Jake (43 page)

“Your wolf?” She eyed him suspiciously. “I didn’t realize he was a pet.”

“He isn’t. Wasn’t,” Quinn corrected. “He was, in fact, the object of years of scholarly research.”

“Uh-huh.” She shot him a look guaranteed to freeze a man’s heart at a hundred paces. “I wouldn’t know anything about scholarly research, but common sense told me he was about to take out one of my calves. And I got him before he could get to my herd. Now if you don’t mind…” She turned away.

Before she could reach for her rifle Quinn caught her arm. “I don’t believe you. I saw the herd of deer.”

She yanked herself free of his grasp. “I don’t give a damn what you believe. I know what I saw.”

“Prove it.”

Her head came up sharply. “I don’t have to prove anything to you.”

“You already have. The fact that you’re a liar.”

Her eyes narrowed on him. “Look. I don’t care what you call me. I know what I saw.”

But even as she spoke, he could see the wheels turning as she cast a glance at the snow swirling in the darkness just beyond the barn. Neither of them was eager to face the blizzard. But neither of them was willing to concede that fact.

She took in a breath. “You can saddle up the mare over there.”

Without another word she turned away and began saddling the big roan stallion she’d been tending.

Quinn crossed to the other stall and began saddling the spotted mare.

When both horses were saddled and ready, Quinn and the woman moved out single file, into the stinging snow and darkness of night.

Each of them was carrying a rifle.

Neither of them was willing to give an inch until this trek was over.

In Quinn’s mind, it would end with this crazy woman admitting her mistake and apologizing for the wrong she’d done. Not that it would make anything right. The wolf would still be dead and his pack left without a leader. But for Quinn this was all about justice.

Once again he flashed back to that incident in his boyhood. He hadn’t been able to do anything about that female wolf and her pups. But things were different now. This time, he would have the satisfaction of knowing he’d done all he could to persuade at least one angry rancher to give the wolves of this world a fighting chance to survive.

THE DISH

Where authors give you the inside scoop!

From the desk of Kristen Callihan

Dear Reader,

I write books set in the Victorian era. Usually we don’t see women with careers in historical romance, but one of the best things about exploring this “other” London in my Darkest London series is that my heroines can lead atypical lives.

In WINTERBLAZE, Poppy Ellis Lane is not only a quiet bookseller and loving wife, she’s also part of an organization dedicated to keeping the populace of London in the dark about supernatural beasts that roam the streets—a discovery that comes as quite a shock to her husband, Police Inspector Winston Lane.

Now pregnant, Poppy Lane develops a craving for all things baked, but most especially fresh breads. Being hard-working, however, Poppy has little time or patience for complicated baking—an inclination I share! Popovers are a great compromise, as they are ridiculously easy to make and ridiculously good.

Poppy’s Popovers (yields about 6 popovers)

You’ll need:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 cup milk
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  

Topping (optional)

• 1/2 cup sugar
  
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  
• a dash of cayenne pepper (to taste)
  
• 4 tablespoons melted butter
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Spray muffin tin with nonstick spray or butter and sprinkle with flour. (I like the spray for the easy factor.)
   
2. In a bowl, begin to whisk eggs; add in flour, milk, and salt, and beat until it just turns smooth. Do not overbeat; your popovers will be resentful and tough if you do! Fill up each muffin cup until halfway full–the popovers are going to rise. (Like, a
   lot
   .)
   
3. Bake for 20 minutes at 450 degrees F, then lower oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake 20 minutes more, until golden brown and puffy.
   
4. Meanwhile, for topping, mix the sugar, cinnamon, and dash of cayenne pepper—this is hot stuff and you only want a hint of it—in a shallow bowl and stir until combined. Melt butter in another bowl and set aside.
   
5. Remove popovers from the muffin pan, being careful not to puncture them. Then brush with melted butter and roll them in the sugar mix, shaking off the excess. Serve immediately.
   

Inspector Lane likes to add a dollop of raspberry jam and feed them to his wife in the comfort of their bed. He claims they make Poppy quite agreeable…
Ahem
. You, however, might like to enjoy them with a cup of tea and a good book!

