Roundup the Brides!

By Barbara Dan

~ Historical Western Romance ~ Back by popular demand! Many of the characters from Book 1 of the Happy Valley Series, reappear in Book 2, along with Several Romantic Newcomers . . .

English playboy, Stuart Braden, is a man on a mission to discover untold riches in the wilds of Wyoming, when he uncovers a treasure more valuable than gold . . . But from the moment he sets eyes on the beautiful Suzanne Gallagher, the path to winning this lively young lady’s heart is fraught with peril.

First, the stagecoach he’s sharing with the enchanting Miss Suzanne gets held up, interfering with his wooing. Disposing of the outlaws–he with his Colt .45 and she with her trusty Smith & Wesson–Stuart eagerly follows Suzanne to Happy Valley, where her family and neighbors are busy preparing for the annual roundup and cattle drive.

But alas! Courting this feisty rancher’s daughter soon presents an even greater test of his manly skills, when hired gunmen launch a surprise attack, aimed at taking over the ranchers’ lands, cattle, and water rights by deadly force. Caught in the middle of a range war, the ranchers are seriously outnumbered. All this death and destruction won’t end unless these ruthless killers are put out of business–permanently.

Trust the wily Stuart to come up with a solution only Cupid would approve!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barbara Dan
• Release date: Feb 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370610631

Barbara Dan

First published in her teens, Barbara Dan admits to enjoying a variation of life experiences, including working as an actress, model, night club comedienne, comedy writer, puppeteer, theatrical producer in Hollywood, screenwriter, publicist, real estate saleswoman, hands-on-builder of houses, escrow officer, co-teacher of couples communication workshops with her late husband, family counselor John Dan. Other hats she has worn include publisher, editor, adjunct college professor, and—by far her biggest joy and challenge—being mother to four grown children and grandma to five very lively grandchildren and recently to three great-grandchildren. Hobbies: gardening, cooking, oil painting, quilting. She is a voracious reader on many subjects, loves to haunt old graveyards and historic sites. Many of her characters are inspired by family genaeology charts! But the most outrageous ones come straight from her overactive imagination. Her historical western, SILENT ANGEL, won the Colorado Romance Writers' award for Best Historical Novel (1992). She is a member of Western Writers of America and Women Writing the West. Many of her books are available in paperback as well as eBook. Even though she has degrees in Theatre Arts and Advanced Accounting, and an M.A. in Humanities (emphasis: literature) from Cal State University, she insists that real life is far better preparation for writing than academia! (A good sense of humor also helps.)

Book preview

ROUNDUP THE BRIDES!

BARBARA DAN

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Smashwords Edition

Roundup the Brides!

Copyright 2017 Barbara Griffin Dan

All rights reserved.

Digital ISBN: 9781370610631

Cover Design and Interior Layout: Laura Shinn Designs

http://laurashinn.yolasite.com

Gospel Hymn, God in the Valley, is public domain, dating back to the 1860s.

Freestyle translation of I Corinthians 13 by author, using a variety of biblical texts.

Registered with the Library of Congress

Wyoming, 1889

Women’s role in settling the West

Wyoming Cattle Ranches

Discovery of oil and other natural resources.

Conflict between Wyoming Stock Growers Assoc. and homesteaders

All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, reproduction or use of this work in whole or in part in any form by electronic, mechanical or other means, not known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is strictly forbidden without the written permission of the author.

Roundup the Brides is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, locales, or actual events, is entirely coincidental. Thank you for respecting U.S. and International copyright laws and this author’s creative work.

DEDICATION

Again, my sincere thanks to Carolyn Turner, fellow quilter and one of my best friends ever!

For fun, she consented to be included, along with her late husband Byron as secondary characters in my historical western romance, HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS, published in 2015. Now, by popular demand, many of the same characters are back again, including Carolyn and Byron, in my rip-roarin’ romantic romp, ROUNDUP THE BRIDES.

