Re-issue. Approximately 70,000 words (about 250 printed pages).The Sheriff and the OutlawPolly Brown was nothing like typical women whose only dream was to marry and start a family. The daughter of a notorious outlaw, Polly grew up wearing six-guns and learning to ride horses and cook over an open fire. But while being pursued by an enemy with a grudge, Polly decides her best option is to pose as a mail-order-bride. In the disguise of a proper lady, she knows there is no way her enemy will recognize her. Little does Polly know that the husband waiting for her is the handsome sheriff of Indian Trails.Sheriff Ben MacLain isn't a man to be easily fooled. He quickly realizes that Polly is not who she says, but Ben after seeing how quickly his daughter has taken to Polly, he finds himself in on hurry to send her away. Instead he tries to strike a deal: marriage or jail. With outstanding warrants for Polly's arrest, Ben knows this may be his only chance to convince Polly to stay, and although he plans to have a marriage of convenience for the sake of his daughter, the passion that draws the two together cannot be denied.

    Lucy, a pampered New Englander, is dragged by her husband and coldhearted brother-in-law on a wagon train bound for California. The first casualty of the arduous trek is her husband. Lucy longs to return home, but that would mean abandoning her little stepson. How fortunate then that rugged Clint Palance, a former trapper and Indian scout, is watching over them both! As the journey progresses, Lucy faces deprivation, heartache, hardship, and more death. Then, with California just around the bend, Lucy must part from Clint. Will she find him again? Or must she return to a dull life in Boston, forsaking forever the beautiful West she has grown to love?

    Her father’s railroad swindle cost Felicity everything, including her engagement to Edmund Ormond. But Felicity isn’t the demure debutante she appears to be. She rolls up her lace edged sleeves to survive the trail to the Oregon Territory, a journey of 2,000 miles of trial and error, where every mile travelled is drier than the one before. Where the game is scarce and the graves common, and life depends on keeping the oxen alive.Rye Jones, with eyes as cold as a Kansas river crossing, studies her at night over the campfire. How much of her father’s deceptive wiles did Felicity inherit? The wagon train leader invested in the Garrety-Brown Railroad and lost his medical practice, his wife and his child. But Rye is drawn to Felicity by her determination to leave her past in the prairie grass.Felicity must choose: a scratched out existence in the Oregon wilderness with Rye or escape to a life of ease in New York with Edmund.

    Money in hand, he's going to get as far away from Revolt, Kansas, as a fast horse can take him.PBut Cord soon finds that he admires his Trixie's reckless courage -- not to mention she's one great kisser. Maybe he's crazy to hope for a real future with her instead of heading for the hills, but now that someone's staking a dangerous claim to her farm, Cord's decided to stick around as long as the lady needs protecting. That wedding ring he put on her finger means her reputation is safe -- and he's determined to win her heart. Cord Tanner may not be the most refined man on the frontier, but he sure is the lovingest...

    She grows up quickly when she witnesses the murder of her family by a gang of outlaws, and vows to make them pay for their crime. When the law won't help her, she takes matters into her own hands. Jess McLowry left his war-torn Southern home to head West, where he hired out his gun. When he learns what happened to Gabriella's family, and what she plans, he knows a young woman like her will have no chance against the outlaws, and vows to save her the way he couldn't save his own family. But the price of vengeance is high and Gabriella's willingness to sacrifice everything ultimately leads to the book's deadly and startling conclusion.This is a harsh and gritty tale of the old West, somewhat reminiscent of Charles Portis' True Grit or Nancy Turner's These is My Words. [This novel was previously published under the pseudonym JoMarie Lodge.]

    Stranded with her mother- and sister-in-law to care for, with no hope of rescue before winter sets in, Kit has only one goal: survival. So when a lone horseman appears on the horizon, and then falls from his mount in fever, Kit must weigh the safety of her family against offering aid and shelter to the handsome stranger.Trace Watson has lost everything that ever mattered to him. Trying to forget, he heads to the frontier colony of San Felipe, not caring if he lives or dies. But when he wakes to discover he's being nursed back to health by a brave young widow, he vows to repay her kindness by guiding the three women back to civilization, no matter what the cost.Soon, Kit and Trace are fighting the elements, Indian attacks and outlaws—as well as feelings they both thought were long buried...74,000 words

    But he never shows up, and instead several other men are vying to take his place!Single father Ellis Clayton must be the only man in town not looking for a bride. But his young daughter's habit of rescuing wounded critters means he ends up offering Constance a temporary shelter.Having a woman around the house again is all too easy—especially seeing her bond with his daughter—but Ellis can't seem to let go of the past. Problem is, neither can Constance. And hers is about to catch up with her….

