Case of the Concho River Convict

By Kailin Gow and Rachel Angel

After finding my bounty, the Prickly Prince, I ended up becoming Mrs. Prickly and living on a ranch in Texas.
Although I now live on a sheep ranch in my husband’s town of San Angelo, I wasn’t about to give up my career as one of the most successful woman bounty hunters in America. So, I established my own agency in West Texas, known as the Pinkerton Agency of San Angelo.

Being newly married, I was settling into my role as Mrs. Prickly, but little did I know, there were more excitement here in a growing town than you’d expect. You’d think a small town like San Angelo would be quiet and sleepy, but it turned out, there’s more excitement in this town than I’d ever imagined. I not only worked as a bounty hunter, but now as a private investigator.
It started with The Case of the Concho River ConvictThe Priscilla Prickly P.I. Series is a mystery series with romance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sparklesoup Inc.
• Release date: Dec 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9781597483421

Kailin Gow

It's official! Read about Kailin and her books being adapted into films and tv series here: https://filmdaily.co/obsessions/kailin-gow-loving-summer/ FIND OUT MORE ABOUT KAILIN GOW AT: https://linktr.ee/KailinGow including how to get a free book from her! Kailin Gow is a million-selling international and USA Today Bestselling author of over 680 published books! She writes in many genres under her name and other pen names. She has been an invited speaker on Book Expo America, appeared on CBS News about writing books with social issues, and the Top 15 National radio regularly on women's issues, women in film and Hollywood, and leadership. She holds a Masters in Management from USC and degrees in Social Ecology, Criminology, and Filmmaking. She is an author influencer on Instagram, owns a podcast network with multiple channels, is a multi-award-winning filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, actress, and host. Her books have been made into games, animated short films, and series. Currently, a number of her book series have been optioned, are in development, or pre-production, including her YA Fantasy Sci Fi Thriller FADE (which has been optioned) and Red Genesis (also optioned) by Netflix producers. Kailin Gow is a regular guest in radio and television on women in Hollywood and filmmaking, naming the top Women Execs to Watch. She is a judge in film festivals, writing contests, and is also a voting member in the Academy Awards. AWARD-WINNING INTERNATIONAL MILLION-SELLING AUTHOR, PRODUCER, AND TV PERSONALITY Kailin Gow is an internationally-recognized multi-award-winning multi-genres USA bestselling Asian American author and woman director/filmmaker who has written and published over 400 books under Kailin Gow and her pen names. She is both traditionally-published as well as indie. Considered a digital publishing pioneer, her books have been downloaded over 10 Million times around the world. She is known as one of the most prolific authors internationally who not only writes novels but screenplays fast, but of world-class quality they win prestigious awards like the ALA YALSA Awards and Los Angeles Film Awards. Besides having gone to law school, she holds a Masters Degree in Communications Management from USC and Drama/Film and Social Ecology Degrees from UC Irvine. She has also been a longtime member of TED Talks. She is the first Asian American author to have sold over 1 million books and to be featured on Amazon.com's homepage as an indie Author Success Story. Her success as an Indie Author and advocate for Indie authors during the early Kindle days has inspired many to take a plunge to become authors. The first Asian American woman who is independently published to appear on Amazon's homepage as an Author Success Story, she also represented Amazon as an author spokesperson during Amazon's Kindle Family Launch press conference in Santa Monica and at Book Expo America where she was an invited speaker. A digital publishing pioneer, she was one of the first authors and publisher to publish digitally back in 2001. Prior to becoming a full-time author and filmmaker, she worked as an Exec in Legal and Production at Walt Disney Company, a writer/producer for Cable Television, an Exec at high tech start ups, and Exec at Fortune 100 Hotel and Travel Corporations where she has managed and trained hundreds of employees on world-class service and operations. She has also been a professional model, a tour director, journalist, re-organization consultant, a secret mystery shopper/consultant for top brands, and professional speaker who has been an invited speaker at Book Expo America, Girl Scouts, Asian America Heritage Week, and more! FUTURIST AND SOCIAL INFLUENCER A social influencer, she has over millions of views on her YouTube channel and her Vimeo channel with over 1.5 million views on her Bitter Frost trailer and award-winning animated short film alone. She is a judge on writing contests for writing incubator social sites, has been a member of TED Talks, and is one of the most quoted modern living authors today. She has also been regularly published as a contributor on Fast Company magazine on articles about publishing, leadership, business, and social issues. https://www.fastcompany.com/1800256/social-media-and-future-publishing-industry

Book preview

AUTHORS’ NOTE

Thank you for picking up The Case of the Concho River Convict, the first book in the Priscilla Prickly P.I. Series.

This series is Mystery Thriller appropriate for age 16 and up.

Prologue

Priscilla

AS THE COFFEE BREWED, I looked out the kitchen window.  The sun was rising, just coming up over the horizon. It burned, bright and hot, promising a scorcher of a day.,  As it slowly crept its way up, the ranch and the pastures beyond became clearer and clearer.  The sky was free of any signs of a cloud and there was no sign of a breeze, either.

It was going to be a hot one, a hot return to Texas, to the ranch, and to my new life with my husband.

I still could not believe that Preston was now my husband. Yes, husband - not my pretend fake fiancé, whom I had masqueraded to be engaged to only as a means to turn him in as my bounty. From being my bounty to becoming my husband. He really was my biggest bounty, and I fell hard for him, despite how much we resisted each other.

Why are you getting up so early? Preston said as he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

His hands were warm on my skin, lighting the fire that had burned almost nonstop these past weeks.  Weeks that went by like a flash since our wedding held right here on Preston’s ranch.

I chuckled softly and laced my fingers through his, reveling in the softness of his hard-working hands.  I’m surprised to be up at all.  My inner clock is completely off after this extended trip to Paris.

