Chantilly Lace

By Susan Horsnell

Chantilly 'Tilly' Lace O'Malley is a corset wearing, gun toting, whisky drinking saloon owner.

She can out-cuss, out-shoot and out-ride any man.

The year is 1870 - women like Tilly are rare.

Can Gareth break through her fears to win her heart?

Does he even want to try?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lipstick Publishing
• Release date: Sep 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223701330

Susan Horsnell

I’m an Australian author who lives in Queensland when not travelling and I write in a variety of Romantic sub-genres, including Western,  Historical, Gay, Mafia, and Contemporary Romance.  I have published over 60 books and novellas, many of which feature strong, independent heroines and rugged, alpha male heroes. Some of my popular series include the Outback Australia series and The Carter Brothers series. My books are known for their well-researched historical details, vivid descriptions of the Australian landscape and real life experiences. My work has garnered praise from readers and critics alike, and I have been a Finalist in both the Rone Awards and Laramie Awards as well as being a multiple times International Bestselling Author and USA Today Bestselling Author. If you're interested in learning more about my books:  Linktree https://linktr.ee/SusanHorsnell   

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Copyright © 2017 by Susan Horsnell

The right of Susan Horsnell to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her under the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000

All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed, or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon, or similar organisations,) in any form (electronic, digital, optical, or mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

Disclaimer

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental or historical.

The characters and place names are productions of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously.

Edited by Redline Editing

Line Edited by Robyn Corcoran

Proofread by Leanne Rogers

Published by Lipstick Publishing

ABN: 573-575-99847

Chapter One

Larrabee 1870

Gareth Connell swaggered into the Lacy Nugget Saloon with his new foreman, Dan Ford, by his side. They were looking for a couple of whiskeys and a card game after a hard day in the saddle. A loud, angry voice brought them both to a sudden halt.

Get your goddamned mangy ass outta my saloon before I put a bullet between your eyes.

Gareth’s eyes perused the busy saloon. At a table tucked away in the back, a pint-sized boy? Girl? Stood pointing a Colt at the object of her obvious disgust. He elbowed Dan and pointed to where the altercation was taking place.

C’mon, Tilly. The slurring voice indicated the man was obviously drunk. Ya know I didn’t mean to hurt her. I promise I ain’t gonna sneak upstairs again.

Gareth studied the back of the figure holding the Colt. Judging by the way her hair was pulled up into a tight chignon, he decided it must be a girl. Her hair was inky black, a few loose tendrils hung down her back almost caressing her ass. A rounded ass encased in very tight buckskin pants. Nice, very nice. A white shirt was tucked in and a wide leather belt cinched her tiny waist. On her feet were well worn, dusty boots.

Gareth crossed his arms waiting to see if the scruffy drunk would oblige or if the pint-sized spitfire would unleash more of her wrath. He didn’t have to wait long.

Tilly stepped closer to the drunk. The other men at the table scattered, knocking chairs in several directions. They obviously wanted nothing to do with Tilly, her anger or her gun.

She reached down and grabbed the collar of the man’s shirt. He was hauled onto very unsteady feet. Gareth noted he towered over the angry woman.

For someone so small, she sure is strong, he commented to Dan.

Meet Chantilly ‘Tilly’ Lace O’Malley. She has the foulest temper in Larrabee. She can out-ride, out-shoot, out-drink and out-cuss any man, and she owns this saloon. Dan grinned.

Gareth’s eyes were pinned to the woman. She had spun around to haul the drunk from the saloon and now faced him. He sucked in a deep breath. The pint-sized, angry hellcat was the most beautiful woman he had laid eyes on in all of his twenty-eight years.

Her piercing green eyes were the color of newly polished emeralds. Her skin as white as fine porcelain. There was a dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose, but this added, rather than detracted from her beauty. Her plump, rosebud shaped lips were naturally pink and begged to be kissed.

Gareth’s dick swelled.

She tilted her head back and scowled at him, Mister, can you move out of my damn way so I can throw this trash outta here?

