Cowboy's Law (Brides of Juniper Junction Book 1) Read online

  Cowboy’s Law

  (Brides of Juniper Junction, Book One)

  Celeste Jones

  Cowboy’s Law (Brides of Juniper Junction Book One)

  Celeste Jones

  Copyright © 2020 Cowboy’s Law by Celeste Jones

  All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed without prior written permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  Published in the United States of America

  Editing by Helen Shade

  Cover by Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs

  This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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  Contents

  About this book

  Prologue

  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

  Preview of Cowboy’s Orders

  Other books in the Brides of Juniper Junction series

  Also by Celeste Jones

  About Celeste Jones

  About this book

  The stern lawman has captured her heart, but what will happen if he learns the secrets from her dark past?

  All Tassie wanted was a fresh start and a chance to earn an honest dollar with her own sweat and toil.

  When Cal Watson, the town’s ruggedly handsome sheriff, whose kisses leave her breathless and weak in the knees, fell in love with her and proposed, Tassie threw caution—and thoughts of her old life—to the wind and leapt into her future wholeheartedly.

  Surely her past would never catch up with her in an out of the way place like Juniper Junction.

  After years of fighting outlaws across the west, Cal is eager to settle down in the sleepy, low crime village of Juniper Junction. And when he falls in love with Tassie, he looks forward to a peaceful future as a married man.

  However, a string of thefts, strange events and some unusual behavior from his new wife make Cal wonder if there’s more to his sweet little bride than meets the eye.

  Love, romance, secrets and discipline in the old west.

  Welcome to Juniper Junction, USA Today Bestselling Author Celeste Jones’ series of sexy, feel good romances with a bit of naughtiness for good measure. Stern cowboys, mischievous brides. Someone’s in for a rough ride.

  Prologue

  The wall in the narrow hallway bit into Tassie’s back as strong arms pressed her against it and a firm mouth ravaged hers. She wiggled beneath the weight of the man, the closeness unfamiliar but not unwanted.

  Her heart thudded in her chest like a galloping mustang on the plains. She raised her arms across broad shoulders to encircle his neck as the kiss deepened and fanned the flames of desire higher and hotter than she’d ever experienced. A soft moan escaped from deep in her throat as she strove to keep up with his passionate kiss.

  He withdrew from her mouth and she rested her forehead against his shoulder and panted to catch her breath as he trailed kisses along the delicate skin of her throat, pushing the bodice of her dress to the side in order to glide his hot lips over her collarbone. Sparks of fire danced across her flesh where his lips made contact. The blood in her veins boiled with lust.

  A spiral of desire coiled deep within her and she felt helpless to stop it. Had no wish to stop it. If only this ecstasy could last forever. A warm hum of delirium threatened to overtake her and she lifted her face for more of his sultry kisses.

  He continued taunting the sensitive flesh of her collarbone and then up her throat. “Mine, Tassie, you’re mine.” His hot words steamed the shell of her ear and she whimpered helplessly.

  “Y-yes,” she managed to say, pressing her hips against him wantonly. “M-make me yours,” she begged, gasping for air between the words. Finally, the burning need within her would be sated.

  Suddenly he was wrenched away. Her arms reached out for him. Her eyes flew open and blinked to take in the scene.

  “I don’t care if you do pay your rent on time or even that you’re the sheriff, Cal Watson, but the hired girl is not included in your room and board.”

  Mrs. Campbell, the owner of Campbell’s Boarding House and Tassie’s employer, had all six feet plus of Cal by the scruff of his collar in one hand and a cast iron frying pan raised in the other. “You’ve got some nerve taking advantage of an innocent girl like Tassie. I expected better of you, Cal. First time I ever got to cast a vote, I voted for you. And this is how you repay me?”

  “Now, now.” Cal held up his hands in surrender. “Please Mrs. Campbell, I can explain.”

  Mrs. Campbell let loose her hold on Cal’s shirt but the frying pan remained ready to whack if needed. “All right, lawman, start talking.”

  Tassie bit her lip to keep from giggling. Not too many people got the better of Cal, but no one got the upper hand on Mrs. Campbell. She had a reputation for running the best boarding house in the territory and that didn’t come from putting up with guff. Even from the handsome sheriff with the slow grin.

  “It’s not what it looks like,” Cal said. He seemed to be stumbling to find the right words, something Tassie hadn’t seen before.

  “I’m pretty sure I know what it looks like, Cal. I might be old enough to be your mama, but my eyes aren’t too weak to not recognize a man groping my hired girl.” She waggled the frying pan.

  “Mrs. Campbell, ma’am,” Cal fumbled for words. “Yes, I was ‘groping’ her if that’s how you want to put it, but I’m not taking advantage. I love Tassie. I just asked her to marry me.”

