The Brides of Cactus Gap Short Story Bundle #2

By Anna St. James

Historical Inspirational Western Romance
Four Short Stories for the price of three!!!
Sweet and Clean

THE RANCHER'S BAD-LUCK BRIDE

Bad luck follows Celia Thompson into Texas where she goes with her new husband to start a new life. A tragic misfortune leaves her stranded and alone in the middle of the rugged West Texas wilderness.
When Nate Walker sees buzzards circling in the distance, he rides out to investigate. He discovers a young widow, who is ill and in dire straights. He takes her to his ranch to rest and recuperate. In time, Celia recovers her health, but can her heart heal enough to accept and return Nate's love?

THE RANCHER'S SECOND-CHANCE BRIDE

Two sweethearts torn apart . . .

One day after school, Josh Stone and Emma Carter pledge their love to one another beneath the old kissing tree. Then Josh's life takes a drastic turn when his father dies. He must work night and day to save his ranch and has no time for courtship. Emma's father sends her to Atlanta to live with her grandmother so she can forget about Josh. But she can't.
True love reunited . . .

After five long years, Emma finally returns to Cactus Gap. When she meets Josh again, their time apart fades away, and their love still burns strong. Can they take up where they left off? Will they be able to overcome the obstacles of pride and prejudice to find their happy-ever-after?

THE RANCHER'S BLUE RIBBON BRIDE
You know what they say: The way to a man's heart is through his stomach . . .

Maddie Carmichael is darn near the best cook in Cactus Gap, and she has the blue ribbons to prove it. She loves Chet Grayson, but can't marry him because of a promise she made to her dying mother. Maddie's loyalty to her family only makes Chet love her more. He vows to find a way so they can be married. Will he succeed and win his blue ribbon bride?

THE RANCHER'S RUNAWAY BRIDE
When her pa promises her hand to a man older than himself, Cora Hodges has no choice but to run away. With no kith or kin to turn to, she flees the only home she’s ever known and seeks help from her good friend, Gabe Sanders. If anyone can help her out of her predicament, that rugged rancher will be more than able. But will the handsome rancher be willing?
Gabe's friendly feelings for Cora have undergone a drastic change since she’s grown into a beautiful young woman. When Cora comes to him in dire need of rescue, what’s a fella to do but offer matrimony and the protection of his name? But how will Gabe endure a marriage in name only, loving Cora the way he does?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anna St. James
• Release date: Sep 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370514908

Anna St. James

Anna St. James grew up watching the classic westerns during the golden age of television. Rawhide, The Rifleman, Gunsmoke, The Wild, Wild West and Bonanza were just a few of her favorites.Later on she became a fan of Little House on the Prairie and Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman; and later still, The Love Comes Softly Series and Sarah Plain and Tall.Her love of Texas and history made writing historical western romances a natural choice. Married to her own special hero, Anna makes her home in the Lone Star State.Anna St. JamesClassic Romance: Short and SweetHistorical Western RomanceInspirational RomanceSign up to receive emails announcing Anna's new releases:http://www.annastjames.com

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THE BRIDES OF CACTUS GAP

Short Story Bundle # 2

by Anna St. James

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Copyright © 2016 by Anna St. James

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Rancher's Bad-Luck Bride

The Rancher's Second-Chance Bride

The Rancher's Blue Ribbon Bride

The Rancher's Runaway Bride

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THE RANCHER'S BAD-LUCK BRIDE

A Brides of Cactus Gap Short Story

by Anna St. James

Anna's Website

Anna's Facebook Page

Sign up for Anna's New Releases

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Bad luck follows Celia Thompson into Texas where she goes with her new husband to start a new life. A tragic misfortune leaves her stranded and alone in the middle of the rugged West Texas wilderness.

When Nate Walker sees buzzards circling in the distance, he rides out to investigate. He discovers a young widow, who is ill and in dire straights. He takes her to his ranch to rest and recuperate. In time, Celia recovers her health, but can her heart heal enough to accept and return Nate's love?

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The Rancher's Bad-Luck Bride

Copyright © 2015 by Anna St. James

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This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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The Rancher's Bad-Luck Bride

by Anna St. James

Dear Lord, please . . . please, help me.

Celia Thompson sat huddled beneath a pile of heavy quilts in the back of her covered wagon amidst all her worldly possessions. She swiped at a tear trailing down her cheek. What good were worldly possessions, when she'd lost her dear husband? The man who'd saved her from a fate worse than death?

The brisk West Texas air whipped through the mesquite trees, blowing the wagon tarp with a ferocity that was frightening. Celia adjusted the quilts more securely around her shoulders and legs.

