Cowboy & Honey

By Sindee Harlow

It's 1874 and a renowned hunting guide leads a group of businessmen and their wives into the Colorado wilderness. In a downturn of events, he faces the jaws of a charging grizzly to save a man's life, altering his own forever. Whiskey and wounded pride set fate in motion, entangling two hearts and testing the boundaries of forbidden love.

Joshua Stone is hired to lead a party of businessmen into the Colorado wilderness. Honey Winsor Blackwell doesn’t fit into the same mold as the other wives. An independent spirit, she's intrigued by the man with piercing blue eyes, only known to her as Cowboy. At first, her observations are accidental, sparking curiosity: his easy confidence, the cut of his shirt, the simple sensuality of a kitchen towel slung over his shoulder as he prepares a meal.

Honey's earthy beauty catches Joshua's attention right off. She isn't as starchy as the others, and he's impressed when she insists on accompanying the men, her ease with a horse and a rifle apparent. He doesn’t miss the way she studies him but isn’t about to tarnish his reputation over what he perceives to be a dissatisfied wife...until that one momentous night.

Cowboy & Honey is a tender and moving novelette with a 'happy for now' conclusion. Their story will continue with a mid-2023 release. Follow the author to receive notice of availability. This book is part of the "Brothers of Stone Meadow Ranch" series.

Trigger warning: explicit content and domestic violence

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sindee Harlow
• Release date: Mar 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215783641

Sindee Harlow

Sindee Harlow is a pen name for the collaboration of author Bonita Clifton and her very own hero and story scholar, T.K. Rogers. Together they create adventurous characters and fascinating landscapes, transporting readers into lush worlds where heroes are daring and compassionate, the heroines strong and capable. Both are avid readers and love planning and plotting future writing projects.Bonita and her hero also write time-travel romance, and recently embarked on an adventure of backpacking Europe while researching and writing. Some would say they are crazy. Others, however, enthusiastically follow their travels, enjoying entertaining and humorous stories, living vicariously, and even taking notes for their own future itineraries.Would you like to join in on the craziness? Subscribe to Bonita’s Insider Newsletter. Along with their travel shenanigans, you will also hear about upcoming releases, giveaways, hot sales, promotions. You may unsubscribe at any time. Prefer only to be notified of future releases? Follow Bonita Clifton and Sindee Harlow on Bookbub and/or Amazon.

Book preview

Introduction

Sindee Harlow is a pen name for bold and steamy historical romance written by Bonita Clifton and T.K. Rogers.

Cowboy & Honey is an introduction to the upcoming series Brothers of Stone Meadow Ranch and concludes with a 'happy for now'. Their story will continue as Book 1 in this series. Though heartwarming and at times humorous, be advised this novelette is spicy and contains domestic violence and cheating (forbidden love).

Bonita Clifton also writes sweet & spicy time-travel romances offered in Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program. Read for Free! Paperbacks are available through all retailers.

Twisted Rose Saga time-travel romance series: Book 1, Time of the Rose and Book 2, Journey of the Rose and Book 3, Origin of the Rose.

Happy Reading!

Chapter 1

Denver Union Station, 1884

Just one more day.

The locomotive chugged into the depot in a belch of steam, piercing a curtain of coal smoke lingering over the boardwalk. Porters and crew alike raced about in the haze as doors slid open and passengers began their exit. A slender blonde woman stepped gracefully from the train, hair coiled beneath a velvet hat trimmed in a fashionable display of violets and ostrich feathers, black netting grazing a high cheekbone. Smiling bright, she paused to survey the old familiar surroundings, heart singing with joy and nerves thrumming in anticipation.

Home!

Honey Winsor Blackwell inhaled the raw mountain air, a welcome reprieve from San Francisco’s gloom of dampness and fog. Auburn leaves crunched under tobacco-brown kid boots, skirts swirling about her legs as she upped her pace, making her way toward a shiny black Phaeton carriage with a bright red interior awaiting them at the front of the depot.

A balmy autumn breeze stirred curls to slant across her face. She lifted them away with gloved fingers, turning a pleasant smile to the faithful manservant walking alongside with a leather valise in tow, stuffed with a week’s worth of clothing and sundries. He nodded with a polite and knowing grin, coal-black hair shimmering when he stepped into the sun.

Ari had been in her employ for the entire 12 years of her marriage. Not a small man, he stood taller than most, his shoulders wide and capable. She trusted him implicitly, for he knew well the abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband, having experienced the same cruelty himself. She often wondered why he stayed on under Blackwell’s employ and had asked him numerous times. Though he never actually came out and said it, she suspected if it wasn’t for her and Rose, he would’ve returned to his native India long ago. They endured a commonality. Loyal to a fault, Ari knew her situation. And, despite himself, he had fallen in love with a woman here in Colorado.

Neither traveler noticed the tall, substantial man leaning against a brick wall within the shadows of an overhang, boot propped to the wall behind him. He wore his hat pulled low, dark hair secured by a leather thong, and queuing past his collar. Joshua Stone, the eldest son hailing from a prominent horse ranch on Colorado's western slope, wore a tarpaulin slicker concealing a Colt six-gun and a sheathed bowie knife.

A grizzled blue cattle dog sat rigidly alert at his side, ears twitching at the cacophony of sounds. At first sight of the woman, the dog’s tail thumped the boardwalk and Joshua lowered a hand to touch the dog’s head, calming him. Joshua’s attention focused on the two passengers weaving amongst the crowd and the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile as smoke curled from a cigarillo clenched in his teeth. A pleasant warmth spread through his veins, accelerating his heartbeat. God, he couldn’t wait to get her into his arms.

As the travelers disappeared inside the depot, the slim cig fell to the wood planking where he crushed it under a boot before spinning on a heel and vanishing around the corner, his dog, Griz, following at a brisk clip.

A team of two fine black hackneys pulled the Phaeton through Denver’s bustling city streets, wagons, riders, and trolleys darting past. When they arrived at the Brown Palace Hotel, Ari hopped down and assisted Honey and her luggage inside. Once she was settled into an opulent room on the fourth floor, her comrade retired to the communal bunkhouses traditionally reserved for employees. Beset with a sense of excitement, Honey freshened up before hurrying downstairs, anxious to see her sister, Camille. She didn’t fuss over unpacking, for she would be there only one night.

I’ve missed you so! Honey gushed, gripping Camille in a tight embrace. Honey leaned away for a long look at the older woman, likely a mirror image of herself in 10 years.

You’re radiant as always, Camille said, wiping away a happy tear before clasping Honey’s cheeks between her palms. San Francisco must agree with you.

No, no, Colorado agrees with me far more. I’m thrilled to be back. You look wonderful, Camille. I’m so happy you were able to meet me.

Did you ever doubt it? Camille asked. "It’s become quite the autumn tradition!

Only that I’d heard about early snows on the eastern plains and worried you may not make it.

Now you know better than that, she said, clucking her tongue. A few frivolous snowflakes won’t keep me from my sister when the opportunities are rare as it is. So, when will you finish this business of yours? Robert have you out on the campaign trail again?

Honey sighed, wishing she might completely confide in her sister. Maybe someday.

"Something like that. I wish I had more