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    Love On The Range
    Love On The Range
    Love On The Range
    Ebook209 pages3 hours

    Love On The Range

    By Therese A Kraemer

    ()

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    About this ebook

    The Sequel to MY LOVE WILL NEVER DIE

    Intertwining stories add a new dimenion to the first novel as our two new brave women face unspeakable obstacles.

        After her father’s death, Dexter Collins disguised as a boy leaves home with her brother to start a new life in Sherman, Wyoming. 

    Megyn Mc Cain trembled with terrifying fear. What had started out to be a joyful trip to live on her uncle’s farm had turned into a nightmare. 

    Perhaps they will find love if they can live long enough.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSpangaloo Publishing
    Release dateJun 28, 2017
    ISBN9781540160171
    Love On The Range
    Author

    Therese A Kraemer

    Because I am dyslexic, I find writing a challenge, but my love of writing has inspired me to write more than sixty children’s stories, over two hundred poems and thirty-seven Romance Novels. I have also illustrated two story books used by primary teachers and students as a part of a vocal hygiene program at University of Arizona’s Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences.My credits also include four stories published by McFadden Publishing Co. in NYC. I wrote, illustrated and published two books of poetry used as fund-raisers by the Leukemia and Multiple Sclerosis organizations. I wrote illustrated and published in one book, forty-two children’s stories.I had an exhibition at the King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Fl of my pen and ink drawings of animals. Recently, I have had three E-Book Romance Novels and a book of short stories published on the Spangaloo.Com website and another on the Smashwords.Com website. I make my home in Melbourne, Florida where I continue to write and illustrate

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      Book preview

      Love On The Range - Therese A Kraemer

      Love On The Range

      Thérèse A. Kraemer

      Copyright Therese A. Kraemer 2017

      Spangaloo Publishing

      Spangaloo Edition

      http://spangaloo.com

      Standard Copyright eBooks are strictly protected works. You must not perform any actions, including copying, printing and distribution without the author’s written or printed consent (the author may have already granted certain terms in a statement within a book.) Some of our eBooks are cleared for personal printing if this option has been enabled, The unauthorized sale of Copyright works in any form is illegal.

      This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events, incidents, and places are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, people, or events is purely coincidental

      Cover Design: James Bryron Love

      Ebook Formatting : Alan Thriete

      Editors Note:

      Many characters in this book have accents and or different speech patterns. The author has attempted to illustrate this phonically. These are not spelling errors.

      Chapters

      Part ONE – Love On The Range

      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

      EPILOUGE

      PART TWO –Prairie Love

      CHAPTER ONE

      CHAPTER TWO

      CHAPTER THREE

      CHAPTER FOUR

      CHAPTER FIVE

      CHAPTER SIX

      CHAPTER SEVEN

      CHAPTER EIGHT

      CHAPTER NINE

      EPILOUGE

      About the Author

      Other Books

      Prologue

      ––––––––

      In the novel of, My Love Will Never Die, Leigh Taylor had been married only six months when her husband was murdered by her neighbor. Powel Mc Kearney had her husband Josh killed because he refused to sell his ranch. Broken-hearted she tried to go on and also refused to sell her land to her neighbor Powel who knew that her ranch was rich with coal, also called black gold.

      Her husband’s spirit lingered around watching her grieve until one day a wounded Cheyenne rode into the yard. Raindancer, although a half-breed, hated white people and had gotten shot when he and his renegade friends attempted to holdup a stage coach. Bleeding and barely conscious he made it to a ranch, where he collapsed in the arms of a beautiful woman. The half-breed was cared for by Leigh and awakened facing two problems: his attraction to a white woman and seeing her dead husband’s spirit who begged him to help Leigh hold onto her ranch.

      Together Leigh and Raine battled wits against a murdering neighbor who tried everything to steal her land. But Josh took his revenge on Powel causing his death, and when his work was finished, he left earth knowing that his Leigh was again happy.

      This story begins sometime before FMD disease infected one third of Leigh and her husband Raine’s herd, almost leading to a range war.

      PART ONE

      CHAPTER ONE

      I dance in the rain so my tears don’t show...

      To warm my broken heart I sit in the snow.

      I let the wind drown out my sight...

      Only darkness will see the pain in my eyes.

      A shadow makes my smiles so no one can see...

      How my life has become a masquerade for me.

      Raymond Collins hugged his seventeen year old sister Dexter tightly as she wept uncontrollably learning that their father had been killed in a mine cave-in that morning.

      Hush now sis, we’ll be okay, I’ll take care of us; I promise. Now dry your pretty eyes, you are drooling all over my shirt. He tried to make light of the situation, but he failed and she cried harder. Here wipe your runny nose, we’ll get by, I promise, he stated again hoping she didn’t hear the catch in his voice. He was a miner’s son and had gone down into the mines once but he broke out in a cold sweat, unable to breath. Panic welled up in him making him feel as if the walls were closing in on him. He knew he had embarrassed his pa when he ran out but mining was not for him.

