the final edits, and no thanks for making me think so hard.

  Heather Hiestand, I really appreciate your content comments and the book is stronger for it.

  Ann Charles, you’re crazy, sometimes goofy, and always ready to kick me into gear, so thanks.

  Wendy Delaney, yes, I know where you live, but you still give me honest feedback. No braver soul could say more.

  Eilis Flynn, you keep dragging me into all sorts of writerly things. What are friends for?

  Kyle Walker, you do make a handsome hero, even in a bowler.

  Tresa Hiatt, thanks for all the research assistance, mailing, and everything else you’ve done.

  Amber Scott, I don’t know how many of your bright ideas I can take, but keep ’em coming.

  And to my Owyhee County friends who have all offered and given help: Colleen Paxton, Mark Evans, Vivian Lilly, Ken Stansell, and Charlotte Breshears.

  About the Author

  Jacquie Rogers has worn many hats before taking up the pen: a former software designer, campaign manager, deli clerk, and cow milker. She writes romance in three sub-genres: western historical, fantasy, and contemporary western.

  Much Ado About Marshals, a western historical, is the first book in the Hearts of Owyhee series, followed by Much Ado About Madams. Before that, Mélange Publishing released a romantic fantasy, Faery Merry Christmas. Look for her new short story, Willow, Wish For Me.

  Her first book, Faery Special Romances, won the Fall NOR Award for Best Print Sci-fi/Fantasy Romance and finaled several other contests. She then released a short contemporary novel, Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues., a PNR Top-Pick, a CTRR Award winner, TRS Sweetheart of the Week winner, and NOR Top-Pick.

  She calls Seattle home, and lives with her husband who is an audio-video engineer and a fantastic proofreader, but hates plumbing. They are allowed to live in the house by Annie, a rescue cat who likes to be warm, dry, and fed, although not held or petted.

  Website: http://www.JacquieRogers.com

  Blog: http://RomancingTheWest.blogspot.com

  Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JacquieRogers

  Facebook: http://facebook.com/JacquieRogersAuthor

  Table of Contents

  Much

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20