A Colorado Christmas

By Virginia Brown

Once an outlaw, always an outlaw? Has Caitlin returned to her old ways, despite marriage and motherhood? Can Jake rescue her before she's lost forever?
Even after seven years of marriage and four children, he still had the power to make her body tingle and her senses reel. There had always been that between them, since the first time they'd met. It was what had kept them together in the beginning, even against incredible odds. And now--now she wasn't certain that attraction was enough anymore. There were other things that mattered, unanswered questions that circled in her mind and destroyed her peace. She had to get away for a while to think things through.

Caitlin Lassiter tearfully boards a train with hers and Jake's children in tow, planning to spend Christmas with her brother, Devon, and his wife, Maggie. Then fate throws an old enemy in her way--Charwell, a fellow bandit from her lawless years. He's boarded her train to rob the passengers, and when he recognizes "Colorado Kate," he kidnaps her to help him pull off some bigger jobs. Now it's up to Jake, Devon,¬ and Maggie to find her before the Law does, because it certainly looks like Colorado Kate has gone back to the wrong side of justice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BelleBooks
• Release date: Nov 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781611943900

Virginia Brown

Virginia Brown has written more than fifty historical and contemporary romance novels. Many of her books have been nominated for Romantic Times' Reviewer's Choice Award, Career Achievement Award for Love and Laughter, and Career Achievement Award for Adventure. She is also the author of the bestselling Dixie Diva mystery series and the acclaimed, award-winning, mainstream Southern drama/mystery, Dark River Road.

Book preview

Once an outlaw, always an outlaw?

Has Caitlin returned to her old ways, despite marriage and motherhood? Can Jake rescue her before she’s lost forever?

EVEN AFTER SEVEN years of marriage and four children he still had the power to make her body tingle and her senses reel. There had always been that between them, since the first time they’d met. It was what had kept them together in the beginning, even against incredible odds. And now—now she wasn’t certain that attraction was enough anymore. There were other things that mattered, unanswered questions that circled in her mind and destroyed her peace. She had to get away for a while to think things through.

———

Caitlin Lassiter tearfully boards a train with hers and Jake’s children in tow, planning to spend Christmas with her brother Devon and his wife, Maggie. Then fate throws an old enemy in her way—Charwell, a fellow bandit from her lawless years. He’s boarded her train to rob the passengers, and when he recognizes Colorado Kate, he kidnaps her to help him pull off some bigger jobs. Now it’s up to Jake, Devon and Maggie to find her before the Law does, because it certainly looks like Colorado Kate has gone back to the wrong side of justice.

Other Books from Virginia Brown

Virginia Brown is the author of more than 50 novels in romance, mystery and general fiction. Bell Bridge Books is proud to publish these Virginia Brown titles

The Dixie Diva Mysteries

Dixie Divas

Drop Dead Divas

Dixie Diva Blues

Divas And Dead Rebels

Divas Do Tell

The Blue Suede Memphis Mysteries

Hound Dog Blues

Harley Rushes In

Suspicious Mimes

Return to Fender

General Fiction

Dark River Road

Historical Romance

Comanche Moon * Capture the Wind

Savage Awakening * Defy The Thunder

Storm of Passion * Wild Heart

Legacy of Shadows * Moonflower

Desert Dreams * Heaven Sent

Wildfire * Renegade Embrace

Emerald Nights * Hidden Touch

Wildflower * Wildest Heart

Jade Moon * Highland Hearts

A Colorado Christmas

by

Virginia Brown

Bell Bridge Books

Copyright

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events or locations is entirely coincidental.

Bell Bridge Books

PO BOX 300921

Memphis, TN 38130

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-61194-390-0

Bell Bridge Books is an Imprint of BelleBooks, Inc.

Copyright © 1996 by Virginia Brown

Printed and bound in the United States of America.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

This story was originally published in the anthology Deck the Halls by Kensington Zebra in 1996

We at BelleBooks enjoy hearing from readers.

Visit our websites – www.BelleBooks.com and www.BellBridgeBooks.com.

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Cover design: Debra Dixon

Interior design: Hank Smith

Photo/Art credits:

Train (manipulated) © Nilsz | Dreamstime.com

Cowboy (manipulated) © Ekaterina Yudina | Dreamstime.com

:Eccv:01:

A Note from Virginia Brown

To My Readers:

I hope you enjoy Colorado Christmas. It was written for those of you who wrote asking for another story about Jake, Caitlin, Devon, and Maggie. Jake and Caitlin first met in Wildflower, and Wildest Heart was Devon and Maggie’s story. Even though the course of true love may not always run smooth, with a little work there’s always a happy ending . . .

—Virginia

One

December 6, 1888

THIS IS STUPID. I ought to sling you over my shoulder and take you home right now.

Jake Lassiter glared at Caitlin, his mouth set in a tight line. People milled about them on the train platform, but he didn’t attempt to lower his voice. His temper was so obviously frayed that she took a cautious step back.

Jake, we’ve already discussed this . . .

Yeah, and I still haven’t changed my mind.

Caitlin eyed him with wary trepidation. She nervously shoved her gloved hands into the fur muff dangling from her wrist. It was no warmer on the open platform than it was inside the drafty station house, and she’d just as soon deal with an angry husband outside as in.

It was an effort to keep her voice calm when she said, "I realize that. But neither have I changed my mind."

Jake’s eyes narrowed slightly. Despite the frigid air, he was hatless. His long, dark hair curled over the turned-up collar of his heavy sheepskin coat; a brisk wind tumbled strands into his eyes. Caitlin suppressed the urge to reach out and brush them back.

Jake looked away from her. His black eyes focused on distant Colorado peaks wreathed in clouds. The silence between them was colder than an icy mountain stream. After a moment he wrenched his gaze back to her and said in a rough growl, You should stay here and fight it out. Like we always do.

That’s just it. Caitlin swallowed the huge lump in her throat that threatened to choke her. Every time we argue you win. Nothing is ever settled.

Jake’s eyes narrowed even more. If I always win, then it’s settled now. You’re staying here.

No, not this time, Jake. You only win because you’re louder. I’m tired of always being the one to give in. She drew in a deep breath of cold air to steady her nerves and wished she knew the right thing to say. But what could she say? That she loved him? Oh yes, but that would only end with Jake smiling his crooked little smile and cajoling her back into his arms. It would settle nothing. She needed time. Time to think, to rearrange her priorities and try and figure out exactly what was making her so unhappy in Colorado—and with Jake. She wished she knew.

Jake took a step closer, and she could feel the tension in him even from a foot away. She clutched her fur muff more tightly, as if it were a barrier between them, and he jerked to a halt only