Sacred Hearts: The Queen of Hearts Mini Romance Series, #1

By R. Stone

As if the town of El Dorado, Colorado didn't already have enough to gossip about, cattle rustling! Hundred’s of cattle from local ranches were disappearing and it all began around the same time that Native American Chavez Eagle-Feather appeared. He worked the local ranches too many and too quickly and the rumors that followed weren't pretty – that he couldn't hold a job or keep his hands off the rancher’s wives. 

Courtney first met him at the McGregor ranch and he was more handsome than she imagined any man could be, when she’d looked into his piercing black eyes her heart softened, she hadn't felt like that in a long time, it frightened her - not of him but of herself and the feelings he stirred within her – she’d sworn never to let herself be hurt again. Their first words were those of an argument, words she would later regret.      
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Mad Writer
• Release date: Jan 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9780692369708

Book preview

Sacred Hearts

R. Stone

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. This book contains adult content.

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold, copied or shared electronically. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.

Sacred Hearts © Copyright 1999

Author: R. Stone

Cover Artist: Tatiana Vila

Publisher: The Mad Writer

Editor: Nicole Hockert

Formatter: Jesse Gordon

ISBN: 978-0692369708

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in book reviews. This book contains adult content.

THE QUEEN OF

HEARTS MINI ROMANCE SERIES

Setting: El Dorado, a small town located on the outskirts of Durango, Colorado.

Cast of Characters:

The Four Foreman: Ghost, a cattle rustler whose real name is unknown even to his men, Kyle, Kip and Dane.

Courtney Sully: A women determined not to be hurt again.

Reene Sully: Courtney’s sister.

Grandma Evelyn Sully: Courtney’s grandmother.

Chavez Eagle-Feather: A drifter who showed up in El Dorado and is working the local ranches.

Mr. & Mrs. Allen: Owner of the largest cattle ranch in El Dorado.

Mr. McGregor: Owner of the second largest cattle ranch in El Dorado.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith: Owner of the third largest cattle ranch in El Dorado.

Mr. & Mrs. McCallister: Owner of the fourth largest cattle ranch in El Dorado.

Elma Pontine: Owner of a small General Store in El Dorado.

Martha Harting: Runs the main street Post Office.

Elsy Bunker: Runs the town hall.

Trudy Mason: Owns the town dinner.

Loretta Wilson: Owner of Loretta’s Beauty Shop

Henry Biehlson: The town Sheriff.

Jim and Jesse Cannon: Deputies.

Dedication: To John Stone, my dad and favorite cowboy who now rides the open ranges of heaven and to my Granny Stone whose ruggedness, strength and courage prepared us for whatever this world could throw at us.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

0. Prolouge

1. Ghost Rider in the Sky

2. Rumors Have It

3. The Desperado

4. The Dance

5. Thunder Rolls

6. His Cheating Heart

7. Cow Girls Shouldn’t Cry

8. Hang Em High

9. My Boots Were Made for Walking

10. Do You Like Me Now?

11. Stand by Your Man, or Not

12. Home out on the Range

13. Remember the Alamo

14. If Tomorrow Ever Comes

15. Down to the Last Teardrop

16. Amazing Grace

17. How Will I live Without You?

18. When Forever Comes

About the Author

Other Books by R. Stone

PROLOGUE

The fire burned brightly against the blackness of the night sky and the smoke overhead lingered like a Cloud of Wisdom or at least that’s what my Grandfather Sam Eagle-Feather called it - he believed it helped bring the visions. I sat on the ground cross-legged next to my grandfather while he threw herbs on the fire and created more smoke, it had been a while since I’d attended a Navajo vision quest. He continued speaking, his voice changing between English and our native tongue of Navajo, You must journey up the mountain - there is one who needs your help.

What mountain? I asked knowing that I shouldn’t interrupt him.

He chanted then waved an eagle feather back and forth over the open flames. There is great danger there but trust your heart it will show you the way. He chanted some more, Only the water can save you.

I had sat through vision quests before, but they’d never been directed at me and it made my nerves stand on end.

This is what I see, my grandfather said, his vision had ended.

We stood up, Good night Grandfather, I leave in the morning for El Dorado.

Good night Grandson, travel safe.

CHAPTER 1

GHOST RIDER IN THE SKY

IT WAS HOTTER THAN HELL IN GALLUP NEW MEXICO. I stood alongside the dirt road as the wind blew sand into the air while I looked out at the open desert. Kyle’s voice rang out to me from the cattle truck.

Ghost, we need to get going.

I turned my head to him, nodded then recalled the day’s events, a well planned operation turned to shit, a truck full of cattle and three men who couldn’t follow a simple order. It should have been an in and out job, just a couple of hours but that didn’t happen today. I recalled how the rancher and his wife caught us red handed and if Dane hadn’t got the drop on them - no telling what would have happened. I yelled out to Kyle over the roar of the diesel engine as it idled loudly, Get that truck loaded and moving, we are running out of time, this is the biggest disaster yet!

Kyle climbed out of the truck and approached me. It wasn’t my fault Ghost, Kip should have checked and made sure they were gone first.

I pointed to the couple who sat bound and gagged on the ground next to the truck. I don’t care whose fault it is, now we have a mess to clean up.

