New Release - The Deaconess Hires a Gunman by Beverly Wells

 

1888—URBANA, WYOMING TERRITORY

When Arminta Foster’s father dies, she steps up to fill his shoes as deaconess until a pastor can be found. But not everyone looks kindly on the beautiful young woman who trains, breeds, and sells the horses she holds so dear. Someone is out to ruin her—a neighbor, she believes—and she needs protection! When her beeves began to be slaughtered, the sheriff lets her know she’s on her own—and she takes matters into her own resourceful hands.

She asks a Montana outlaw to marry her…

The law has caught up with handsome Montana gunman Jake Mathews—and he faces death by hanging. Being captured prevents him from seeing his mission of revenge through to the end, but there may still be a way out, if he marries this crazy young woman. He’s protected by Montana law—his crimes excused—if claimed by a God-loving woman in matrimony.

And it seems Miss Arminta Foster is here to claim him…

All Arminta asks is that he marry her, protect her land—and her—and once things settle down, he will be free to go. How can he pass up such an offer—especially when he’s facing the gallows? Easy as pie, they both believe, until their tentative friendship becomes so much more—a true love neither of them bargained for. Will that love be enough to convince Jake to give up his quest to track down and kill one last man? Can Arminta forgive him for what he may do?

She gets more than she bargains for when THE DEACONESS HIRES A GUNMAN…

EXCERPT:

“What are ya thinking?” At least his voice dropped a fraction of an octave. “Ya’d be outta your mind to consider such a thing.”

Oh, yes, he also thinks I’m truly, quite demented.

Arminta Foster straightened in the chair and smiled as sweet as she could without laughing in the flustered man’s face. “Sheriff, you may think I’m crazy, but I assure you, I’m in full control of all my faculties. As to what I’m thinking…you said you don’t have enough men, or the time yourself to see who’s behind the slaughters. So, if the law won’t, or can’t protect what’s mine, then I’m forced to see to it myself. I can’t afford to lose more cattle, or my land, and I could never live with myself if I lost any of my horses. I need protection. And I need it now.”

“Now, listen here, young la—”

“No, Sheriff,” she interrupted, springing from her chair to her feet to stare him down, her fists clenched at her sides. “You must listen to me. The man you have behind bars is waiting to be transported back to Montana Territory for the crime he committed. You agreed since he hails from Montana, he’s under their jurisdiction. Is that not true?” Though difficult, she prided herself in holding her voice at a reasonable tone.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean—”

“Oh, please! Believe me; I’ve done my homework regarding Montana.” She leaned her palms flat upon his desk to better glare straight at the man. “There’s not much law there, but what they do have holds hard and fast. I’ve every right to claim him, if I so choose. Isn’t that correct—in the eyes of Montana Territory Law?”

His face flushed as well as his neck. “He’s a gunman for heaven’s sake! How in tarnation do ya know he won’t jist kill ya, or skedaddle the minute ya both leave here? Think Miss Arminta. Ya being a deaconess won’t protect ya from him harming ya in his eyes. Ya can’t trust a man like that. He’s killed one man. He might have killed more we don’t even know about.”