Lawfully Charmed_Texas Lawkeeper Romance Read online

  Lawfully Charmed

  A Texas Lawkeeper Romance, Bareglen Creek, Texas

  Kate Cambridge

  Contents

  Copyright

  Introduction to The Lawkeepers Series

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  It’s Not Quite The End & Notes!

  About Lawfully Played from Annie Boone

  About Lawfully Loved from Jenna Brandt

  About Lawfully Matched from Lorana Hoopes

  Join Kate’s Reader’s Group

  Also By Kate Cambridge

  About Kate Cambridge

  Copyright

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  https://KateCambridge.com/choice/

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real in any way. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental. Bareglen Creek, Texas is a fictional town set near San Antonio.

  Copyright 2018 by Kate Cambridge

  All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Property of Kate Cambridge

  February 2018

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-947171-03-9

  Print ISBN: 978-1-947171-04-6

  Dedicated to my uncle, S.L, a retired Navy SEAL who made untold sacrifices in service for our great country.

  You are my favorite Lawkeeper.

  Introduction to The Lawkeepers Series

  The Lawkeepers. Historical and modern-day super heroes; men and women of bravery and valor, taking love and law seriously. A multi-author series, sure to lock up your attention and take your heart into custody.

  There’s just something fascinating about a man wearing an emblem of authority. The way the light gleams off that shiny star on his badge makes us stare with respect. Couple that with a uniform hugging his body in just the right way, confidence, and mission to save and protect, it’s no wonder we want to know what lies underneath.

  Yes, what echoes deep inside those beating hearts is inspiring. Certainly appealing. Definitely enticing. Although those ripped muscles and strong shoulders can make a woman’s heart skip a beat—or two—it takes a strong, confident person to choose to love someone who risks it all every day. Anyone willing to become part of a lawkeeper’s world might have a story of their own to tell.

  The undeniable charisma lawmen possess make all of us pause and take note. It’s probably why there are so many movies and TV shows themed around the justice system. We’re captivated by their ability to save babies, help strangers, and rescue damsels in distress. We’re captivated by their ability to protect and save, defend the innocent, risk their lives, and face danger without hesitation. Of course, we expect our heroes to stay solid when we’re in a mess. We count on them for safety, security, and peace of mind. From yesterday to today, that truth remains constant.

  Their valor inspires us, their integrity comforts, and their courage melts our hearts—irresistibly. But there’s far more to them than their courageous efforts. How do they deal with the difficulties they face? Can they balance work and life? And how do they find time for love outside their life of service?

  We want to invite you on a journey—come with us as we explore the complex lives of the men and women who serve and protect us every day. Join us in a fast-paced world of adventure. Walk into our tight-knit world of close friendships, extended family, and danger—as our super heroes navigate the most treacherous path of all—the road to love.

  Visit The Lawkeepers

  One

  Bareglen Creek, TX

  1885

  He shifted in the saddle, his eyes scouring the landscape as though the source of the unease in the pit of his stomach would somehow manifest in the early morning horizon. Days like this didn’t end well, and he, Sheriff Sullivan “Sully” Clarke sat up straighter in his saddle, urging his mount forward. He’d learned the hard way that it was best to meet a challenge head on, and best to keep his premonitions to himself.

  “Sheriff, what’s the rush?” Jim Hawarden, his deputy sheriff’s baritone voice boomed from behind him.

  Sully raised his hand and pulled the reins, patting Cider’s neck as he came to a sure stop but then sidestepped and whinnied, shaking his mane. Did he sense it, too? “Easy boy.”

  Jim pulled alongside, tipped his hat and wiped the sweat dripping down his face on the back of his sleeve. “Jeez, Sheriff, when are we gonna take a break?”

  Sully sighed as he glanced at his deputy. Jim was just shy of his own height at six feet, and an impressive figure with dirty blonde hair that always looked like it needed a trim, and gentle brown eyes. He was a good man, but was he really cut out for this work?

  He was eager to help—driven to help, even, but part of Sully believed he’d be better off full-time at his sister’s farm. The man was simply accident prone, and for a man who’d chosen Texas, he hated being out in the heat. But then again, when his sister, Mary Trost, lost her husband, she’d needed help with the small farm they’d purchased. She never could have run it alone. Jim may not love the Texas heat, but he clearly loved his sister, and his business degree and savvy is probably what saved her from having to sell.

  “We’ve only been riding for an hour, J—”

  A shot rang out, echoing like thunder across the hills. Cider reared as Jim’s steed raced past them without his rider. Sully fought to spin Cider around, leaped off and raced toward his deputy—now prone on the ground, a red circle spreading on his chest. “Jim, Jim, can you hear me?” Fear tightened his chest as he reached his side.