  For a stunned moment Mrs. Campbell looked at Cal, then her eyes bore into Tassie’s. “Is that true?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Tassie said, smiling broadly, though she could hardly believe it herself. Cal Watson, the kindest, bravest, handsomest man in all of Juniper Junction—all of Wyoming Territory and beyond as far as she was concerned—loved her and wanted her as his wife. ’Til death do them part.

  She held out her left hand. “See?” A delicate opal ring adorned her finger.

  Mrs. Campbell finally lowered the frying pan and set it down in order to examine Tassie’s hand. “That’s a pretty ring,” she pronounced.

  Cal let out a long breath. “Thank you,” he said. “It belonged to my grandmother. She told me to only give it to a girl who was worthy.” His dark gaze held Tassie’s and her heart flip-flopped. She’d never felt worthy of anything before she met Cal.

  “Well, I’m sure your grandmother would approve,” Mrs. Campbell said, giving Tassie a warm smile before she turned back to Cal.

  “But that still doesn’t mean you can be smoochin’ here in my hallway. I run a respectable business.” She gave Cal a look that would have sent
a lesser man running.

  “Cal’s put a down payment on a house, the old Whitaker place, so we won’t be living here after we get married,” Tassie said in a nervous rush.

  Mrs. Campbell continued to give Cal a stern look. “Until you two are legally wed, I suggest you start living there now. There’s enough people in town who want to gossip, I won’t have them tarnishing the reputation of my best employee or my business.”

  “I don’t want that either, Mrs. Campbell. I can assure you that Tassie’s well-being and happiness are the most important thing in the whole world to me.” He gazed down at Tassie, his eyes filled with love.

  “Well then, congratulations, you two.”

  Chapter 1

  “Leave the dishes, Tassie. Don’t worry, they’ll still be here when we get back.” Mrs. Campbell stood next to the back door, her arms laden with sewing supplies. “It’s not like any of the boarders are going to sneak in here and do them while we’re gone.”

  Tassie couldn’t help but laugh at that. There were currently four rooms rented at Mrs. Campbell’s boarding house and based on her experiences in cleaning up after them, not a one of them knew a thing about housekeeping or if they did, they were keeping it secret. Mostly, though, she suspected they felt it was beneath them. “Ain’t that why I’m paying to live here?” Old Mr. McCallister had said when she’d suggested he not drag mud in on rainy days.

  Fortunately, Mrs. Campbell had overheard the exchange, resulting in an apology from Mr. McCallister and a revision in his attitude toward wiping his feet before entering the house.

  Tassie had been on the receiving end of a few of Mrs. Campbell’s stern looks and not wishing to suffer another, she gathered up her own supplies and shawl and opened the door for her employer.

  “Are you sure you can spare me?” she asked as they hurried down Main Street toward the church. “There’s an awful lot to do today. I hate to think you’re paying me to go to a quilting meeting.”

  Mrs. Campbell paused for a moment and gazed at Tassie. “First, I ought to pay you more for all the work you do, so taking a bit of time to be social ain’t gonna make a darn bit of difference. And second, I know you don’t always feel comfortable going to the quilting society meetings, but I assure you that you are most welcome to be there and as the future wife of the sheriff—need I remind you that he’s an elected official—the smartest thing you can do to help Cal is to get acquainted with the ladies of Juniper Junction. I promise, we won’t bite.”

  Tassie took a slow breath. Sometimes she wondered if Mrs. Campbell could read her thoughts. “I guess I am a bit nervous. Thank you for saying that I’m welcome. I guess, not growing up around here and being, well, you know, a hired maid...well, not that I don’t appreciate the job and all the kindness you’ve paid me...but…”

  “All women are maids, Tassie. That’s the God’s honest truth. Just some get paid to do it. The smart ones.” Mrs. Campbell winked at her. “Now come on, I want to get there before the cobbler is all gone.”

  Tassie chuckled and followed along as Mrs. Campbell made a beeline for the church. For a sturdy woman of some years, Mrs. Campbell could put a wiggle in it when she wanted to get somewhere and Tassie hurried to keep up.

  They arrived at the church just as the clock began to strike the hour. Nine o’clock sharp, the first and third Tuesday of the month, the ladies of The Juniper Junction Quilting Society met to make quilts and solve the problems of the world. Or at least their little corner of it.

  Two quilt frames were set up in the room, one with a nearly finished quilt and another with a quilt in the early stages. Although there were no specifically assigned seats, the older ladies tended to work around one frame while the younger generation surrounded the other. Tassie had only attended a handful of times in the year since her arrival in Juniper Junction, despite knowing that her absence hurt Mrs. Campbell’s feelings. Tassie hated doing anything to cause distress to the kindly woman who had taken her in and given her a job and roof over her head. But, she couldn’t help feeling like an outsider. A poor hired girl with few sewing skills and not much else to contribute to the gathering.

