This next release was/is both a thrill and a sad time. Larion Wills is an author I’ve reviewed many times. I love her story telling. Love how she captures different genres. When she submitted to MuseItUp Publishing the first time I didn’t believe I could separate the fan from the editor. MIU’s Karen McGrath became Larion’s editor. Karen passed away July 2011. No editor filled Karen’s shoes, we stood beside her authors as Karen would have for us.
If you’re already a fan of Ms. Wills, enjoy. If you’ve yet to discover Ms. Wills, TARBET is a good place to start.
Some men who carry a badge are no better than those they hunt. Words enough to frighten Susan into letting Tarbet die?
Back Cover:
Forced to run the ranch like a man after her father’s death, whispers ran wild that Susan was less than a lady. William coming to call caused tongues to wag more. Taking care of a wounded man with only Blazer to help would totally ruin her reputation, but she couldn’t leave a dying man in the hands of delicate Angela or her bungling father no matter what the gossips said about him. How was she to know how much more was behind the attempt on his life? How was she to know she would have to take up a gun, as less than a lady, and fight to save herself and the man she loved?
Excerpt:
Horace Norman’s tone altered and turned immediately to pleading. “This man is hurt.”
“I can see that. Who is he?”
“One of my hands,” Horace answered.
At the same time, Angela said, “We don’t know.”
The woman, Susan Flaggen, gave them a look of annoyance. “If you’re all he’s got to protect him, he’s in poor hands.” She moved closer, her rifle barrel reaching out so casually to push the edge of his coat to his side it appeared to be no more than an extension of her arm.
Shifting her weight to one foot, she said, “I’m sure you know what happened in town a couple of days ago the same as I do. He’s the man Hatfield and his men are hunting for. He was shot, and that badge tells me why they want him so badly.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Horace said quickly. “We found him.”
“When did you lose him?”
“We didn’t lose him!” Horace exclaimed.
“How did he get here?”
Horace puffed out his cherub cheeks and answered. “You will have to ask him, Miss Flaggen. I don’t know.”
She turned the rifle, resting the barrel on her shoulder. Her eyes moved, following a trail of flattened grass, narrowed as she studied the tumbling down wall of the old smoke house beyond. When those hazel-green eyes came back, she looked into Tarbet’s eyes for the first time.
“I doubt he could tell me,” she murmured.
“Why not?” Angela asked faintly.
Impatience was in her eyes as they swung away from him to rest on Angela. “Because he doesn’t know what’s going on,” she retorted. “What are you going to do with him?”
“Take him to the doctor,” Horace answered.
“That will get him killed. You may as well turn him over to Hatfield and get it over with.”
“I-I suppose you’re right. I-I could take him home, but…”
When his voice trailed off, she asked with a slight curl to her lip, “So Niles can come home to find him?”
Angela cried, “Niles wouldn’t hurt him.”
“My son has no reason to harm this man,” Horace said in a calmer voice.
“Niles was with them when they came to my place,” Susan returned. “And they’ve already hurt him.”
“What would you suggest?” Horace asked.
“Hide him.” She used the rifle again to
point. “You wouldn’t get more than a couple of miles in your buggy before blundering into one of the search parties. You’d better use my horse.”
”So Mr. Garland can come—” Angela began. She stopped with a gulp.
Anger flashed in those hazel eyes as she answered with her voice sharp and her back stiff. “Everyone knows Mr. Garland does not come anymore,” she retorted, finishing what Angela hadn’t.
Horace heaved his short, fat body up and quickly changed the subject. “This is very kind and generous of you to take on such a burden,” he told her.
With a start, she said, “Wait a minute. I didn’t?” The words stopped abruptly as her eyes swung back to Tarbet’s and his hand rose a pathetic few inches, reaching out to her in what appeared to be a silent plea.
chris wrote one of my very first reviews. when she became my editor, i lost her for that. dang. Karen was wonderful and her passing was sad for all of us who knew her. she fought a gallent fight to the end.
thank you for this post, Chris. it's a lovely tribute to Karen as well as such kind and encouraging words for me. Thank you!
More than welcomed, Larion/Larriane. We have more books to share over the next month and new ones coming…don't we 🙂