Deep River Read online

  Books by Shirleen Davies

  Historical Western Romance Series

  MacLarens of Fire Mountain

  Tougher than the Rest, Book One

  Faster than the Rest, Book Two

  Harder than the Rest, Book Three

  Stronger than the Rest, Book Four

  Deadlier than the Rest, Book Five

  Wilder than the Rest, Book Six

  Redemption Mountain

  Redemption’s Edge, Book One

  Wildfire Creek, Book Two

  Sunrise Ridge, Book Three

  Dixie Moon, Book Four

  Survivor Pass, Book Five

  Promise Trail, Book Six

  Deep River, Book Seven

  MacLarens of Boundary Mountain

  Colin’s Quest, Book One,

  Brodie’s Gamble, Book Two

  Quinn’s Honor, Book Three

  Sam’s Legacy, Book Four – Releasing in 2017

  Contemporary Romance Series

  MacLarens of Fire Mountain

  Second Summer, Book One

  Hard Landing, Book Two

  One More Day, Book Three

  All Your Nights, Book Four

  Always Love You, Book Five

  Hearts Don’t Lie, Book Six

  No Getting Over You, Book Seven

  ‘Til the Sun Comes Up, Book Eight

  Peregrine Bay

  Reclaiming Love, Book One, A Novella

  Our Kind of Love, Book Two

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  Deep River

  Redemption Mountain

  Historical Western Romance Series

  SHIRLEEN DAVIES

  Book Seven in the Redemption Mountain

  Historical Western Romance Series

  Copyright © 2016 by Shirleen Davies

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  For permission requests, contact the publisher.

  Avalanche Ranch Press, LLC

  PO Box 12618

  Prescott, AZ 86304

  Deep River is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is wholly coincidental.

  Book design and conversions by Joseph Murray at 3rdplanetpublishing.com

  Cover design by Kim Killion, The Killion Group

  ISBN: 978-1-941786-43-7

  I care about quality, so if you find something in error, please contact me via email at [email protected]

  Description

  Deep River, Book Seven, Redemption Mountain Historical Western Romance Series

  Beauregard Davis, ex-Confederate Captain and bounty hunter, has put his past behind him to focus on his future. He’s a lawman with a purpose and a dream—do his job to the best of his abilities, and build a life with the woman he loves. Beau believes his life couldn’t be better…until the day she boards a stagecoach, leaving him behind.

  Caroline Iverson has a dream she won’t deny. Traveling west, she expects to experience adventure. Instead, Caro finds a good man and unanticipated love. She never imagines the difficult decision to leave him behind would come back to haunt her.

  After months of burying his pain in alcohol, Beau emerges stronger, determined to concentrate on a future without Caro. Doing his best to forget the past, he focuses his energy on work and preparing to build a home.

  He never expected her to return, looking to recapture the love the two once shared.

  Adding to Beau’s concerns, two threats hang over him—outlaws have targeted his town, and he’s being tracked by unidentified foes.

  Keeping the town, Caro, and himself safe are his main priorities. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect them. Guarding his heart is another matter.

  How does a man ignore an all-consuming love without exposing himself to a threat worse than the physical dangers he already faces?

  Deep River, book seven in the Redemption Mountain historical western romance series, is a full-length novel with an HEA and no cliffhanger.

  Visit my website for a list of characters for each series.

  http://www.shirleendavies.com/character-list.html

  Acknowledgements

  Many thanks to my husband, Richard, for always being by my side during this wonderful adventure. Your support, insights, and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

  As always, many thanks to my editor, Kim Young, proofreader, Alicia Carmical, cover designer, Kim Killion, and Joseph Murray who is superb at formatting my books for print and electronic versions.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Books by Shirleen Davies

  Deep River

  Prologue

  Atlanta Campaign

  July 1864

  “You’re late, Captain Davis.” Confederate Lieutenant General William Hardee glanced up from the map spread out on the table before him. Studying the position of his troops, he tapped a finger on a location not far from where the men Beauregard Davis commanded waited for his instructions.

  Removing his hat, Beau stepped up to the table. “My apologies, sir. Bullets fired in my direction held me up.” His face remained impassive.

  Hardee’s eyes met his, the corners of his mouth quirking up before his lips drew into a thin line once again. “I won’t lie to you, Captain. We’re in a serious situation.”

  Beau nodded. The Army of Tennessee was bleeding men. Desertions had increased as the soldiers sensed the end might be near, most heading home to the northern hill country.

  “This is where I want you.” Hardee touched a spot on the map. “Captain Coulter’s men are moving to intercept Union General McPherson’s left flank.” He straightened, his gaze boring into Beau’s. “You must hold the line, Captain. Do you have questions?”

  “No, sir.”

  Hardee sucked in a slow breath, nodding. “Thank you, Captain, and good luck.”