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Book I of Happy Valley Series: HOME IS THERE THE HEART IS

It all began in 1873 when an adventurous young woman volunteered to help an Orphan Train full of homeless children find homes out West. When she reached Cheyenne, three orphans still needed homes, so she married up with a rancher, who helped her raise all three to adulthood.

Book II of Happy Valley Series: ROUNDUP THE BRIDES!

Back by popular demand, author Barbara Dan revisits Happy Valley, Wyoming in 1889 and treats readers to many of the same fascinating characters, all grown up now, as they face and overcome adversity through sheer ingenuity. (News Flash! They also fall in love!)

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Dear Reader, I imagine many of you are pet owners, as I certainly am!

Dogs have played an important role in my life since my grandfather gave me my first dog, a Scottie, when I was one month old. Since then, my family and I have owned, or perhaps more accurately, we have been owned by several breeds, including German Shorthaired Pointers, an English Setter I named after gossip columnist Louella Parsons, a beautiful Merle Collie named Fort, several German Shepherds, all named Bear, an English Spaniel, two princely Golden Retrievers, a Bearded Collie, and several lovable Labrador Retrievers. More recently, a Maltese-Bichon mix and a ShihTzu have joined the clan of Dan.

Each of them owns my heart for different reasons.

However, because ROUNDUP THE BRIDES touches on a very special category of dogs, I want to acknowledge the contributions made by cattle and sheep herding dogs throughout the Western United States.

Representing the Catahoula breed is the late, great Freckles, who owned the hearts of Al and Diane Rush of Springfield, Oregon.

Additional kudos to four other fantastic herding dogs: Mini-Aussi Shepherds, Trigger and Angel; Australian Shepherd, Dottie, and Bentley Blue Heeler, K. C., all lovingly raised by Michael and Tammy Dan of Caldwell, Idaho.

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RECENT REVIEWS of Barbara Dan’s NOVELS:

REVIEWS of HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS:

Book #1 of the Happy Valley series (Western historical novel):

AFFAIRE DE COEUR magazine, 4--1/2 Star Review:

"Meg Wolverton is a young Easterner who takes a job as a housekeeper for a rancher in rural Wyoming,1873. Along the way, she’s responsible for seeing orphaned children to their new parent. Three kids, Susie, Davey and Jimmy don’t get adopted, so when she arrives, her new boss, widower Sam Gallagher realizes he has a ready-made family and suggests they get married. Meg gets a crash course in being a housewife and mother on the frontier. Can this marriage of convenience complete with adopted children turn into a love match?

"HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS is a heartwarming historical romance with a Christian message. Meg is readily reliant and has a strong relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, but after the death of his first wife and young daughter, Sam has closed his heart to the Lord. However, Meg’s warmth and love for the children and their developing relationship causes him to reconsider his anger toward God. The spiritual message is well done and not preachy. Faith in God is a part of the characters’ lives, not an editorial. Humorous and populated with interesting characters, along with a passionate relationship between the leads, this is a good Western historical romance novel."

—Danielle Hill, reviewer for Affaire de Coeur Magazine

"Barbara Dan crafts a charming novel that blends history and romance." —Western Writers of America RoundUp Magazine

Amazon.com: 5-Star Reviews on Home Is Where the Heart Is:

"Wonderful Heartwarming Story: This book’s characters are facing tough times, helping each other and becoming stronger in their faith. It really is a great story."

—J.V.

"I truly loved Home Is Where the Heart Is. I was so taken by it I simply did not want it to end! My Dad was raised in Western Nebraska near Hay Springs. He told me many stories from his childhood, and reading your novel brought many happy memories of him and his folks. His mom had a job teaching in a one-room school. It was his job to get up early and saddle his horse and ride to the school and get the fire going to heat the building. Home Is Where the Heart Is kindled many a story from the western rural life that he passed onto me. Thank you so much, Barbara Dan. Reading your book was such a special treat."

—S.B.K.

"Barbara Dan is such an excellent descriptive writer, it was hard to put down. Home Is Where the Heart Is captures the atmosphere of Wyoming Territory, and the characters involved make the story interesting and exciting."

