Historical Western Romance: Butcher Of Last Chance: Redmond's Gold, #2

By GRACE HEARTSONG

HISTORICAL WESTERN ROMANCE

Butcher Of Last Chance - Book 2 In The Redmond's Gold Series

1871 - One year after the birth of her son, Maggy Redmond is living a life she never expected with her husband Clint. Wanting to give his wife a break, Clint takes their son away on business. 

In the town of Redmond, Clint meets a man from his past. But when Maggy and her handmaid receive terrible and unexpected news, the two women must go on a dangerous journey to win back their life happiness.
 

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• Language: English
• Publisher: BlissRockHub OU
• Release date: Feb 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386631507

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Annalise – Part 1 & 2

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BUTCHER OF LAST CHANCE

REDMOND’S GOLD BOOK 2

HISTORICAL WESTERN ROMANCE

BY GRACE HEARTSONG

BUTCHER OF LAST CHANCE

The morning light fell in pale streams across the bed, trailing gentle tendrils over the golden curls springing from Clint Redmond’s chest. Maggy sighed with pleasure, her cheek resting against his bare skin. She ran her hand over his firm abdomen, her dark eyes raking over him—his scruffy mustache and beard and the long blonde, disheveled hair falling in a haphazard halo around his sleeping face.

Maggy pried her eyes from her husband to the picturesque view out the large window over their bed. In the mornings, she often liked to lay and stare up into the sapphire sky, the white tips of the Sierra Nevada ghostly and beautiful. They had settled into life at World’s End soon after marriage, Clint ruling his empire from afar. He had kept his promise to her—she had acted as his business partner in all things, in addition to being a full-time mother.

There was a faint stirring down the hall; likely her nanny and assistant Jiang Li was rousing one-year-old Augustus from sleep. Her son had been named for her daddy, and Clint had agreed to keep Ellis as his middle name to honor the boy’s biological father. But to everyone else, the black-haired, light-brown skinned Augustus Ellis was a Redmond. Maggy had been weary if Clint would keep his word in taking the boy as his own, but her husband had exceeded her expectations. As if she should have expected anything less from Clint Redmond. It was not uncommon for Clint himself to feed and tend to Augustus if Maggy or Jiang were otherwise occupied. And when they were not, he was still glad to do so—to play with his son and read to him, to walk along the banks of Lake Bigler with the little boy in his arms, pointing out the mountains and the trees and the creatures scurrying across their path. But Maggy knew, deep down, that Clint longed for a child of their own.

A gentle knock at the door made her pull the blankets over her exposed chest and shoulders. Yes?

Missus Redmond, Augie want to enter. Jiang’s soft voice came from the other side.

Maggy quickly slid her satin robe from a nearby chair and wrapped it over her body. She smoothed her hair. Come in.

The door opened a fraction at first, and then little Augustus was toddling his way across the hardwood floor, hand-in-hand with Jiang.

Mamamama. Augustus babbled as Jiang handed him up to Maggy.

Well hello there, my little darlin’. Maggy kissed his cheek. Jiang lowered her eyes and waited by the door.

Augustus wriggled from Maggy’s lap and onto Clint, promptly tugging at his father’s hair. Clint’s face scrunched and Maggy bit her lip to keep from laughing.

Suddenly, Clint’s eye burst open as his hands shot up to grasp Augustus. Whatcha doin’ to your old man, hey?! Augie simply giggled and Clint pulled him down and began tickling his belly.

Maggy exchanged a look with Jiang, who also seemed to fight a smile.

Good Morning, Jiang. Did he take his breakfast yet?

Yes, Missus. Jiang said, her speech careful and heavily accented. Jiang Li had been in the Redmonds’ employ since just before Augie’s birth. At a mere seventeen, Jiang had turned up at the brothel in the town of Redmond seeking work. She was a young widow, as Maggy had been. Her husband had been a herbalist for the Chinese railroad workers and had been killed in an explosion. Working at a brothel had been Jiang’s only prospect until Maggy, seeing just how young the girl was, asked her to be her nanny instead. Jiang knew a thing or two of herbs from her husband, and her remedies had immensely helped Maggy’s recovery from birth.

Maggy smiled at Jiang now, hoping to encourage a grin there on her delicate features. She had chestnut eyes, with black hair bound into two, high buns. She wore a long, canvas skirt, belted at the waist with a Chinese-style padded tunic. Slight though she was, Jiang was near in height to Clint. She already turned heads as a Chinese woman in the Californian frontier, and even more so with her distinctive features. Maggy could relate, and so the two women had grown into fast friends as much as the language barrier could accommodate.

Alright, alright! Clint said, feigning defeat under Augie’s attempt at tickling him. I surrender!

Augustus gave a cry of delight, and Clint motioned for Jiang to take the little boy. Get him packed up and dressed. We’ll leave before ten.

Yes, Mister. Jiang said, taking a protesting Augie into her arms.

Bye bye. Augustus called over Jiang’s shoulder as the two left the room. Jiang closed the door softly and Maggy rolled over to Clint.

Must you take him with you? Can’t you at least take Jiang with you? She snaked her hands around his torso as he encircled her with his large arms.

Now Maggy, I’ve already told you: you need a rest. A proper rest. The past year has worn on you and I will not have it—

And has it not worn on you? Maggy said.

Yes, but it’s my job to take that responsibility. He said, shooting her a warning glance. "You and Jiang both need a rest. Lily has already agreed to mind Augie while I’m in Redmond tying up some loose ends."

But Lily is so busy—she’s practically the unofficial mayor of Redmond!

Clint laughed. Don’t let Mayor Everett know that.

Maggy raised an eyebrow. I’m quite sure he already knows...but you’re avoiding the point. She poked him in the chest.

He removed her hand and brought her fingertips to his lips. Lily or another girl from her establishment will look after him while I’m in meetings. Lily has full faith in her girls, as do I. You’ve met them all, you know they’re sober and clean and kind. Just like you. There was a lightness to his voice that made her grin, despite the bad feeling that crept up her spine.

Maggy... Clint pulled her face to his and kissed her deeply. No need to worry, darlin’. Use this week to relax, you and Jiang. Hell, go fishin’ if you want.

"We intend to finally