Will: The Carter Brothers, #2

By Susan Horsnell

Will Carter, a deputy in Gold Springs, has no intention of settling down and the furthest thing from his mind is marriage.
He insists his brothers would have to hogtie him to get him down the aisle.
Until….. He meets Rebecca Nolan.
Their first meeting results in a bruised jaw, a sore backside and a stay in jail.
Will's attitude regarding women is proven right by the feisty hellcat.
So why does she get under his skin?
Will she be able to save his life?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lipstick Publishing
• Release date: Sep 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223214083

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   

Book preview

THE CARTER BROTHERS

BOOK 2

WILL

SUSAN HORSNELL

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Contents:

Copyright

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Excerpt:

Chapter One

About the Author

Author of Amazon No 1 Best Sellers in 2018:

Matt – Book 1 in The Carter Brothers Series

Clay – Book 3 in The Carter Brothers Series

Amazon No 1 Best Seller in February 2019

Andrew’s Outback Love – Book 1 in The Outback Australia Series

Amazon No 1 Best Seller in July 2019

Ruby’s Outback Love – Book 2 in The Outback Australia Series

Amazon No 1 Best Seller in May 2019

Eight Letters

Amazon Best Seller in April 2020

Cora: Bride of South Dakota

WILL

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.

Written by Susan Horsnell

Edited by Redline Editing

Published by Lipstick Publishing

ABN: 573-575-99847

Chapter One

A drawing of a face Description automatically generated

Gold Springs

Summer 1869

Deputy William Carter, Will to his friends, sat in the back corner of the Pick and Shovel saloon in the town of Gold Springs. He had his back against the wall and could clearly see if anyone entered through the swinging bar doors.

He was reading a report he'd received from his friend Doug, a Ranger in Austin. It concerned three dangerous bank robbers.

Doug had sent the report because he was concerned the notorious robbers may be heading toward Gold Springs.

Will had no idea why the experienced robbers would bother.

Gold Springs is only a small town which had been founded to service mining and ranching in the area. It has a couple of saloons, a diner, combined telegraph/post office, general store, Doc's office, livery, hotel, cathouse, school, church and Sheriffs' office.

It's a poorly kept secret in town, the bank kept gold deposits for the miners from Crooked Creek. When the gold deposits were big enough to warrant it, the bank manager would wire Wells Fargo, who would send a stage with two heavily armed men to transfer it to a bank in Austin.

Will was confident, that although this information was common knowledge among the locals, it wasn't generally known to outsiders. He wasn't too concerned the robbers would turn up in his territory, but he read the report anyway.

~*~

At twenty-seven years old, Will was the second eldest son of Virginia and Joseph Carter. He had an older brother, Matt and a younger brother, Clay. Laura, his sister, was the youngest of the siblings at eighteen years old. She had just returned home after spending the past three months with friends in Austin. He had grown up and worked, on his parents' 150,000-acre cattle ranch, which was about an hour out of town. Just over three months ago, they had found Matt's wife - Maddie, on a track leading to their ranch. The family had been on their way back from town.

She had been badly beaten and left unconscious by three outlaws who were after her uncle's gold. Maddie was nursed back to health by the women at the ranch.

Will had become involved with the local Sheriff and two Rangers from Austin in looking for her assailants. He had always loved the law, he knew he didn't want to be a rancher for the rest of his life. Being involved with the searches and eventual capture of the three outlaws, reinforced how much he really wanted to be a lawman.

He'd talked to Tom Malone, who was the town's Sheriff at the time and asked him to help explain his ambition to his parents. He'd also asked Tom if he would help secure him a position at the Sheriff's office in Gold Springs.

Tom had been a good friend to the Carter family for over twenty years and knew where Will's passion lay. He was happy to assist the young man. He discussed it with Will's parents and they let him go with their blessing. They had suspected his interest in the law for a long time and had known he wasn't happy ranching.

