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Rocky Mountain Widow
Jillian Hart
A widow’s second chance…Disillusioned by marriage, Claire Hamilton’s heart is as cold as the Montana snow. She resolved to stand alone – against a blizzard of murder accusations, violent attempts to seize her land, and the hungry wolves of winter.Until Joshua Gable saved her life… Standing warrior-strong beside her, Joshua offered to keep Claire safe from harm. And as his closeness ignited the flames of passion within her, Claire knew he could be the one to prove that it was possible to love again…
Praise forJillian Hart
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MAN
‘This book’s intense emotions reach out to touch
readers. Betsy’s unwavering belief in Duncan and
willingness to fight to save him from himself is so
moving you’ll want to cry with happiness as
Hart plays on your heartstrings.’
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews
HIGH PLAINS WIFE
‘Finely drawn characters and sweet tenderness tinged
with poignancy draw readers into a familiar story that
beautifully captures the feel of an Americana romance.
Readers can enjoy sharp dialogue and adorable child
characterisations while shedding a tear or two.’
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews
MONTANA MAN
‘Ms Hart creates a world of tantalising warmth
and tenderness, a toasty haven in which the reader
will find pure enjoyment.’
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews
COOPER’S WIFE
‘…a wonderfully written romance
full of love and laughter.’
—Rendezvous
“You don’t owe me a thing, Claire.”
“I owe you everything.”
“You can keep your money,” Joshua responded.
“But that would be charity, and I can make my own way.”
“I don’t doubt that one bit.” The centre of his chest tightened. He’d make sure she was safe, no matter what it cost him. It was the right thing to do. But this wasn’t about responsibility. He wanted good things for her, this woman with a place in his soul.
And then she came up on tiptoes, so close every hair on his body stood up on end, and pressed a silken kiss to his cheek. His heart thumped as she sank her white even teeth into her lush, rosebud-soft bottom lip, as if she were in deep thought. As if she were debating telling him one more time to butt out of her life.
No way, lady. Emotion drove him, a fierce need that had his fingers cradling her delicate chin. He breathed in her sweet rose scent and slanted his mouth over hers.
Jillian Hart grew up on her family’s homestead, where she raised cattle, rode horses and scribbled stories in her spare time. After earning an English degree from Whitman College, she worked in advertising before becoming a writer. When she’s not hard at work on her next story, Jillian can be found chatting with a friend, stopping for a café mocha with a book in hand, and spending quiet evenings at home with her family.
Novels by the same author:
LAST CHANCE BRIDE
COOPER’S WIFE
MALCOLM’S HONOUR
MONTANA MAN
BLUEBONNET BRIDE
MONTANA LEGEND
HIGH PLAINS WIFE
THE HORSEMAN
ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS
(short story in A Season of the Heart)
MONTANA WIFE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MAN
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BRIDE
(short story in Western Weddings)
Rocky Mountain Widow
Jillian Hart
MILLS & BOON
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/)
Table of Contents
Cover Page (#u7377e367-a273-545b-9398-4d7b5a8c2b35)
Praise (#ub40b37b1-9174-5cfb-bfd9-4b20700ab492)
Excerpt (#ub51854ee-9f9b-54da-a8f9-7d9bd1a97ddf)
About the Author (#u58e4129c-8832-5c08-b715-c5dcf6f52f22)
Title Page (#u3912fd49-c02b-5a0f-83bc-88a15677189d)
Prologue (#ua5563f9d-6443-5218-bd29-07110ef15972)
Chapter One (#uedf2d911-e99e-5c8e-bef9-7ef554628b8a)
Chapter Two (#u49f85bcc-e2ad-50e9-be1a-a5fec340d298)
Chapter Three (#u04537a83-7ac2-50a7-977d-856dcd1ae7de)
Chapter Four (#u0ba574b2-083c-5dd3-8faf-741fb42e9132)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eightteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Prologue
Bluebonnet County, Montana Territory 1884
“You shamed me again, woman.” Ham towered on the board wagon seat beside her, nothing more than a shadow in the night. “Again!”
Claire rubbed the bump her gold wedding band made beneath the mitten on her left hand and tried not to give in to the rising resentment. He wasn’t through maligning her for the night, not by a long shot. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t said a word while she’d waited outside in the cold for hours until Ham decided he’d had his fill of whiskey and poker.
Or that during this long wagon ride home across the high country plains, she’d never said a word, either. Not of his drunken state, his careless driving, or the fact that the ground had hardened with ice and no other driver was out on the roads in this frigid night. That anyone else had more sense than that. But not Ham. No, not Ham.
He chucked in his throat, a disgusting sound, and spit with great skill. “You made me look bad in front of the boys.”
The boys being a table full of grown men playing poker in the smokiest, seediest saloon in the county. Claire held her tongue, because she’d learned the hard way that when he’d been drinking hard, Ham became mean and was always looking for the chance to get meaner.
He was not a good husband. Was there a chance he could be a decent father? She rested the palm of her hand on the round of her slightly swollen stomach. The doctor today had said she was doing well and the baby’s first kicks were strong. That was happy news. But she’d had some spotting.
“You must be careful.” The doctor’s tone had been grave. “Follow my advice. Go home. Put your feet up. Have Ham get Mrs. Simms to come over and take care of things for a spell.”
She hadn’t gotten up the courage to tell Ham anything, and he hadn’t asked. He never did, especially when he’d been drinking. The alcohol changed him, and when he was like this she had to be careful not to anger him.
Mama had warned her about men. Whenever one comes courting, he’s the best man on earth, she’d said. Punctual, attentive and decent. He has manners and treats you right. Once he gets a ring on your finger, then it’s a different matter.
You were so right, Mama. Claire glanced sideways at the man who’d wooed her and charmed her and made her believe in the impossible.
As she looked at the bulky man swaying drunkenly at her side, reeking of cheap whiskey and stale tobacco smoke, it was hard to fathom a time when he had been mistaken for wonderful.
Her judgment had been poor and she regretted it greatly.
“What are you lookin’ at, woman?” Just like that, Ham had worked himself up into a fury. “You don’t got any right to judge me, woman! I’ll drink what I want, when I want and with who I want.”
“All right, Ham,” she said quietly, gently, for it was the wisest way to manage him when he was like this. When he was so irrational, he was like dynamite ready to explode and devastate everything.
“And don’t you go givin’ me that look.”
It was better for her if she kept him calm, so it was desperation that made her set aside her anger. She didn’t like the way he treated her. She didn’t like how she had to behave to keep him rational. What else was she to do?