Is it really the trip to Paris or what we did in Paris that’s thrown you off?  He nuzzled my neck.  I mean, I did do all I could to keep you on your toes.  Remember that wild night at the patisserie.

Giggling, I shifted around in his arms to face him.

Seated on the terrace of a cute little pastry shop, he’d fed me an éclair, his fingers finding their way over my lips where he replaced them with his lips in a deep kiss. Patrons, amused by our antics, looked on until one non-so-amused customer suggested we get a room. We’d laughed and happily said we were on our honeymoon.

My husband.  Preston Prickly.  The love I never knew I wanted.  The love I never knew I needed.  I knew that I would never tire of seeing his handsome face, his teasing grin and his loving eyes.

How had the world... the powers that be... destiny... created such a perfect creature just for me. We started out as enemies, then we had an arrangement where I pretended to be his fiancé, which finally to us making it a reality. Funny how life works.

I do believe, my dear husband, that you were wilder our first week in Vegas.  I would point to exhibit A... that is the scar you still have on your back.

Enthused by the prospect of getting a little fresh air and exercise, we hiked up a rugged trail of Black Mountain south of the city.  Alone at the top of the mountain, he’d stripped, and I’d followed suit.

Making love to him on that mountaintop, the wind blowing through my hair, the sun kissing my skin, had been a treat.

If I remember correctly, he said, you’re the one who took the reins, pushed me back against the sharp rock and made love to me. Who knew that a girl from Las Vegas would be a natural cowgirl?

I laughed.  Admit it, you loved every minute of it.

It’s a scar that I will forever cherish, he said of the scar that marred his upper back.

That said, Paris did calm your ardor somewhat, I said.

He grunted deep in his throat as he pulled me to him.  I just wanted to give you a chance to recuperate, love.

I laughed and gave him a passionate kiss.

How lucky I was... to have met him... to have fallen in love with him... to have had him fall in love with me. Who knew that the best woman bounty hunter in America would fall in love with her bounty, the elusive heir to a billion dollar enterprise.

With a quick pat on my butt, he turned and headed out the front door.  I’ll have my coffee out on the porch this lovely morning, he said, just like a real macho ranch owner.

Shaking my head, I snorted as I poured two cups of coffee.  After dropping a spot of cream in mine, I headed out with the two mugs.

Here you go, I said as I held his cup just slightly out of reach.  You forgot to say please.

He glanced up at me and smiled.  My lovely wife.  Could you please indulge me in a nice hot cup of the best coffee on this fine morning?

I handed him the cup of coffee.

You know what? he said, his mind still on our honeymoon.  Las Vegas was exciting and thrilling.  Paris was romantic.  Our cruise on the Mediterranean was perfect and I wouldn’t change a thing.  But, shoot... Admit it.  Look at this place.  Breathe in that Texan air.  It doesn’t get better than this... no matter where you go, no matter what anyone says, it simply doesn’t get better than this.

I sat down in the rocker beside him and nodded.  San Angelo was a far cry from Vegas or Paris, but it was home... my new home, and I loved it.  I won’t argue with you there, I said.

The sprawling ranch with its three hundred and sixty degrees of pure blue sky from horizon to horizon, its thousands of acres, its hundreds of sheep, and its divine silence was hard to beat.

Preston looked at me, a somber expression in his eyes.  Are you happy to be back?  Back to the quiet and simple life of a sheep farm?

Of course, I am, Preston.  I reached out to put my hand over his.  Why would you doubt it?

He shrugged.  You know... Paris, the lights, the excitement.  The big city with so much to do.  The cruise with its endless buffets, activities, and beautiful sights.

Being back here... with you... is exactly where I want to be, Preston.  Don’t get me wrong.  I enjoyed every moment of our honeymoon, and, when the time is right, I would love to go on another trip with you.  But this is home... our home, and I love it here. Don’t ever doubt it.

He squeezed my hand.  Good.

I shot him a teasing grin.  Just don’t let that little macho streak of yours get out of hand.

He smiled, his eyes full of love and the utmost respect.  You know I was just teasing about bringing me coffee.

I nodded.  I know.

His smile faded and his eyes filled with concern.  During our honeymoon, I couldn’t help but notice that you bristled a bit when called Mrs. Prickly.

Surprised, I took a sip of coffee and considered his remark a moment.  Did I?

He nodded.  As we left the hotel in Paris; the clerk called you Madame Prickly and your reception was cold.  Before that, on the cruise, you were addressed as Mrs. Prickly three times, and each time you stiffened.  I do believe that on one occasion, you didn’t even respond.

I thought back to each incident, remembering them clearly.  I’d been Priscilla Pinkerton all my life and the Pinkerton name meant something.  It was important to me.  The name was practically synonymous with security, investigative work and law enforcement.  The legacy was set in stone, and I wanted to continue that legacy.

I’m thrilled to be Mrs. Prickly, I finally said.  But being Priscilla Pinkerton is also important to me.

He nodded his understanding.  After a moment of contemplation, he smiled.  P.P.P.

I tilted my head quizzically to the side.

Priscilla Pinkerton Prickly, he clarified.  Has a nice ring to it.

Better than your Prickly Princess, I said with a chuckle.

He’d taken to using the nickname during our honeymoon.

Well, I said with a confident grin.  At least I have Priscilla Prickly as the name that appears on my business card.

Frowning, he looked at me.  Business card?

Once again, I reached for his hand and squeezed.  Remember, Preston.  I told you that I wanted to go back to work once we were home.

And I told you that you don’t have to.  We don’t need the money.

I nodded.  I know.  It’s not the money.  It’s the work.  It’s the work that I enjoy.

He grinned.  I should have known.

Can you blame me for wanting to get back to work?  I realized suddenly that it was