Haunted Possession

By Kat Matthews

Abbey was always on her own. Raised in an orphanage and then set out to tackle life alone. Life was tough, then she found out just how tough it was when a brutal attack left her with a permanent limp and a slightly disfigured face. After a year of recovery she was ready to move far away from her brutal past.
She set her sights on Carson Creek Ranch in Texas where she landed a job as the ranch house attendant. It was perfect. She made lunches for the cowboys and had a boss who was more like a father to her. When she saw a brown haired steer wrangler with sun kissed hair and amazing body to boot, she knew she landed in heaven. Yet her past weighed heavily on her shoulders and she knew that she never had a chance with her amber-eyed cowboy.
Jericho Sands realized that there was such a thing as love at first sight. When he saw a tiny feminine beauty with long, soft, brown flowing hair and beautiful large hazel eyes holding a homemade glass of ice cold lemonade on a sweltering hot day in Texas.
He was sure he was seeing a mirage, an angel to quench his thirst and desires. When the angel looked directly into his eyes and blushed from the tips of her ears to the end of her cute little pixie nose, he knew love at first sight was real.
When strange things start happening to Abbey, his protective instincts kicked into high gear. But how can he protect her from a ghostly child she hears crying in the dark woods at night? How can he save her if she is hurt while hiking in the woods alone? Determined, he vows to stick by her side, yet even with him there, bizarre and disturbing things still happened to Abbey.
With renewed resolve, Jericho sets out to find everything he can about Abbey. But what he finds would not only change Abbey’s life forever, it would destroy his heart. And when the true dangers of Abbey’s past catch up with her, will deception take her from him? Or will his love and determination be strong enough to save the only woman he has ever loved from the evils of her past?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kat Matthews
• Release date: Jan 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311167347

Kat Matthews

Kat Matthews lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, one dog and a cat. She can be found many times either reading or writing all genres of romance. The never ending battering of her muse fills her imagination and forces her to write down her elaborate stories so the writing may never end. She would love to hear from her fans.

Book preview

Haunted Possession

* A Carson Creek Ranch Novel *

Kat Matthews

Copyright © 2016 Kat Matthews

Smashwords Edition

Published By

Kat Matthews at Smashwords

This book does not contain profanity nor any explicit adult content. However, this book does contain some violence. It is recommended for adult and young adult readers. Not recommended for children. Always review your underage daughter or son’s reading materials to understand any influence that may be presented to them. Our kids are precious gifts from God and very impressionable.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

Cover by Kat Matthews

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Epilogue

Synopsis

About the Author

Copyright

Other Books

Synopsis

Abbey was always on her own. Raised in an orphanage and then set out to tackle life alone. Life was tough, then she found out just how tough it was when a brutal attack left her with a permanent limp and a slightly disfigured face. After a year of recovery she was ready to move far away from her brutal past.

She set her sights on Carson Creek Ranch in Texas where she landed a job as the ranch house attendant. It was perfect. She made lunches for the cowboys and had a boss who was more like a father to her. When she saw a brown haired steer wrangler with sun kissed hair and amazing body to boot, she knew she landed in heaven. Yet her past weighed heavily on her shoulders and she knew that she never had a chance with her amber-eyed cowboy.

Jericho Sands realized that there was such a thing as love at first sight. When he saw a tiny feminine beauty with long, soft, brown flowing hair and beautiful large hazel eyes holding a homemade glass of ice cold lemonade on a sweltering hot day in Texas.

He was sure he was seeing a mirage, an angel to quench his thirst and desires. When the angel looked directly into his eyes and blushed from the tips of her ears to the end of her cute little pixie nose, he knew love at first sight was real.

When strange things start happening to Abbey, his protective instincts kicked into high gear. But how can he protect her from a ghostly child she hears crying in the dark woods at night? How can he save her if she is hurt while hiking in the woods alone? Determined, he vows to stick by her side, yet even with him there, bizarre and disturbing things still happened to Abbey.

With renewed resolve, Jericho sets out to find everything he can about Abbey. But what he finds would not only change Abbey’s life forever, it would destroy his heart. And when the true dangers of Abbey’s past catch up with her, will deception take her from him? Or will his love and determination be strong enough to save the only woman he has ever loved from the evils of her past?