  Mrs. Campbell’s comments about being the wife of an elected official struck fear in Tassie. She’d been so caught up in her feelings for Cal, she hadn’t given a whole lot of thought to what it would be like to be married to the sheriff. To her, he was just Cal. Handsome, funny, sweet and loving. But she knew he could be tough when he needed to. Her backside could attest to that. Though she doubted that was the method he used on criminals.

  The thought made her giggle.

  “Tassie, I’m so glad you made it today. I understand congratulations are in order!” Posey, Tassie’s closest friend in Juniper Junction, or anywhere for that matter, greeted her.

  Tassie blushed but she was pleased to see her. Posey always made her smile. Tassie was aware that many people referred to her as Nosey Posey due to her penchant for gossip and a high level of curiosity, but Tassie saw her as a friendly person who always had a kind word for her. Tassie had been reluctant to be too friendly with any of the locals, but Posey was persistent and had worn her down with her chatty ways and mischievous smile.

  “I can’t wait to hear all about your wedding plans,” Posey said, eagerly. “Come and sit by me and tell me everything.” Before she had a chance to set down her supplies or take off her shawl, Tassie was dragged into a group of other ladies near her age.

  There was much excitement from the young women over Tassie’s engagement. The group included Josie Lawson and Millie Blake. After Posey, Tassie probably knew them best since they worked at the general store. Josie and Millie were cousins, Millie’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Blake owned the general store. They were a kindly couple who had taken Josie in when she was a girl.

  “Is that your engagement ring?” Millie asked, pulling Tassie’s hand up to inspect it.

  “Yes,” she said. “It belonged to Cal’s grandmother.”

  “Oh, that is so romantic!” Millie exclaimed. “And the ring is very pretty, too. I’d hate it if I got an ugly engagement ring and then had to wear it for the rest of my life.”

  “Millie!” her cousin Josie scolded, “what a thing to say.”

  “That’s easy for you to say since Clinton already gave you such a nice ring.”

  “Stop you two, this is Tassie’s day to celebrate,” Mrs. Campbell said with a smile. It seemed everyone was in a particularly cheerful mood, though it shouldn’t have been a big surprise. Every woman in the county looked forward to the twice monthly gatherings of the Juniper Junction Quilting Society.

  To be honest, although she had avoided it, Tassie had longed to attend and be part of the group. Mrs. Campbell always came home with a smile on her face and a funny story or two to share.

  Tassie had never belonged anywhere before in her entire life. Never stayed long enough to make friends or form attachments and that was how she’d liked it. Or so she’d thought.

  But maybe, just maybe, she could be part of the community of Juniper Junction and not just an outsider looking in.

  "Sheriff Watson! Sheriff Watson! Come quick!" The high-pitched call sent Cal from his desk chair and straight to the door of the jail, which also served as his office. Currently there weren't any prisoners in the jail, so he had been going through the mail with notices and warrants from throughout the territory. Papers flew in every direction as he charged for the door, which was already open due to the pleasant weather.

  When he got to the porch outside the building he found Jimmy and Charlie Weaver doubled over and panting for breath. Cal's senses moved directly to high alert. "What is it, boys? Trouble at your farm? Is your ma feeling unwell?" Mrs. Weaver, a pleasant woman of about thirty, expected her fourth child to arrive any day. She already had her hands full with the two boys who'd come running for him, not to mention a baby girl still glued to her hip most of the times Cal saw them. But, she was a loving and patient mother, the kind he pictured Tassie being someday.

&nbs
p; Cal quickly closed the door to the jail and locked it, then wrote the time and that he was headed to the Weaver farm on a chalkboard and hung it on the door. Without a deputy, Cal figured he ought to leave some information about his activities in case there was a day when he didn't get home. He'd been a bit more lax about it previously, but now that he had a fiancée, he felt the responsibility of a family.

  By the time he returned, the boys had caught their breath. Jimmy, who was older than Charlie, spoke for the two of them. "We need you, sheriff. It's important!"

  Charlie, about age seven and with a gap in his teeth, just smiled and nodded.

  "Well, let's go," Cal said. The Weavers lived a short distance from the edge of town so he and the two boys started trotting off in that direction. Not exactly running, Cal didn't want to cause undue alarm amongst others in town, especially because their path would take them past the Parkers' house. Much as he hated to admit it, especially because Tassie was fond of her, but Posey Parker really was rather nosey. And the last thing a sheriff needs is someone butting into his business. The boys took off at a run and Cal decided to let them go on ahead. Seeing the Weaver boys not running might cause as much alarm as the sight of the town sheriff doing so.