Heather's Choice 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

  Courage Canyon, Book Eight

  Forsaken Falls, Book Nine, Coming next in the series!

  MacLarens of Boundary Mountain

  Colin’s Quest, Book One,

  Brodie’s Gamble, Book Two

  Quinn’s Honor, Book Three

  Sam’s Legacy, Book Four

  Heather’s Choice, Book Five

  Nate’s Destiny, Book Six, Coming next in the series!

  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

  Foolish Heart, Book Nine

  Forever Love, Book Ten, Coming next in the series!

  Peregrine Bay

  Reclaiming Love, Book One, A Novella

  Our Kind of Love, Book Two

  Burnt River

  Shane’s Burden, Book One by Peggy Henderson

  Thorn’s Journey, Book Two by Shirleen Davies

  Aqua’s Achilles, Book Three by Kate Cambridge

  Ashley’s Hope, Book Four by Amelia Adams

  Harpur’s Secret, Book Five by Kay P. Dawson

  Mason’s Rescue, Book Six by Peggy L. Henderson

  Del’s Choice, Book Seven by Shirleen Davies

  Watch for more books in this series!

  Find all of my books at:

  https://www.shirleendavies.com/books.html

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  Heather’s Choice

  MacLarens of Boundary Mountain

  Historical Western Romance Series

  SHIRLEEN DAVIES

  Book Five in the MacLarens of Boundary Mountain

  Historical Western Romance Series

  Copyright © 2017 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

  Heather’s Choice 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 conversions by Joseph Murray at

  3rdplanetpublishing.com

  Cover design by Kim Killion

  ISBN: 978-1-941786-55-0

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

  [email protected]

  Description

  Heather’s Choice, Book Five, MacLarens of Boundary Mountain Historical Western Romance Series

  What is a man to do when the woman he loves refuses to acknowledge his existence?

  Caleb Stewart never forgot the girl he met on the wagon train west. When his family continued to Oregon, hers to California, he never expected to see her again. Years later, an unexpected invitation takes him south, to the Circle M ranch and right into the path of the girl he’d watched ride off in the back of a wagon years before.

  Heather MacLaren loves nothing more than working on the family ranch. Men, emotions, and relationships hold little appeal, even when a young man from her past drifts back into her life, messing up her ordered existence and causing Heather to doubt everything she believes.

  Caleb’s work on the Circle M ranch is better than he’d ever allowed himself to dream. As a valued ranch hand, he’s become the rare outsider the MacLarens have claimed as their own. His only disappointment is the young woman who’s made it clear she’ll never drop her defenses enough to share his feelings.

  Facing a hard truth, Caleb is forced to make a tough decision.

  First, he must help his adopted family eliminate a danger threatening to destroy not only Circle M but the entire MacLaren clan.

  Heather has faced many challenges as the oldest female MacLaren cousin. But nothing prepares her for the savagery of the attacks against her family. Although they all stand together, there’s one person she knows will always remain by her side. He’s also the one man who has the ability to crush her spirit…and her heart.

  Will fighting side-by-side to save the Circle M strengthen their bond? Or will it tear their tenuous relationship apart?

  Heather’s Choice, book five in the MacLarens of Boundary Mountain Historical Western Romance Series, is a stand-alone, full-length novel with an HEA and no cliffhanger.

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

  https://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, Joseph Murray, who is superb at formatting my books for print and electronic versions, my cover designer, Kim Killion.

  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

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Books by Shirleen Davies

  Heather’s Choice

  Prologue

  Wagon Train Heading West, 1859

  Caleb Stewart kept his thoughts to himself as he walked beside his family’s wagon, keeping the oxen moving. It wouldn’t be long before the train split into two groups—one heading north to Oregon and Washington, the other continuing to California.

  The Stewarts and MacGregors were part of the first group. The large MacLaren family and a few other wagons made up the second. How he wished he could be a part of thos
e heading to California. Not because he dreamed of a life in the rapidly expanding state bordering the Pacific Ocean. His interest was more basic. Caleb fantasized about a life with a certain MacLaren girl, a union he knew his father would never allow.

  At fifteen, Heather MacLaren was already a beauty with light brown hair, moss green eyes, and an attitude that warned most people off. Not Caleb. At seventeen, he’d known the moment he saw her he’d never find a better match.

  His father, William, would think him delusional for even considering a marriage with Heather. Unlike the MacGregors and MacLarens, whose history of feuds was founded back in the old country, the Stewarts and MacLarens had been allies. It had been the Stewarts who’d come to their aid when the rivalry with the MacGregors had been at its height. Several generations later, his father didn’t care about the alliance with the MacLarens.

  William’s ire had been focused on a newer rivalry, one emerging during the wagon train’s journey west. It encompassed the four oldest MacLaren brothers—Angus, Gillis, Ewan, and Ian—with a particular loathing of Gillis, Heather’s father.

  Worse, Caleb knew it had nothing to do with anything except jealousy and greed. William hated the fact the MacLarens had been more successful than the Stewarts since both clans’ arrival in the new world. It was ridiculous, petty, and malicious, but still a reality for his father, as tangible as the oxen who pulled their wagon.

  “Caleb, you must keep the animals moving. You’ll not be daydreaming today as you have every day since we left Independence.” William sat atop the only horse the family owned, doing his best to appear more important than the other men. If only he knew how the others laughed behind his back. Not the MacLarens, though. From what Caleb could tell, they never spoke a word of derision about William. Instead, they ignored him, a fate worse than any spoken ridicule.

  “Aye, Da.” Caleb cringed at the brogue in his voice. He wasn’t ashamed of his Scottish heritage. Instead, he held a particular pride in being an American and all the opportunities available in their new country. He vowed to concentrate harder on removing the speech patterns of his father, the brogue that set him apart.

  Although they’d spent almost no time together, Caleb had once confessed to Heather his desire to rid himself of the deeply ingrained burr. She’d laughed at him, calling him daft. Her ridicule had only served to intensify his resolve.

  Glancing up, he looked into the wagon ahead of them in the line. Heather sat at the back, her legs dangling outside, unaware of him watching her. If she noticed, he had no doubt she’d shout at him to stop staring, alerting all the MacLarens to his interest.

  “Caleb, I need you to help with the baby?”

  His mother’s voice pulled his gaze away from Heather before she noticed him. “Da wants me out here.”

  “Aye, I understand, but I’m needing you to hold the wee bairn for a bit while I check on your brother.”

  Caleb let out a frustrated breath as he climbed up to take his mother’s seat in front, holding out his arms for his nine-month-old brother. He oftentimes felt more like a father to his two younger siblings than an older brother. The baby needed constant attention, and at six, his other brother carried little of the load. Caleb knew his work would increase once they reached Oregon.

  “You’ll not be letting your interest in the MacLaren girl show, Caleb.” His mother glanced over her shoulder, her words startling him. Seeing the shock on his face, she smiled. “You didn’t think anyone knew of your feelings, did you?”

  “Nae, Ma.”

  “Does the lass know?”

  “Nae, she doesn’t.”

  “It is wise you haven’t let her know. Your da won’t be approving a union. You saw what happened when Colin MacLaren asked Dougal MacGregor for approval to wed Sarah. I’ll not be watching the same happen to you.”

  Caleb nodded. Most of the camp had seen what transpired when Colin and his father, Angus, approached Dougal. The lad hadn’t been able to hide his anger or his heartbreak at being rejected.

  “I’ll not be asking for anyone’s hand, Ma. The lass is much too young.”

  “Your day will come, Caleb. Tomorrow, we will reach Fort Hall. The following morning, the MacLarens will depart for California while we take the trail to Oregon. It’s best to put any thoughts of the lass out of your mind.”

  Holding the wagon lines in one hand, cradling his brother in the other, Caleb glanced at the back of the MacLaren wagon. Heather had disappeared, the flap now closed and tied.

  His dreams would not be fulfilled this day, nor tomorrow, nor next year. It didn’t mean he could never achieve them.

  Caleb already knew the MacLarens purchased land in California, not far from the small town of Conviction. When his brothers were older, his commitment to his father fulfilled, he’d leave. His future wouldn’t be determined by the prejudices of his father nor the dictates of others. Caleb’s future, his dreams, were his to fulfill, even if they included a certain beautiful, young, and prickly MacLaren.

  Chapter One

  Conviction, California

  Spring 1865

  Music wafted into the still evening from the large community building in front of Heather MacLaren. Sucking in a shaky breath, she smoothed her hands down the dress her cousin, Jinny, had altered for her. She’d been a fool to attend the dance. It had been years since she’d made an appearance at the event celebrating the approaching summer, and months since she’d worn a dress in public.

  “Don’t just stand there, Heather. Let’s get inside where everyone can get a look at you.”

  Heather’s throat constricted. A week ago, she’d thought it a good idea to accompany Mildred Evanston, a widow and the owner of the ranch where she worked. Jinny, along with Heather’s sister-in-law, Emma, had selected and altered a dress, made certain she remembered the dance lessons learned as a child, and showed her how to fix her hair.

  They’d been excited to have her join them, and Heather had allowed their enthusiasm to shift to her. It was a mistake. She didn’t belong here, had no business pretending she did.

  “Nae, Mrs. Evanston. I’ll not be going inside quite yet.”

  Mildred walked up to her, slipping an arm through Heather’s. “Nonsense. You are a vision. Remaining outside a little longer won’t change the impact you’ll have on the men when you enter. Might as well get it over with, girl.”

  Arguing with her boss would serve no purpose except delaying the inevitable. Straightening, Heather accepted the fact she couldn’t change the course of tonight’s events. At this point, she could only hope not to humiliate herself more than necessary.

  Walking up the steps, Heather pushed open the door of the building Conviction had built for dances, wedding celebrations, and town meetings. Following Mildred inside, she stopped, pushing aside the anxiety threatening to overwhelm her. She’d never seen the large room so crowded. Her gaze moved about, landing on Jinny and Emma, then moving to her brother, Quinn. Relief washed over Heather—an instant before she spotted Caleb Stewart next to them, his intense stare focused on her.

  “Oh my. Look who’s here.” Emma’s gaze focused on Heather and Mildred as they walked forward. Standing, she motioned them over.

  Caleb’s jaw slackened at the beauty coming toward him. Heather MacLaren turned heads as she strolled across the dance floor, unaware of the stir her presence caused. He’d never seen her in such a fashionable dress, light brown hair twisted into an intricate knot and highlighted with flowers, curled strands falling to her shoulders. He exhaled, the slow breath calming his racing heart. Without thought, his steps led him to meet her.

  “Good evening, Heather.” The slight catch in his voice surprised him. He’d been around Heather a good deal since following Colin and Sarah back to California from Oregon. She was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever met, and still the most frustrating. At twenty-one, she hadn’t changed much from the feisty fifteen-year-old who’d first attracted him.

  “Good evening, Caleb.”

&nb
sp; He noticed a slight blush creep up her face, briefly wondering at the cause before Heather continued.

  “I believe you’ve met Mrs. Evanston.”

  “Of course. Good evening, Mrs. Evanston. You look beautiful tonight.” He bowed at the waist, eliciting a chuckle from the older woman.

  “Enough of that, young man. It’s Heather who’s beautiful.”

  Caleb swallowed the knot in his throat. “Yes, ma’am.” He glanced at Heather, who averted her eyes, looking toward Emma and Jinny. “Please, let me escort you to our table.” Standing between them, he placed his hands on his waist, waiting as they slipped their arms through his for the short walk to the table.

  Caleb stood aside as Emma and Jinny greeted the women, hugging Heather. When they sat down, he turned, moving across the room toward a petite redhead.

  “Good evening. I’m Caleb Stewart.”

  The young woman looked up at him, her lips turning up at the corners. “Miranda Harris.”

  “I don’t believe I’ve seen you in town before tonight.” He glanced at Heather, who leaned close to Jinny, deep in some private conversation.

  “I’m visiting a family friend. August Fielder.”

  His eyes widened a little.

  “Ah, I see you know him.”

  Caleb nodded. “Not well, but he is a prominent citizen in Conviction and a partner with the MacLarens.”

  She cocked her head. “You know the MacLarens?”

  “I do. Would you like me to introduce you to them?” He inclined his head in the direction of their tables.

  Miranda followed his gaze before shaking her head. “Not right now. I’m enjoying the music too much.” Again, she looked up at him, this time with unconcealed interest.

  “Would you care to dance?”

  “I’d love to, Mr. Stewart.”

  Leading her onto the dance floor, Caleb did his best to keep his mind off Heather, knowing the attempt was futile. He concentrated on the attractive woman in front of him. Looking down, he caught a glimpse of her pretty blue eyes, noticing the sprinkling of freckles across her nose.

  “You said Mr. Fielder is a family friend.”