—H.M.

"Home Is Where the Heart Is [is] a most delightful tribute to the women who helped establish the West. It brought it alive for me. Great work!"

—F. K.

REVIEWS of PETTICOAT WARRIOR:

"Barbara Dan’s Civil War historical romance is a fast paced, adventurous novel which will appeal to readers of all genres. Gabe and Sarah are a terrific pair who love to disagree almost as much as they adore being in love. The author’s references to the late 1800s are on-point, factual and quite interesting. This story is engaging from start to finish and contains a perfect blend of history and intrigue, which will warm the cockles of your heart and excite you all at once."

— Romantic Times, 4-1/2 Star Top RT Rating (January 2015 issue)

Fast-paced romance with lot of fireworks and humor. Sarah and Gabe are a fascinating mix of hot-headedness and attraction. I laughed a lot as Sarah fought to maintain her independence as a feminist during the Civil War era.

— S. Habegger, Amazon.com 5 Star Customer Review

"Barbara Dan does her homework! The historical detail is impressive ad vividly colors the romantic story, which is full of surprising twists of fate. I felt the urgency of being so close to a Civil War battlefield. Sarah is there disguised as a male doctor desperately hoping to find her father, who’s been imprisoned by the Confederates while serving as a Union Army medic. Drs. Gabe and Sarah are complex characters, her women’s lib ideals in sharp contrast to his views of male superiority. From the southern woods, to a visit with Susan B. Anthony, to an elegant New York City mansion, Sarah is swept along on a journey she never expected to take."

— Laureltree Books, Amazon.com 5 Star Customer Review

REVIEWS of MacGREGOR’S BRIDE:

"A high spirited romance about a strapping sea captain and his love-starved war bride during the War of 1812."

— Las Vegas Review Journal

Amazon.com 5-Star Reviews for MACGREGOR’S BRIDE:

"I absolutely adored MacGregor! He is not the typical dark, forboding, mysterious type that many novelists choose to portray [as] their male love interests. He is gorgeous, yes, but he is also happy, upbeat and absolutely lovable!!!! This story is very satisfying from beginning to end. If you like a story with a great ending, you will really like this one!!!!"

— "Romance Lass," Jennifer

Wonderful writing . . . full of detail and research. The hero is a happy-go-lucky all-American hero. Usually I go for the dark tormented hero, but Bruce is so handsome and lovable that I fell in love with him instantly. The heroine, Lydia, is also great . . . I really can’t rave enough about Barbara Dan’s superb prose.

— P. G. D.

"One of my all-time favorite romances. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT! This is one great book. I’ve read it twice, and I never do that. I couldn’t put it down. It’s a must-have for all romance story lovers."

— David B. Yerkie, Spring Lake, MI

An old-fashioned roller-coaster ride with a strong hero and heroine who come alive on the page. If you enjoy an adventure-filled story, this is for you.

— Romantic Times 4-Star Review

REVIEWS of SILENT ANGEL:

"Silent Angel is a touching, compelling love story. A wonderful romance! Barbara Dan is a terrific storyteller."

— Bobbie Smith, NY Times and USA Today Best-Selling Author

"Silent Angel is a delightful novel. [The way] Barbara Dan describes the lives of pioneers [is] the next best thing to being there. I love the way she develops her characters and storyline — it will make you laugh and cry. She keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Once I started reading this, I couldn’t put it down. She is truly an artist who paints with words."

— 5-Star Customer Review (arlomore) at CreateSpace.com

"What a pleasant surprise! When I started reading, I couldn’t stop. My husband would say, ‘Are you coming to bed?’ I’d say, ‘In a minute.’ Even 2 or 3 hours after I finished reading Silent Angel, it was so real that I kept wondering about the twins growing up and weather in Montana. A most enjoyable read!"