    After the attack, Kate found the wagon master barely alive. He gave her directions to a cabin owned by a mountain man, Homer Manchester, called Man. Kate worried about spending the winter in a cabin alone with a mountain man, but it couldn't be worse than starvation. Or could it?She finds herself trapped in the wilderness, living with a stranger, fighting for her life against Indian renegades and slave traders. She must learn to adapt to a life she never would have dreamed of living and become a ruthless mountain woman to survive.

    Her fancy gowns and proper manners have no place in the dusty, cruel land inhabited by Indians and rough cowboys. And her fiercely independent streak constantly gets her in trouble. When tragedy strikes, there’s only one person she can turn to--her childhood friend, Garret Shaw--but he’s disgusted with her Society ways. With his ranch under attack from the land-grabbing Jennings, the last thing Garret needs is to be saddled with a high-falutin’ lady. Even if she is his friend’s daughter and her kind ways tug at his hardened heart. Duty to her father forces them to wed, but he knows sure as anything, when the chance comes along, she’ll go back to Boston. No matter how much he wants her, loving her is not a risk he can take. Will Maggie choose a life of luxury and ease over struggle and hardship with an ill-mannered cowboy? Only her heart can answer. CONTENT WARNING: A potty-mouthed proper lady, a reluctant bridegroom and all kinds of trouble.88,573 Words

    She desperately grabs at her only chance for honest work -- at the Mineral Creek Ranch, owned by handsome Cal Easton. While working as a nurse to Cal's mother, a stroke victim, she learns that Cal is a man haunted by the past and cursed by a deadly enemy bent on destroying his family and his successful ranch operation. And Sarah also hides a secret past, which Cal must uncover and reconcile before they are free to love.

    Barely three weeks into the trip, Peter is killed, and Emma is shocked that the wagon master won’t let her return home. Wagon Scout Davis Cooper has decided this would be his last scouting trip, he intends to obtain land in the new Oregon territory, find a wife, and start a family. When the Wagon Master orders Emma and Davis to marry, she rebels, but eventually comes to realize she can’t go it alone, no matter how stubborn she is. But nothing will make her give up her dream to return home. Can Davis change her mind, and have the life he’s always wanted with his unexpected wife?

    When she inadvertently argues with her new business partner on her first day though, things don’t look hopeful.Sam Wakefield doesn’t know what to make of the refined and timid woman who now shares his house along with his mother. What he does know, is that he much prefers the firebrand who confronted him the first time they met, and he can’t help antagonising Ruth in the hope that she’ll resurface.Ruth is just about ready to give up on her dream when her beloved horse, Angel, arrives from England and Sam realises that they may have more in common that he thought. Angel could prove to be the key in reviving his dreams of one day breeding racehorses, while the one place that Ruth isn’t timid, is in the saddle.As they come to trust each other, Sam teaches her about ranch life and love but someone else has their eye on the Wakefield Ranch, someone who could ruin everything for them.

    Now, as a frightened 18-yr-old, she must flee or die at the hands of the man who never saw her as a daughter, only as his woman. With no funds and little hope of succeeding in her flight, Kittie finds meager work in Mounthaven, Ohio, the only place she remembered her own parents speaking of with fond memories. And there she hides. Her brother, Penn Thornton, had watched his little sister leave the train station with a family of five. Thinking she'd be better off with them now, he joined up with another 12-year-old and headed north. As young men, Penn and Jake Kannady rose in the ranks of the Cavalry, until Penn and his beautiful Indian wife were killed at Wounded Knee. Devastated, Jake leaves the carnage with Penn and Two Hearts' infant son strapped to his back and a single obsession to honor his best friend's dying words. "Find my sister, Jake. Take my son to Kittie." With nothing to go on except the name of the Kansas town where they last saw Kittie, Jake carries the baby on a relentless search. In Mounthaven he loses the trail. And loses his heart. With murder in his eyes, the son of the depraved Kansas farmer stalks Jake, certain he'll lead him right to Kittie. After all, she was his woman now that Kittie had killed his old man. Rich with poignant, mystical dream scenes and glimpses of what family can truly be, Bailey Bristol weaves a tail of danger and endurance, loss and depravity, honor and trust...and a love that blurs the lines between hope and the spirit world.

