In honor of exceptional cuts of manhood, I’m celebrating the best fathers from my Dana Ransom historicals – those who come upon that title unprepared yet still excel in the job they’ve been honored (some at the business end of a shotgun!) to accept. Hats off to two reluctant heroes from my absolute favorite families – the Prescotts of Dakota and the Basses of Texas.
It’s no secret that my Bass Family western series set in the Big Bend of Texas is my hands down true love. At first glance, Billy Cooper is that last man a father would welcome as a son-in-law at the point of his shotgun after he’s discovered snuggled up to the Dime Novel hero’s only daughter in an outlaw camp. But no one in this adventure is quite what they seem . . . and therein lies the fun!
WILD TEXAS BRIDE, Dana Ransom aka Nancy Gideon, Book 3 of the Bass Family saga.
He gave her her first kiss when she was thirteen, and Sarah Bass was sure he was the man to make her dreams come true. But when she discovers Billy Cooper has taken up with a dangerous gang of outlaws, the seventeen-year-old dons boots and breeches and rides out to rescue the man she loves from a life of crime. What could go wrong?
The Excerpt
“Ever tell you when your aunt decided she was in love with me?”
Sarah shook her head. She liked it when her Uncle Harmon talked about Amanda, the way it softened his features in a way nothing else could. Before Amanda had come along and snatched up his heart, her childish fantasy had been to grow up and marry him herself. Of course, that dream faded with maturity, but she still liked admiring him with her eyes and listening to his drawling voice.
“Well, just after he’d hired me on to find her brother, we came across a bunch of cow thieves, and Amanda, being Amanda, wouldn’t listen to what I told her to do and ended up getting her backside peppered with buckshot. Had to hold her over my lap and pick every one of them pellets out.”
“No!” Sarah grinned, imagining it as she began to feel decidedly light-headed.
“Not one of her favorite recollections. Guess she figured if she could trust me with her fanny, I was the right kind of fellow to fall in love with.”
He didn’t tell her the fanny involved wasn’t Amanda’s but rather his, and the way his wet Levi’s clung to it. Amanda had taken one look and fallen madly in lust with him. In fact, he mused with a small smile, Amanda still was partial to grabbing onto his back pockets for a squeeze.
Sounds like the beginning of a family tradition!
I am SO loving getting reacquainted with this family and the rough-and-tumble world they live in. In fact, I’m off to get back to writing the next chapter in their next chapter!
Happy Father’s Day to those who are one and those who celebrate theirs!!
Ah. Love the reversal of the memory there. Too precious.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jeff! It's my favorite book.
DeleteWhat a great way to meet ... LOL.
ReplyDeleteLoved the snippet :-)
Thanks, Iris! The characters practically lived with me for years! And may move back in soon . . .
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