  Riding back to the encampment, doing his best to dodge the increasing number of Union troops, Beau thought over Hardee’s instructions, an unsettled ball of dread building in his chest at the deep concern in his commander’s voice. He knew this would be no ordinary battle.

  Riding low in the saddle, winding through the trees, his t
houghts turned to his friend and fellow captain, Cash Coulter. They met after each joined the Army of Tennessee, soon becoming close friends. They planned to start a business after the war, either in Savannah, Cash’s hometown, or Augusta, where Beau grew up. They never discussed the dangers of war or their own mortality. Meeting with Hardee made him wonder if either of them would survive this campaign.

  Shouting and a single gunshot drew him away from his thoughts and toward a clearing not far from where his men waited for their orders. Reining his horse toward the noise, he slowed, his gaze narrowing as he took in the sight.

  “Lieutenant Eldridge. What in the hell is going on here?” Sliding to the ground, Beau dashed to a prone body, blood pooling on the ground underneath it. Kneeling, he checked the man’s pulse. Nothing. Cursing, he stood, glaring at the officer, his voice unyielding. “Who did this?” He focused on three other men, all on their knees, hands behind their heads.

  “I did, sir. He was trying to desert.”

  “That’s a lie, Captain.” A muscular man with a scraggly beard and tattered uniform sneered at the lieutenant. “He weren’t no quitter.”

  “Shut your mouth, Private.” Eldridge lifted his gun, pointing it at the man.

  “Put your weapon—” Before Beau could finish, Eldridge fired, hitting the private in the chest. Drawing his own gun, he trained it on the lieutenant. “Lower your gun.” When Eldridge hesitated, Beau took a step toward him, his voice lowering to a deadly growl. “Now.”

  Waving his gun in the air, Eldridge paced in a circle, then walked toward the man he’d shot, showing no emotion as the private clutched his chest. “He’s a slacker who planned to desert. I’ve been watching.” He looked at the last two, still kneeling, their faces full of fear. “They’re cowards, every last one of them.” Starting to raise the gun again, he stopped when Beau stepped in front of the two men.

  A muscle in Beau’s jaw twitched as he worked to control his revulsion. “You will put your weapon down now, Lieutenant Eldridge, or I will be forced to shoot.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “You aren’t going to shoot me.”

  “Don’t test me. If you don’t lower your gun, I’ll have no choice.” Beau glanced down at the wounded man, letting out a relieved breath when he saw the wound was near the right shoulder. “You’ve exceeded your authority, Lieutenant. Drop the gun before I’m forced to do something we’ll both regret.”

  Ignoring the warning, Eldridge stared straight at Beau, pointing the barrel of his gun toward one of the other men. “Sorry, Captain. We can’t have men like—”

  Beau’s eyes narrowed, his instincts taking over as the lieutenant’s finger began to squeeze the trigger. A shot rang out, Eldridge’s eyes going wide, then blank as he fell backward, a hole in the center of his forehead.

  “Damn, Captain. What happened?” One of Beau’s sergeants ran up, his rifle pointed at the men still on their knees.

  Beau’s mind barely registered the words as he lowered his gun, his heart racing, stomach churning.

  “Captain?”

  Shaking his head, Beau looked at the sergeant. “Lower your weapon and see to the two men Eldridge shot. I believe one is dead. Take all four back to camp and hold the two uninjured ones for questioning.”

  “What about the lieutenant?”

  “Take Eldridge’s body back with you. Leave him in the bushes for now. We move out within the hour.”

  Chapter One

  Splendor, Montana Territory

  Late 1868

  “Sarah Murton is riding with us to the celebration for Bull and Lydia. Cash went to fetch her. You don’t mind, do you?” Alison Coulter tossed an extra blanket onto the back seat of the wagon they’d borrowed from Noah and Abby. Even though the sun perched high in the sky, bathing the day in a warm glow, the cooling late fall temperatures could drop without warning.

  Beau helped her step up onto the front bench seat. He’d planned to ride to the Pelletier ranch alone, wanting to be able to leave whenever he chose. Cash had talked him into riding in the wagon with him and his wife, Allie. He groaned, wishing he’d gone with his original plan.

  Beau didn’t look forward to riding next to the local schoolteacher, a woman who hadn’t been subtle about expressing an interest in him ever since Caro had moved to San Francisco. Caroline Iverson might be hundreds of miles away, yet she still held a strong hold on his heart.

  “I don’t mind at all, Allie. The more the merrier.” He winced at the lie, then stilled his features at the sound of footsteps behind him.

  “Evening, Beau.” Cash Coulter walked up, Sarah Murton’s arm laced through his. “You know Miss Murton.”

  “Of course. How are you this evening, Miss Murton?” Beau helped her onto the wagon’s back seat, then climbed up beside her.

