The Convict and the Cattleman by Allison Merritt
His love is the key to her release.
Sentenced
to seven years of servitude in the penal colony of New South Wales,
Bridgit Madden is thrust into a world unlike anything she's known,
dangers she never imagined and enemies with their own interests at
heart. Certain that the conviction has ruined her chances of ever having
a real family, she is fearful of her future.
Despite
his reluctance to take in a convict, Jonah Andrus, a grazier and
pioneer cattleman, needs a servant to care for his orphaned niece. When
presented with Bridgit, who is far too beautiful and distracting, he
initially tries to refuse. However, with a busy cattle station to
oversee, he needs help right away.
Upon
her first meeting with Jonah's niece, Bridgit immediately falls in love
with the girl and becomes entwined the mystery surrounding her birth.
As she gets to know her employer better, Bridgit makes it her mission to
remind him that family is priceless. When it seems as though she might
have found the place she truly belongs, their love is threatened by lies
and deceit, and both of them might lose everything they hold dear for a
second time.
“There,
there. Bridgit will be along any second. She knows how to take care of
you. Uncle Jonah will drop you. You’re too small.”
Surprised
by his own admission, he stared helplessly at Olivia. When was the last
time he’d paid her any attention? She’d grown and he hadn’t noticed.
Babies did; he knew well enough from watching his calves during the
summer. The baby he remembered was tiny, wrinkled and didn’t look like
anyone. Charlotte, exhausted, but elated, had smiled proudly.
“Isn’t she beautiful, Jonah?”
Recalling
her voice made his heart pound. The silly girl didn’t have a sense of
shame. She’d been nervous when she admitted her tryst and the subsequent
pregnancy, but she had defended her child. Not unlike one of his cows.
They protected their young fiercely.
He
hadn’t found the words to answer her question. All he saw was Rob
Langnecker’s face. The desire to kill him had blotted out everything
else. Langnecker had ruined his sister, left her alone with a bastard
child and went off chasing other skirts. She’d died in the room where
Bridgit slept, believing he’d come back for them.
If I ever catch him.
Jonah ran his hand down his face.
“Is something wrong?”
Bridgit’s warm hand closed around his. Pity shined in her eyes.
“The chores are waiting.” Clammy sweat dampened his shirt.
She tugged his hand. “You need to stay. You’ll regret it if you don’t. Go sit down.”
He
didn’t understand why he obeyed, but he sat in the rocking chair by the
window. His father had crafted it for his mother years before Jonah was
born.
Bridgit lifted Olivia, nestling her into his arms. The cries eased to a whimper.
“Hold your arms like this. You’ve got to support her head.”
“I
know.” Charlotte had insisted he hold Olivia hours after her birth. He
remembered it clear as day. Accepting the chubby baby, he was surprised
at her weight.
She’d been so small. “She’s healthy.”
It was more a question than a statement. Olivia gazed at him, eyes wide. Her fingers toyed with one of his buttons.
“Aye.
Growing like a weed. She’s learning to roll over.” At his confused
look, she explained, “That’s good. She’ll be crawling before long. She
talks to me and follow things with her eyes. Everything she’s supposed
to do.”
“Good. Charlotte would be glad.” His voice sounded choked and he cleared his throat, hoping Bridgit hadn’t noticed.
She lifted the bottle. “Here. Feed her. Tip it up, so the air gets in the bottle.”
He
let her show him what to do, surprised again when Olivia grasped the
bottle with her tiny hands. Her features were clearer now. Charlotte’s
nose and chin. Those couldn’t be his ears, could they? Dark blue eyes
stared up at him, then drifted shut as she suckled greedily. Her eyes
were the only resemblance he could find to her father.
Bridgit
kneeled beside the rocking chair and swept dark locks from the baby’s
face. Her hand settled on his knee. “There. She’s happy now.” A wistful
smile played across her face.
Buy Links: Amazon
A
love of reading turned Allison Merritt into an author who writes
historical, paranormal and fantasy romances, often combining the
sub-genres. She graduated college with a B.A. in mass communications
that's gathering dust after it was determined that she's better at
writing fluff than hard news.
She
lives in a small town in the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs.
When she's not writing or reading, she hikes in national parks and
conservation areas.
1 comments:
Thanks so much for having my book on your blog today!
Post a Comment