Mail-Order Ranger

By Susan Horsnell

Claire is left alone and desperate after her parents are killed in a stagecoach accident.
She is the only heir to their successful horse ranch but she risks losing everything.

Peter dreams of retiring from being a Marshall and owning a ranch of his own.
When he is asked to be Claire's Mail Order husband, he cannot say no.

Will Claire survive to be with the man who has finally broken through her barriers and captured her heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lipstick Publishing
• Release date: Oct 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223202981

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, 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: Redline Editing

Proofread: Leanne Roger

Published by: Lipstick Publishing

Note to Reader

This is a work of fiction. In Texas in the 19th-century single woman were able to own property but once they married it became their husband's property.

For the sake of this fictional story I have overlooked this fact.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to one of the most selfless ladies I know.

She works tirelessly for the Indie community and I'm not sure she realizes just how much she contributes to our success.

Thank you, Robyn Corcoran – you are a lady I am proud to call my friend.

Chapter One

Summer 1870

Winton, TEXAS

Sonofahairybitch.

Claire Sullivan dragged herself from the ground, slapped her dusty Stetson against her denims and pushed her loosened hair back behind her ears. She had been attempting to break the recalcitrant stallion for the past four days and was still no closer to keeping her ass firmly ensconced in the saddle.

Her foreman, Tyron, hung over the corral fence watching her progress. Or, lack thereof. He resisted the urge to run to her every time she flew through the air and onto her backside. Not looking good boss.

Ya reckon? Claire scowled at her foreman. She limped over to the fence and leaned back against it as the spirited horse raced wildly in circles.

You okay?

Yeah, just twisted up the ankle a bit is all. It'll be fine. She frowned at the antics of her high-spirited horse as he began to dance and kick out his rear legs.

As an only child on the Flying J Ranch she had been around horses all her life. She had ridden since before she could walk and had been breaking them to the saddle for almost ten years. She didn't care that many thought her the best horse breaker in the county, she just loved being around the magnificent beasts.

John Sullivan, her beloved father, had come west from Virginia more than thirty years before to realize his dream of starting a ranch. She desperately wanted to continue his work. She was proud of the Flying J ranch's reputation for supplying the finest riding horses to the US Army and was determined to maintain it, but to do so, she needed a husband. A marriage in name only would be sufficient to keep her inheritance intact. Stupid, stupid laws. Why couldn't a woman own land in her own right?

At 50,000 acres, the ranch was a small operation compared to most in the area, with only around 1600 horses found on the property at any one time. Over my dead body will I ever leave here. If she had to put up with a man to keep it,she would.

Could her worry and preoccupation with these thoughts be the reason the horse was reacting this way? She gazed up at her foreman hoping he might have the answers.

I can't understand him, Tyron. I've never had a horse that didn't respond. I can't even remember Papa having one that took more than two days to break. What am I doing wrong? She turned back to where her wranglers - Ben and Clayton, were attempting to calm the horse down.

She was fortunate to have Ben Mitchell and Clayton Simpson, two of the best horse wranglers in the business. Together with Donardo Vega, a Vaquero her father befriended and hired when he first arrived in the area, they were major contributors to the success of the ranch.

Tyron dragged his fingers through his already unruly hair. I'm not sure you're doing anything wrong, lass. Do you wanna cut him loose?

Hell no. Claire was not a quitter and she would find a way to work with this horse. She pushed away from the fence and swung around to her grinning foreman. He's a real challenge but I'm not giving up.

She punched his shoulder playfully and leaned back on the fence as he laughed. You already knew that didn't you?

The horse eyed her with suspicion as Ben walked him past her to take him back to his stall.

Claire sighed. Call it a day men and wash up for supper.

She hobbled toward the house. She loved the two-storey whitewashed building with a huge wrap around veranda. It was where she had grown up. Where she felt safe, happy. Until recently.