      Look, we have nothing to gain by staying here on the ranch that had long gone to pot after ma died because pa spent all his money drinking in town, he sighed dispiritedly. Now, since you’re still wearing my hand-me-downs we’ll continue passing you off as a boy. I’ll cut your hair shorter, and we’ll leave. We’ll steal more vegetables from our neighbor’s farm and be gone before the sun rises tomorrow.

      Dexter blew her nose, her brother was right. Although her pa cared for his booze more than he did his children, she still loved him and some of her mother’s things were still here in the cabin. She hated to part with them but she’d take her mother’s Bible. It would give her some comfort.

      You’re right Ray, and I’m lucky to have such a good brother, she admitted accommodatingly. We are strong Collins’, and we will get by, we have so by ourselves since ma died. Do you have any idea where to go from here? she inquired sucking in a deep breath.

      That question was a quagmire and he thought for a moment before saying, Sherman is two days or so from here; maybe I can get a job there. Pa said that he had heard from a drifter that a railroad is coming, I can work for that company. He wiped a tear off her pert nose. Now, c’mon, skinny bones, get some sleep, we have to rise and shine early. He knew he shouldn’t tease her for not being very womanly in developing in that department, but being malnourished was a blessing in order to hide her sex. As she ran to her cot she yelled over her shoulder, I wouldn’t talk, I saw your little peewee.

      Ray groaned, and recounted, That was a long time ago smarty pants.

      Ha! was her comeback.

      Touché, he grinned. He let her have that one because he was a man of twenty-one now, not a boy of thirteen.

      It took a while before sleep overtook Dexter because her nose was so stuffy and she had developed a headache from all the crying. It seemed to her as if she just closed her eyes when she felt her brother nudge her. Wake up sleepyhead, it’s time to go.

      She yawned, and whined in protest, and challenged, But it’s still dark outside.

      C’mon, I told you we have to leave before the sun rises. Now go and see to nature, I’m hungry.

      She snorted, Still bossy, I see, but she smiled with her jest.

      After swiping some carrots and turnips Dexter and her brother ate them raw, but she didn’t mind. They had cleaned them in a nearby stream and filled a canteen with cool water to wash the vegetables down. She was feeling much better, the cool breeze scented the air with fresh pine and she was a bit excited to start a new life, hopefully a happier one. She remembered her mother’s Bible and put it in her mother’s worn-out shawl for her to carry. Ray took their pa’s rifle hoping to shoot a rabbit or squirrel to eat later. She did feel sorta bad about leaving her father’s dead body but Ray told her that the mining company promised to bury him with the other men who had lost their lives in the cave-in when they’re found.

      Dexter knew her brother had felt no remorse as had she over pa’s death. In a way she couldn’t blame him and her mother had told her once that women were the weaker sex and had a greater degree of passion and sympathy than did males. How she wished her mother was still alive and she hugged the Bible closer to her chest fighting tears. She had been passing as a boy for a long time, it was time to be strong and act more like a man!

      Late that day Ray killed a possum and skinned it. It took her a while to get a fire going and they ate greedily every bit of the animal. They would sleep under the stars that night before heading to Sherman in the morning. Upon awaking, the day dawned gray and lifeless, a fitting comparison to Dexter’s state of mind. She was worried about their future and did not feel as optimistic as her brother.

      It was mid-morning before Ray shot a squirrel and again that night. God, she muttered, I just wish I could sink my teeth into something else; a rabbit would be nice.

      Sorry sis, but we must be thankful for that or we’d be starving.

      Dexter huffed, expelling an unpleasant sound with a shrug, but then she admitted that he was right as she tossed a bone into the fire. Just then a clap of thunder boomed making her jump and she snorted, Just what we need, she groused and knew she sounded bitter, but she was.

      Ray jumped up and grabbed her hand, C’mon, we have to find shelter somewhere.

      They ran for a while as dark, ominous clouds quickly were rolling in and the zigzagging flashes of lightning light up the gray sky in the distance. If Dexter wasn’t so frightened of getting caught in the downpour or hit by lightning, she would have loved to watch the beautiful, fascinating panorama display Mother Nature was putting on for their benefit. Luckily, just as the skies opened up, Ray spotted a cave.

      Whew! her brother inhaled deeply to catch his breath from racing to the cave. She followed suit and wiped off the few raindrops that had caught them before they made it to shelter. It was damp and gloomy, but it was perfect shelter for the night.

      We’ll sleep close to the opening and hopefully the rain will stop by morning, Ray said. Dexter shivered and was glad she had her mother’s shawl but she had to see to nature.

      I have to pee, Ray, she murmured.

      He nodded. Go over there, in the dark corner, he advised. I won’t peek.

      She looked where he suggested and nervously threatened her bottom lip with her teeth. What if there’s a snake or a big spider. Oh, Ray what it there’s a bear in here?