Tom had resigned as Sheriff after the outlaws had been caught and bought two hundred acres from Joseph and Virginia when he'd married their cook, Alice, three months ago.

Will's parents never used the land in the south corner of their ranch, it was too hilly for cattle, but they said it was perfect for Tom to run horses on. Everyone had helped build them a small cabin and Tom now broke mustangs for the local ranchers to use on round ups.

Alice had wanted to continue as cook for the Carter's. She said they were her family and she'd miss them if she wasn't there every day. The arrangement worked well.

Tom recommended his deputy, Dan Young, stand as the new Sheriff. He'd been Tom's deputy for the past eight years and he thought very highly of him.

Dan was elected unopposed and Tom was delighted. He discussed Will becoming Dan's new deputy and it was accepted by both the town council and Dan. Tom and Dan, had been teaching Will the ropes for the past three months.

Tom was now fully retired and Dan was officially the Sheriff with Will as his deputy.

Will had bought a small cottage in town within walking distance to the office. He took most of his meals at the diner and Lucy Masters, a widow who owned the diner, delivered breakfast to the men daily. She also delivered any other meals to the office if they couldn't get away.

On his days off, Will visited his family and had meals at his parents' house. He looked forward to these visits and Matt and Maddie often turned up to visit him there too. They were all excited about Maddie expecting and he often picked something up in town for the baby.

The birth was almost six months away yet and Maddie joked that Matt would have to build another room onto their cottage to accommodate all the things everyone kept giving them.

Will adored his new sister-in-law, as did everyone else in the family. They respected her courage and determination, in overcoming the ferocious attack she had endured. A lesser woman would have been consumed with bitterness.

~*~

Will was a handsome man. He knew without vanity, girl's heads turned as he strode by. He was tall at six feet, five inches and his brown shaggy hair insisted on standing on end every time he removed his Stetson. His brown eyes were framed by eyelashes so long, it seemed unfair they belonged to a man, his Ma always said.

His square jaw had a deep cleft and above his left eye was a small scar, the result of being thrown from a horse when he was ten years old. His muscular thighs bulged against his pants and his shirt pulled tight across his broad chest. He was the epitome of tall, dark and handsome which authors wrote about in the penny westerns.

Girls swooned at the sight of Will, but he showed no interest. He'd told his Ma on several occasions, he was sick of gals who wouldn't do as they were told. He didn't care if he never married, but he would never tolerate a disobedient woman.

He was content to go about his work as deputy, catching petty criminals and transporting them to Austin for trial, breaking up brawls at the saloons, locking up the local drunks to 'sleep it off' or, getting rid of fellas who were a bit rough with June Taylor's girls. June owned and ran the only remaining cathouse in town.

The other had been closed down about a month ago, when the madam, who was sick of the rough miners, transferred her business and girls, to Austin. There was enough happening around Gold Springs to keep Will and Dan occupied, without the worry of a second cathouse.

Friday and Saturday nights in the saloons were busy, it was when most of the miners came in to whoop it up. Since Dan had introduced the 'check your firearms at the door' law; the nights weren't as dangerous, which was a blessing.

Will usually spent his evenings in the saloons to make his presence known and to keep an eye on things. The Miner's Rest saloon had been a bit quieter lately as the Pick and Shovel had introduced dancing girls on weekends.

Only the hardened drinkers and gamblers, who didn't care for entertainment and didn't cause as much trouble, now frequented The Miner's Rest.

~*~

Will was concentrating on a report and twirling a cider in his hand, when the front swinging doors were pushed open so violently they crashed onto the wall behind. He swore the doors hit the wall so hard, the whole building shook. He dropped his hand to his colt as his eyes swung toward the doors.

A woman in the doorway roared, Pa, you get your good for nothing, lily livered ass off that stool and get home right this minute. I swear I'll hog tie you and drag you there behind Peachy if you don't move. NOW! And, if Peachy happens to release his business over you on the way home, I wouldn't be sorry.

