Pink Angel: The New Man

By Bev Magee

Nitika Brodie was not what Hunter Tilton expected when he met her on the stagecoach. Trying to find her a suitable husband, her uncle, Alex Brodie had meant for them to meet. Unfortunately, a stampede destroyed any chance of him seeing his latest handiwork. Now the owner of one of the largest ranches in New Mexico, former Pinkerton agent Nitika has to fight to keep what's hers. A greedy neighbor is after her land, while his son is after her. Neither one will be happy if they don't get what they want. Nitika plans to disappoint them both.

Twice burnt when it came to women, Hunter wasn't ready to try again. But his former commanding officer, Alex Brodie, had been grooming the young man as a suitor for his headstrong niece. Captivated by the raven haired beauty, he finds himself rethinking his ideals.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 9, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456761752

Bev Magee

This is the fifth and final book in the Pink Angel series. This one highlights the growing relationship that emerges between Nitika and her mother. It shows how no conflict can break the bond between mother and daughter.

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PINK ANGEL

The New Man

Bev Magee

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AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2011. Bev Magee. All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 05/04/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4567-6174-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-6173-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-6175-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011906940

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 28

CHAPTER 29

HUNTER’S PAST

CHAPTER 1

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CHAPTER 1

Hard as she tried, Nitika Brodie couldn’t ignore the stranger seated across from her in the stage coach anymore. The man refused to look anywhere but at the back of her book. Through the veil on her hat, she was able to see his deep blue eyes boring through the cover of the alchemy journal in her hand. If he stared any harder, he might see the penny dreadful she had hidden in the folds.

Quietly, she closed the book and laid it on her lap. Is there something I can do for you, Sir?

Hunter Tilton nearly shivered at the icy tone of her voice. It wasn’t what he expected from the raven-haired beauty. Risking a case of frostbite, he gave the woman his best smile. He pointed to the book in her lap.

That’s an interesting choice of reading.

Why, because I’m a woman?

Hunter shook his head. This girl’s going to be tough, he thought. No. It doesn’t have much of a plot line. Although, that piece you have tucked in the folds must be quite an attention getter. You haven’t put it down since we left Kansas City.

She blushed a becoming color and slipped the paperback out of the book. It’s the one habit Mother has been trying to break me of. She says a man doesn’t want a wife who reads such drivel.

And I suppose your mother feels that she is an authority on men, Hunter jibed, then winced inwardly that it came out wrong.

She is the headmistress of an all girls school. That makes her an expert on every subject.

He noted the sarcastic tone of her voice and knew she was at odds with her mother. Then again, what twenty-something unmarried woman did get along with her mother. Since it was unlikely that anyone would accidentally buy such a book, Hunter knew the woman understood the alchemy book she carried with her.

I suppose you went to the school as well?

The woman laughed. The only schooling a girl learns there is how to snag a husband. And the last thing I want is a man to complicate my life.

Where are you headed, he asked wisely changing the subject.

To Tulsa to meet my uncle then to his ranch in New Mexico. And you?

I’m headed to Tulsa to talk to a man about a job as foreman on his ranch.

You wouldn’t happen to be Hunter Tilton, would you, she asked cocking an eyebrow.

Yes, Ma’am I would. How did you know?

You’re the reason Uncle Alex sent me a stage ticket instead of a train ticket. He told me that he sent for you to be his new foreman. Uncle Alex doesn’t trust the man he has now.

Hunter stared at the woman. She didn’t look a thing like Alexander Brodie. Alex had fair skin and blonde hair. From her dark hair and dusky skin, he knew that this woman had some Indian blood in her.

I don’t understand, he finally stammered.

Uncle Alex asked me to come out to his ranch. He sent me the ticket saying that by the time I arrived in Tulsa he would be ready to ride back from selling his herd. I’m guessing he sent you a ticket with the same excuse.

Kind of, he confessed, he said we could use the time heading home to work out the details of my job.

He set us up, you know, Nitika said leaning closer to him.

Set us up for what, Hunter wondered.

Uncle Alex is trying to find me a man.

I never knew Alex to be the romantic type.

She picked up her book again. You’re not the first man he’s tried to marry me off to.

Nitika feigned reading her paperback as she thought about the young man across from her. He wasn’t bad looking, even if he was cocky as a young bull. She began to think of ways to get rid of this latest suitor. As much as she loved her uncle, his romantic skills left little to be desired.

Two hours went by with Hunter trying figure out the old man’s plans for him and his niece. He had met Alex Brodie in the army. Brodie was his commanding officer when he was a fresh recruit. Alex had taken him in under his wing and showed him how to survive in Indian country.

You know my name, he said finally breaking the silence, but I don’t know yours.

