Some people freeze when there is trouble. Others fight. Josephine is a fighter. She moved to Tarnation, Texas, in search of a better future. She has met someone she cares for. Then some rowdy cowboys ride in to town. One attacks Josephine but she fights him off. He comes back with friends to cause a problem. This time, she is ready for him.
Excerpt:
She was exhausted by the approach of closing time. Gunfire cracked and she heard galloping hooves.
Michael reached under the counter for a gun. “Get into the backroom until this is over so you won’t get hit by stray bullets.” He raced out the door and down the boardwalk.
Mrs. Horowitz, wife of the butcher, stepped away from the windows where she’d been admiring a display. “Those awful cowboys have no care for the town’s residents. They must be drunk to act so carelessly.”
“I expect you’re right. If they were intent on robbing the bank, surely they’d come in quietly to evade notice. You can step through the curtain behind you, and you’ll be in the storeroom. There’s a chair you can rest in until those men are stopped.”
Disobeying her employer’s order, Josephine stood at the side of the window so she was protected by the wall but could look out. The sheriff, his deputy, Michael, and a handful of other men with guns drawn tried to apprehend the rowdy cowboys. One of the ruffians darted toward the store.
Dear Merciful Heaven! Terror struck her and her knees almost gave way. The man who’d attacked her had returned with his friends. Was he after her or bent on destroying Tarnation?
Unable to turn away, she watched the man make his way slowly toward the mercantile. This time she was prepared. She raced to grab a skillet intent on cracking the man’s skull if he came into the store.
Mrs. Horowitz peeked through the curtains. “Miss Nailor, come in here with me. You can’t fight guns with a pan.”
“The man who attacked me is headed this way. I’ll dent his head if he comes into the mercantile.”
The other woman inched closer. “Do you see my Claus? Oh, I hope he’s not trying to outgun those men.”
“Besides Mr. Buchanan, the sheriff, his deputy, Mr. Kendrick, and Mr. Evans are there. Mr. Pettigrew also appeared. Oh, no, Tom Boyd is weaving down the road as if nothing is happening.”
“My, my, he’s no doubt so drunk he doesn’t know anything is going on.”
“Run back into the storeroom, Mrs. Horowitz. That man is almost here. He’s likely to shoot you if he sees you when he comes through the door.”
Aleida Horowitz scrambled toward the curtain. “What about you?”
“He won’t see me until too late. Hurry!” Josephine flattened herself against the wall behind the door.
No sooner had the woman slipped through the curtain than the cowboy rushed toward the counter as if he expected her to be crouched behind the island’s safety. As soon as he was inside, she swung the heavy iron skillet with all her might.
He dropped but not before she heard a burst of gunfire outside. She turned and saw Michael slump in the street’s dust. As her heart dropped to the floor, she screamed, “No!”
This book is perfect for readers who love western historical romance, mail order bride romance, Texas frontier romance, strong heroine stories, small town romance series, second chance at happiness, and found family romance. Find Josephine and the other Bride Brigade books on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited.
