Bachelors of Battle Creek, Book 2
By Linda Broday
Sourcebooks Casablanca
Historical Western Romance
May 5, 2015
ISBN: 9781492602842
$7.99 Mass Market Paperback
About the Book:
“Linda Broday’s
books always take me back to a west that feels true. Her love stories run deep
with emotion. A delightful read.” —Jodi Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Promise Me Texas
Callie leaned into
him, borrowing his strength. “I’m so tired of being scared, Rand.”
“Running away won’t
change that. Trust me with your secrets. There’s no reason to hold back any
longer.”
She knew he was
right. It was time to come clean.
“Start with your
name,” he said.
Left with emotional scars from his time in an orphanage,
Rand Sinclair has vowed never to marry. But when he discovers Callie Quinn and
a small orphan boy hiding on his ranch, he can’t help but open his home to the
desperate runaways.
Callie has been betrayed by every man she’s ever known.
While she’s grateful for Rand’s incredible kindness, she knows it’s only a
matter of time before he shows his true colors. But she needs this safe
haven—maybe the outlaw on her trail won’t find them here. Yet as Rand slowly
uncovers her secret fears, they each come to realize that the only way to keep
her safe is for Rand to risk everything to offer her the protection of his
name…and his heart.
Where to Buy:
TEXAS MAIL ORDER
BRIDE (Book 1)
TWICE A TEXAS
BRIDE (Book 2)
Excerpt:
Toby barreled out the
kitchen door, trailed by Biscuit. “What’cha doin’?”
“Hi, pardner.” Brett ruffled
Toby’s dark hair. “I brought you something.”
“What is it?”
“Your very own tepee.”
“To keep?” Toby’s eyes
widened and his big grin spread.
“Maybe. We’ll see how it
goes. If you mind your elders, you can keep it. If not, I’ll have to take it
back.”
“I’m the best boy in the
whole world.”
Brett’s grunt seemed to say
that time would tell as he arranged twelve long poles on the ground and began
tying the tops of three together with a length of rawhide. “Where do you want
to put this, Rand?”
“Let’s move it over by the
woodpile, where it’s out of the way.” He was going to be the only white man
with an Indian tepee on his ranch. How had this sorry state of affairs come to
pass? But he wouldn’t say no. It meant too much to Brett and to Toby.
Callie came from the house
looking fit to be tied. “Hello, Brett. I hope this isn’t what it looks like.”
“Miss Callie, I wanted
something special for Toby to play in, that’s all. If you draw the line at him
sleeping out here, that’s all right. It’s up to you to decide when and how
often you want the boy to use it.” Brett gave her a smile. “I’d never undermine
you.”
“This could be very magical
to a child,” Rand said gently.
“Please, ma’am?” Toby
begged. “I wanna be an Indian.”
Biscuit gave a loud whine
and spun around in a circle as though she too was adding her two cents’ worth.
“Please?” Toby persisted.
When she lifted her eyes to
Rand, he gave her a lopsided grin and a wink. Getting tangled up in her warm
whiskey gaze could be quite pleasurable, he found.
“Oh, all right.” Callie
threw up her hands. “But I won’t have you sleeping out here, young man. You’ll
play in it only when I give you permission. And you’ll have chores to do each
day before you can play. Understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“It’s too dangerous out here
at night anyway, with that mountain lion hanging around,” Rand said. “I’ll keep
an eye on him during the day. I don’t want you to worry.”
Toby hugged Callie, then
threw his arms around Brett’s waist. “Thank you. I’m glad we came here.”
Brett returned Toby’s hug,
then knelt to rub Biscuit’s head. “Now tell me where you got such a
fine-looking animal.”
Rand stood watching the
pint-sized squirt relay what little facts he knew. He already loved this little
kid. Whatever had happened to them, it made him happy that he could help bring
a light to the boy’s eyes. He remembered how dull they’d been when he’d first
found them in the run-down bunkhouse last week. His mind turned back time to
the days following his, Cooper’s, and Brett’s escape from the orphan train. To
avoid detection, they’d slept during the day and traveled by the light of the
moon, eating food whenever they found some or managed to kill a rabbit or
squirrel. Cooper was always the one to watch over them and fight when things
called for it. He’d once tried to kill Tolbert Early in a bathhouse for
attacking Brett.
Toby had that same
protective instinct. Rand only prayed he could help the boy stay a boy a while
longer. Once you became a man, you could never go back.
“Where are you, brother?”
Brett asked.
“Just thinking that you’d
best explain what we need to do.”
With Biscuit supervising and
pretty much getting in the way, they all pitched in erecting the tepee, which
was made from buffalo hide.