      Ray laughed. C’mon, sis, since when are you afraid of a snake or an itsy-bitsy spider?

      She snorted, Go ahead make sport of me, but there could be a bear hibernating here.

      He chuckled, Aw, sis, you’re so skinny, you wouldn’t fill a bear’s tooth.

      She had a few words for him and spoke freely about what she was thinking that quickly wiped the smile off his face and then she stuck out her tongue.

      As scared as she was because her mind conjured up all kinds of fearful things lurking in the cave, she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the hard surface and in the morning Dexter opened her eyes to the smell of something cooking. She rose somewhat bruised from sleeping on a few small rocks. With a loud moan, she stretched, saying, What are you roasting?

      Well, you were tired of possum so I killed a harmless snake that had slept in one of my boots. Luckily I checked before putting it on. And I’m sorry but the only thing handy to smash in it head, was mother’s Bible. I’m sure the Good Lord will forgive us.

      Dexter groaned at the thought but a least it wasn’t possum.

      The sun was just about to show its fiery head over a mountain as they stepped out of the cave. Ray spotted a large puddle of clear water and they splashed their faces and drank greedily before trudging forward. They didn’t get far when they came upon an old trapper yelling at his mule. He was so engrossed that he didn’t hear them approach.

      Can you use some help? asked Dexter.

      He turned and grumbled, Dat dumb ass won’t budge. The man had a long bushy beard, and overgrown mustache, and thick eyebrow that looked like a caterpillar crawling across his brow. All one could see was his green eyes. He smacked the animal hard on the critter’s backside. It brayed and turned showing off big, rotten teeth.

      Maybe it’s tired, said Ray as Dexter petted its nose. Or the mule might not be feeling well, she added. And without another word, she picked up each hoof until she found the problem. She sighed, Oh, you poor fella, you have a deep cut on your ankle. But the blood had caked so he must have been injured a while back.

      The old trader yanked off his dilapidated hat scratched his head that was surprisingly as hairless as a melon. Well, I’ll be; he musta gotten it when we climbed over some rocks yesterday. I’m sure obliged to you son. I’ll clean it off and we’ll sit a spell. Thanks. I’d like ta pay ya boys, but I only caught a few animals and haven’t many furs but here, young man, he handed Dexter a small bloody piece of fur. It’s a rabbit foot, he explained. Again mighty obliged, he slapped his hat back onto his bald cranium.

      Dexter thanked the man and asked if he knew how much farther the town was.

      Not far, about a mile or two as the crow flies.

      As they walked away, Ray said, I hope that rabbit foot is lucky because it wasn’t for the poor bunny, he chortled.

      The sun had just reached the center of the sky when Dexter and her brother reached the outskirts of the town. Ray told her to sit on the boardwalk while he went into the saloon to ask around if anyone needed help. She sat and rested her weary head on her knees. Her stomach grumbled and she groaned.

      Are you okay son? a baritone voice made her raise her head. She blinked and shaded her eyes from the glare and was staring into a handsome man’s face, his deep red hair glowing like embers in the hot sun. Oh! she gasped.

      Sorry to frighten you, the stranger said.

      She put on a brave veneer but fibbed, You didn’t.

      Are you alone, where are your parents? he asked

      No, my brother is in the saloon, we’re looking for work.

      Just then Ray came out of the swinging door and drew his rifle. Is the man bothering you Dexter? his voce deeply perturbed.

      The stranger held up his hands. Whoa, there son, I was just concerned for your brother. He said you were looking for work.

      Ray, put down the gun! You dumbbell, he’s just being kind! she scolded; her tone a little sharper than she intended.

      Ray frowned, Sorry mister, he mumbled, magnanimously.

      The man smiled. I am Raine Gifford and it just so happens that I’m looking for a few good ranch-hands. You both look a bit scrawny and I suspect could use a good meal or two, how about it?

      Ray jumped off the boardwalk and shook the man’s hand vigorously, Yes, sir and sorry again. My si, err brother, Dexter and I are good workers, as you said, we’re just a little hungry. I’m Raymond, call me Ray.

      Well then, come along, I’ll buy you both a good meal. My buckboard is over yonder; I came in for supplies. Come, after you’re both well fed you can start by helping me. He walked away and they quickly followed, smiling. Later, Dexter couldn’t believe their luck as she and her brother sat in the rear of the wagon and she thought that maybe the rabbit’s foot was indeed lucky.

      Sis, he whispered into her ear. Are you sure you still want to pass as a boy? he asked timorously. She nodded and he looked skeptical. It won’t be easy you’ll have to sleep in the bunkhouse with other men, he voiced the problem she’d face.

      She shrugged. I know what men look like. You can tell them that I’m very shy and keep to myself. I’ll make it work somehow. Mr. Raine might think twice about hiring me knowing that I’m a female, being a weaker sex.

      Dexter, that’s mom talking, you’re not weak by any means. Okay, we’ll give it a go.

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