Winter's Touch (46 page)
Authors: Janis Reams Hudson
The stigma of his heritage has made Hawk accustomed to ridicule in Comanche County. Shunned by nearly everyone in town, he finds comfort in the one person who always accepted him: the beautiful Abby McCormick. But even as their childhood friendship blossoms into a passion neither of them can keep at bay, they know that Abby's father will never accept their love.
Then, after an evening with Abby, Hawk is ambushed and beaten. Believing him dead, Abby spends four years mourning him. But when, against all odds, he storms back into her life, her hope for a love that never had a chance to truly be realized is restored.
Hawk has returned for more than Abby, though. With his sights set on revenge, will he miss his second chance at the love that is right before his eyes?
Nineteen-year-old Brianna Flanigan has a fight on her hands, one that she intends to win. As head of the family since her parent’s death, she must keep the family ranch together, even as the most powerful and ruthless man in the county is determined to drive her out.
One man has the courage to stand beside her and help her; a man called Wolf. He is a man without fear, a fierce loner, and he always takes what he wants. Before long, it's Brianna that he wants. He knows he doesn’t deserve the love of the Irish beauty, but the pull of desire is far too strong for even him to resist.
Soon Wolf and Brianna form a union and stand shoulder-to-shoulder against their common foe. Will their love be strong enough to survive the vicious neighbor trying to steal her ranch? They will risk it all for love, family, and their home—all things Wolf has never known.
With her ranch on the line and three younger sisters to care for, Sunny Thornton is in no position to take on any more responsibility. But when she learns that the man who was paralyzed saving her life in a bank robbery isn't being cared for, she feels it's her duty to help him. She isn't moved by his attempts to push her away, nor does she care that he is an ex-con. As far as she's concerned, Ash has paid for his crimes. Plus, she can't deny the stirrings inside of her whenever he's near.
Ash McCord knows the beautiful and headstrong Sunny deserves more than the likes of him, still the pull of desire he feels as she cares for him is getting harder to resist. If he ever wants to clear his name after his unjust imprisonment, he must learn to walk again. But when he does, will he be strong enough to walk away from Sunny?
A war erupts on the Western plains as tensions mount between the Southern Arapaho and settlers. Caught in the middle is Winter Fawn, torn between loyalty to her father and her mother's Arapaho people.
Carson Dulaney has come West with his sister to start over after the War Between the States. But he is not prepared for the dangers of his new home. He is near death after an attack from a native tribe when Winter Fawn finds him and saves his life.
But saving his life has made Winter Fawn an enemy of her tribe. Left with no other choice, she flees with the help of her father and the handsome stranger she nursed back to health. It is there, in the safety of Carson's embrace, that she discovers a raging passion that can't be tamed. Still, she cannot ignore the urgent call of the Southern Arapaho. When the war breaks loose, she knows she must go back and help her people.
Will Carson and Winter's love be strong enough to survive, or will it become another casualty of war?
Love is all they have, and it's all twenty-year-old Bess Dulaney thinks she needs from Hunter MacDougall. But Hunter knows he cannot provide Bess with the life she deserves, and his pride stands between them and the future they both desire.
Then tragedy strikes, leaving Bess with no memories of her life or the man she wants to share it with. Suddenly, Hunter finds himself forced to put his faith in the passion that he can no longer deny. With one last chance at the love he has always longed for, Hunter must convince the girl who adored the boy he was to once again fall in love with the man he has become.
To the Apaches, Daniella Blackwood was an adopted daughter, respected and cherished. To their shaman, the bold white streak in her hair made her special and her visions in the flames make her a woman of magic. Yet no magic could protect Daniella from the passion that sears her senses when she first meets Travis Colton.
To Arizona rancher Travis Colton, the mysterious Daniella is his only chance at rescuing his son. Travis and his ten-year-old son were captured by a band of Cochise's warriors. Left for dead, Travis managed to make his way home, determined to do whatever it takes to get his son back.
Travis and Daniella's quest together will take more than magic; it will take a passion neither is ready to handle.
When Angela Barnes is captured and held hostage by the Apaches, she has no idea that the fate of a nation rests on her shoulders. She wants only her freedom—even if it means the fragile peace between settlers and the Apache tribe will be shattered once and for all.
As an adopted member of the Apache, Matt Colton understands the devastation war would mean for his beloved tribe. But if Angela agrees to marry him—and never tell what happened to her—order can be kept.
What starts as a marriage of convenience quickly turns into something more as sparks of passion ignite on ?their wedding night, and the promise of forever burns bright in their hearts.
It has been two years since grief-stricken widower Matt Colton rode off to avenge his wife's death, never to return. Yet, he remains the only man nineteen-year-old Serena's heart yearns for, the only man she's ever loved. So when Matt is desperately needed at home to protect his family against the brewing Apache revolt, Serena sets out to find him.
It is in the isolation of a desolate shack that Serena finds her rugged rancher, on the verge of giving up all hope. But as she nurses both his body and his soul back to health, years of pent-up desire surface, and a spark of passion illuminates the darkness in Matt's heart.
But the road back home is a treacherous one, as they trek through dangerous territory, down the path to new love.
When Jessica's half-brother is hauled off in chains, bound for prison with the Apaches in Florida, she is left shattered. Still, while her heart is broken, her will remains as strong as ever, and she immediately sets off after him, vowing to free him from unjust captivity.
But there is one obstacle she did not expect.
Captain Blake Renard is determined to foil Jessica's rescue attempt at any cost. But despite his hatred for the tribe to which she she shows such loyalty, a blaze of desire burns deep, slowly melting his heart's fury.
Will the captain be able to carry out his mission to keep Jessica from hers, or will his fiery contempt be snuffed out by love?
LaRisa Chee is torn from her father's side when her tribe, the Chiricahua Apache, are taken and imprisoned in Florida. While her family and loved ones battle disease, starvation, and abominable conditions, she is sent to suffer the Carlisle Indian School, an institution run by the very people who destroyed her beloved family. But when a handsome stranger arrives, claiming to be sent by her father, LaRisa realizes he may be her only chance to escape the same fate of her people.
Spencer Colton has dedicated his life to helping the Apaches, so when betrothal to the beautiful and stubborn LaRisa Chee will save her life, he agrees to marry her. But his promise to grant her freedom once they reach safety becomes one he doesn't know he'll keep as LaRisa's hardened heart begins to thaw beneath the blazing heat of passion.
From the day of his birth, Pace Colton, also known as Fire Seeker, has been something of a troublemaker. Over the years he has grown into a stubborn, angry man who has managed to alienate himself from the very people he loves most.
Now a telegram has come from his family asking for his help. He has been asked to go to Mexico and find Joanna, his stepbrother's daughter, captured by the evil, ruthless man known as El Carnicero—the Butcher. In an attempt to swallow his pride and tear down the wall between him and his family, Pace agrees, unaware of the perils that await him.
But it's more than danger he finds in the arms of high-spirited and strong willed Joanna, and soon he finds himself fighting not only for their lives, but also for their blossoming love.
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