Grace and the Guiltless
Page 19
But would she be able to concentrate on her mission?
Could she let her heart get entangled when she had vowed never to love anyone again?
Even more importantly, would he prevent her from doing what she had to do?
Joe settled down beside her, next to the fire, and pressed his lips to hers again. Grace wanted it to last forever. She never wanted to leave this spot. They sat for hours, holding each other close, staring at the sky, the vast blackness overhead dotted with pinpricks of light. When they finally tired, they lay down, cuddled together for warmth as the fire died down to embers, and drifted off to sleep under the stars.
* * *
Dawn broke. Grace awoke and slid out of Joe’s arms. She gathered her things and loaded them onto Bullet. Eyes misty, she stood for a long time debating, taking in every detail of Joe’s rugged, handsome face as he slept soundly. Her heart twisted painfully at the thought of leaving him.
If she woke him to say goodbye, she would never be able to go.
Tears in her eyes, she couldn’t resist kneeling and pressing a feather-light kiss to his forehead. Joe stirred and murmured something in his sleep. Then Grace laid the Smith and Wesson revolver beside him, wishing she had something more to give him for all he’d given her.
With one last backward glance at Joe’s sleeping figure, Grace mounted Bullet, turned him in the opposite direction, and quickly galloped away.
Deep inside, she vowed that someday, some way, when justice was done, she would find her way back here to the place where her heart belonged.
But her real work lay ahead of her.
And she needed to do it alone.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Erin Johnson grew up watching classic western movies with her father, which fueled her lifelong love of horseback riding. She’s always dreamed of being a fierce-talking cowgirl, but writing about one seemed like the next best thing. She loves traveling, painting, riding motorcycles, and teaching. She lives in North Carolina.
WANTED IS PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES
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FIRST PUBLISHED IN 2014 BY CURIOUS FOX
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TEXT © HOTHOUSE FICTION LTD 2014
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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OR STORED IN A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM, OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS, ELECTRONIC, MECHANICAL, PHOTOCOPYING, RECORDING, OR OTHERWISE, WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER.
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ISBN: 978-1-63079-001-1 (PAPER OVER BOARD)
ISBN: 978-1-63079-008-0 (EBOOK)
SUMMARY: WHEN GRACE'S PARENTS AND SIBLINGS ARE MURDERED BY THE GUILTLESS GANG AT THEIR ARIZONA HORSE RANCH OUTSIDE TOMBSTONE, SHE VOWS TO DEVOTE HER LIFE TO REVENGE - BUT THE CHIRACAHUA SHE FINDS SANCTUARY WITH TRY TO TEACH HER A BETTER WAY.
DESIGNER: K. FRASER
PHOTO CREDITS:
SHUTTERSTOCK: VINTAGLE OLD FABRICK: FRESCOMOVIE
HORSES: SUAT GURSOSLZU
GIRL WITH RIFLE: MANSILIYA YURY
VECTOR PISTOL: JR MURRAY76