From the desk of R.C. Ryan

Dear Reader,

To me there’s nothing sexier than a strong, handsome hunk with a soft spot for kids and animals. That’s why, in Book 3 of my Wyoming Sky series, I decided that my hero, Jake Conway, would be a veterinarian, as well as the town heartthrob. Now, who could I choose to play the love interest of a charming cowboy who has all the females from sixteen to sixty sighing? Why not a smart, cool, sophisticated, Washington, D.C. lawyer who looks, as Jake describes her, “as out of place as a prom dress at a rodeo”? Better yet, just to throw Meg Stanford even more off her stride, why not add a surprise half-brother with whom she has absolutely nothing in common?

I had such fun watching these two try every possible way to deny the attraction.

But there’s so much more to their story than a hot romance. There’s also the fact that someone wants to harm Meg and her little half-brother. And what about the mystery that has haunted the Conway family for twenty-five years? The disappearance of Seraphine, mother of Quinn, Josh, and Jake, chronicled in Books 1 and 2, will finally be resolved in Book 3.

In writing the stories of Quinn, Josh, and Jake, I completely lost my heart to this strong, loving family, and I confess I had mixed emotions as I wrote the final chapter.

I hope all of my readers will enjoy the journey. I guarantee you a bumpy but exhilarating ride.

Happy Reading!

RyanLangan.com
Twitter, @RuthRyanLangan
Facebook.com

From the desk of Margaret Mallory

Dear Reader,

Ilysa is in love with her older brother’s best friend. Sad to say, the lass doesn’t have a chance with him.

As her clan chieftain, Connor MacDonald is the sixteenth-century Highland equivalent of a pro quarterback, movie star, Special Forces hero, and CEO all rolled into one. And the handsome, black-haired warrior never even noticed Ilysa before his unexpected rise to the chieftainship.

Other women, who are always attempting to lure Connor into bed—and failing, by the way—are drawn to him by his status, handsome face, and warrior’s body. While no lass with a pulse could claim to be unaffected by Connor’s devastating looks, Ilysa loves him for his noble heart. Connor MacDonald would give his life for the lowliest member of their clan, and Ilysa would give hers for him.

Connor MacDonald is the hope of his clan, a burden that weighs upon every decision he makes. Since becoming chieftain, he has devoted himself to raising his people from the ashes. With the help of his cousins (in The Guardian and The Sinner ) and his best friend (in The Warrior), he has survived murder attempts by his own kin, threats from royals and rebels, and attacks by other clans. Now all that remains to secure his clan’s future is to take back the lands that were stolen by the powerful MacLeods.

Through the first three books in The Return of the Highlander series, Ilysa has worked quietly and efficiently behind the scenes to support Connor and the clan. None of her efforts has made him look at her twice. Clearly, it’s time for me to step in and give Connor a shake.

The poor lass does need help. Her mother thought she was protecting Ilysa in a violent world by covering her in severe kerchiefs and oversized gowns and admonishing her to never draw attention to herself. Ilysa’s brief marriage left her feeling even less appealing.

But Ilysa underestimates her worth. After all, who helped our returning heroes in The Guardian sneak into the castle the night they took it from Connor’s murderous uncle? And who healed Connor’s wounds and brought him back from death’s door? Even now, while Connor fights to protect the clan, Ilysa is willing to employ a bit of magic to protect him, whether from the threat of an assassin or a deceitful woman with silver-blue eyes.

Unfortunately, Ilysa’s chances grow more dismal still when Connor decides he must marry to gain an ally for the clan’s coming fight with the MacLeods. As I watched him consider one chieftain’s daughter after another, I knew not one of them was the right wife for him or the clan. What our chieftain needs is a woman who can heal the wounds of his heart—and watch his back.

But Connor is no fool. With a little prodding, he finally opened his eyes and saw that Ilysa is the woman he wants. Passion burns! Yay! However, my relief is short lived because the stubborn man is determined to put the needs of the clan before his own desires. Admirable as that may be, I can’t let him marry the wrong woman, can I?

Despite all my efforts, I fear Connor will lose everything before he realizes that love is the strongest ally. With Ilysa’s life and his clan’s future hanging by a thread, will he be too late to save them?

I hope you enjoy the adventurous love story of Connor and Ilysa. I’ve found it hard to say goodbye to them and this series.

You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, and my website,
www.MargaretMallory.com
. I love to hear from readers!