— Customer Review (jchapman)

REVIEWS of O’ROURKE’S BRIDE

(1864 Historical Romance):

A fun, fast-moving read. Barbara Dan is a talent to watch!

— Bobbi Smith, NY Times bestselling author

An enjoyable marriage of (in)convenience set amid a majestic mountain range . . . funny and entertaining, as the battle of the sexes heats up in more ways than one. Hot!

— Romantic Times

Amazon.com Customer Reviews: 5-Star Reviews:

"Witty, Sexy, Irish West Romance! Barbara Dan treats romance fans with a brand new rip-roaring western romance with sexy passionate Irish characters that are very much like a mixture of two all-time favorite John Wayne movies, The Quiet Man and McClintock."

— Beverly Romance Books, St. Petersburg, FL

"Great Characterization. I haven’t enjoyed a book so much in a long time. It is set in a part of the country I know, so that was fun, but there is nothing trite or contrived about how this book unfolds. I especially enjoyed O’Rourke."

— Jane Jordan, Boise, Idaho

"A Delightful Romp! You will not be bored with this book! [It’s] romantic, humorous, and hard to put down. You wonder what the beautiful, hot-tempered, impetuous Kate is going to do next? From start to finish, the book entertains, while giving you your money’s worth (and then some!) in the romance department. On a scale of milk toast to hot chili peppers, this book’s romantic heat leans more toward the peppers. A spicy romance with wit aplenty!

— "Tigger," Wood Village, OR

"Barbara Dan has written about cultures clashing: western vs. eastern vs. British cultures, all set in the bawdy, boisterous and booming times of Virginia City (NV), 1864. There is a good deal of passion and wit in this fun book."

— Love Western Romances Book Review Online

"Barbara Dan’s Western romance, O’Rourke’s Bride, is set in Virginia City during the mining boom of the 1860s, [and] involves a sham marriage, lumbermen, miners and the theatre."

— ROUNDUP Magazine, Feb. 2007

REVIEW of THE OUTCAST:

THE LONG ROAD BACK

". . . infused with local history . . . the strength of community . . . and [how] good neighbors can help and encourage each other. [Barbara Dan’s] book, The Outcast: The Long Road Back, [is] the fictionalized account of her grandfather’s arrival in Salem in 1913. . . [When] towering, 6-foot-8 Alex meets the love of his life, Emily, the two begin a relationship that sees Alex through his recovery [from alcoholism] . . . [and] helps him change his life. [The Outcast takes the reader on] a journey similar to [the author’s] grandfather’s more than a century ago. People back then [discovered] what they were best at and benefitted the whole community."

— The Keizer Times, July 13, 2012

PROLOGUE

During the Union Pacific Railroad’s

final approach into Cheyenne,

May 18, 1889

"I hate to interrupt, son, but would you kindly stop fidgeting around with that contraption? Damnation, Stuart! I want your undivided attention!"

At his wit’s end, Sir Oliver Braden, England’s most recent industrial tycoon to get out of the East Indian tea and spice market and invest heavily in the American West, hurled the business section of the Chicago Times at his son. What the devil do you think you’re doing, anyway?

One more minute, Father, and I’ll be through. Now hold perfectly still. Stuart squinted through the aperture on a small leather-bound box mounted on a tripod and pushed the button. While his father was spending the family fortune dabbling in the Chicago stock market, he had come across a perfectly fascinating gadget invented by a brainy fellow named George Eastman.

Finally the timer sounded, and Oliver was allowed to breathe again. What possible use does that ridiculous box have? he scoffed.

Stretching to get the kinks out, Stuart cracked a mischievous smile. It’s more than just a box, Father. It’s a camera, and it takes photographs.

It’s a total waste of money, his father groused. "Where’d you find such a thing anyway?

At Mrs. Astor’s soirée on Park Avenue–while you were busy inspecting coal barges on Lake Erie. He waggled his eyebrows, just to irritate his obsessively ambitious father. Eastman himself was there, giving away samples as door prizes.

