Snippet Saturday: Every Rose Has it's Thorn

Fit to Be Tied

 

Kindle
Nook
Ellora's Cave

Blurb

Stipulations of his grandfather's will demands Richard Rayburn marry by his twenty-fifth birthday or he'll lose a valuable piece of land. On the eve of his birthday, his fiancé breaks his engagement and Richard finds himself in a bit of tight situation. Where will he find a bride in less than one day?

Desperate enough to steal to put food on her table, the widow Julia Blackmon, assumes the disguise of the Black Bandit to strike fear in the heart of her potential victims. But her first and only victim turns the tables and captures her! After a night held hostage, tied to his bed, Julia discovers the whore within herself and talents no cowboy should be without in her captor, Richard Rayburn. 

When the morning of Richard's twenty-fifth birthday arrives, he's made his decision to marry the bandit. Richard offers her an ultimatum. Marry him or go to jail. What is a desperate widow to do?
Excerpt

Richard kept an outward appearance of calm, awaiting the opportunity to reap revenge on this thief.
Once he’d been divested of his watch and ring, Richard attempted once again to turn.

“Not so fast.” The cold steel pressed against his temple. “I’m going to back away slowly. If you so much as sneeze, I’ll shoot you so fast you won’t know what hit you.

The sound of boots crunched against the hard packed dirt and loose gravel. A horse pawed the earth a few feet away.

When he heard the squeak of saddle leather, Richard scooped a handful of dirt, rolled to the side and sprang toward the horse and the thief, tossing the dirt into the horse’s eyes.

The sleek black stallion reared into the air, dumping its rider to the ground. The thief lay still in the shadows cast by the moon on the trees.

Richard stood, brushed the dust from his good pants and strode toward the inert body. Had the fall killed the thief?

The pistol lay to the side a yard from the black gloved hand. The man’s slight form led Richard to believe him but a boy or a very small man, though difficult to tell with his face covered by a black mask and his hat tightly tied beneath his chin. So tightly it hadn’t flown off in the fall.

“Let’s see who the Black Bandit is.” Richard bent over the still form and removed the hat. Glossy dark hair caught in the strap and pulled loose from a leather band. A great deal of ebony hair. More than fashionable for a man. More appropriate for a woman.

As he lifted the edge of the black mask hiding the bandit’s face, his heart beat like thunder inside his chest and his hands shook. Beneath the black hat and mask lay the face of an angel.

The angel he’d met in the garden at Mrs. Clancy’s matching-making ball.

Miss Julia Blackmon.

Other Authors Participating in Snippet Saturday:

Lauren Dane
Leah Braemel
Caris Roane
Eliza Gayle
Mandy M. Roth
McKenna Jeffries
http://shilohwalker.com/website
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
Felicity Heaton

Snippet Saturday - Crawling Back to You

FIT TO BE TIED

by Myla Jackson
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FIT TO BE TIED

Kindle
Nook
Ellora's Cave

BLURB

Stipulations of his grandfather’s will demands Richard Rayburn marry by his twenty-fifth birthday or he’ll lose a valuable piece of land. On the eve of his birthday, his fiancé breaks his engagement and Richard finds himself in a bit of tight situation. Where will he find a bride in less than one day?

Desperate enough to steal to put food on her table, the widow Julia Blackmon, assumes the disguise of the Black Bandit to strike fear in the heart of her potential victims. But her first and only victim turns the tables and captures her! After a night held hostage, tied to his bed, Julia discovers the whore within herself and talents no cowboy should be without in her captor, Richard Rayburn.

When the morning of Richard’s twenty-fifth birthday arrives, he’s made his decision to marry the bandit. Richard offers her an ultimatum. Marry him or go to jail.  What is a desperate widow to do?

EXCERPT
Richard had taken one step down when a hushed murmur spread from the back of the crowd. The murmur grew into loud applause and cheers.

Richard glanced up, afraid to believe his own eyes.

Julia Blackmon strode down the street toward him, head held high, the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. Dressed in an old-fashioned white gown and carrying a bouquet of wildflowers, she hurried toward him, followed by an old woman.

As she neared the crowd, it parted, making way for the bride.

Richard descended the stone steps and held out his hand.

She took it in hers, a sad smile quirking the corners of her mouth. “I know they caught the Black Bandit.”

“My grandfather’s will was a hoax,” Richard blurted.

“We don’t have to get married, do we?” She stared up into his eyes, waiting for his response.

“No we don’t.” Richard glanced at the crowd, at the preacher and his brother and returned his gaze to her. “But since we’re here…will you marry me?” He held his breath for the longest time, until he felt he’d pass out in front of the woman he knew he could love, given half a chance.

Her gaze locked with his and, for a long moment, she didn’t utter a word. Then the sweetest word he’d ever heard came from her lips. “Yes.”

All the air in his chest rushed out and a grin spread across his face. “Let’s go inside.” He held his elbow out for her to take, more happiness radiating throughout his being than he ever thought possible.

“No.” She pulled back on his arm, the smile gone from her face.

“No?” Had he heard her wrong? Had she not said yes? All his hopes crashed into the pit of his empty belly. Damn the woman and damn himself!

Then her face lit in a blinding grin. “The church is too small to accommodate all these fine people. Can’t we get married right here in the sunshine, in front of God and the good citizens of Mule Ear?”

For the second time in a minute, he let out a long sigh of relief. “Julia Blackmon, I don’t care if we get married locked up in the jailhouse, as long as you hurry it up and say I do.”

Her smile turned mischievous, “That, cowboy, can be arranged.” She leaned close and whispered in his ear. “But think of all the fun you’d be missing on the wedding night if we spent it in jail.”

Other Authors Participating in Snippet Saturday:
Caris Roane
Eliza Gayle
McKenna Jeffries
Shiloh Walker
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
TJ Michaels
Lissa Matthews
Myla Jackson
Lauren Dane