     Book One: A Valentine's Choice Book Two: An Irish Blessing Book Three: A Rolling Stone A VALENTINE'S CHOICE Bridget O’Donnell left Ireland, dragging along her reluctant twin sister Alana, to create a better life in the new world. The sisters travel to Sweetwater Springs, Montana, intending to live with their uncle’s family. Upon arrival, their plans are derailed by news of their aunt’s illness. James Whitson, a cowboy on the Thompson ranch, is in town to drop off a letter at the train station. When he meets the twins, he’s immediately smitten with Bridget. Hearing their dilemma, he offers to drive the sisters to the ranch to stay with their cousin who’s married one of the other cowboys. Also visiting the ranch is horse breeder Patrick Gallagher. Bridget is attracted to Patrick, for his dark, handsome looks and magnificent black stallion, but is also drawn to down-to-earth James for his kindness and understanding. Valentine’s Day is coming, and soon Bridget will have to choose between her two suitors. AN IRISH BLESSING Healer Alana O’Donnell travels to her uncle’s home on the prairie outside of Sweetwater Springs to nurse her ailing aunt, leaving her twin Bridget behind at the Thompson ranch. After Bridget rejected his marriage proposal, horse rancher Patrick Gallagher visits Alana, thinking one twin would probably be as good as the other. But Alana’s already in love with the man she left behind in Ireland. An attack by outlaws leads to a second chance at love. But only if they can overcome the hurts of the past and open their hearts again. A ROLLING STONE Abandoned by the father of her illegitimate baby and pretending to be a widow, Catriona O’Donnell leaves Ireland to find her twin sisters in America. She intends to put her wild past behind her and, once united with her sisters, establish roots and make a home for her unwanted child. Moss Callahan has a bad case of wanderlust, drifting from job to job on a quest for new horizons and interesting adventures. On the point of moving on from Sweetwater Springs, Montana, he encounters Catriona, who faints into his arms, forcing him to return to the Thompson ranch. Moss feels responsible for the beautiful widow and her baby, and his attraction to her grows. But his wooing won’t be easy, for Catriona is bitter and wants nothing to do with men, especially handsome rascals who won’t settle down. THE MONTANA SKY SERIES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER Sweet historical Western Romance 1892 Beneath Montana’s Sky 1886 Mail-Order Brides of the West: Trudy Mail-Order Brides of the West: Lina Mail-Order Brides of the West: Darcy Mail-Order Brides of the West: Prudence Mail-Order Brides of the West: Bertha 1890s Grace: Bride of Montana Wild Montana Sky Starry Montana Sky Stormy Montana Sky Montana Sky Christmas A Valentine’s Choice An Irish Blessing A Rolling Stone Painted Montana Sky Glorious Montana Sky Healing Montana Sky Sweetwater Springs Scrooge Sweetwater Springs Christmas Mystic Montana Sky Singing Montana Sky My Girl Bright Montana Sky Montana Sky Justice A Late-B

    When the opportunity arises via a newspaper ad, she and her best friend slip away from their oppressive fathers and head for Richmond. Neither can relax until they’re far away from their tiny hometown. With wealthy young widow Lydia Harrison’s help, Josephine and six other young women have a new life waiting in Tarnation, Texas. Michael Buchanan is fairly content running his mercantile and being mayor of Tarnation. The town is dusty and tiny, but it’s growing. He believes it holds all he needs to be happy—except a wife. There are no available women in town, but he hopes Lydia Harrison’s Bride Brigade will offer a woman he can wed. He is immediately attracted to Josephine. But Josephine has every reason to mistrust men in general and politicians in particular. Will her misgivings ruin her chance at happiness?