Excerpt pp 50-51

"Steady, boy. Steady." Gideon spoke soothingly to the wary mustang, patting the horse's shoulder reassuringly. In the four days he had been working for Zeke Jackson, he had spent some time coaxing the roan stallion to accept him. It was important, he thought, to get the horse to tolerate at least one person, because if the animal ever got truly sick or badly injured, he was going to need human help. So far, Gideon thought, he seemed to be gaining ground. The horse no longer shuddered so violently at his proximitiy and now didn't even attempt to evade his touch.

The horse had fire in his eye, Gideon thougyht. He'd survived the wilderness, capture and the BLM corrals, and yet he hadn't sacrifieced any of himself.

"You sure haven't boy," Gideon murmurred, stroking the sleek neck and shoulder, and almost fancied the horse snorted an affirmative. "Still you, through and through>"

The stallioin bobbed his head and whinnied, then butted Gideon's shoulder. Gideon chuckled.

Gideon glanced tioward the fence, and saw a man he didn't recognize. Tall, lean, well-built, the guy was dressed like everyone in these parts---jeans, Western shirt and straw cowboy hat. Gideon himself had traded his black felt hat for a straw one, in concenssion to the warmth of the day.

"Howdy," Gideon said quietly. "Something I can do for you?" The man shook his head. "I'm here to see Sara, but I caught sight of you and couldn't reist watching. Where'd you learn to whisper a horse?"

"My uncle tought me when I was a kid."


"Trying to steal my hired hand, Jeff?" Sara asked. She had come up almost silently, and both men started a little at the sound of her voice. The first thing Gideon noticed was that she was annoyed. Not at him, but at Cumberland.


What had this man done to her to make her feel that she had to be tough around him?

Interested in a Reprint?

DREAM WARRIOR…

Sara Jane Yates was a black satin sheets woman hidden in the guise of a pistol-packin' peace officer. Gideon Ironheart could tell that just from the sound of her voice. No other woman had ever made him want to quit his wandering ways before. But then, no other woman had ever rescued him at gunpoint from a barroom brawl, either.

Tall, powerful--and ready to take on the whole town Gideon Ironheart was "an Indian with an attitude," all right. Deputy Sheriff Sara Yates was sure of it. But there was something else about him--something hidden, sensual. Something that made her want to tell him her darkest fears. And her deepest desires ...

CONARD COUNTY: Where the Wyoming sky spreads bold and blue above men and women who draw their strength from the land -- and from the bonds of love they share.

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