Why, oh why, had she and Jimmy ever decided to move to Texas? Why couldn't they have stayed in Georgia where they'd at least had family and friends? Sure, they'd been dirt poor. Most everyone was ever since the war. Scratching out a living seemed like heaven compared to this hellish nightmare she'd been plunged into.

Celia snuggled deeper down into her nest made of quilts. She knew why they'd made the move. Jimmy had received a letter from his uncle inviting him to come live and work with him on his ranch in the Texas Panhandle. Even though the letter had been dirty and crumpled with a year-old postmark, it had seemed like a sign from God pointing them towards a better life. Lots of folks had gone to Texas after the war to start fresh. Land was cheap there, Jimmy had said. He could work for Uncle Wiley, and they could save towards buying their own ranch some day.

This is my chance, Celia. Might be my only chance.

Oh how she wished she and Jimmy had never left home.

They'd had nothing but bad luck since they'd crossed the state line into Texas over two weeks ago. Jimmy had been taken ill with fever and chills the day after they'd stopped in Waco for supplies. They'd pushed on, following the trail on the hand-drawn map Uncle Wiley had sent with his letter, watching for landmarks he'd noted down. It was rough going in the wagon, with scarcely a sign of human habitation as far as the eye could see. They passed no towns, no settlements.

When they'd made it to the Double Mountains, Celia had taken over the reins while Jimmy lay in the wagon bed getting sicker and weaker. By the time she'd forded Coyote Creek, Jimmy had been delirious with the fever, and one of the horses had gone dead lame.

She'd been forced to stop and make camp, but she'd been pretty sure they had made it onto Uncle Wiley's land. Jimmy had died the next morning. She'd had to shoot the horse.

That had been three days ago. Seemed like an eternity.

Celia rocked back and forth, shivering beneath the quilts. Now she was running a fever and couldn't get warm. Her teeth chattered, and she clamped her jaws tight to keep them still. She coughed and sniffled and clamped her jaws together again.

She'd done her best to give Jimmy a decent burial. He'd been her friend as well as her husband. After she'd dug the grave, she'd read a verse from the Bible and said a prayer. Her hands were raw and blistered from shoveling the dirt for the grave. She hadn't been a bride for very long, and now she was a widow.

She tried her best to keep the faith, but it was difficult when faced with such trials and tribulations. Mama had always said God never gave you more than you could handle, but Celia didn't know how much more she could take.

She'd been bound and determined to ride Bonnie to Uncle Wiley's house just as soon as she got better. Then she could travel on a train heading east toward home.

But after considering that plan more carefully, Celia thought maybe it wasn't such a good idea. What with mama gone, and now Jimmy, it was only her pa and stepbrothers left at home. And Pa wouldn't waste any time marrying her off again. No, she decided she wouldn't go back to Georgia. She'd probably fare better just to settle in a small Texas town and find some kind of decent work.

Only none of that mattered now. She wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. Bonnie had worked her tether loose during the night and run away. Celia would have to walk to get to wherever she was going as soon as she was physically able.

How much bad luck could one person live through anyway?

So here she was, sitting in the back of the wagon, her food supply almost gone and winter settling in. What in the world was she going to do? She sneezed and coughed and tried not to cry. Was she going to die out here all alone on the Texas prairie?

Dear Lord, are you listening? Can you hear my prayers?

A horse neighed in the distance, and Celia sat up straight. Had Bonnie decided to return? Just as her hopes kindled warmly in her heart, they were dashed when a man's low-pitched voice called out: Hello! Anyone there?

Suddenly, every nerve ending stood on alert. Celia took a deep breath and grabbed the saddle rifle. She cocked the lever, dropped the cartridge into the barrel . . . and waited.

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Nate Walker waited on the south side of Coyote Creek for the last of his cattle to cross over, before herding them homeward to the corral. The dark heavy clouds in the northwest threatened a big storm moving their way, and he wanted the animals safe and closer to the ranch house in case the weather turned nasty and freezing. He had too much invested in the cattle to be careless of their welfare now or at any time.

Six buzzards circled in the gray sky, a little to the east. He'd noticed them earlier, and now he had the time to investigate. Hey, Shorty! You and Leroy go on and take the herd in. I'm going to go see what those buzzards are after.

Yes, boss. With a nod and a wave from his foreman, Nate turned his horse toward the canyon. He gave Chester free rein, and the stallion was off like the wind heading in the direction of the buzzards. He and Chester had been itching for a good run all day. Well, now they had their chance.

