The Texas Ranger: O'Brian Brothers, #2

By A.S. McGowan

A woman with a secret, a small town doctor and a ruthless man who owns the town.

Sarah Wilson dreams of escaping the nightmare of her life. However once in Danielsville there is no escape. Now she harbors a secret that could cost her; her life. Can she trust the new doctor and escape or will he prove to be like all the others?

Matthew O'Brian just wanted to practice medicine in the small town he moved to. Yet he finds himself smack dab in the middle of a mystery. Sarah needs his help but can he rescue her without losing his heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.S. McGowan
• Release date: Nov 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9798215943274

Book preview

Chapter 1

DAYTONVILLE, TEXAS

June 1860

Topsannah cracked the whip again to direct the team pulling the wagon down the street. Reaching her weekly spot, she hopped down from the wagon and began to call out, letting the good townsfolk know she had wares for sell. She watched as Mrs. Priggett and Mrs. Cromwell walked past, their noses high in the air. They called her a half-breed and mocked her behind their hands. Even though they acted as if they were sharing a secret, they never failed to make sure Topsannah heard their cruel words. Turning her back to the women, she began to unpack the vases from the crates in the back of the wagon. Holding one in her hand, she ran her fingers gently over the beautiful design. Her mother, Lotsee, was very talented, and Topsannah hoped to one day be as good as her mother. Setting the vase down, she turned her attention back to unpacking the weaved blankets she had made.

The sound of horse hooves on the dirt road had her looking up. A shudder ran down her spine and she saw Braxton Jones stop his mare next to her wagon. The man would not take no for an answer. She had tried to be polite but firm in her lack of interest at first. When he wouldn’t take the hint, she became more hostile. It didn't matter how hostile she was though, the man would make a point of harassing her any chance he got.

Hello, Topsannah, Braxton called down to her from atop his horse. When she ignored him, he swung off the horse and stood behind her. I said hello, Topsannah.

Turning around to face him, she barely escaped being kissed by the man. Pushing against his chest, she managed to put a small amount of space between them. Using it to her advantage, she went to move past him and as she did, she tripped. Pain shot through her hands and knees as she landed on all fours on the hard ground. Turning on to her rear end, she saw that Braxton was still standing on the hem of her dress. Red-faced, she tried to yank the hem of her skirt free. Braxton's laughter enraged her more and she yanked harder. She was rewarded with a torn hem for her efforts. Rising, she stomped over and swung at his face, but he caught her wrist easily in his hand and yanked her closer to him.

Fear mixed with her rage. Struggling to free herself from his grip, she stomped on his foot. Free from his grip, she backed away from him. She could see the anger in his eyes and knew Braxton could be a cruel man. If she was a proper white lady, someone would have stepped in and helped her by now. As it was, she was a half-breed Indian-Mexican and the good folks of town couldn’t be bothered. Braxton took a couple of steps toward her and retreated.

Topsannah, I was hoping to see you today. I just have to have one of those pretty vases your mother makes, Lily Green’s voice rang out.

She was so grateful to see Lily. Braxton retreated a couple of steps and busied himself, pretending to be interested in one of the woven blankets she had made.

Emma Smith stepped around Lily and smiled. Lily may want a fancy vase but I, for one, want one of those blankets. She grabbed a blanket and keeping it folded, clutched it to her chest.

The women chatted about various goings-on in the town and even the boring topic of the weather. When Braxton grabbed the reins of his horse and stomped off toward the saloon, Topsannah gave a sigh of relief. Why can't that man take a hint? I have made it very clear that I have no interest in him.

Because men like Braxton don't take hints, darlin’. Nor do they take no for an answer. They believe they own the world, Emma said. Lily nodded her head in agreement.

DAVID O'BRIAN WAS STANDING outside the sheriff's office talking with Sheriff Calvin Kittering when Braxton Jones approached Topsannah. He could see from where he stood that she was displeased to see Braxton. He couldn't blame her, Braxton was an egotistical man who loved only himself. Bending down, he picked Scottie up and placed him on his hip. His little boy was growing so fast, and he found it hard to believe he was two already.

After that string of violence a couple of months ago, I am glad it has been quiet lately, Calvin said.

Quiet is a good thing. His attention was drawn back toward Topsannah. The sun reflected off her long black hair. Unlike the white women in the town, she wore her hair loose or plaited down her back. He couldn't remember a single time he had ever seen her hair piled up on her head. Truth be told, he actually preferred a woman's hair to hang loose. Society, however, didn't care what he preferred.

