FOREVER HIS TEXAS BRIDE by Linda Broday continues with her Bachelors of Battle Creek series. In FOREVER HIS TEXAS BRIDE we finally get Brett's story. Each of the bachelors has captured my heart and none more than this installment in what is an awesome reminder of Linda Broday's talent as an author of westerns. Broday's writing style is gritty and real just like the times and characters of each of her books. When you read FOREVER HIS TEXAS BRIDE you will once again be treated to some of the best dialog and scenery that totally fits the time and place. Linda Broday brings a sense of realism that is truly appreciated and enjoyed. FOREVER HIS TEXAS BRIDE may be the third in the series but it qualifies as a standalone story with little tidbits of the previous books to whet your appetite just in case you missed them.
Brett Liberty and Rayna Harper did not meet under the best of conditions -- and that's being blatantly honest. Meeting someone through the bars of a jail cell just doesn't qualify as a good omen. But through those bars Brett was actually able to "see" quite a lot of this young woman who was as outspoken as she was downtrodden. Brett was used to people stereotyping him as a half-breed. His Native American heritage was rather obvious in his appearance. As an owner of his own horse ranch, his life was more solitary and for the most part saved from this overt racism.
Rayna was a product of her upbringing that was just as caustic as Brett's youth had been until he was taken under the wing of a caring man. Brett and his three "brothers" were left an important legacy that helped them each develop into strong, good men.
But that wasn't what the sheriff had seen. The sheriff only knew that he hated this half-breed and wanted him dead. Rayna wanted Brett's boots. But Brett quickly realized that this young woman had a big heart and a spirit that wouldn't break. In many ways she reminded Brett of himself and his brothers. If there was a way to escape his captor he was taking Rayna with him.
Unfortunately, Brett and Rayna's pasts were doggedly following them. Both these fine young people just wanted to live in peace but there were those whose prejudices outweighed their sense.
FOREVER HIS TEXAS BRIDE is a story about deep-rooted prejudices. The story takes place in 1879 but certainly still resonates with meaning. Linda Broday writes about the Old West but her stories are current and relevant. The Bachelors of Battle Creek is a shining example of the talent of one of the best contemporary western authors.
"There's this thing between us that refuses to die. I'd like
nothing better than to be able to..." His words faded. He'd
give anything to change people's views about his race...to
be able to make her his wife. But the world wasn't that
simple. Not for people like them.
All his life,
Brett Liberty has straddled two worlds: white and Iroquois.
The only place he's truly at peace is with his wild
mustangs. But after he's arrested for the color of his skin,
he discovers Rayna Harper in the cell next to him. Rough and
tumble Rayna has known little kindness, but Brett sees the
depth of her heart hidden beneath layers of hurt and fear,
and he refuses to leave without her.
Something about
the damaged, flame-haired beauty calls to him. Yet even as
the two outcasts are drawn together, terrible danger at the
hands of prejudiced men threatens to tear them apart. Brett
knows in his heart he should let her go, but he's taken with
the woman who looks at him as if he were just any other
man...and melts in his arms as if the brush of his lips is
enough to chase all her demons away...
EXCERPT
“I had some dreams once—and hope.” Rayna hated the
bitterness that crept into her voice. “But I learned that
hoping and dreaming were for other folks, not me.”
Brett took her hand. “Those aren’t allotted only to certain
people. Anyone can have them.”
“Not me. My heart can’t take any more blows.”
“Courage is getting back up once we’ve been knocked down.
Shame is in not trying. I’ll help you get back up.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to. I see a spark inside you just waiting to
flare brightly.”
“My father hammered into me that people like us don’t get to
be normal…or liked. We’re outcasts. We stay with our own
kind. I made a mistake in forgetting that.”
“As Cooper would say, that’s hogwash. You’re just as normal
as anyone. Stop limiting yourself.”
Rayna inhaled the fragrant breeze, wishing she didn’t have
to keep hobbling the yearning welling up inside at times so
strong she couldn’t breathe. “I have to. It’s a lot less
painful. If you don’t pin your hopes on things, your heart
doesn’t get broken as often. Our fight is my fault. I have
this problem of always thinking things mean more than they
do. It’s just that I wanted what we had so badly to be true
that I got lost in pretending.”
