This is the last blog post for the Wip It Up Wednesday blog hop with Melody Parks at the helm. Thanks so much for all your hard work Melody - I've had fun doing this hop :)
And huge thanks to Meredith for taking over and keeping this great blog hop going!
And huge thanks to Meredith for taking over and keeping this great blog hop going!
This week I'm sharing an excerpt from my latest release The Code of The West, the standalone sequel to The Ways of The West.
But first, some exciting news - my two westerns have been combined into one paperback volume - The Heart of the West which is available now!
Excerpt from The Code of the West
Cal glared at her, and she glared right back at him
defiantly, feeling brave now that she had the big trail boss for protection.
“I’ve
come to take you home,” he told her.
“I’m
not going home,” she stated, shaking her head. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
She felt Mr Jordan’s big hand squeeze her shoulder, encouraging her.
“You
heard the lady,” Mr Jordan growled. “Get out.”
“Lady?”
Cal sneered. “She ain’t no lady! I took that away from her, right on her
kitchen floor. She put up a fight, but I know she enjoyed it.”
“You
lying bastard!” she screamed, about to launch herself at him, but Mr Jordan
held her fast, gripping her upper arms firmly.
“Get
out of here,” he repeated, his voice hard and cold.
“Not
without her.” Cal pointed at Jed.
“She
doesn’t want to go with you,” Mr Jordan snarled.
“Well
that’s a shame, isn’t it?” another, familiar, voice called from behind them.
Jed turned to see Neil holding Billy in a headlock, a gun to his temple. “I
don’t think she has a choice. You give me back my sister, I’ll give you back
your man.”
Mr
Jordan was silent. He looked from Cal to Neil, then from Jed to Billy, and back
again. He was obviously thinking. The men were all watching curiously, their
hands on their guns, ready to back up their boss the instant the order was
given.
Jed
looked at Billy. He looked scared – he had no idea what was going on, or why he
was being used as a pawn in such a dangerous game.
She
could see Cal looking around the camp, counting up the men. The odds were not
in his favour, so she knew he would be cautious. He was an experienced fighter,
but he fought best when he had the advantage.
“Are
you willing to fight for her?” Cal asked venomously.
Mr
Jordan stepped forward. “I’ll fight for her.”
Immediately,
Neil pushed Billy sideways, and the boy stumbled against the side of the chuck
wagon. Monty hurried to him, but Billy was unhurt.
“No!
Weston!” she screamed; she knew Cal’s reputation. He was a fighter, a dirty
one, and he’d never lost a fight. At least, not that she knew of. She knew he
would have a knife stashed somewhere – he didn’t fight just with his fists.
This would not be a fair fight, there would be no rules. Cal was a master at
this. Mr Jordan would get hurt, and all because of her. “Stop!” she screamed
again. “Cal, stop!” she pleaded. “I’ll go with you!” she cried, desperate. She
couldn’t watch the man she’d come to care so much about, get hurt.
“No you
won’t!” Mr Jordan yelled. “Davey, hold her!” he ordered.
Frantic,
she tried to run to Mr Jordan, to intervene, but strong arms caught her and
held her fast and although she kicked and struggled, she was no match for his
strength; he restrained her easily.
“Be
still, bosses orders,” Davey commanded her softly.
Cal
threw the first punch, she held her breath. So far, Mr Jordan was dodging all
Cal’s blows and landing a few of his own, enthusiastically cheered on by the
drovers. But Jed’s heart was in her throat. She knew Cal, she’d seen him fight
before. He wouldn’t be an easy man to beat. Mr Jordan was tough, and he was bigger,
but Cal was the better fighter. She flinched at every punch Mr Jordan took,
wishing more than anything that someone would put a stop to this. Why wasn’t
someone doing something? Why were two grown men fighting over her?
Mr Jordan landed a combination
of solid punches to Cal’s body and face and he crumpled to the ground. Thinking
it was over, Mr Jordan started to turn, and that was when Cal pulled out his
knife. He staggered to his feet and brandished the knife in front of him,
advancing towards Mr Jordan with a triumphant gleam of victory in his eyes. Jed
gasped as Cal thrust the knife at Mr Jordan, slashing his arm. She saw Mr
Jordan grab his arm in pain, blood trickling out between his fingers.
Horrified, she turned and buried her face in Davey’s shirt. She couldn’t watch.
Blurb:
In the years since the tragic death of her parents,
Jedda-Lyn Cross has given everything she has to keep the family ranch running.
She has grown accustomed to getting no help at all from her alcoholic brother,
but when his violent, sadistic friend tries to make Jedda his wife against her
will, it is the last straw.
Her attacker is the son of the richest family in town,
and with the corrupt sheriff ready to do his bidding Jedda is desperate to
leave town in a hurry. With no money and no horse, her best chance of making
her escape comes in the form of a soon-to-be-departing cattle drive led by the
famous trail boss Wes Jordan. But a young woman has little hope of gaining
employment on a cattle drive, so drastic measures will be required…
Wes is none too pleased when he discovers that the new
drover he hired is actually a beautiful twenty-two-year-old woman disguised as
a boy, but after hearing Jedda’s story he promises to protect her. As he
quickly realizes, however, that will be easier said than done. Jedda is sassy,
headstrong, and in serious need of a good, hard, bare-bottom spanking, and when
her reckless disregard for her own safety finally pushes him too far, Wes takes
her firmly in hand.
After a painful, humiliating punishment from the
handsome trail boss, Jedda is left with her bottom burning and her mind set
awhirl. In spite of everything, she aches for Wes to take her in his arms, and
when at last he does the pleasure of his skillful, passionate lovemaking nearly
takes her breath away. But with her obsessed former suitor and his hired guns
still after her, can she bring herself to accept the fact that, for a man like
Wes, risking his life to protect the woman he loves is just part of what it
means to live by the code of the west.
Publisher’s Note: The Code of the West is an
erotic romance novel that contains sexual scenes and spankings, including
domestic discipline in a historical setting. If such material offends you, please
don’t buy this book.
Don't forget to check out the other blog hop participants below:
Ooooh it's such a pretty cover for a paperback! Sounds like a really hot story. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love the cover too!
DeleteNOOO!!! Kelly! You can't stop the quote there! I need to know what happens to Mr. Jordan! Is he going to be able to finish the fight and kick Cal's ass or else will Cal win? I need to go buy this story now!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I LOVE your cover! It's super hot!
Thanks Meredith! It's now out in paperback, I've updated the blog post to add the link :)
DeleteFabulous cover. And fabulous snippet.
ReplyDeleteThanks Daryl! :)
Delete