by Lisa Rae
“What are you talking about?” Angel asked confused.
“I shot you.” He replied sadly.
“You did what I asked you to do. And that was to kill Wolfe, no matter what the cost.” Angel said softly.
“His life wasn’t worth risking your own!” Diablo replied back angrily now.
“It was my decision! I don’t need anyone. I decide what I risk my life on,” Angel shot back at him, now angry herself and not realizing what all she was saying.
Diablo realized the old Angel was back; the one that was totally independent, who wanted no help from no one, or to be close to anyone. He had hoped Wolfe’s death would change that, but it didn’t. And it didn’t change the blame Diablo felt for almost killing Angel when Wolfe goaded him. Without hesitation or another word to Angel, he went and saddled his horse and rode off . . .
Two days later, Angel was fit enough to travel, but still no sign of Diablo. She knew he was upset at himself for shooting her to kill Wolfe, but she felt there was more to it than that. Had he decided he didn’t want a life with her after all?
She and her brothers continued on to Colorado City where they had a doctor look over her wound. “Since you couldn’t get it sewed up in the beginning, it will leave a nasty scar, but other than that, it’s healing nicely,” the doctor commented.
“Thanks doc,” Angel said as she slipped her shirt back on and buttoned it up thinking . . . I wonder if he can fix a broken heart?
Having been away from his wife and new born child long enough, Gabriel prepared himself to leave for Denver. “Sis, I think you’re a fool if you don’t go after him.”
“Go after who?” Angel played dumb.
“You know damn well who,” Gabriel replied. “That man loves you.”
“He has a funny way of showing it! Besides, I wouldn’t begin to know where to look?”
“Put yourself in his shoes for a moment and think about how you would feel if you almost killed the one you love more than life itself,” Gabriel said.
Angel didn’t reply. When Gabriel was ready to leave, she hugged her younger brother goodbye.
“Take care of yourself sis, and always watch your back,” he said as he rode away . . .
* * *
A few days turned into a couple months, and Angel still had not found Diablo. She had sent telegraphs to towns all over in hopes of locating him. With each passing day, she became more withdrawn and angrier, often turning to a bottle of whiskey for comfort.
One morning, having decided that she had sulked long enough for a man that obviously didn’t want her, she decided it was time to move on and get back to work. Her shoulder was completely healed.
Wiring the Secret Service office, she received instructions for a new job in their reply. This time it was counterfeit paper money. Packing her bags, Angel was off to Deadwood again.
On her trip to Deadwood, Angel stopped at every town along the way. She tried to convince herself it wasn’t because she hoped to find Diablo, but it didn’t work. She missed him . . .
A few days north of Cheyenne, Angel came upon the sod house and barn where she and Roark got in out of the rain, and where she first met Diablo. The place looked like it was being lived in again as she looked down on it from the rolling hill she was on and saw smoke coming from the chimney. Curious as to who decided to move in and fix the place back up, she rode down to meet the new owners.
Angel stopped her gelding at the water trough, hopped down, and let him drink his fill as she walked up to the door and said loudly, “Hello the house.”
“Hello,” a familiar voice called out from behind her.
Whirling around, Angel instinctively reached for her ivory handled Colt until she saw who was standing there.
“Diablo! What are you doing here?”
“I bought the place. What are you doing here?” Diablo asked curiously.
“I’m on my way back to Deadwood to catch another counterfeiter,” Angel replied.
“Wolfe is dead now, you can stop running,” Diablo said sadly.
“I’m not running. You’re the one who ran away!” Angel accused.
Swiftly walking up to Angel, Diablo stopped when their faces were only inches apart. “I left because you pushed me away. You made it clear that you didn’t need anyone!”
“But I do need you! I . . .” Angel cried out.
Before Angel could say anymore, his lips came down on hers as he pulled her against him in a hot embrace. When he stopped kissing her, she was speechless.
“Will you marry me Angel? I promise I will never take off again. At least not without taking you with me,” Diablo said with a grin.
“Yes, I will marry you!”
If you enjoyed reading this book, look for “Outlaws Of Phantom Canyon”. It is the first book in the ‘Savage’ -three book series. (Release date: May 1st, 2013)
Let me know how you liked the book?
I always love hearing from my readers!
Want to know when a new book is released?
Email me at: [email protected]
Lisa Rae was raised on a big farm in Mid-Missouri. Her personal experiences as well as lifelong love for the Old West combined to give the unique knowledge and understanding of people, events, and the challenges of the American Old West frontier.
Lisa Rae is a storyteller that writes classic westerns filled with suspense, murder, and an underlying romance, with authentic Old West detail and dialogue, in an easy-to-read style that keeps the plot moving.
Outlaws Of Phantom Canyon
The Colorado Territorial area of Pueblo is feeling none too friendly ever since the Phantom outlaw gang tore through on a hell raising robbery spree that is far from over. . .
There were some who knew the Phantom outlaw, Gabriel Savage, as a hero. . . and there were others who believed that he was an outlaw who'd killed over twenty men.
When Gabriel unexpectedly kidnaps the beautiful Julianna Whitaker during a stagecoach robbery, the Phantom outlaws are pursued by much more than just a posse. . . and only Gabriel knows exactly why. . .
Gabriel's plan is twofold and simple: to find the men who killed his fiancé Dora and brutally murder them. But in his near-perfect campaign of terror, Gabriel has overlooked one mighty obstacle. . . Julianna.
Julianna was a high spirited beautiful young lady from New York, who was traveling west on her newest adventure to go visit her father in the wild untamed Colorado Territory when she was kidnapped by the Phantom outlaw gang.
Claimed by Gabriel as his woman, Julianna was blindfolded and taken to the Phantom outlaw's hideout where she fell in love with the notorious outlaw, only he had other plans. . . Plans that did not allow for him to love again.
Table of Contents
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
Outlaws Of Phantom Canyon