  His deputy groaned, opening his mouth to speak, but fell silent.

  Sully felt for the pulse at his neck. It was there, but weak.

  “Stay with me, buddy,” he urged as he hefted him over his shoulder. The low moan was a welcome sign that he was still alive, at least for the moment. A movement in the trees to his left caught his eye. He quickly flung Jim over the saddle, leaping up behind him in one swift move, spurring Cider on, who responded as though he’d been born to race.

  He leaned forward, covering Jim’s body with his own, tightening his legs around Cider’s belly; instantly Cider ran harder and faster. A second shot rang out, this time taking Sully’s hat with it as they crested the hill and Cider flew down the backside.

  Sully guided Cider along the ridge to the right, pushing him harder, backtracking toward town and out of the gunman’s sight. He glanced back to see if the gunman was in pursuit.

  “Stay with me, Jim, stay with me,” he whispered in his deputy’s ear, still leaning over him as Cider pounded toward town. He wasn’t sure Jim would still be alive when they reached Doc Holloway’s, who was not to be confused with the gunslinger Do
c Holliday who was in fact a dentist. But if ever there was a man who had nine lives, it was Jim Hawarden.

  He found himself mentally counting the number of times Jim had been shot or injured—hoping this wasn’t number ten—as blood seeped onto the hand supporting Jim’s chest. Cider seemed to know where they needed to go as they entered town and he came to a quick stop in front of Doc’s house.

  Two men rushed forward to help him, John Barker and Evan Dow. “Evan, help me get Jim into Doc’s. John, let Doc know we’re coming,” he barked, as a third man, Joseph Cane, stepped up and took Cider’s reins.

  John and Sully eased Jim from the blood-soaked saddle, and the three carried him quickly inside. The look on Doc’s face spoke volumes. “Just do what you can, Doc. If ever a man could survive the impossible, it’s Jim,” Sully demanded as he turned and stormed back through the door.

  He was met outside by four men on horseback, John Barker, Evan Dow, Joseph Cane, and Adra Dudley, a Texas Ranger, who held the reins to a fresh horse from the stable.

  Sully’s breathing slowed as his eyes acknowledged each of the men. “Good of you to join us, Adra,” he addressed the Texas Ranger. “I don’t know who shot Jim, but from what I could tell, it appeared to be a lone gunman. He was hiding in the tree ridge just outside Kneeman’s Pass. He took a shot at me, too, narrowly missed,” he said as he absently rubbed his hat-bare head and pushed the bangs that had fallen onto his forehead back. “Now let’s go find him.”

  “You’ll need a hat in this hot sun, Sheriff,” John Barker added.

  “It will have to wait.”

  “I’ll get one from my store and meet up with you. You headed straight to Kneeman’s Pass?” John asked.

  The sheriff nodded. “Meet us there,” he said as John turned his horse north toward the store he and his wife owned. Sully addressed each of the remaining men. “I don’t have time to make this official, or give you a badge, Evan or Joseph, but for the sake of finding the man or men who shot Jim, consider yourselves deputized. You men know the way I work—I prefer to capture him if possible—but I also don’t want to lose any of you. If you’re in danger, take the first shot.”

  “I’ll follow your lead with this one, Sheriff,” Adra conceded. As a Ranger, he could have demanded the lead, but that wasn’t the way he worked. Jim was one of Sheriff Sully’s men, and he deserved to lead them. All of them.

  “I appreciate that, Ranger.”

  “Sheriff!” A short, stocky man, Hank Adams, Deputy Sheriff, yelled as he stepped out of the jail across the street. “You just got a telegram with an urgent message. You might want to read it before you take off. Want me to join you?”

  Sheriff Sully leaped onto his horse in one fluid move and kicked him into a trot, crossing the dirt street toward the jail; the other men followed. “No, Hank. Stay here and mind the town. I’ll read the telegram when I get back. Find someone who can get a message to Jim’s sister, Mary. She should be here with him.”

  Hank opened his mouth as if to argue but closed it just as quick. Everyone knew there was no point in arguing with Sully when he used that tone, so he simply shrugged, turned, and sauntered back to the jail.

  John Barker pulled up beside Sully and handed him a hat.

  “Thanks, John. Let’s go, men.”

  As they galloped past the stables, he heard Cider whinny. I wish you were with me, too, buddy, but you deserve a rest after that hard ride. Wish me luck.

  Two

  Philadelphia Train Station

  Philadelphia, PA

  “Oh, mother, seriously!”

