Redemption's Edge
Authors: Shirleen Davies
Other
Books by Shirleen Davies
Historical Western Romance Series
MacLarens of Fire Mountain
Tougher than the Rest, Book One
Faster than the Rest, Book Two
Harder than the Rest, Book Three
Stronger than the Rest, Book Four
Deadlier than the Rest, Book Five
Wilder than the Rest, Book Six
Redemption Mountain
Redemption’s Edge, Book One
Wildfire Creek, Book Two, Releasing Winter 2015
MacLarens of Boundary Mountain
Colin’s Quest, Book One
Coming in 2015
Contemporary Romance Series
MacLarens of Fire Mountain
Second Summer, Book One
Hard Landing, Book Two
One More Day, Book Three
All Your Nights, Book Four, Releasing Fall 2014
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Redemption’s Edge
Redemption Mountain
Historical Western Romance Series
SHIRLEEN DAVIES
Book One in the Redemption Mountain
Historical Western Romance Series
Copyright © 2014 by Shirleen Davies
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
For permission requests, contact the publisher.
Avalanche Ranch Press, LLC
PO Box 12618
Prescott, AZ 86304
Redemption’s Edge is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used facetiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is wholly coincidental.
Book design and conversions by Joseph Murray at
Cover design by The Killion Group
ISBN: 978-1-941786-07-9
Description
Redemption’s Edge – Book One
Redemption Mountain Historical Western Romance Series
“A heartwarming, passionate story of loss, forgiveness, and redemption set in the untamed frontier during the tumultuous years following the Civil War. Ms. Davies’ engaging and complex characters draw you in from the start, creating an exciting introduction to this new historical western romance series.”
“Redemption’s Edge is a strong and engaging introduction to her new historical western romance series.”
Dax Pelletier is ready for a new life, far away from the one he left behind in Savannah following the South’s devastating defeat in the Civil War. The ex-Confederate general wants nothing more to do with commanding men and confronting the tough truths of leadership.
Rachel Davenport possesses skills unlike those of her Boston socialite peers—skills honed as a nurse in field hospitals during the Civil War. Eschewing her northeastern suitors and changed by the carnage she’s seen, Rachel decides to accept her uncle’s invitation to assist him at his clinic in the dangerous and wild frontier of Montana.
Now a Texas Ranger, a promise to a friend takes Dax and his brother, Luke, to the untamed territory of Montana. He’ll fulfill his oath and return to Austin, at least that’s what he believes.
The small town of Splendor is what Rachel needs after life in a large city. In a few short months, she’s grown to love the people as well as the majestic beauty of the untamed frontier. She’s settled into a life unlike any she has ever thought possible.
Thinking his battle days are over, he now faces dangers of a different kind—one by those from his past who seek vengeance, and another from Rachel, the woman who’s captured his heart.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my dearest friends, Joe and Rayma-Lew. I hope you already know how much your friendship and love mean to me.
Acknowledgements
Thanks also to my editor, Kim Young, proofreader, Sue Hutchens, and all of my beta readers. Their insights and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
As always, many thanks to my wonderful resources, including Diane Lebow, who has been a whiz at guiding my social media endeavors, my cover designer, Kim Killion, and Joseph Murray who is a whiz at formatting my books for both print and electronic versions.
Table of Contents
Other Books by Shirleen Davies
Redemption’s Edge
Prologue
May, 1865
Persistent, thundering explosions enveloped the area in an unending drumming that caused otherwise courageous men to cover their ears and recoil on the ground. Bullets whizzed past as twelve pound cannonballs exploded all around them, shattering everything and everyone in their path.
The incessant screams of those injured and dying intermingled with the shouts of officers who tried in vain to rally their men for a counterattack. The dark night sky became the backdrop for brilliant flashes of white and orange, which turned red as the smoke wafted upwards, choking the air and reducing visibility to a few short yards.
The general controlled his horse with expert movements, while commanding those around him with stern, calm orders that belied his inner turmoil. His aide, a man two years younger, screamed, then fell from his horse, grasping his chest as blood soaked through his clothes.
