Fletcher's Pride Read online

  Brodie looked across the room to see the two laughing. “Ach, those lads aren’t ready to take care of a lass. I’m thinking it may be someone else.”

  Maddy glanced around the room at those old enough to marry and still single. If Sean weren’t in Scotland at veterinary school, he’d be a good choice. Her gaze landed on Sean’s sister, Bridget. At nineteen, she knew the young woman wanted a family, the same as her older cousins. Coral, another who wanted to marry, stood next to her. Maddy had heard Deke Arrington, the owner of the local saddlery, held an interest in her, and Coral felt the same. Then she spotted someone else.

  “Perhaps it won’t be any of the MacLarens.”

  Fletcher kissed her again. “Who do you mean, Maddy?”

  “What about Austin DeBell?”

  Brodie’s eyes flashed. “The bounty hunter who shot Colbert?”

  “Why not? Bay said he might stay in Conviction for a while. He’s handsome with a devastating smile, and—” Fletcher’s low growl and mouth covering hers stopped the list of Austin’s qualities.

  Laughing, Brodie tilted his glass against his mouth, finishing the last of his punch. “Well, we know the lad can shoot.”

  Fletcher nodded. “Aye, he can.”

  Brodie thought a moment. “Maybe I’ll be talking to him about becoming a deputy.” He looked at his empty glass. “I’m going to join Colin and Bay. First, I’ll be needing more punch.” Eyes twinkling, he started across the room, knowing Fletcher and Maddy understood he meant punch with a liberal dose of whiskey.

  When he got far enough away, and before anyone else could join them, Fletcher dropped another kiss on her mouth. “I love you, Mrs. MacLaren.”

  Her blinding smile sent his pulse racing. “And I love you, Mr. MacLaren.”

  Shifting when Quinn and Emma approached, Fletcher’s gaze landed on Colin and Bay standing in a corner of the dining room. They’d been talking for a while, their serious expressions piquing his curiosity. And something else. Bay’s attention kept straying to Suzette.

  Bay hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off Suzette. Not today, not years ago when they’d first met. She’d been the only woman to keep his interest, fire his passion. The one woman he wanted beyond all others, the reason there’d been no others for longer than he could remember. His chest squeezed with desire each time his gaze landed on her.

  “I’m not understanding why you don’t court her, Bay.” Colin handed him a glass of punch. Both knew it had already been spiked with whiskey. Bay downed it in one swallow, causing Colin’s brow to rise. “I’ll be getting you another if it will fortify you enough to speak with the lass.”

  The knot in Bay’s stomach tightened. “No, thanks.”

  Colin studied him. “She’s a bonny one. I’m confused as to why you don’t at least speak with her.”

  Bay didn’t look over at Colin. “I have my reasons.”

  “They must be good ones if you’re able to ignore her.” Colin lifted his glass to his mouth, taking a sip, then choking at Bay’s reply.

  “They are. Suzette is my wife.”

  Thank you for taking the time to read Fletcher’s Pride. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated.

  Watch for book nine in the MacLaren’s of Boundary Mountain series, Bay’s Desire

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  About the Author

  Shirleen Davies writes romance—historical and contemporary western romance with a touch of suspense. She is the best-selling author of the MacLarens of Fire Mountain Series, the MacLarens of Boundary Mountain Series, and the Redemption Mountain Series. Shirleen grew up in Southern California, attended Oregon State University, and has degrees from San Diego State University and the University of Maryland. Her passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find redemption through love and acceptance. She lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona. Between them, they have five adult sons who are their greatest achievements.

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  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, 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, 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

  Ivy’s Search, Book Eight by Kate Cambridge

  Phoebe’s Fate, Book Nine by Amelia Adams

  Brody’s Shelter, Book Ten by Kay P. Dawson

  Boone’s Surrender, Book Eleven by Shirleen Davies

  Watch for more books in the series!

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  Copyright © 2018 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, e
xcept 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

  Fletcher’s Pride 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.