David, did you hear me? Calvin's voice penetrated his thoughts.

Sorry, I was distracted for a moment. He readjusted a squirming Scottie on his hip and tightened his grip.

Yeah, I can see how a man would be distracted by a lovely woman, Calvin said then laughed when David glared at him.

He had just turned back toward Topsannah when he saw her trip. He had expected Braxton to help her up but instead, the man laughed at her. Moving to step off the wooden sidewalk outside the sheriff's office, Calvin grabbed his arm. He glared at his friend and tried to shake his arm free.

Leave it be, David.

I will not leave it be. The man needs put in his place, David snapped.

Even in front of Scottie?

David realized his friend had a point. If he got his hands on Braxton, he would hurt the man. No way he wanted his young son exposed to that kind of violence, especially when he was the one doing the violence. Taking a deep breath, he willed himself to calm down. Much to his relief, he saw his housekeeper, Lily Green, and Ms. Smith had approached Topsannah. It didn't take long for Braxton to stomp off and leave the young woman alone. He knew she was free of the unwanted advances for now, but he also knew that Braxton Jones would be back and as persistent as ever.

With Braxton gone, David headed toward the women. Calvin was right beside him with a knowing smile on his face. He wished his friend would stop reading what was not written. He had no designs on Topsannah or any woman for that matter. He had married his soulmate and she had been ripped from his life in the cruelest of ways. He would never again put himself in the position to hurt like that again. God had taken her much too young from this world, but left David with a small blessing. If not for his young son, he knew he would not have survived losing Angela. Thinking of his late wife, he hugged his son a little tighter.

Hello, Sheriff. Mr. O'Brian, Topsannah greeted them. When her eyes met David's, she lowered her gaze to the ground but not before he saw the blush that colored her tanned cheeks.

Sheriff, Topsannah has brought some beautiful blankets today. You must check these out, Lily said as she nudged Topsannah.

Oh, yes, I have some new blankets with me today, Topsannah blurted out as she turned to show the sheriff the new blankets.

David stood watching as Calvin looked over the blankets. After looking over several, Calvin finally settled on a tan blanket with a large orange sun weaved in the center. He admired her skills with weaving blankets. Her mother, Lotsee, was an amazing craftswoman with her pottery. Money was tight and for someone of her background, life was especially difficult. He had wondered more than once about her birth. He knew her mother was a white woman and her father was Mexican. So how did the Comanche come into it? That was the mystery that was Topsannah.

Mr. O'Brian, we were discussing dinner tonight. Emma has invited all of us to her cabin for dinner, Lily said as she reached out and took Scottie from him.

I appreciate the offer, but I have to decline.

Decline? Why ever for? Emma asked.

Lily, you were planning to fry chicken for dinner, David said. He knew it sounded lame, even to his ears.

Mr. O'Brian, I will not be there to cook the chicken tonight. I will be at Emma's for dinner. So, if you plan to eat, you can cook for yourself or join us. Lily stared pointedly at him.

He knew when he was trapped, and these three women had him trapped. The last thing he wanted was to have dinner with three women as they played matchmaker. Calvin was single, maybe he could get his dear friend to join him and direct the women toward his redeeming qualities. Nodding his head at his thoughts, he turned toward Calvin and watched the other man's eyes go wide. Oh yes, his dear friend knew exactly what he was thinking. Calvin, you will be joining us, right?

I am sorry, but I already promised my sister that I would be having dinner with her tonight. Calvin gripped the blankets he had just purchased.

Actually, why don't you bring your sister with you? It would do her some good to get out of the house. Emma flashed him a smile that said she wasn't taking no for an answer.

That is a great idea, Emma. Why don't we head over there now and talk to Molly, Lily said as she turned to walk away. I will take little Scottie with me and will meet you back at the house in a couple of hours. With that, she began to walk away with Emma right on her heels. David knew he had lost this battle and took delight in the fact that the tough sheriff had just been outmaneuvered by three women.

Chapter 2

TOPSANNAH STAYED SET up for another couple of hours trying to sell her wares. Normally she would wait till close to dusk to pack up and head back to her cabin located on the edge of town. Today though, her heart was light, and she was looking forward to tonight. Just as she was climbing up into the buckboard of her wagon, she noticed Braxton standing just outside the saloon staring at her. There was something seriously wrong with that man. Unfortunately for her, he had not committed any crime, therefore having the sheriff lock him up was out of the question. Turning around, she could feel his eyes bore into her back as she guided her horses toward home.

Once at the cabin, she made quick