by Pam Crooks
As he had, she knew, on the rest of Ida Grove. In their time together, while working at the prison, Mr. Templeton always spoke of him with respect, as if he understood that Ross Santana wasn’t a bounty hunter to be pitied and feared, but a man with strong ideals and a staunch sense of honor and justice.
She gazed up at Ross. Let her love shine in her eyes. And saw a man comfortable with who he was, what he’d become.
“I love you, Lark,” Ross said. “From the time you showed up on my doorstep, hiding in Father Baxter’s cape, I’ve needed to take care of you.” His hands slid down to her hips, pulled her tight against him where she could feel the strength of his desire for her. “You’re home now. Here, in Ida Grove, with all of us. But most of all, with me. And I’ll take care of you forever.”
Happiness soared through her.
“Marry me, Lark. Be my wife for always.”
“Yes,” she breathed. She was home to stay. “We’ll take care of each other.”
The last of his money drifted to the floor, but it didn’t matter.
She had something far more valuable in her life.
Author’s Note
I’ve always found it great fun to breathe life into fiction by weaving in bits of history about real people.
John Reno was a true outlaw. On October 6, 1866, he and two members of his gang committed the world’s first train robbery just outside of Seymour, Indiana, a crime for which they were never charged. In 1868, John was sentenced to twenty-five years of hard labor at the Missouri State Penitentiary for robbing a courthouse treasury. John’s gang included four of his brothers, Frank, Simeon, Clinton and William, as well as Charlie Anderson. A sister, Laura, never participated in law-breaking.
The Turf Club in Windsor, Canada, did indeed exist as a hideout for outlaws on the lam from the States. And it was there that Frank Reno, Charlie Anderson and Dick Barry plotted to kill Allan Pinkerton, as I’d depicted in the story. And yes, Jack Friday was hired to drive their rig while they hung out there.
By the time John was a free man again, he’d lost Frank, Simeon, William and Charlie to vigilante lynchings.
In truth, Wilkinson Reno died in 1877 and was buried in Seymour, Indiana.
I hope you’ve enjoyed Lark and Ross’s story.
Pam Crooks
ISBN: 978-1-4592-2988-4
WANTED!
Copyright © 2006 by Pam Crooks
First North American Publication 2006
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