  “Claire Marie Hawarden—I am quite serious.” It was all Claire could do to not roll her eyes. “Just last week a train was robbed in Texas, and I fail to understand why you feel the need to visit with your sister now of all times. It’s dangerous.”

  “Mother, we’ve been over this a thousand times, and rehashing it won’t change anything. We’ve purchased the tickets, and Mary is expecting me. You know how hard it’s been on her since losing Mike. She needs my support now more than ever.”

  “She never should have gone to Texas to begin with. She belongs here in Philadelphia, and I hope you can talk some sense into her while you’re there. She could easily sell that little piece of land they call a farm and come back home to find a suitable husband. It’s bad enough that your brother Jim visited her to help out—and decided to stay!” Her mother’s raised voice had the beginnings of hysteria.

  Claire bit her lip. She didn’t want to exasperate her mother further, and there was no point in trying to make her mother understand Mary’s heart in moving there to help the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word with homeless and orphaned children. If the truth were known, Claire had been more than a bit surprised when her sister decided to stay in Texas permanently. She couldn’t understand the draw to live in a land so wild and untamed—and uneducated.

  “I’ll do what I can, Mother, but you know how Mary is...” She bit her lip again.

  “Just promise me. Promise me, Claire, that you will return as planned in four weeks. I couldn’t bear to lose another one of my children.”

  Claire took both her mother’s hands in hers and kissed her cheek lovingly. “Your children are all very much alive, Mother, and trust me— No one will have to convince me to return to Philadelphia. It’s only been a few weeks since my graduation from Bryn Mawr, and already I’m going stir crazy. I need to get back so that I can begin looking for work.”

  “Hrmph. Work? You don’t need to work, darling, Edward is quite capable of taking care of you, and in fact has expressed the desire to do so several times. Why must you put off his advances? It has been a dream of your father’s and mine to connect our family with the Woodbury’s, and you must admit—Edward is a fine catch.”

  “Yes, Mother, I’m well aware of Edward’s standing…” her voice trailed off, but then she brightened as the train whistle blew the final warning for boarding, a welcomed distraction to her mother’s reproach-filled eyes. “Well, I must be going or I’ll miss the train. Give father my love, and I’ll telegram as soon as I’ve arrived.”

  “Don’t forget! Your father hired a sheriff to protect you once you reach Texas. Do be looking for him, won’t you?” Her mother’s voice trailed off as Claire reached the train steps, and the conductor offered a hand to help her board.

  “Goodbye, Mother!” Claire waved as she turned to instruct the porter on where to deliver her baggage. Her parents had insisted on a private Pullman sleeping car, and she would likely need the space to accommodate her luggage and the gifts she’d brought for Mary.

  Yes, it was adequate, if a bit small. Suddenly she was grateful she didn’t have to share this small sleeping space with a complete stranger. She tipped the porter, and he closed the door behind him.

  She had traveled by train in the past, but never a trip so long as this. She couldn’t deny the flitter of excitement that rolled through her stomach, resulting in goose bumps across her arms. The movement of the train startled her, and she reached for the wall to steady herself as she moved toward the small window in her compartment to watch their departure.

  It was a true wonderment that an engine could power the train and transport people in days or weeks on a journey that used to take months. Why just weeks ago her father had heard that a man in Germany had created an engine-propelled carriage that could carry two or more people.

  It was exactly this that made her want more than ever to use her education to help mold the minds of children—boys and girls—to create a world more advanced than ever before. She wanted a world where education existed for all children—boys and girls equally; yet her true desire was to help gifted children realize their total potential. She may not be an inventor, or have the understanding of physics required, but she could recognize brilliance—fostering that—shaping the minds of these children was something she could get excited about.

  Her mind wandered to her sister, Mary, and her move to Texas to help the Sisters care for orph
ans and homeless children. A smile spread across her face and although she couldn’t imagine wanting to live in Texas, she admired her sister’s commitment to follow what she believed was a call upon her life. And her dedication to making a difference in the lives of children who had nothing to call their own.

  Three

  Kneeland’s Pass

  Bareglen Creek, TX

  “There’s no sign of ‘em now, Sheriff. Looks like one horse and one rider,” John Barker observed when they reached the tree line where the sheriff had seen the shooter.

  “Let’s follow the tracks and see if we can catch him. It could be a lone rider, but it also could be a scout for a larger band, and if that’s the case, we need to head them off before they consider Bareglen Creek to be their next target.”

  “Sounds like a good plan, Sheriff. If it’s all right with you, I’ll let you and your men handle this. I’d like to check in with my Ranger unit and see if there’s any connection to prior activity in this area.”

  “Thanks, Adra. We can handle it from here. Let me know what you find out.”