Ah, Stu, Oliver groaned. His son’s laissez-faire attitude was such a disappointment. You know it will never amount to a hill of beans.

Maybe, maybe not. Stuart shrugged. If nothing else, it might be an amusing way to meet pretty women.

Oliver frowned. Stuart might be blessed with his mother’s amiable disposition, but he showed not one iota of his sire’s keen drive for success. Indeed, this son of his heart seemed quite content to share his private parlor car on the Union Pacific Railroad, and tag along on this tour of the West. It troubled him deeply that his only son seemed perfectly content to be a rather amiable social animal. A bloody playboy, that’s what he was! Well, he had done his level best to impress upon Stuart the virtues of making money. And as God was his judge, he wasn’t about to quit now!

~*~

As fate would have it, an enormous cloud of dust enveloped the train as it pulled into the station. Though temporarily unable to verify the status of Wyoming’s capitol city with his own eyes, Sir Oliver saw no reason to doubt what he’d read in the Chicago newspapers. Cheyenne boasted a population of nine thousand, give or take a few–certainly a modest number of people, compared with London and the great cities of Europe. Still, by all reports, it was growing by leaps and bounds.

Now, the trick to making a killing on the stock market was to invest early in the game–before the money sharks arrived. Oliver was shrewd enough to diversify in the area’s more promising natural resources–gold, silver, coal, and precious minerals, for instance. And, of course, he was already heavily invested in the Northern Pacific Railroad, now providing coast-to-coast passenger service and delivery of manufactured goods.

Between the engine’s belching smoke and the prairie dust, visibility was almost non-existent. However, a few hearty souls seemed determined to debark despite the swirling dust.

Oliver preferred to spend his valuable time strategizing.

He never rushed into business dealings without having a well laid out strategy.

The steward seeing to the gentlemen’s needs in the private car advised them to stay put until the dust settled. Just sit back, gen’lemen, he drawled. Between thet big herd of longhorn steers milling around in the lot across the tracks and thet wind, you might as well relax an’ enjoy another bourbon on the rocks.

You heard the man. Stuart grinned at his father. So, is this a Wyoming dust storm? he asked the steward.

No, suh! It only gets like a tornado right after a big herd o’ cattle rumbles into town. But don’t you worry none. Soon as them cows settle down in the feed lots, the air clears up right quick.

Since the Bradens planned to use the private car throughout their journey, the Verde car would be moved onto a siding without delay, while the rest of the train headed West later in the evening. Until Oliver decided how he felt about hotel accommodations in Cheyenne, the Verde would remain their home away from home.

A good thing Mother isn’t here. Stuart squinted past his glass of bourbon at the tumbleweed bouncing off their parlor car windows. Roughing it is definitely not her cup o’ tea, though I must admit, it suits me right down to the ground.

Better make up our beds for tonight, just in case, Oliver told the steward.

After Stuart and his father finished their late afternoon ritual of bourbon on the rocks, they loaded their pearl-handled Colt revolvers, special-ordered from the Colt factory back East. Although both men enjoyed hosting the occasional weekend of hunting on the family estate in England, they had heard enough rumors about the lawless American West to ensure that they were prepared for any eventuality.

Tell you what, Father, Stuart said, strapping on his holster. While you hob-nob with the Governor and charm all the locals, why don’t I rent a horse and explore the outlying areas for minerals and various other enterprises you might want to invest in?

Pleased to see his son take such an interest, Oliver raised his glass in a salute. An outstanding idea, son. With you doing the legwork, I can focus my energies on making the right business connections.

Stuart clinked glasses with his father. To our mutual success! he declared with a twinkle in his eye and drank up.

Chapter One

Two weeks later

After chasing after every prospector with a registered claim within a forty mile radius of Casper, Wyoming, Stuart Braden decided he was done with roughing it. Camping out over the past week with a bedroll, fishing pole, and a few pots and pans, was definitely not his cup of tea. When he was on the move, he sounded remarkably like a second hand junk dealer clattering through the streets of London at dawn. True, he hadn’t seen a drop of rain in this wilderness, but it wasn’t so much the rugged terrain and blowing sand that got into every pore and made him itch that convinced him there had to be a better way to search for gold and precious minerals. Oh, no. It was much worse than that.

