Almost an Outlaw

by Patricia Preston

Overview

Rancher Austin Cade rides into Liberty looking for his old comrades, the James-Younger gang. He needs their help tracking down the horse thief who's stolen his prized mare. In town, the former gunfighter is reunited with Darcy, the first girl he ever kissed—and never forgot.

Young widow Darcy Branson owns a shop full of fashionable ladies' attire, but continues to wear mourning black so she won't forget her role in her husband's death. Austin stirs a passion inside her that has long been dormant, but can Darcy learn to believe in Austin—and love—enough to let go of her tragic past?

Time is rapidly running out... As a cousin to Jesse James, Darcy has attracted unwanted attention, thanks to her rumored association with the gang. Soon Austin and Darcy are faced with confronting not only their growing desire, but danger in the form of a deadly bounty hunter...

22,500 words

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781426891076
Publisher:	Carina Press
Publication date:	01/10/2011
Sold by:	HARLEQUIN
Format:	eBook
File size:	505 KB

About the Author

Patricia Preston's love for storytelling started when she wrote her first short story in the sixth grade. Since then, she has had several stories published and has won the William Faulkner Award for Short Fiction and Harlequin's World's Best Romances novella contest. When she is not working on a story or at her job in the medical field, she is catching up on her reading, improving her photography skills, looking for clearance sales or watching movies. Don't ask her how many times she has seen The Lord of the Rings. You can visit her at her website, patricia-preston.com.

Read an Excerpt

April 1874, Liberty, Missouri

"I wouldn't wait nine years on any man." Darcy Branson spoke to Emma Nash as they stood in the fitting room of Darcy's dress shop. The upcoming marriage of Darcy's cousin, Jesse James, to his longtime sweetheart, Zee Mims, was the subject of speculation among those who knew about the secret wedding. Darcy thought nine years was an unreasonably long courtship.

Of course, there was a lot to be said for waiting. If she had waited that long before marrying Stephen, she might have learned the truth about her Prince Charming before it was too late.

"At least Zee isn't going to end up an old maid like everyone thought," Emma said.

Darcy nodded as she helped Emma try on a lovely gown of topaz silk faille. However, there were much worse things than being an old maid. Like being a vengeful wife who had gotten her husband murdered. That was, indeed, worse.

Emma smiled with excitement as she looked at her reflection in the cheval mirror. "I do love this dress," she said. "I don't know how I will ever repay you."

"You owe me nothing." Darcy smiled, happy that she could provide a pretty gown for Emma, who could not have afforded it otherwise. Some of the well-to-do old biddies in town said she was too generous toward the less fortunate. She didn't think so. Generosity reaped its own reward. "Mister Caruthers will be completely smitten with you."

Blushing at the mention of her beau's name, Emma turned to Darcy. "Why don't you wear that emerald gown you bought in Saint Louis to the wedding?"

"No." She always wore black.

"It is time—"

"No." It would never be time.

"Stephen has been dead for almost three years now. Long enough that no one would think ill of you if you put aside mourning colors."

Darcy removed the tape measure that hung around her neck. She was a graduate of the San Francisco Academy for Young Ladies, where she had been taught good manners and social graces. She knew exactly what was and was not proper. She sighed. "The rules of etiquette change nothing." They were only words in a book. "They can't change what is inside me." They couldn't change what she had done. She splayed her hand over the waist of her black bodice. "Black suits me."

The jingle of the bells attached to the front door of the shop came as a welcome diversion. She left Emma to admire herself in the mirror and went to wait on her customer. She stopped short when she saw the customer was a man. Rarely did a man enter her dress shop, only the occasional local business owner looking to buy his wife or sweetheart a gift. The tall, dark-haired man standing with his back to her as he looked at the ready-made frocks on display looked more like a gunman than a gentleman. A black duster fell from the wide span of his shoulders to his knee-high boots, and he held a center-dented black hat in his left hand. Men who dressed like him lived in the saddle. Uneasiness spread through her. The large bounty offered for her cousins, Frank and Jesse James, had brought a number of unsavory men into the town of Liberty. It was a dangerous time, especially for those connected to the outlaws. No one trusted outsiders.

The customer appeared particularly interested in the expensive emerald gown that Emma had suggested she wear to Jesse's wedding. It was a lovely dress. One she had fallen in love with the moment she saw it in Saint Louis.

She squared her shoulders as she made her presence known. "May I help you?"