Kyle stopped in front of me. What are we going to do with them?

I shook my head at him. They’ve seen our faces, what do you think we’re going to do?

The expression on Kyle’s face changed from curiosity to fear. Not me Ghost, that ain’t part of the deal I don’t kill anyone.

I laughed. It’s not my problem either it’s you and your brother Kips’ problem.

Kyle’s brown eyes widened. I am not killing them and especially the girl I don’t kill women.

One of you will take care of them, it’s your mess and you’ll clean it up.

Kip walked up and stood beside his brother Kyle. What’s going on?

I looked at the two dark haired twin brothers and laughed. I just told your brother, Kyle how you and he are going over there to take care of those two.

Kip looked nervous. Ghost, why don’t we just leave them here, they’re tied up nice and tight and can’t get away - they don’t know who we are.

I yelled at them both. They’ve seen our faces and I am not willing of take that chance.

Dane leaned out of the cab of the truck, Come on, we’re burning daylight.

I watched Kip and Kyle exchange glances once more and it was obvious that neither one of them were going to take care of the rancher and his wife. I shook my head at them, You candy ass mama’s boys. I walked toward the couple and stopped just a few feet from them, took out my gun from my shoulder holster and fired twice. I looked back at Kip and Kyle. That’s what I get for hiring boys now get your asses in the truck - El Dorado is our next stop.

Kip and Kyle moved quickly to the truck and got in. I followed behind them then climbed in last and we drove off. When I looked back out my window down the dirt road I knew that what I’d done had been necessary. All that would remain at the scene were the tire tracks from this truck and the two dead bodies that would soon be discovered.

* * *

What do you make of it Sheriff Randall?

I looked over at Deputy Baker then back at the crime scene. Same as the other crimes I recon, looks like the work of the Four Foreman.

Deputy Baker shook his head at me. Are you sure Sheriff Randall?

I touched the brim of my cowboy hat and tilted it downward to shield my eyes from the sun. Looks like it, it’s the same MO, the most notorious gang of cattle rustlers in history - first they hit Texas, then Nevada, Arizona and now New Mexico. They’re dam clean and organized - but this time something must have gone wrong, they’ve never killed before, or at least not that we know about.

It does look like they were in a big hurry Sheriff.

I agree they left the bodies out in the open like that.

Sheriff, how much you figure they got away with?

I shrugged my shoulders. Can’t say for sure but I am guessing a truckload of cattle will bring them around forty-thousand dollars.

Sheriff, should we call in the FBI?

I shook my head at Deputy Baker, I don’t think so, other counties that got hit have been handling their own investigations and the FBI wasn’t interested before. They got more important things to do than worry about cattle rustlers.

Yep, but maybe this time, because the murders?

No, we’ll handle it ourselves - it might be good publicity, some other sheriff’s made headlines handling their own investigation and a couple even got re-elected by swearing to bring in the rustlers, I think we will do the same. Let’s get out of here.

CHAPTER 2

RUMORS HAVE IT

I stood in front of the full length mirror in my bedroom gazing at the image of petite woman in her late-twenties with green eyes and mid-length dark blonde hair, who hadn’t recovered from a bad marriage. I stepped away from the mirror, grabbed my wrangler jeans off the back of a chair then slipped them on. As I struggled with them I cursed myself for the two pieces of cherry pie that I’d eaten last night. I knew that I wasn’t overweight but the way my wrangler jeans fit dictated what would be on the upcoming menu. I grabbed a pink tank top that hung in my closet then threw it on, recalling that the projected temperature for today had a high of ninety-five degrees. Next, I grabbed my ten year old, size seven, worn out cowboy boots and slipped my feet into them. Dam, I need a new pair, I thought but knew that replacing them would be like parting with an old friend. I stepped over to my window and looked outside - it looked like a beautiful day, "Why wouldn’t it be, July is a beautiful month in Colorado?" I thought. The ringing out of my grandmother’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

Courtney honey, are you almost ready for breakfast?

I yelled back to her. I’ll be down in a minute Granny.

Is your sister awake yet?

No, Granny, I’ll wake her. I walked out of my room, down the hallway to my sister’s room then knocked. Reene, wake up Granny’s got breakfast ready and if you want a ride to the feed store you need to hurry, I am leaving in twenty minuets.

I’m awake I’ll be down in a minute.

I walked downstairs to the kitchen and found my grandmother standing at the stove making breakfast. What’s for breakfast?

Granny Sully turned her head to me. We’ve got bacon, eggs, biscuits and plenty of coffee. Did you wake Reene?

I sat down at the kitchen table. Yes, she’ll be down in a minute. I gazed at my five-foot three-inch grandmother whose hair was mostly gray but still had a little red left in it.

She continued preparing the food as she spoke to me. What do you ladies, have planned for today?

I am going to drop Reene at work – at the feed store and do some shopping while I’m there for Mr. Allen then I am driving to the McGregor Ranch to pick up an Appaloosa horse that Mr. Allen bought then deliver it the Allen Ranch.

Granny Sully shook her head from side to side. I don’t know how you can do all that in just one day.

I laughed, "Somehow it gets done but I must admit I’ve been really busy the last week - two other veterinarians who treat large animals are