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my son Matthew and daughter Katelyn who always endured my long hours of writing and reading. I love you both very much. Never give up your dreams, always keep God first, love one another and others and you will go far. You will always be the lights of my life.

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

-Romans 4:25

Chapter 1

Abbey stared out the window. It had been a long, dry summer. She stared at the dust being kicked up by the steer on the ranch. Jericho sauntered out of the barn and banged his cowboy hat against his dusty jeans. Heavens. Her heart rate picked up and sped along with her thoughts. He was an incredible looking man. Tall and built like a man who puts in hard labor on a ranch.

His sleeves were rolled up and the muscles in his forearms were straining as he wound up the thick, large rope, wrapping it elbow to hand. He suddenly looked up at the ranch house and she quickly ducked out of sight. Embarrassed, she chastised herself for being a peeping Tom. Serves her right. Besides, Jericho Sanders would never be interested in her. Only in her dreams.

She never really had a long conversation with him. Just a few smiles and hellos and normal conversation about the food or the weather. Once in a while he would ask her a personal question but she steered away from those.

She knew it drove the guys crazy but she wasn’t ready to talk to anyone about her past. Especially a year ago. She was finally semi-settled in a place she was comfortable with. She arrived here four months ago and was so glad for the job.

She saw an ad in the paper asking for a chef for the ranch hands and a live-in maid for the main house. She met a man named Woody Carson. He was a tall man in his mid-sixties. Strong, and gruff. He had salt and pepper hair that hung a bit past his neck with a short beard and mustache that finished off his look. But under that gruff and growling exterior was a very kind and giving soul.

As soon as she met him she felt...at home. It was an odd feeling since she never really had a home to begin with other than what she made for herself. She was raised in the system until she was of age, then set out and made a living for herself working various jobs in the city.

She wasn’t from Texas. She was from Atlanta Georgia. But once she ran into her trouble, or rather, trouble ran into her. She needed to get out of dodge in a hurry. She decided to head west and decided on Texas. She and her car and clothes went on a road trip. And she found herself, by the Grace of God, here at the Carson Creek Ranch.

She figured she would let God guide her and here she was. Happy for the first time in years. She really did feel like she was home. Everyone was so nice. She felt like she knew Woody all her life and figured they must be kindred spirits of some kind.

She only fed him one sandwich when she applied for the job and he said she was hired. It left her a little speechless but he just stared at her then said: Well, girl? What’cha waitin’ fer? Get ta makin’ those men some sandwiches an’ then I’ll show you where you’ll be stayin’ and we’ll talk about your salary an’ such matters. Go on now, he had said with a strong Texan accent and a firm nod. And that was that. She smiled thinking about it.

She felt so blessed despite what had happened to her. She looked back out the window and saw that Jericho was gone. Yeah, she wished she could get a man like him. But she was damaged, inside and out. She sighed and shook her head and made lunch.

Yeah, the only thing she had to look forward to was the innocent flirting that he did with her. But she would not kid herself, innocent flirting was all that it was. He never showed any true interest. Why would he? She sported a scar that ran from her temple across her cheek and to the outside edge of her mouth.

Her friend Jeannie back in Atlanta had told her it did not look bad at all and that she was still beautiful. But she had been privy to way too many stares for it to be Not bad. That wasn’t the full reason why though. Only a small part of why actually.

It was how she got her wound that crippled her ability to trust a man again. Hence her dressing like a frump. Always picking sizes larger than she was and covering everything. No way was she intending to attract attention to herself. She learned her lesson the first time. The hard way. However, being here seemed to heal her self-image. It was a work in progress.

She tried to grab a glass from the cabinet high above her. If she wasn’t so height challenged she could reach the confounded thing. Five foot three wasn’t too terribly short but it made far reaches nearly impossible. She reached and felt it teasing the tips of her fingers. She stretched more but it only served to push it deeper into the cabinet.

Here, let me help, a deep voice said behind her. Abbey screamed from shock and flung herself around. Unfortunately her arms swung with her and she clipped the side of the man right in his jaw. And to her horror, Jericho, grabbed his chin and shook his head. Of course it would be him.

