Mystery Mesa
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
Solitude Gorge, Book Ten
Rogue Rapids, Book Eleven
Angel Peak, Book Twelve
Restless Wind, Book Thirteen
Storm Summit, Book Fourteen
Mystery Mesa, Book Fifteen
Thunder Valley, Book Sixteen, 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
Blaine’s Wager, Book Seven
Fletcher’s Pride, Book Eight
Bay’s Desire, Book Nine
Cam’s Hope, Book Ten
Romantic Suspense
Eternal Brethren, Military Romantic Suspense
Steadfast, Book One
Shattered, Book Two
Haunted, Book Three
Untamed, Book Four
Devoted, Book Five
Faithful, Book Six
Exposed, Book Seven
Undaunted, Book Eight, Coming Next in the Series!
Peregrine Bay, Romantic Suspense
Reclaiming Love, Book One
Our Kind of Love, Book Two
Edge of Love, Book Three, 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
Macklin’s of Burnt River
Thorn’s Journey
Del’s Choice
Boone’s Surrender
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Mystery Mesa
Redemption Mountain
Historical Western Romance Series
SHIRLEEN DAVIES
Book Fifteen in the Redemption Mountain
Historical Western Romance Series
Copyright © 2020 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
Mystery Mesa 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 Jaycee DeLorenzo at Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs
ISBN: 978-1-947680-21-0
I care about quality, so if you find an error, please contact me via email at
shirleen@shirleendavies.com
Description
A dedicated lawman and single father with a haunted past.
Can he risk his heart on a young woman he’ll never deserve?
Mystery Mesa, Book Fifteen, Redemption Mountain Historical Western Romance Series
Hezekiah Boudreaux’s life is a sequence of surprises. The deputy sheriff in Splendor is still adjusting to the latest twist—being a single father. Hex’s precocious daughter, Lucy, is a handful, and one of two females who bring joy to a life filled with ne'er-do-wells, cons, and rustlers.
Christina McKenna is still reeling from the sudden death of her twin. She fills each day taking care of her younger sister while acting as cook and caretaker for Hex Boudreaux and his always active daughter. The problem is, she’s falling in love with her boss.
Both believe they have lots of time to determine their futures until the arrival of a beautiful woman in town, a murder during a birthday celebration, and a series of disastrous events force Hex and Chrissy to take a hard look at their lives.
Unraveling who to trust, who to hunt, the good from the bad, takes time—a commodity in short supply. Hex knows the longer it takes to identify the killers, the higher the danger to his daughter and the woman he’s come to love.
Mystery Mesa, book fifteen 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
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
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Epilogue
About the Author
Books by Shirleen Davies
Mystery Mesa
Prologue
Kansas City, Missouri
Christina McKenna brushed tears from her face, staring into the open grave holding her father’s coffin. Behind her, the Missouri River still roared its power, although the flood waters had receded since taking the lives of Edward McKenna and his second wife, Mirna.
Within inches of his grave was her mother’s. Jillian McKenna had died young, within years of giving birth to Christina and her twin sister, Millicent. Her father had mourned the loss of his beloved wife, vowing to always love her, even as he planned to marry a woman of eighteen.
Where Jillian was beautiful, vibrant, with a big heart and forgiving nature, Mirna was immature, her cold heart holding little love for anything except their father’s money and herself. The twins had taken satisfaction at locating her grave twenty yards away. Far enough from their father and mother so few would associate her with the McKenna clan. Christina and Millicent had their reasons, and both believed their father would understand.
Mirna had barely spared an hour each day with the daughter born within months of her wedding to Edward. His older daughters had tolerated Mirna, but loved their younger sister.
Cecilia was a precious child, tagging along with Christina and Millicent even with eleven years separating them. The three made a game of hiding from their father and Mirna, keeping to themselves, preferring to eat meals early, separate from their elders.
Christina turned away from the grave, leaving the bittersweet memories behind to join Millicent and Cecilia. They stood by their coach, preparing for the ride home and another few hours of well-wishers sharing memories and food. The day couldn’t end soon enough for the three McKenna sisters.