He had no time to stop and help the wounded soldier as others looked to him for a miracle he knew didn’t exist. Outnumbered and outgunned, his troops, although brave and battle seasoned, were no match for the onslaught before them.
“Retreat!” His command rang out over the gunfire a moment before an explosion rocked the ground in front of him. He worked to control his horse, and almost succeeded—until a second explosion crushed everything in sight. The stallion bucked, panic overshadowing the general’s skill at directing the fifteen hundred pound animal. A third volley sent dirt, rock, and shrapnel in all directions.
Blood stained everything in sight. A thunderous war cry left the general’s lips. His body thrashed as his weight tilted and his arms flailed in midair. He reached up, hands grasping for purpose, yet found nothing except open air.
“General Pelletier, wake up.” The major’s hands gentled on the general’s body as the convulsions subsided. The thrashing stopped and the general’s eyes opened to a sliver of daylight penetrating the slim opening in the tent.
“You’ve had another dream, sir.”
Pelletier remained motionless a moment, focusing on his aide, the man who’d died in his dream, then drew in a shaky breath as he pushed himself up.
“How long this time?” He scrubbed a hand over his face and walked to a small table holding a metal bowl and pitcher.
“A couple of minutes. Not long.” The major held out a towel as the general splashed water on his face and neck, letting it drip onto his sweat-soaked shirt.
Brigadier General Dax Pelletier slipped into a clean shirt, tucked it into his pants, then pulled on the well-worn boots he favored. As he accepted the belt and sword his aide offered, a shout came from outside the tent.
The major stepped into the sunlight and up to a young officer who stood at attention, holding the reins to his horse in one hand and a message in the other.
“I’m looking for General Pelletier.”
“I’m his aide. I’ll be sure the general gets it.” He took the message and looked at the man before him, who couldn’t be more than eighteen years old. “Go get yourself some food—and some sleep.”
He returned to the tent. “A message for you, sir.”
Dax opened and scanned the note, disbelief crossing his face. He glanced at his aide, then back at the words on paper. “Did you read this?”
“No, sir.”
“Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox. The war’s over.”
Chapter One
Boston, July 1865
“I don’t understand why you can’t at least meet the young man. He’s from an excellent family.”
“I’m sure he is, Mother.”
Rachel Davenport continued to fold and stack clothes into a large trunk. Two others were already filled and waiting in the corner of her bedroom.
“Perhaps you won’t feel compelled to follow your uncle west if you meet the right man.” Harriet Davenport clenched a handkerchief while watching her daughter clean out the wardrobe she’d been given as a young woman, before she’d grown up and volunteered to help all those injured men during the war.
Rachel closed the trunk and hung her head, biting her lower lip as she tried to come up with the best way to express herself. No matter how she phrased it, she knew her mother would never understand her need to leave Boston, the life for which she’d been bred, and the comforts her family’s wealth offered. Rachel glanced around the room, remembering a wonderful childhood and loving family, and wondered why she couldn’t do as her mother asked—marry, have children, and settle into a comfortable existence as a well-kept wife.
“I know my decision is a disappointment to you and Father.” She stood and walked to the window overlooking the rose garden her mother so carefully tended. “This is no longer the life I want. I have skills most women don’t and we both know I’ll never be hired in Boston, not with our name and status. Besides, this isn’t where I’m needed.” She turned to face her mother. “Uncle Charles has offered me a position in his clinic, a place where my skills will prove useful.”
“My God, Rachel, it’s in the Montana Territory. Think about what it will be like—the hardships and isolation.”
“It will be no worse than what I’ve already seen.”
“Damn that war,” her mother muttered. “You should never have been involved, working with the injured soldiers, witnessing things…” Her already thin voice trailed off as if she, too, could visualize the carnage her daughter had seen.
Rachel stood and walked toward her mother, grasping her hands, searching the eyes of a woman she loved more than she could express. “Please try to understand. This is something I have to do. Uncle Charles needs someone and I’m the best person to go.” She dropped her mother’s hands and stepped back. “Besides, I may get out there, stay a few months, and find I
do
miss my life here in Boston.”