Tim March, the owner and barkeep groaned. He really didn't want any trouble.

The woman at the door drew Will's full attention. The powerful banging of the doors and thunderous voice, came from a tiny package a good gust of wind could have blown away. She had auburn red hair which was more out of, than in, a braid. Eyes the colour of a summer sky and the fullest, pinkest lips he had ever seen. She wore a drab brown dress with no frills or lace and although old, it appeared to be clean. Like the woman, it was all business. She had her hands placed on a pair of very curvy hips and her breasts were full and firm. She was everything he hated in a woman. He felt embarrassed for her father, whoever the unfortunate fella might be. He relaxed the hand which had been hovering over his colt and watched to see how this would play out.

Every eye in the saloon was on her except for one mans and Will guessed he must be her father. He was perched on a stool and draped over the bar with a whiskey in his hand. The Deputy watched with interest as the woman stomped her way toward him. The man lifted his head but didn't look at his daughter.

Rebecca, what the devil do you think you're doing? I've told you a thousand times, saloons are no place for a lady.

She drew up alongside him. Wade Nolan, I've told you a thousand times, I ain't no lady. I have never been one and I ain't never gonna be one. If you weren't always in a saloon, I wouldn't have to keep coming in to drag you out. Now get your sorry ass off that stool and get on home. There's chores need doin' and I'm not doin' 'em all myself again.

Rebecca, please. Wade lifted his hands to his head and slumped back down on the bar. Me heads a hurtin', just one more whiskey for your old Pa, eh?

Will watched with amusement as Rebecca moved closer to her Pa, no-one in the saloon had moved an inch. They were engrossed with the exchange between father and daughter.

Wade was a huge man, Will had seen him walk in earlier and figured he would be at least a head taller than his more than six feet. Although he wasn't muscular; he was wide in the chest. His large belly, thanks to constant consumption of liquor, hung over his belt. Rebecca would have barely come to his waist. His ruddy face was heavily lined from years of drinking.

What happened next had Will leaping from his chair and moving toward them in a hurry.

Rebecca hooked her foot around the leg of the stool and yanked with all her strength. As the stool tipped, Wade fell backward onto the floor. His head hit the concrete with a thud and his eyes glazed over. Whether the cause was the whiskey he'd been imbibing or his head hitting the floor, Will didn't know.

As she began moving toward her father again, Will grabbed the spitfire around the waist and hoisted her off her feet. She kicked and screamed, catching him hard in the shins with the heels of her boots. With a curse of pain, he released her and she spun around to face him.

What the hell do you think you're doing mister? she yelled.

She had obviously not noticed the badge on his chest or if she had, didn’t care. She was one very angry gal with fire leaping from her eyes.

Miss, you can't go around treating people that way. You could have injured him real bad, he said calmly.

She wasn't paying attention to Will as she'd noticed Wade sit up, rubbing the back of his head. She reached down intending to grab a handful of his hair, but before she could get to it, Will grabbed her by the arm.

Get your goddamned hands off me. With her free arm and using all her strength, she swung.

Her fist connected hard with Will's jaw. He stumbled back a step from the force of the punch, but managed to retain his hold on her. When she lifted her leg to stomp on his foot, he decided he'd had enough of this wildcat.

He flung her over his shoulder, picked up the report he'd been reading and headed for the jail. She pounded his back with her tiny fists and kicked her legs. Put me down, you good for nothing mudsill.

Will took no notice. Picking up his Stetson from a peg near the door, he jammed it onto his head before turning to face where Wade remained on the floor.

Wade, if you know what's good for you, you'll get yourself home and get those chores done. I'm gonna lock her up and let her cool off overnight. You can come by and get her in the morning. I'll decide by then if I'm gonna press charges.

Yes sir, deputy. Wade scrambled to his feet.

Will heard the customers laughing as he left.

It was early summer and the night was warm. There