  “I’m good, Mr. Davis, and so pleased Allie invited me to ride along. I only had a glimpse of Bull and Lydia’s baby boy, so I’m looking forward to spending time with them.”

  Beau settled into the hard wooden seat as Sarah droned on about the party, then talked with Allie about her students and the planned expansion of the schoolhouse.

  “What do you think, Mr. Davis?”

  He blinked, then turned toward Sarah. “I’m sorry. What was the question?”

  “Do you support the schoolhouse expansion? Some of those in town don’t, although for the life of me, I can’t figure out why.” Sarah moved closer to him so their thighs touched.

  “If those on the town council believe it’s necessary, I’m certain it is.” Easing away, he created a couple inches of distance.

  “Excellent. The more town leaders who support it, the better.”

  Seeing Cash’s shoulders shake in amusement, Beau curbed the impulse to reach out and smack his friend on the head. “I’m not really a leader in town, Miss Murton.”

  “Oh, I don’t think you give yourself enough credit, Deputy. In the opinion of many, you definitely are.”

  Stifling a groan, he offered her a weak smile, wishing he could jump off the wagon and walk back to town for his horse. Forcing himself to focus on the celebration for his friends, he ignored the continuing conversation between Sarah and Allie.

  “Look at all the wagons and horses. Seems a lot of people want to celebrate Bull and Lydia returning to Splendor with their son.” Cash reined the horses to a stop, then jumped down to help Allie out of the wagon.

  Beau did the same, offering his hands to Sarah, who took them in a tight grip as he set her on the ground.

  “Thank you, Mr. Davis.” She smiled up at him, not releasing her hands from his.

  Tugging enough to loosen her grip, he dropped his arms and stepped away. They followed Cash and Allie to the front door, Beau careful to keep several feet between him and Sarah. He had no intention of giving his friends the impression he held an interest in her. As much as he respected her, Beau wouldn’t be courting another woman for a long time, if ever. Caro had been the only woman to capture his interest since the war ended. With her gone, he spent his days working as one of Gabe Evans’ deputies and planning the house he thought would be his and Caro’s.

  The noise from inside spilled onto the porch when Rachel Pelletier opened the door, her brow lifting in question when she spotted Sarah and Beau. Waiting until Sarah stepped out of earshot, Rachel held her hand out for Beau’s coat.

  “Seems you had a chance to get to know Miss Murton.”

  Beau shrugged. “She’s a nice lady who didn’t have anyone to escort her.” Rachel’s brow arched. “What?”

  She chuckled. “Nothing. You’ve been so busy working and planning your house, I didn’t think you had time to court.”

  Beau shook his head. “I am not courting Sarah Murton, Rachel. Working for Gabe and getting ready to build in the spring takes all my time.” He didn’t say how much time he still spent thinking of Caro, hoping she’d found happiness in her decision to leave. Over the months she’d been gone, he’d accepted love wasn’t for him—especially with a wo
man who saw social status as an important part of her life. Stifling a bitter laugh, he shifted from one foot to the other. “Believe me, I’ve learned my limitations.”

  Rachel’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t respond. Hanging up his coat, she gestured toward Bull and Lydia. “Why don’t you go on in and greet the guests of honor.” Lowering her voice, she leaned toward him. “I’m sure Dax can find you some whiskey.”

  He picked up her hand, made a slight bow, then kissed it. “Thank you, Rachel.”

  Laughing, she nudged him away. “Go on with you.”

  Beau scanned the room. The first people he wanted to talk with were Bull and Lydia. Unfortunately, Sarah stood next to them, holding out her arms for baby Joshua. He would’ve changed directions, but Bull called him over, giving him no choice.

  After exchanging small talk with Lydia and Sarah, Bull nodded for Beau to take a couple steps away with him, turning their backs to the women as they talked.

  A commotion at the door had everyone in the house shifting their attention to the newest guests. Several of the women gasped and backed away. The men straightened, waiting to see what happened next.

  “Will you look at that?” Bull moved forward, a broad smile on his face.

  “Running Bear. You are welcome in our home.” Dax motioned the two Blackfoot inside.

  “We are pleased to be here.” Running Bear turned toward the young man accompanying him. “This is Swift Bear. He is my grandson.”

  “You are both welcome.”

  “Excuse me, Beau. I need to speak with Running Bear.” Bull set his drink down, making his way toward the Blackfoot chief.

  Bull, Running Bear, and Swift Bear walked into Dax’s study and closed the door, making Beau wonder what their sudden appearance meant.

  “Interesting.” Cash stood next to him, holding out a fresh drink. “You look like you could use this.”

  Taking the glass, Beau took a swallow, a grin spreading across his face at the taste of whiskey.

  “Dax gave me a bottle to pass around. After all, it is a celebration.” Cash took a sip, glancing behind him at Allie and Sarah. “Sorry about Miss Murton. I know she’s been trying to get your attention since Caro left town.”