Outlaw Bride: Spicy Western Tales, #1

By C.J. Collins

WARNING: This is not your mother's Harlequin.

The Old West was never this wild. Author C.J. Collins and Fast Gun Press© have teamed up to produce a series of Old West tales brimming with explosive action, unbridled lust, and relentless intensity. Each volume in the Spicy Western Tales series exudes a passion and energy not seen since the western pulp offerings of the early 1900's. Those visceral, violent tales influenced a generation of budding novelists, and gave rise to the entire modern romance genre. C.J. Collins pays homage to that tradition with this series of gritty tales populated by fearsome outlaws, noble lawmen, and sensual dames.

Volume 1 - Outlaw Bride: Aging Texas lawman Billy Yates is tracking a gang of brutal killers after they robbed a federal coach and slaughtered an entire family along the east Texas border. Along the way, Billy finds Sara Grant, another of the gang's apparent victims. Sara teams up with Billy, in more ways than one, and the unlikely pair begin a relationship more dangerous than any six-gun. Sara has a secret, and if the handsome lawman discovers the truth, it could mean her end, and his.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fast Gun Press
• Release date: Aug 31, 2015
• ISBN: 9781386370666

C.J. Collins

C.J. Collins works and lives in the Appalachian mountains, raising two children, crafting epic westerns, and hoping to one day become a quick draw champion.

Book preview

Nasty Business

The rain came down hard and steady, plinking against the tin roof like a million little fingers all drumming a different tune. Summer rain, fogging the windows and conjuring up wisps of gray vapor that danced along the soggy ground like wraiths. Maggie didn't want to get dressed, too hot, even for Louisiana in July, so she lay there awhile atop the quilts thinking of Nathan. When she pictured him, his handsome face and wide shoulders, her body tingled, and the meager breeze wafting in through the open sash could do nothing to cool her.

An hour passed, and not a sound from beyond the cabin walls. No hoof beats, or boot-heels clubbing the porch. She worried, her mind producing the worst ideas. Maybe things had gone wrong. Nate's gang might be dead, or dying, shot up and bleeding all over the street. The law might've nabbed them, or a citizen posse.

One hour turned into two, and worry gave way to hysteria. She fetched her robe and padded barefoot across the rough timbers, cinching the waist-tie before reaching for the front door. Just as her fingers brushed the latch, she heard a voice.

Maggie! Get on out here!

Her heart leapt. Nathan had returned. Yet, beneath her swelling joy, something nagged at the back of her mind. He sounded funny, not afraid, but tired, or wounded. She threw open the rickety door, the rain and mist obscuring the advancing party. She tried to count them. One, two, three, four. Only four. There should be five. There should be five!

She dashed out into the storm, running headlong toward the shadowy figures, her guts churning and her mind racing with the worst thoughts. Nathan! Nathan, answer me!

She crashed into something unyielding; then powerful, familiar arms gripped her. I'm fine, Maggie. Go easy now.

But she couldn't control it. She sobbed into his shoulder, her body hitching with the ferocity of her raging emotions. He didn't push her away, and his arms drew tighter as he whispered in her ear, Goodness, woman, what's got into you?

I'm sorry, she sobbed. You sounded funny, and I thought it wasn't you, or you got hurt, I don't know. I thought...

Easy now, darlin', he whispered, and Maggie raised her eyes.

But, you sounded so strange, she pushed, looking him over and finding no holes in his hide.

You'd sound strange, too, he smiled, if you had to lug around this many bills. He swung up a big satchel, bringing it up to eye-level so that Maggie could see. Money, more money than she'd ever seen or imagined, arranged in neat stacks and banded with strips of white paper.

It's ours? she gasped. All of it?

Sure is, he said, that handsome smile she'd damned her soul for dancing on his lips. But this ain't all of it.

She peered over his shoulder, at the Halsey brothers, Clayton and Jeb, and at Nathan's best friend and right hand, Randall Dorn. They were carrying similar satchels, as were their horses, and Maggie beamed as she fathomed just how much wealth they'd stolen.

I can't believe it! she squealed. We're rich! We're rich, baby!

She threw her arms around him, kissing him until his stubble scourged her chin. She didn't care, she just wanted was to touch him, to taste him, and when she pressed her body full to his, he realized her intent.

See to the horses, Nate said, casting an offhand