Ruth Langan - Jade

Cover Page

Excerpt As Jade started out the door, Reverend Weston reached for the bolt of fabric in her hand. “I can manage,” she protested. “I’m sure you can.” He took it, held the door, then followed her to her rig. After setting the fabric carefully in the back, he covered it with an old quilt to protect it from the dust of the trail. “Thank you.” She climbed aboard and caught up the reins. “But you might not want to be seen doing nice things for me, Reverend.” She gave a meaningful glance at the window of the mercantile. “After all, what will the good people of Hanging Tree think about their minister being seen with a wicked woman? They might decide you’re unfit to hold prayer meetings in their town.” “I wouldn’t worry about my reputation if I were you, Miss Jewel. You’ll have enough to worry about with your own.” He gave her a dangerous smile and tipped his hat before sauntering away.

Dear Reader Dear Reader, Our very talented and multiaward-winning author Ruth Langan can now add USA Today bestselling author to her many accolades, and we at Harlequin Historicals would like to congratulate her and fellow Harlequin Historical author Mary McBride for making it onto the list with their short stories in our OUTLAW BRIDES collection. Ruth’s new series, THE JEWELS OF TEXAS, moves into full swing with this month’s Jade, the story of a small-town preacher who surrenders his soul to the town madam. Don’t miss this wonderful new story from one of our readers’ all-time favorite authors. In Kate Kingsley’s new Western, The Scout’s Bride, a determined young widow decides to accept the help of a rugged army scout who has made himself her unwanted protector. It’s a marriage-of-convenience story you won’t want to pass up if you enjoy a good Western. This month’s Lady Thorn, from Catherine Archer, about a Victorian heiress who falls in love with a sea captain, is—in the words of the reviewer from Affaire de Coeur —“impossible to put down.” And Josh Colter and Alexandria Gibson discover they are both looking for the same man in Susan Amarillas’s new Western, Wyoming Renegade. Susan’s last two books have won her 5* ratings from Affaire de Coeur, and fans have been eagerly awaiting this tale of two people who must choose between family, and love and honor. Whatever your taste in reading, we hope you’ll keep an eye out for all four titles wherever Harlequin Historicals are sold. Sincerely, Tracy Farrell Please address questions and book requests to: Harlequin Reader Service U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O.Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269 Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

Title Page Jade Ruth Langan www.millsandboon.co.uk

About The Author RUTH LANGAN traces her ancestry to Scotland and Ireland. It is no surprise, then, that she feels a kinship with the characters in her historical novels. Married to her childhood sweetheart, she has raised five children and lives in Michigan, the state where she was born and raised.

Dedication To Kelly Shea Langan and to her proud parents, Patty and Mike And, of course, to Tom, keeper of the flame

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Epilogue

Copyright

“I can manage,” she protested.

“I’m sure you can.” He took it, held the door, then followed her to her rig. After setting the fabric carefully in the back, he covered it with an old quilt to protect it from the dust of the trail.

“Thank you.” She climbed aboard and caught up the reins. “But you might not want to be seen doing nice things for me, Reverend.” She gave a meaningful glance at the window of the mercantile. “After all, what will the good people of Hanging Tree think about their minister being seen with a wicked woman? They might decide you’re unfit to hold prayer meetings in their town.”

“I wouldn’t worry about my reputation if I were you, Miss Jewel. You’ll have enough to worry about with your own.” He gave her a dangerous smile and tipped his hat before sauntering away.

Our very talented and multiaward-winning author Ruth Langan can now add USA Today bestselling author to her many accolades, and we at Harlequin Historicals would like to congratulate her and fellow Harlequin Historical author Mary McBride for making it onto the list with their short stories in our OUTLAW BRIDES collection. Ruth’s new series, THE JEWELS OF TEXAS, moves into full swing with this month’s Jade, the story of a small-town preacher who surrenders his soul to the town madam. Don’t miss this wonderful new story from one of our readers’ all-time favorite authors.

In Kate Kingsley’s new Western, The Scout’s Bride, a determined young widow decides to accept the help of a rugged army scout who has made himself her unwanted protector. It’s a marriage-of-convenience story you won’t want to pass up if you enjoy a good Western.

This month’s Lady Thorn, from Catherine Archer, about a Victorian heiress who falls in love with a sea captain, is—in the words of the reviewer from Affaire de Coeur —“impossible to put down.” And Josh Colter and Alexandria Gibson discover they are both looking for the same man in Susan Amarillas’s new Western, Wyoming Renegade. Susan’s last two books have won her 5* ratings from Affaire de Coeur, and fans have been eagerly awaiting this tale of two people who must choose between family, and love and honor.

Whatever your taste in reading, we hope you’ll keep an eye out for all four titles wherever Harlequin Historicals are sold.

Sincerely,

Tracy Farrell

Please address questions and book requests to:

Harlequin Reader Service

U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O.Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

www.millsandboon.co.uk

traces her ancestry to Scotland and Ireland. It is no surprise, then, that she feels a kinship with the characters in her historical novels.

Married to her childhood sweetheart, she has raised five children and lives in Michigan, the state where she was born and raised.

To Kelly Shea

Langan and to her proud parents, Patty and Mike

And, of course, to Tom, keeper of the flame

San Francisco1867

“Come back to Texas with me, Ahn Lin.” Onyx Jewel lay among the tangled sheets, looking pleasantly sated.

“You know I cannot.” The young woman crossed to the bed wearing a flowing crimson kimono embroidered with Oriental symbols. She had sashed the robe carelessly, leaving as much revealed as covered.

He watched the fluid walk, enjoying the sway of her hips, the jut of her breasts, the subtle billowing of silk with each movement.

She was the most exotic creature he had ever known. Tiny, delicate and perfectly formed. Hair as black as a raven’s wing, falling nearly to her hips. Pouting lips that begged to be kissed. And dark eyes that seemed to see clear to a man’s soul.