Gareth stepped aside so she had room to pass by. When her arm brushed on his, his entire body tensed. Every nerve sprang to life. Tilly had felt it too if the confused expression on her face as she glanced up at him, was any indication.

Dan tapped his shoulder, c’mon, let’s get that drink we came for. Celebrate you bein’ the new owner of the C4C.

Gareth still had his eyes pinned to Tilly as she was shoving the drunk man through the door.

Dan followed his line of vision before laughing and slapping Gareth’s back. Don’t even think about it unless you don’t value your life. No-one will ever tame that stubborn hellcat.

Gareth didn’t know if he wanted to. He admired her fire, her spirit, he didn’t want to see that tamed or broken. He had never seen another woman like her. A woman who didn’t kowtow to men.

Tilly stormed past Dan and the stranger after evicting Bert Wright for the third time in a week. She was sick and tired of him sneaking upstairs as soon as her back was turned and mistreating Adi’s girls. She slipped behind the bar as Dan and the stranger approached.

Whisky, Dan? Tilly asked.

Dan nodded. He didn’t frequent the saloon all that often but he always drank whisky.

Who’s ya friend? Tilly nodded her head at Gareth as she poured Dan his drink and slid it across the polished wooden bar toward him.

Thanks Tilly. This is Gareth Connell. He’s the new owner of Walt’s ranch. He’s gonna fix the old place up and increase the number of cattle it runs.

Tilly held the whisky bottle up. Gareth indicated he’d have one. Welcome to Larrabee, Mr. Connell. Sorry about the commotion earlier but we have a few mangy dogs in town who think they can sashay in here, get drunk and treat Adi’s gals like no woman should ever be treated.

It was obvious to Gareth, Tilly was still furious. He accepted the whisky she pushed to him and smiled when she poured one for herself. Adi’s Girls? he asked.

Adi keeps a few girls upstairs to pleasure men when they get the urge. She rescued them from the cathouse after they were beaten by drunken good for nothin’s. After Adi patched them up, they had nowhere to go except back to the cathouse. We talked about it and decided they would be better off here. We can’t help all of them but we do what we can. We have rules. The men can’t be drunk or dirty, and they pay first."

Tilly paused and sipped at her whisky.

In spite of what the town gossips and prudes say and believe me you’ll hear about me and this place, these girls aren’t bad. Most of them have fallen on hard times and do what they have to so they survive. Adi and I do what we can to keep them safe.

If you have need of a woman, this is the place to come to, Dan said. As Tilly said, the girls are clean and well looked after.

While Dan spoke and both men partook of their whisky, Tilly snatched the opportunity to check over the new stranger in town.

Whoowee, he was tall. The top of her head would fit under his well-muscled arm. In patches, his fair hair was bleached white by the sun. He had a square jaw and eyes as blue as a summer sky. Muscles bulged under his clothes. In her opinion, handsome didn’t begin to describe him.

Her belly heated, a similar heat to when their arms had brushed as she passed him. Every nerve tingled. It was a strange, unfamiliar sensation. One she had never had before.

How long have you owned the saloon? Gareth asked.

His deep, silky voice washed over her. About four years now. Daddy died not far from here. I didn’t want to live in the city so I used some of the money he left me and bought it. I’ve never had a home before so it’s nice.

Dan watched the exchange, fascinated. Tilly never revealed anything about herself.

What about your mama? Gareth was intrigued with this little lady.

Ha, she scoffed. The no-good creature cut dirt as soon as I was out of her body. No damn loss.

So, you were raised by your daddy? Did you go to school?

You’re mighty nosy mister.

Just curious is all. It’s my way of getting to know the townsfolk bein’ as I’m new.

Dan spoke up, he asked me about a hundred questions too, Tilly.

Guess it makes sense although, no one is usually interested in me.

Dan murmured under his breath. Too scared they’ll be hogtied or shot. Tilly didn’t hear the comment but Gareth did and he stifled the chuckle that