****

Since the death of her parents she had taken over the running of the ranch. Now, she was in danger of losing it because of her gender. If she had to have a husband it would be in name only. He would have to agree to allowing her to run the ranch as she saw fit. But, where was she going to find such a man? Given a choice, she would much rather remain single and answer to no-one.

She had discussed her solution with close friends and neighbors, Henry and June Carlson. While June thought it was a horrendous idea, Henry agreed it was the best way to stay in charge of the ranch, and promised to help.

The situation weighed heavily on her. She had refused every man from town and, as it could drive a wedge between the men on her ranch should she choose one of them, she had also ruled that option out.

Claire wearily pushed open the kitchen door. After grabbing a cool glass of water she collapsed into a chair at the table.

****

Henry Carlson crouched down and inspected the cut wire. A large section of boundary fence now gaped open. Six of his best horses were missing. His son, Howard, insisted the damage must have been done by either Claire or her men. He argued it was the fence between the two ranches and no-one else would have had access. 

Henry refused to believe his neighbors would do such a thing. He knew the men from the Flying J were traveling further away from the ranch to round up the wild mustangs they brought back to break. Henry and his men had been forced to do the same thing. But, he couldn't and wouldn't, believe they would steal to fill their quota for the army.

Hell, stealin's a hangin' offence.

Pa, you can see as clear as me. That wire's been cut, it hasn't been broken. Someone has deliberately done this. Howard stomped up and down.

Yep, they have. Henry pushed himself to his feet, removed his hat and dragged his fingers through his thinning grey hair. He turned to his wranglers. Mark, Steve, get it fixed. Zac, Josh, take a look around and see if ya can find them missing horses. At Henry's command, his men sprang into action.

Howard was not to be dissuaded and shouted out as the men turned to ride away. Go take a look on the Flyin' J. I'll be betting you find them there.

Henry spun around and stepped close to his son. I'm warning you, Howard, don't go making accusations about that little gal stealing. She's got more than enough trouble without you accusing her of something her and her men haven't done. He emphasized the point as he spoke by poking his long finger into his son's chest.

Howard wouldn't be swayed and mumbled sullenly. I still reckon it's them.

We checked over there a week ago when the last four horses went missing. Claire understood, with the fence cut they could have wandered onto her land. She was even good enough to pull her men off other chores to help us look. I know if she found any of our horses on her land she'd let me know real fast.

Henry gazed into his son's angry face and he could see he wasn't about to let it go. I'm warning you for the last time. You go near Claire or her men or, send any of our men to confront them, and you'll have me to answer to. Am I clear?

Howard grudgingly nodded before he strode over to help repair the fence.

Henry was worried as he watched his son. Howard had been plotting to get back at Claire ever since he'd asked to walk out with her. She had given him a definite no, telling him she wasn't interested in courting or marrying any man.

He had not taken the rejection well. Especially when he'd found out Claire had to marry to save her ranch but, still wouldn't say yes to him. He'd been livid, humiliated and was determined she'd pay in some way. He didn't like not getting his own way and he wanted both Claire and her ranch.

Henry was concerned about his unpredictable son and what he might do. He recalled how he and June had both advised Claire to say no to their son when she'd confided in them that he'd asked her to allow him to court her. They'd told her, they loved their son but he was the wrong person for her. She deserved someone who would treat her much better than Howard would.

They had explained it was their fault he'd been spoiled and always had his own way. They'd been told they were unable to have children and when June had fallen pregnant with Howard they'd been over the moon. Henry had an heir. By the time their daughter, Mary had arrived, another huge surprise, they had realized their mistake in spoiling Howard.  They had raised Mary with love but also with discipline. She had grown up a loving, caring daughter they were both extremely proud of.

Henry mounted up and rode off. He hoped by the time the fence was repaired, Howard would calm down.

****

Claire and her men sat down to supper. Kelly, Claire's cook and housekeeper, laid out the food before also taking a seat.

Everyone ate their meals together at the large, oak kitchen table. It was a tradition begun by her father and now