Working side by side with
Callie proved the best part. Each time their hands touched, a current ran up
Rand’s arm. He couldn’t imagine what might happen if the touching involved a
bed and the scent of night around them. He’d probably just explode faster than
a load of nitroglycerin. Likely find pieces of him three states over.
The haunted look had begun
to fade from her eyes a little, and she wasn’t as tense and anxious as when
they first arrived.
Maybe, just maybe, the fear
would be gone soon.
And then he intended to kiss
the daylights out of her.
Of course he’d go slow. He
closed his eyes and watched it play out in his head.
He’d start by kissing each
eyelid, then move to her shell-like ears and trail kisses down her long slender
throat.
Tiny nibbles at the corners
of her mouth.
Trace the seam with his
tongue.
Breathe her fragrance.
Whisper tender words.
Only then would he press his
lips fully against hers and take all that she wanted to give.
And then…
“Rand!”
It took a minute to sink in
that someone was trying to get his attention. “What?”
“Where did you go?” Brett
asked. “I need you to help me get these sewn buffalo hides around this tripod
and cone I’ve made. Of course, if you’d rather take a nap—”
“Just show me what to do,”
Rand snapped.
As they worked, Rand’s gaze
kept straying to Callie’s soft, round curves. The woman was going to be the
death of him yet.
Even so, he was realizing
he’d die a happy man if he could only get a taste of her lips.
**************
An Interview with one of the Bachelors of Battle Creek!
Howdy, ma’am. I’m Rand
Sinclair the middle brother in the Bachelors of Battle Creek series – Twice a
Texas Bride.
Booklover Sue: Complete the sentence: Not many people know it, but I’m really good at
_____.
I’m really good at changing
diapers. I have this three-month-old adopted daughter named Wren. Prettiest
baby you ever saw. Callie and I took her in after her parents died. I love
everything about being a father—even changing smelly diapers. I just take care
of it. I have to admit that first time was rough. Wren was kicking and
screaming and smeared that stuff from one to the other. I started gagging and
came near to throwing up. Now, I’m an old hand at it.
Booklover Sue: What is the best gift you’ve ever received?
That would be the first time
I heard Toby, a six-year-old that Callie and I also adopted, call me Papa. That
little boy sure made me proud. I never thought I’d be a father. I’d closed my
heart to the notion. But Toby knocked down the door and stormed past the
barriers anyway. He’s my son in every way that matters.
Booklover Sue: What is the oddest location you’ve shared a kiss?
It was in a tepee that my
brother Brett set up on my ranch for little Toby to play in. The kiss happened
right after we got back from town where Callie ran into the outlaw Nate
Fleming. Lord, she was scared that he’d found her. She told me she was going to
get her things and run. My heart broke right in two. With the rain beating
against the tepee, I took Callie in my arms and gave her a kiss that I made
sure she’d never forget. It was like standing in the middle of lightning storm.
I never felt more alive or surer of my love for her.
**************
About the Author:
Linda Broday now resides in the panhandle of Texas on the Llano Estacado. At a young age, she discovered a love for storytelling, history, and anything pertaining to the Old West. Cowboys fascinate her. There’s something about Stetsons, boots, and tall rugged cowboys that get her fired up! A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Linda has won many awards, including the prestigious National Readers’ Choice Award and the Texas Gold Award. She blogs regularly at www.PetticoatsandPistols.com.
Connect with Linda Broday:
Praise for Linda Broday:
“Broday understands the West and its lure. Without stinting on the gritty reality of a rough Texas life, she brings strong characters and deep emotions into a very realistic western romance that pulls no punches.”—RT Book Reviews, 4 stars, on Redemption
“Linda Broday is a wonderfully talented author, who has a knack for bringing the west to life.”—Roundtable Reviews
“Broday’s style of storytelling is captivating; readers become emotionally involved in her stories, and are not disappointed with the outcomes.”—The Best Reviews
“A compelling tale... sure to touch western romance fans seeking a sentimental love story.”—RT Book Reviews, 3 stars, on The Cowboy Who Came Calling
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Giveaway:
3 copies of TEXAS MAIL ORDER BRIDE (Book 1)
Open 4/27 – 6/1
Hi Booklover Sue! Thank you for having me. I'm so excited to share my book with readers. Rand Sinclair and Callie Quinn were such wounded characters. I knew when I wrote Rand into the first book of this series that he would have a powerful story to tell. I just didn't know how fiercely he'd fight for the woman who stole his heart. He risked everything for her. I love these two book people who are so real to me. Their love story came from deep in my heart. Sometimes during the writing of it I ached so strongly for them that I broke down in sobs. It's truly a special one to me. I hope readers like it and will look for the final one of this series in December.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for having me!
This looks great. A cowboy who can change diapers? YES!I 'm getting in on this contest.
ReplyDelete