Every miner he’d met so far had the half-mad, hollow-eyed look of a hermit on the lam from the Law. Well, possibly a few were outlaws, but whatever inspired these loners to strike it rich in this wilderness, the vast majority looked like half-starved wolves, as they grimly went about the impossible task of digging a fortune out in these desolate hills. No doubt about it: The vast majority of these prospectors must have been born stubborn to the bone, or just plain stupid.

A few diehards had dragged a woman along for company– poor, disheveled, unwashed creatures. No spirit left in them at all.

Sadly, one woman was in the advanced stages of pregnancy. For the life of him, Stuart couldn’t imagine a worse place to bring a child into the world than a lean-to, a couple of filthy blankets hung over a tree branch, and to keep the tree upright, a small deer carcass covered with flies in the hot sun. To help this young couple out a bit, Stuart found himself emptying his saddle bags of all his canned peaches and beans. Poor souls! They looked so gaunt they might easily blow away in the wind.

Later in the day, thirsty, dusty, and famished beyond belief, Stuart spotted a watering hole off in the distance. Instead of finding water, he waded in a couple of feet–and got a boot full of a greasy, scummy, black substance from the bubbling spring. Figuring it served him right for agreeing to undergo this insane expedition, he laughed until his ribs ached. What a mess he’d gotten himself into!

Though parched, he figured he still had enough energy and good sense to hightail it back to Casper. He could certainly do with a quick wash-up at the bathhouse and a meal at the local greasy spoon café. Then he’d catch the next stagecoach back to Cheyenne and report back to his father.

With an apology to his horse, he spurred his mount away from the foul smelling, noxious pond. As a souvenir from his first sortie into the wilds, he packed away a quart-sized jar of pond scum in his saddle bag.

Hopefully his father hadn’t completely lost his sense of humor, because Stuart thought it was pretty damn amusing that he had so little to show for his efforts.

~*~

With his first decent meal in a week under his belt, Stuart felt much more optimistic about life, as he approached the Casper Stagecoach depot. For one thing, the ticket in his pocket had cost him only a silver dollar. That included taking his rented horse along, tied on a long rein attached to the back of the stagecoach.

Jolly good price, considering the American economy, he thought. Securing his camping gear on top, next to a large Wells Fargo crate, he picked up his saddle bags, which contained his camera and other valuables, including–ahem!–the valuable specimen of smelly pond scrum, which he hoped would amuse his father.

Eager to take his seat, Stuart nimbly leapt over a pile of manure and landed–due to sheer luck and his athletic acuity–on the boardwalk in front of the freight office.

His heart leapt in his throat, as a young woman chose that exact same moment to step across his path.

And what a sight she was to behold! In his wildest dreams he had always believed he was destined to meet such a creature. Blonde, cinnamon brown eyes, with a creamy complexion only faintly marred by a modest blush, as her startled gaze met his.

Quickly remembering his manners, Stuart bowed gallantly and extended his hand. Ah, divine angel, he rhapsodized. Permit me to be of some assistance.

This enchanting creature raised her eyebrows, looking faintly amused, as she exchanged quizzical looks with the plump matronly woman at her side.

Since both ladies were surrounded by an assortment of bandboxes, satchels, and other luggage, Stuart instantly sought to ingratiate himself with the older lady. Her mother, perhaps? Or an aunt?

Perhaps I may be of help to you both. He flashed his best dimpled smile. Naturally, Stuart never expected such a gorgeous young lady–rather well dressed, too!–to materialize in front of Casper’s rather tawdry stagecoach stop. Indeed, he was so smitten that all memory of the damage his rugged adventures had done to his own appearance over the past several days completely escaped his notice. All he knew was that in the twinkling of an eye, he had met The Incomparable One.

"Mrs.