Chester's hooves ate up the distance in no time. It wasn't long before they were crossing the boundary between the Triple O Ranch and old Wiley's place. Nate chuckled to himself. There was no boundary anymore. He'd wanted Wiley's place for years, and now it was his. He guessed it would take a little while before the reality sunk completely in.

Rutherford Wiley had been an ornery old man and a troublesome neighbor. He'd never married and had no children. Knowing the old man had been delinquent on his taxes, Nate had offered to buy the two sections of his land that abutted the Triple O Ranch time and time again, but Wiley had never agreed.

When Wiley had died last year, no will had been found. There'd been no heirs that anyone had heard of, only a rumor of kinfolk living somewhere in the East. Inquiries had been sent, notices had been printed in some of the large city newspapers, but no one had come forward to claim the land.

After a decent amount of time had passed, the bank had begun foreclosure proceedings. Nate had been first in line at the land clerk's office, and it hadn't taken long before the paperwork was drawn up, signed and notarized. Nate was finally the proud owner of the twelve hundred acres he'd been coveting for so long. He still couldn't believe it sometimes.

Nate reined in Chester on top of the ridge and looked down on the little valley below. He whistled under his breath, not liking what he saw. Not liking it at all. A covered wagon, a dead horse and a newly dug grave.

Trouble, that's what it was. Trouble with a capital T.

He guided Chester down the ravine and rode closer to the wagon. The dead horse was bloated, and the coyotes had obviously enjoyed a feast. The buzzards were circling overhead, waiting for their turn.

Chester whimpered and sidled away from the unfortunate horse lying on its side. Thank goodness it was wintertime, otherwise, the carcass would stink to high heaven.

Nate dismounted and kept hold of Chester's reins. He stood near the grave and offered up a prayer for the poor soul. Who was it? Was there someone else in dire straights? Only one way to find out . . .

Hello! Anyone there?

The wind died down for a moment, and in the stillness, Nate heard the distinct clink of a rifle being cocked. His hand automatically dropped to his hip, and he drew his own gun, ready to meet whatever danger lurked inside that wagon.

Hello? he called again. Do you need help? I mean you no harm.

The silence was almost deafening as Nate stood there waiting. What was the story behind the sad state of this wagon? And who was hiding inside?

After a moment, Nate walked closer until he was directly at the back of the wagon. He was unable to see inside. Suddenly, he heard a sniffling, as if whoever was inside was crying. Then, Go away!

A woman? Dear Lord in Heaven.

Ma'am? Are you hurt? Nate checked the impulse to open the gathered ends of the wagon tarp so as to see better. He mustn't forget the woman had a gun. By the looks of the bullet hole in that dead horse's head, the lady knew how to use it, too.

Please, I only want to help you, he said, reassuringly. Looks like you've had a terrible bout of trouble. I promise I won't hurt you.

Another moment of silence, a cough and a wheeze. Do you promise on your mama's Bible?

Nate wanted to smile, but didn't. The woman sounded young and ailing. She must be scared to death. No telling what all she'd been through. Well, the evidence nearby told its own tale of her bad luck and suffering.

Nate cleared his throat. I promise. I'm here to help. The name's Nathaniel Walker, but everybody calls me Nate.

Silence again. The sounds of scuffling and scooting indicated the lady was making a move toward him. Suddenly, the opening in the canvas bonnet widened and the barrel of a rifle jabbed him under the chin. The lady meant business, that was for sure.

You swear you mean me no harm? She coughed, but kept a steady hand on the rifle and the trigger.

As God is my witness, I only want to help, Nate said. I'd uh . . . appreciate if you wouldn't point that rifle at me. If you don't need my help, I'll just mosey on along. But it may be weeks before you see another living soul. And you don't sound none too well. He held his breath as he waited to see what she would do.

She really didn't have a choice, Nate thought. She was lucky it had been him who'd wandered by. There were some desperate renegades in these parts, preying on innocent travelers. Although most of the Indians had been sent to reservations, this part of Texas was still pretty wild and untamed.

The rifle disappeared from the gathered opening, and a golden-haired, blue-eyed beauty appeared in its place. Nate felt like he'd been sucker-punched in the gut. Lordy, she was the prettiest thing he'd ever been privileged to see. A little worse for wear, but that wasn't surprising, given that she'd been through a lot.

Please, don't go, she said, her voice soft and hushed. "Truth is, I do need help. I've been praying and praying, and I guess God sent you in answer to my prayers."

Nate did smile at that. You don't have to sound so glum about it, ma'am. What were you expecting? A band of angels to carry you home?

She returned a shy sad smile. A sweet chariot would have been nice.

Sorry to disappoint you, ma'am. But it's just me and Chester, at your service. He touched the brim of his Stetson in