He hesitated only a moment before putting his arm around her
shoulders. “If I was able to take a wife for real, I’d want
it to be you. But I’ll never marry anyone. I’m a color that
no one appears to have a particular fondness for.”
“It doesn’t make any difference to me. I see your heart, not
your skin.”
“Thank you, but it does matter a great deal to some.”
Rayna rested her head on his shoulder. “Not to the people of
Battle Creek. Mabel told me that everyone loves and accepts
you.”
“This town is only one place in thousands, and the
resentment others harbor outside of here would fall to you
also. I refuse to let that happen. No one will hate you
because of me.”
“It’s not because I’m no lady?”
“No. I swear it.”
“Do you think all this hating will ever change?”
“I hope so.”
Relief flooded Rayna. “Then I will wait for you.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
She lifted her head from his shoulder and sat up straighter.
“I’m volunteering. I will wait however long it takes.”
“Change may not happen in this lifetime,” he warned.
“Then we’ll try to hurry it along.”
“Dear sweet Rayna, I wish others could see things through
your eyes. So you’ll let me try to help you?”
“I suppose.” Rayna picked at a loose thread of her patched
dress. “I’ll need something to do while I wait for the world
to get some sense.”
“In the meantime, I can’t be anything but a friend.”
“I’m glad. I need a friend.”
“Let’s get you back to Mabel’s.” Brett rose and pulled her
to her feet. She placed her hand in the crook of his elbow.
“I have to say that you have an awfully good pitching arm.
Maybe I can find you something that requires throwing
things. What else are you skilled at?”
A layer of sadness and misery lay beneath Rayna’s laugh. She
didn’t want to discuss the only two things she was good at.
The bottom of her skirt swished against Brett’s moccasins.
She cast him a sideways glance as she changed the subject.
“What did the doctor say about Adam?”
“Only a sprain. The boy’s lucky. I’ll spend tonight in town.
When I head out to the Wild Horse, I’m going to take him
with me. I have a feeling the best thing is distance between
him and his mother. Also, hard work. In my experience, that
seems to be an excellent attitude adjustor.”
“Seems to.” They walked in silence for a minute. “Brett, I’m
sorry for getting angry.
Thank you for coming after me.”
“You’re welcome.”
With her arm tucked in the curve of Brett’s, Rayna’s heart
settled. She swallowed the last of her resistance and bitter
disappointment.
As they passed under the shielding overhang of a big
evergreen tree away from the glare of the saloon lights, she
turned to stare into the dark shadows of his face. “Could I
have something to remember the time when someone almost
loved me? One final kiss? After this moment, we’ll be
nothing but friends.”
“I don’t think that’s wise.”
She sensed Brett’s yearning as his hand rose to touch her,
only to let it fall.
Powerful need for one last feel of his fingers on her skin
gave her the courage to beg.
“One light brush of the lips between friends here in the
darkness. It won’t mean anything.”
“Rayna…” The word came out hoarse and wounded.
Tingles raced up her spine as he gently traced the curve of
her lips as though he, too, was filing a memory away. She
lowered her lids in an effort to soak up the sensations. Her
breath hitched when he lowered his sensuous mouth to hers.
Hunger…
Sweet ache…
Torment…
Desire blazed with the heat of a raging prairie fire.
This first kiss without steel bars between them, was full of
raw power, danger and beauty.
Brett’s hands plunged into her hated curls, holding her just
like she dreamed. This man, hunted and despised, seemed to
pour all the secrets of his soul into this kiss. With a low
moan, she slid her hand around his neck, drawing him closer.
Delicious agony arced out like the branches of the old tree
they were under, reaching, straining for more of the sweetness.
The jolt of his thigh brushed her hip when she leaned into
him. She knew she overstepped boundaries he’d set, but she
couldn’t stop herself. Her need to store up memories for the
lonely times ahead was too great.
When he ended the kiss, she felt all quivery inside.
Flutters in her stomach reminded her of butterfly wings and
Rayna knew from now on she’d never be the same.
She also knew friends probably didn’t kiss like this.
Despite Brett’s vow that they couldn’t be anything but dear
acquaintances, something appeared to have gotten lost…again.
Maybe it would always be this way whenever he was near.
Touching Brett’s face, she met his dark stare. “I think my
brother was right.”
“What about?”
“Kisses do have magic.”
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