It’s Nitika Brodie. Father and Uncle Alex have different mothers. Father was born before Grandfather married Grandmother. But he was raised with Uncle Alex.

What tribe is your father from?

He was Kiowa, she said sadly. Father never did tell Mother that he was Indian. Mother always assumed that he was Spanish. Either that, or it was better for her if he was.

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry like that. Are you just coming out for a visit?

Not hardly. Uncle Alex asked me to come because he was lonely. As long as I stay with Uncle Alex, Mother won’t bother me. They never did get along. Uncle Alex is too much like Father to suit her.

Sounds to me like you’re more like your father than your mother.

Nitika grinned. Father wanted a boy. All he got was me. With Mother off doing whatever it was she did, I spent all my time with Father. So I learned how to be a boy before Mother ever took an interest in turning me into a lady.

Hunter looked the woman up and down wondering how any man with a pulse would mistake her for a boy. The stagecoach driver shouted at the team and the stage came to a sudden stop. Venturing a look outside, Hunter saw the three men standing in the road. From the bandanas covering their faces, he knew they were holding up the stage. Quickly he untied his gun holster.

Bandits, he explained as he tucked his gun behind his waistband.

Nitika opened her carpetbag and pulled out a Smith & Weston .44. Put your belt in here. No use letting them see it.

Hunter watched in amazement as she slipped the gun into a pocket in her skirt. And none too soon as one of the masked men opened the stage door and pulled them out. As Hunter’s feet touched the ground, the outlaw hit him in the face with the butt of his rifle. Nitika refused to react to the violent attack on Hunter, who was now rolling on the ground in pain.

What are you looking at Missy, he snarled at her.

Nothing, she said staring him down.

The bandit laughed and grabbed her by the arm. Hey boys, he yelled to his partners, we got us one with some spunk here. What do you say we see how much she’s got?

Leave the girl alone, another protested. We ain’t here for women. To the shotgunner he said, Drop that strongbox down here.

Ain’t nothing in it, he commented as he threw the box at the outlaw’s feet.

Nitika was dragged around to the front where she saw the driver and shotgun guard were both unarmed. Looking back over her shoulder, she could see the partially dazed form of Hunter crawl under the coach. She jumped when one of the outlaws shot the lock off the strongbox. The man holding her laughed against her neck.

Play your cards right Missy and you might live through this.

She held back a shudder of disdain as she watched the man throw open the lid of the steel box. He exclaimed and the others looked inside. Nitika heard the seat on the coach creak. The shotgunner had leaned back and draped his arm over the railing.

Told you it was empty, he smirked.

Well we ain’t leaving empty handed, the outlaw holding her said as he drew her closer.

Nitika saw that Hunter had regained enough of his senses to put himself in position to take out at least one of the men. She only hoped it was the one who was leering at her as he approached. The man wiped his hands on his soiled jeans.

Let’s just see how much spunk she got, he jeered reaching for her face.

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CHAPTER 2

With both her arms held behind her back, there was only one thing she could do. Using her captor as support, Nitika kneed the man in front of her. He howled out in pain and grabbed the front of his jeans. Stunned, the one holding her arms loosened his grip. Breaking free, she fell and rolled to the side and a gun exploded near her head.

The bandit who opened the strongbox was blown off his feet by the bullet from Hunter’s Colt. Quickly, she withdrew her gun and shot the one who’d been holding her. A hand grabbed her foot as she stood up. It was the one who had touched her. Nitika cocked her gun and pointed it where the man’s other hand was.

I suggest you let go before I drop the hammer, or you won’t have a reason to look at another girl, she said, a steel edge to her voice.

She heard another gun cock above her. Drop the gun mister, the shotgunner said pointing a rifle at the man she wounded.

Nitika moved her thumb slightly and the man holding her ankle quickly let it go. Hunter staggered out from under the stagecoach. The wounded outlaw threw his gun away from himself and grabbed his bleeding shoulder. The driver picked up the reins of his team before he saw the new riders.

You folks best get in the coach, he called down to them. Looks like these boys have a few friends coming to help them.

Nitika gathered up all the loose guns and handed them up to the shotgunner. Give me my rifle.

Cledus handed her the rifle he had been using as he dropped the other guns on the floor at his feet. Hunter climbed up top to retrieve his own as the driver slapped the reins against the horses’ rumps, throwing Hunter against the luggage strapped on top. With a shrill cry, the horses bolted down the road. Handing Nitika his rifle through the window, Hunter followed it to join her inside the cabin.

Venturing a look, Hunter saw eight riders chasing them. He saw Nitika check the load in her rifle. You sure you’re not Alex’s girl?

There’s one coming up on your side, she responded as she took a shot at the one on her side.

Hunter turned and snapped a shot at the one that came up even with his window. A shotgun