Love’s Battle Won (The Rileys of Misty Creek Series) (A Western Romance Story) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Join My VIP Readers’ Club List

  A Personal Note From Ellie Atkinson

  Dedication

  About The Author

  Love’s Battle Won

  PROLOGUE

  *

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  EPILOGUE

  Also By Elliee Atkinson

  Acknowledgement

  If You Have Enjoyed This Book…

  Publisher’s Notes

  Love’s Battle Won

  The Rileys of the Misty Creek

  Elliee Atkinson

  GREENHOUSE PUBLISHING CO.

  Contents

  Copyright

  Join My VIP Readers’ Club List

  A Personal Note From Ellie Atkinson

  Dedication

  About The Author

  Love’s Battle Won

  PROLOGUE

  *

  CHAPTER ONE

  *

  CHAPTER TWO

  *

  CHAPTER THREE

  *

  CHAPTER FOUR

  *

  CHAPTER FIVE

  *

  CHAPTER SIX

  *

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  *

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  *

  CHAPTER NINE

  *

  CHAPTER TEN

  *

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  *

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  *

  EPILOGUE

  *

  Join My VIP Readers’ Club List

  Also By Elliee Atkinson

  Acknowledgement

  If You Have Enjoyed This Book…

  Publisher’s Notes

  Copyright © 2017 by ELLIEE ATKINSON & GREEN HOUSE PUBLISHING CO.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real or dead people, places, or events are not intentional and are the result of coincidence. The characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the author/publisher. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  Cover designed by Ms Melody Simmons. Author has the copyrights to this cover.

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  A PERSONAL NOTE

  FROM ELLIEE ATKINSON

  To My Dearest Lovely Readers,

  Those female characters within my stories are women who displayed strong faith of love, knowing what they want to pursue in the Wild West.

  They are constantly seeking and believe the true love really exists as they are often being looked upon as an inferior gender. Because of these social stigma, it motivates them to overcome challenges they may face while waiting for the man of their dreams to appear.

  Will these insecurities and stigma encourages them in believing true love despite the differences and challenges in social standing that they will face during this Wild West period?

  Read on to find out the answers!

  Thank you very much for your strong support to my writing journey!

  With Hugs, Kisses and Love…

  DEDICATION

  “I have learned not to worry about love; but to honor its coming with all my heart.”

  Alice Walker

  This Story Is Specially Dedicated To You, My Dearest Reader!

  It is with gratefulness and gratitude that I am writing to you this personal dedication.

  Thank you once again for giving me this opportunity to share with you my creative side of me.

  I hope you will enjoy reading this story as much I have enjoyed writing it!

  It is with such great support from you that keep us authors writing and writing, presenting to you with great and interesting stories.

  Have you checked out my other western historical romance books series?

  Click the link below to get started

  *** AMAZON USA ***

  Do you like what you have read?

  I would want to hear from you!

  Please do get in touch with me:

  https://www.facebook.com/EllieeAtkinsonBooks/

  [email protected]

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Elliee Atkinson is the author of many mail order brides stories and her alternate name is Rosie Attwood. Using Elliee Atkinson as her new pen-name, she spins out American historical western romance stories for readers that appreciate the romance that happened in the Old Wild West.

  Elliee loves writing and reading romance. Her first western romance “Wild Montana Sky” by Debra Holland was inspired by the story perseverance and determination of the women from the wild west and how they overcome adversaries, fight for the love they deserved and desired.

  Many of her stories are based on her knowledge of the old west, although all the names, events, and places that may resemble or are similar to living people are only coincidental and fiction, of course.

  Elliee credits her wonderfully supportive partner and friend, Steven and her advance review reviewers for helping her to fine-tune her writing skills and allowing her creativity to explode.

  LOVE’S BATTLE WON

  A WESTERN ROMANCE STORY

  by

  ELLIEE ATKINSON

  and

  Green House Publishing Co.

  PROLOGUE

  PROLOGUE

  Dawn was breaking when Daniel heard Martin shout his name. He moved the boulder on which his head was resting, and retrieved the pouch with the gold, buttoning it securely into his undershirt. An arrow whizzed past his ear, narrowly escaping his bearded cheek, and Daniel threw himself to the ground and crawled forward, looking for his weapon.