“Ladies.” Their father’s long-time attorney approached, fingering the brim of his black bowler, his gaze moving over them. “Again, my condolences at your loss.”
“Thank you.” Christina found herself struggling to remember the man’s name.
Reaching into a pocket, he pulled out an envelope, handing it to her. “Your father’s will. It’s simple and quite clear. You and Millicent should read it and let me know a time we can meet. There are some documents you need to sign.”
Taking the envelope, her chest squeezed. Each change solidified the fact their father truly was gone. “I’ll send a messenger with a time to meet.”
Assisting the girls into the carriage, the attorney stepped away. “Good day to you. I’ll look forward to seeing you again soon.” Tipping his hat, he turned, leaving their driver to take them home.
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Waiting until they drove through the cemetery gate, Christina slid the envelope from her reticule, turning it over and over.
“Go ahead and open it.” Millicent’s curiosity spurned Christina on.
Opening it, she pulled out the documents, unfolding them so she and her sister could both read. As the attorney had said, it was clear and simple.
“Father left everything to us, Millie. Mirna and Cici aren’t even mentioned.” Christina’s stunned expression met her twin’s. “We’re to be Cici’s guardians, but all the assets will be transferred to you and me.”
“It’s quite odd, don’t you think? Most husbands leave everything to their spouse? Upon their death, the money goes to their descendants or…” Millicent shrugged, looking at the document again. “You’re right, though. Neither Mirna nor Cici are even listed.”
Folding the documents, Christina slipped them inside the envelope, still wondering at their father’s decision not to include his second wife.
“Unless a husband is quite unhappy with the woman he married.” Christina leaned toward Millicent, lowering her voice so Cecilia couldn’t hear. “Do you think Father regretted marrying Mirna?”
“I don’t know.”
They sat back, thoughts of their father’s puzzling actions haunting both on the ride back to their house. They’d never have answers to so many questions.
As the driver stopped in front of their home, Millicent made no move to get out. Instead, she placed a hand on Christina’s arm.
“I don’t want to stay in Kansas City. I don’t want to live in this house.”
Her twin understood without asking. After their mother’s death, everything good inside the house had vanished, replaced by a cold, stony existence. No more love or laughter. Nothing that made a house a home.
“I agree. Where would you like to go, Millie?”
Surprise flashed across her face, shocked her sister had so quickly agreed. “West.”
Christina lifted a brow, one corner of her mouth tipping upward. “West?”
A gleam brightened Millicent’s eyes. “We’ve been to New York, seen almost all the eastern seaboard. I’d like to travel through the frontier, travel by stagecoach, and see the Pacific Ocean. Think of all the wonderful places we’ll see, the people we’ll meet. Why, we might even see the savages Father spoke about. Wouldn’t it be wonderful?”
It didn’t sound so wonderful to Christina, but she refused to dampen the only happy thoughts they’d shared all day. If a change, even of this magnitude, would heal their hearts, she was all for it.
“A trip out west sounds perfect to me, Millie. Absolutely perfect.”
Chapter One
Splendor, Montana Territory
March 1871
Christina stood over the grave of her twin sister, Millicent, swatting tears from her face, mind going back to the day they’d sat in their carriage, planning to leave Kansas City. They’d been so excited, talking well into the night after solemn services for their father and stepmother. Both wanted a fresh start far away.
She and her sister had mapped out their journey, including taking the stagecoach north out of Denver. It was then the lives of the three sisters changed.
Millicent had taken ill within days of boarding the stage to the Montana Territory. Over the miles, she’d grown weak, until Christina made the decision to disembark in Big Pine to seek medical advice. The examination had been inconclusive, and disheartening.
The doctor had provided laudanum for pain, apologizing for not having a better diagnosis. Christina had understood his meaning. There was nothing that could be done. Prepare for the worst.
Still, she’d prayed for her twin, begged God not to take her after losing their mother and father. He hadn’t responded.
Millicent had collapsed a year ago at the celebration of their friends’ wedding. One moment, she stood next to Christina. The next, she’d crumbled to the floor of the church. Gone within seconds, leaving her devastated twin and younger sister alone.
“Would you like company?” The deep, rough voice came from her friend and employer, Hex Boudreaux, one of several deputies in Splendor.
She startled when he placed a hand on the small of her back, the warmth seeping through her clothes in the chilled morning air. “It would be nice, but I’m not the best person to be around right now.”
Ignoring her comment, he stared at the headstone, feeling his own sorrow at the loss of a lovely young woman. “Millie was a beautiful person. Inside and out. You were lucky to have her as a sister.”
“Yes, she was.” She choked on the words, embarrassed at her lack of decorum.
Placing an arm around her shoulders, Hex drew her against his side. “It’s not a crime to grieve someone you loved. Grieving helps you heal the pain, makes it a little easier to go on.”
She’d tensed when first feeling his arm around her, relaxing at his words. “You speak as if you’ve had experience.”
“Zeke and I lost our parents years ago. It wasn’t easy. I still think about them, but it gets easier as time passes.”
“They would’ve loved Lucy.” Christina mentioned Hex’s young daughter. At five, she was cute, precocious, and a real challenge.
Tightening his grip before dropping his arm, Hex nodded. “Yes, they would’ve.”
“Did you know Millie’s birthday is this Saturday?”
Chuckling, he nodded. “Millie’s and yours. To celebrate, Zeke and I would like to take you to supper.”
Surprised warmth rolled through her at the thoughtful invitation. “That’s quite nice of you. What of the girls?”
He feigned a shiver, making Christina smile. “I wouldn’t dare celebrate your birthday without them. What do you say?”
“It sounds wonderful. Thank you.”
Taking her arm, he hooked it through his. “If you’re done here, I’ll walk you back to the boardinghouse. Luce and Cici will be out of school in a few hours.”
Hex referred to her job of watching the girls between their discharge from school and when he returned home after his shift. Some days, Hex invited them to stay for supper. Most times, she’d take Cici with her to the boardinghouse, they’d share supper, read, then go to bed, starting the routine again the following day. It had become tiresome months ago, but she refused to quit.
Christina and Cici didn’t need the money. Their father had left enough of an estate so they could live in comfort the rest of their lives. What she did need was the chance to see and talk with Hex each day.
She knew he saw her as a girl, not a young woman of twenty. A woman who’d fallen in love with him. It was a fact she never planned to voice.
They waved at several people they knew as they traversed the muddy street, doing their best to avoid the remaining patches of snow. Christina hoped there’d be ingredients to make snacks for the girls when they arrived after school. If not, she’d be making a quick trip to the general store.
Splendor had grown significantly since Christina and Cici arrived, numbering over eight thousand residents. Additional veins of gold had been found at the Devil Dancer mine, requiring doubling the number of men. The local bank manager, Horace Clausen, told Hex he’d been contacted by investors in the Midwest inquiring about opening businesses in Splendor. The number of ranchers had doubled, most buying property east and south of town.
In addition, the Pelletier ranch, Redemption’s Edge, continued to expand, as did Dominic Lucero’s spread. Both had begun crossbreeding short and longhorn cattle. Their efforts were starting to payoff.
Hex stopped in front of the house he shared with Lucy and Zeke. “I’m going to get to the jail, Chrissy. The door’s unlocked, and there are supplies to fix the girls something after school. I also bought milk from Suzanne.”
He spoke fondly of Suzanne Barnett, one of the owners of the town’s boardinghouse and restaurant. It had been built long before most locals had heard of Splendor.
“Do you need anything else?” As had become his habit, Hex studied her face, looking for signs of fatigue. Millie’s illness had taken a lot from her. Coupled with taking care of Cici, the emotional and physical toll had been great.
“I’m fine, Hex. You worry too much about me.” She wished the worry had come from love, but knew it was his natural tendency to protect others. His job as a deputy fit him well.
Reaching out, he touched the tip of her nose with his forefinger. “I suppose so.” A brief smile appeared before he turned away.
Christina stepped onto the small porch of the two bedroom home, watching him disappear around the corner of the school teacher’s house on his way to the jail. He’d be gone until almost sunset, giving her plenty of time to prepare food for the girls and clean the house.