That’s one serious left hook you have there, he said with a chuckle. She open and closed her mouth. Yeah, real smooth there Abbey. Here let me get that for you. She stared into his warm honeyed eyes and swallowed. His light brown hair had natural blonde highlights that only added to his allure. It was shaggy and just kissed his shoulders.

He reached up for the glass but kept his eyes on her. He smirked. Geez, could a man get any hotter? Nope. Not in her book. He raised his eyebrow and she blushed profusely. She looked away and swallowed wanting to be anywhere but trapped by this gorgeous man. Then again, it was certainly no chore.

Jericho inhaled as he leaned closer to her. She smelled like flowers and lemons. So good. Her brown silky hair was pulled back away from her face in a ponytail accenting her big hazel eyes. Ah she was such a little beauty and she didn’t even know it. Of course, that made her all the more appealing.

Here you go, Jericho said with a grin and handed her the glass.

Uh, thanks...short, she referred to herself with a sheepish smile. He winked at her and she blushed. Good grief. Now she can’t speak in coherent sentences. Worse part of it was that he seemed to know she was embarrassed. His grin widened and he walked over to the large table and plopped down in a seat.

Sorry for the left hook. You caught me by surprise.

Not a problem. Whew. I’m beat. That sun sure is hot out there, he said. This unofficial drought needs to end soon. Abbey smiled at him and poured him a tall icy glass of homemade lemonade.

Here, this should help, she said setting it down in front of him.

Thanks Abbey, you’re an angel, he said and drank it down. She smiled at him and walked back to the counter and continued to make the sandwiches for the ranch hands that would be arriving soon. Jericho was usually the first to show up. He told her before that it was so he could pick out the best sandwich on the platter.

She wished it was because he wanted to talk to her before the others came in. But that was just her fantasy. She secretly loved that he got here first. No matter how much she blushed over it. Well, it was usually a tie between Jericho and Austin getting here first. Both were incredibly fine looking men. They made a warm day into a scorcher.

She finished making the sandwiches and set the large platter on the table. She let him pick his sandwich and he gave her a wink. She smiled and looked quickly away. She set the platter on the counter and put out the paper plates and cups. They could walk up and serve themselves. It worked better that way.

Austin came in next. He was a ham and a half. Always flirting and sweeping the ladies off their feet. He was such a nice guy and gorgeous to boot with his dark longer locks of hair and mischievous blue eyes. Yet, he didn’t make her feel like Jericho did. Just thinking about his name filled her stomach with butterflies.

Abbey! The lunch goddess! he exclaimed. He walked quickly over to her and grabbed her up off her feet and swirled her around and planted a loud smacking kiss on her lips. She smacked at his shoulder and laughed.

Set the poor woman down Austin! She don’t need your dirty hands all over her. Get some sense, Jericho said. He sounded highly annoyed with Austin today. He always sounded annoyed when Austin tormented her. But today he sounded extra aggravated by him. He was probably afraid she would up and leave and make them do their own lunches. It was either that or the terrible heat.

Austin laughed and set her down.

Ah you’re just jealous I got to kiss her first, he said to Jericho with a wink to Abbey. She rolled her eyes.

Oh yeah, I’m so sure that’s what he’s thinkin’, she mumbled to herself.

What’s that? Austin asked.

Quit thinkin’ and git yourself a sandwich before they’re all gone, she said. Yeah, she was so sure Jericho was into frumpy women with scars and issues the size of the state she lived in. And Texas was no small measure.

I’m fixin’ to sugar, he said to her with a wink. Jericho growled at him and smacked him in the arm.

Leave her alone, Jericho said. Austin chuckled and grabbed a sandwich and sat down. Chavez came in next. He was a nice looking guy from Mexico and amazing with a lasso.

He grabbed a paper plate and a sandwich and poured himself a cup of lemonade. He smiled at her.

"Thanks Ms. Abbey. Looks muy delicioso." He gave her a wink.

Well y’all dig in, she said with a laugh. Walker came in next. Another great looking man. No wonder the women of the town seemed to flock to the ranch.

He was a brooding man. Very quiet and only offered a smile