THE LONE SHERIFF
Harlequin Western historical ~ 75k
words
As if tracking down train robbers isn’t enough, now
Sheriff Jericho Silver’s backup detective is a
gun-toting, head-turning beauty who sure spells trouble.
Madison O’Donnell had the perfect life—a beautiful
home and all the ladies
luncheons she could stomach—but it left her bored to
tears. Now the determined widow fills
her days with daring deeds and wild adventures, including working with
Jericho. But he insists on her returning
to the city where she belongs and finds she is one lady who refuses to take no
for an answer.
Excerpt:
None of them looked remotely like a
Pinkerton man. A Pinkerton agent would
no doubt be wearing a proper suit. But
the only male who looked the least bit citified was Ike Bruhn, home from his
honeymoon with his new bride.
Sandy jiggled at his side. “Ya see ’im?”
“Nope,” Jerico grunted.
“Maybe he missed the train,” his deputy
suggested.
“Naw, must be here somewhere. Look for a gent in a gray suit.” Pinkerton men always wore grey to blend in
with crowds. He scanned the thronged
station platform again.
“Check inside, Sandy. Maybe he slipped past me.”
His deputy jogged off and Jericho perused
the crowd a third time. Nothing. Maybe Mr. Detective had chickened out at the
prospect of fingering an elusive outlaw gang that was robbing trains. He narrowed his eyes and turned to check the
station once more when someone stumbled smack into him.
“Oh, I am terribly sorry.” An extremely pretty young woman carrying a
green-striped parasol gazed up at him.
Her voice sounded like rich whiskey sliding over smooth river stones and
for a moment Jericho forgot what he’d come for.
She only came up to his shoulder and on her dark, piled-up hair sat the
most ridiculous concoction of feathers and stuffed birds he’d ever laid eyes
on.
He sucked in a breath to apologize, then
wished he hadn’t. Goddam she smelled
good. Soap and something flowery.
Made his head swim.
He stepped back. “’Scuse me, ma’am.”
She waved a gloved hand and peered at his
chest. “Oh, you are the sheriff.”
“Yeah, I am.”
She smiled and his mouth went dry. “You are just the man I want to see.”
Jericho swallowed. “You have a problem?”
“Oh, no.”
She twirled her parasol. “You have the problem. I have come to help.” She waited, an expectant look on her face.
“Help?” Jerico echoed.
“Of course.” The whiskey in her voice was now sliding over
some pointy rocks. “I am Madison
O’Donnell. The Smoke River Bank hired me
to help catch the gang robbing their gold shipments.”
Jericho stared at her.
“I believe you were expecting me?”
He snapped his jaw shut. He sure as hell wasn’t expecting her.
The last thing he’d expected was this frilly-looking female with her
ridiculous hat. In her green-striped
dress and twirling her parasol like that she made him think of a dish of cool
mint ice cream.
“Whatever is the matter, Sheriff? You have gone quite pale? Are you ill?”
He jerked at the question. Not ill, just gutshot. “Uh, yeah.
I mean No, I’m not ill. Just . .
. surprised.”
She lowered her voice. “Most Pinkerton clients are surprised when
they meet me. It will pass.”
Hell
no, it won’t.
Madison O’Donnell picked up her travel
bag. “Shall we go?”
Not on your life. “Uh, my deputy’s inside the station
house. ’Scuse me, ma’am.” He strode past her without looking back. Inside, he found Sandy talking to the ticket
seller.
“Charlie says nobody’s come in except the
two Weatherby women. You want me to hang
around and – ?”
Biography for Lynna Banning:
Lynna Banning combines a lifelong love of history and
literature into a satisfying career as a writer. Born in Oregon, she has lived in Northern
California most of her life. After
graduating from Scripps College she embarked on a career as an editor and
technical writer, and later as a high school English teacher.
An amateur pianist and harpsichordist, Lynna performs on
psaltery and harp in a medieval music ensemble, and she also plays cortholt,
recorders, and tar (drum). She enjoys
hearing from her readers. You may write
to her directly at P.O. Box 324, Felton, CA 95018, USA, or at carowoolston@att.net. Visit Lynna’s website at www.lynnabanning.net.
My review:
The author of this story always writes novels that I love. The Lone Sheriff is a story about a man who gets the surprise of his career. Sheriff Jericho Silver cannot believe his eyes when he realizes that he has to work with a young detective who happens to be a lady. Their reaction to each other is really funny at times. I really liked this novel. I give this book a 4/5. I was given this book for the purpose of a review and all opinions are my own.
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