Kathryn Albright - The Gunslinger and the Heiress

“Caleb … stop, please.”

He squeezed his eyes shut and then, breathing hard, pulled back. “You do realize this changes things?”

At her silence, he looked up from his task.

“It can’t change, Caleb. I can’t—”

Thunderclouds gathered on his brow. “I must be the biggest fool west of the continental divide. Even now you are thinking of going through with marrying Rowlings?”

“Don’t you understand? I can’t think about just me!”

He stood and buckled on his gun belt, shoving his gun into its holster. “Don’t explain it. I don’t want to hear it again. Look. I don’t fault you for being loyal to your family, but you need to figure out if that is more important than being loyal to yourself.”

An obstetrics nurse, sonographer and medical writer, KATHRYN ALBRIGHTwas delighted to add ‘published novelist’ to her bio when her first completed manuscript made the finals in the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Contest and was picked up by Harlequin ®Mills & Boon. She writes Americanset historical romance, and her award-winning books are inspired by the real people and events of the past. She lives in the Midwest and loves to hear from her readers at www.kathrynalbright.com

I’ve had several readers write and ask what happened to Hannah, the little girl from my first book THE ANGEL AND THE OUTLAW. She’s all grown up now, and it is a pleasure to bring you her story here.

I enjoy the colourful history of my hometown, San Diego. Many of the unique facts I learn show up in my stories. 1888, the setting for THE GUNSLINGER AND THE HEIRESS, was a time when Wyatt Earp owned three businesses in town, when the famous Hotel Del Coronado had its grand opening, and when a young boy stumbled into town saying he had been living with pirates off the coast. No one believed him until he produced a few items from the stolen pirate booty.

I love to hear from my readers. You can find me online at www.kathrynalbright.com, on Facebook, and at Goodreads. Stop by and say hi.

The Gunslinger

and the Heiress

Kathryn Albright

www.millsandboon.co.uk

For my sons—Beau, Zachary and Cole.

You are my inspiration for every hero …

Contents

Cover

Excerpt His kiss deepened—demanded more—and suddenly she was nervous. “Caleb … stop, please.” He squeezed his eyes shut and then, breathing hard, pulled back. “You do realize this changes things?” At her silence, he looked up from his task. “It can’t change, Caleb. I can’t—” Thunderclouds gathered on his brow. “I must be the biggest fool west of the continental divide. Even now you are thinking of going through with marrying Rowlings?” “Don’t you understand? I can’t think about just me!” He stood and buckled on his gun belt, shoving his gun into its holster. “Don’t explain it. I don’t want to hear it again. Look. I don’t fault you for being loyal to your family, but you need to figure out if that is more important than being loyal to yourself.”

About the Author An obstetrics nurse, sonographer and medical writer, KATHRYN ALBRIGHT was delighted to add ‘published novelist’ to her bio when her first completed manuscript made the finals in the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Contest and was picked up by Harlequin ® Mills & Boon. She writes Americanset historical romance, and her award-winning books are inspired by the real people and events of the past. She lives in the Midwest and loves to hear from her readers at www.kathrynalbright.com

Author Note AUTHOR NOTE I’ve had several readers write and ask what happened to Hannah, the little girl from my first book THE ANGEL AND THE OUTLAW. She’s all grown up now, and it is a pleasure to bring you her story here. I enjoy the colourful history of my hometown, San Diego. Many of the unique facts I learn show up in my stories. 1888, the setting for THE GUNSLINGER AND THE HEIRESS, was a time when Wyatt Earp owned three businesses in town, when the famous Hotel Del Coronado had its grand opening, and when a young boy stumbled into town saying he had been living with pirates off the coast. No one believed him until he produced a few items from the stolen pirate booty. I love to hear from my readers. You can find me online at www.kathrynalbright.com, on Facebook, and at Goodreads. Stop by and say hi.

Title Page The Gunslinger and the Heiress Kathryn Albright www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dedication For my sons—Beau, Zachary and Cole. You are my inspiration for every hero …

Prologue

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

Copyright

Prologue

San Francisco Bay, 1883

“Look lively, Scrapper. We be dockin’ soon. Need you on deck.”

Caleb opened his eyes, letting in a sliver of light.

In response, Squid squared a hard boot to his side, rocking the rope hammock in a violent arc.

“Back off!” Awake now, Caleb stretched his back against the stiffness that had taken over his body, and then swung his feet to the plank flooring. He rubbed the remaining sleep from his face, wincing when he discovered his bruised and cut bottom lip.

“Gor. Look at you.”

“Trask and Corcoran deserved everything they got,” he muttered. He’d only protected what was his.

“Good thing you’re getting off. Corcoran is fair anxious to have you gone.”

“That makes two of us. I didn’t sign on to dance with him.” All he’d been lookin’ for when he’d boarded the clipper in Windham Bay was to work his way south. It had been the captain who had offered a bonus if he’d stay on. The permanent crew, namely Trask and Corcoran, had taken offense. Last night their petty jealousy had turned on a new tack, bypassed annoying and headed straight to ugly when they’d learned he’d had some luck in the gold fields. It wasn’t information he bandied about, so how they’d come across it was a mystery. Whatever the case, they’d come out of the scuffle in worse shape than he had. Gingerly, he touched his lip again. Scabbed over. He’d heal. He always did.

Squid gave him the once-over, apparently decided he was up and moving and left.

Caleb walked to the porthole and surveyed the shoreline. The ship maneuvered through the deepest channel of the harbor toward the docks. Shipyards and warehouses lined the waterfront in a familiar pattern like every other port he’d ever entered. But this was San Francisco, which made all the difference. It wasn’t home. Not once in his twenty-four years did he remember having a true home, even though his sister, Rachel, had tried her best. He let out a long breath. No, Frisco wasn’t home, but when her letter had finally tracked him down, he’d known he had to come back. He’d read it in the spaces between her words. With her first baby on the way, she was scared—scared things might be the same for her as it had been for their mother the night he was born. Heck, he was worried, too. Rachel had always been there for him. It was time he returned the favor.

* * *

A thick border of red and blue flowers bobbed in the summer breeze, issuing a light scent along the stone path to the front door. Rachel would know their name. She’d planted them on his last visit, talking on and on about how they’d look when he came back in a year.