  “Daniel! Watch out!” he heard Martin cry, and rolled over, seeing a horse and its rider towering above him. His mind numbed by the excruciating pain in his chest, Daniel made a feeble attempt to protect the pouch, but his attacker’s arrow had found its hiding place. Daniel tried to move his hands, but found he couldn’t. He stared at the face above him, but all he could see was Serena’s beautiful eyes before he blacked out.

  “Daniel! Wake up!” he heard Martin shout, as his friend attempted to slap him into some state of consciousness.

  “Martin?” Daniel murmured. “Tell Serena…”

  “Daniel!” Martin shouted into his friend’s ear, his body convulsed with
grief.

  CHAPTER ONE

  JASPER ARRIVES AT STEEPHILL RANCH

  JASPER ARRIVES AT STEEPHILL RANCH

  Misty Creek, Montana - 1825

  Jasper rode back – the beloved sight of Steephill Ranch warming his heart. As he drew closer, however, he was seized by a momentary attack of panic at the thought of his youngest sister coming out. It seemed so ominous, somehow.

  “Jasper!” the object of his thoughts cried happily as she came riding toward him – her auburn hair fanning out behind her.

  “Petula!” Jasper replied as she trotted over toward him. “You shouldn’t be riding astride like that. You know how much Mother hates it.”

  Petula gave her brother an impish smile. “There are only a few more days to go. before I have to forever behave like a simpering damsel, Jasper, so I fully intend to enjoy them before I give up my wild childhood.”

  Jasper sighed. He loved his family, particularly Petula. She was impetuous and headstrong, but altogether adorable and completely sincere.

  “Say something, Jasper,” Petula said, looked at him worriedly. “I don’t like your brooding silence.”

  Jasper sighed again. “It’s nothing,” he said, shaking his head. “You’re growing up and I feel change in the air.”

  Petula laughed. “I know what you’re worried about, Jasper. Papa and Mama will be looking at every girl who comes to my Ball as a prospective bride for you.”

  Jasper snorted impatiently, sounding almost equine. “They can look all they want, but I am determined to take my time.”

  “You’re 28, Jasper,” Petula said, her voice concerned. “So there’s bound to be pressure on you to marry. And it’s not such a bad thing at all. I’m rather looking forward to being an aunt!”

  “An aunt? I’m not even close to being married and you want to be an aunt?”

  “Race you to the stables!” Petula laughed, galloping away and throwing her brother a challenging look over her shoulder.

  Jasper shrugged and took off after her; allowing her to beat him to the stables.

  “Generous to a fault!” Petula declared, jumping off her horse as Jasper cantered up and stopped.

  “What do you mean?” Jasper asked, innocently, inclining his head.

  “You let me win. You gave away the race. Why do you do that?”

  “You won, fair and square,” Jasper insisted.

  Petula shook her head indulgently. “Jasper, I love you, my brother, but you need to grow a tougher skin and not keep letting your heart rule your life.”

  “Wipe your feet, you two!” Rebecca Riley instructed adamantly as Jasper and Petula walked in, Jasper wiping beads of perspiration from his brow. Riding the fences was hot work. He leaned down to peck his mother on the cheek and then straightened up and grinned in an amused way as she chastised him for not washing before coming in for lunch.

  “How are the plans for the big banquet coming along, Mother?” he asked, skillfully turning the conversation to Rebecca’s favorite subject.

  “Not as smoothly as I would have liked.” Rebecca replied, shaking her head. “We’ve just had another setback.”

  “Setback?” Petula cried, jumping up from her chair. “We are going to have my coming out ball and banquet, aren’t we, Mama?”

  Rebecca threw her youngest child an impatient look. “Of course we are, child!”

  “What is the setback, then? I do hope nothing goes wrong. I want everyone to have a good time.”

  Rebecca bustled over to the table and sat down. “Angelica has received word from her mother that her father has taken a turn for the worse and she has to hurry back home.” Their mother sighed. “I can’t prevent her from going…but I have found a replacement.”

  Petula dropped her head into her hands. “A replacement? But nobody can cook like Angelica can! Nobody can handle a banquet with her flair! This is just too bad!”

  “What’s too bad?” Petula’s brother Jeremiah asked, striding in and taking a chair.

  “This isn’t something you or I can do anything about, Jeremy,” Jasper said. “Probably best you don’t ask for details. