Texas Retribution-Book #1 Boarding House Brides

Hannah POV “Hannah, get up girl, the house is on fire”, I heard my father as he shook me to wake me up. My heart began pounding and fear kept me frozen in my bed. I just stared at him and couldn’t move. He grabbed me up in his tight hug, a hug that usually brought comfort and peace, but now it only brought fear. “Hannah, darlin’ you have to get up and get out of the house” he said again, this time his voice also held a hint of fear. The urgency I heard in his voice forced me to move and I scrambled out of bed and asked, “What about Edward?’ “I’ll get him and your mama. Go now” he said as he raced out of my room and down the short hallway to the room he shared with my momma. My baby brother, just two months old, spent most nights in the room because it was easier on momma. Momma just hadn’t been the same after she birthed him, she was much weaker and stayed in bed most days. I watched for just a moment as my papa disappeared into the room and then I turned and ran for the door. As I r

Texas 1865Jamie POVWaking up this morning, I had no idea my situation would become more difficult than it was. Living every day with the man who ruined my life while biding my time has not been easy. Every day I had to pretend that I liked him and that I trusted him above all others. I have taken his laziness, his snide comments, and his arrogance, and what has it gotten me? Not far, that’s for sure. I’m not really any closer to my goal today than I was seven years ago. Over the last seven years, I have often wondered why I subjected myself to this pain and suffering. I often debated with myself about quitting and walking away, but I would remember what happened and my resolve to stay would strengthen.Flashback to twelve years agoI was in the barn mucking the stalls, just about to finish chores for the day, when I heard my father yell for me. “Jamie, come quick!” I ran out of the barn to find my father running to a horse with a body slumped over it. As he reached the horse and pul

Jamie POV When I arrived in town just before noon, I headed straight to the post office to send the wire. The wire was for my Uncle Samuel who lived in Big Spring. It was time for him to join me. Beecham had begun to get sloppy with his business dealings and if we waited too long, he would do something stupid and the ranch would be lost. I stepped up to the window at the post office and smiled, “Good morning, Miss Betsy. I need to send a wire to my uncle in Big Spring. Think you can help me with that?” She looked up at me and gave me a look that said she wasn’t falling for my tricks, “Jamie, I declare! You come into town and just assume that your good looks and those dimples are going to have the women in this town eating out of your hand and tripping over themselves to do your bidding. But let me tell you young man, I won’t fall for it!” She continued in a sing-song voice, obviously mimicking me, “Think you can help with that?! Boy, I am the post mistress! That is my job! Now give m

Jamie POVI woke up before the sun, and as usual, I began to plan my day before I even crawled out of bed. I had my own space inside the bunkhouse, being the ranch foreman had its perks. The others shared a sleeping space with cots along each wall. My room was small, but I didn’t need much. Just a bed, a writing desk and a night stand that held the ewer and basin. Today’s agenda included bringing in the twenty steers born this year for branding. They had just weaned a few weeks ago and we needed to get them added to the herd so they could acclimate before winter set in. After the branding, which would take most of the morning, we needed to ride fence again. I wanted to take a look at the spot that was damaged yesterday. Following that, I wanted to check on Mrs. Beecham. Yeah, I needed to think of her that way. It was the only thing I could do. I was an honorable man and she wasn’t mine.I heard the others moving around and decided to crawl out of bed and get the day started. I joined

Jamie POV Shortly after breakfast, Walt and I mounted up and headed for the south forty to gather in the steers for branding. It was silent for a few moments. I assumed we were both trying to figure out how to start the conversation. When Walt didn’t speak, I decided to take the bull by the horns and ask the question, “So, Walt. What do you think is going on with the fence line out here?” He chuckled and responded by asking a question of his own, “How long are you going to pretend that you aren’t working against Beecham?” I turned my head so fast it would have fallen off if not attached to my neck, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” I tried to remain cool and not let him know that my heart had at that moment decided to thump as fast as Smoke galloped across the prairie. Walt slowed his horse and turned to stare at me, eye to eye. “Look, Jamie. I respect a man who has a past and I respect the need for secrets. Hell, I have a few of my own. But I’ve been around here long eno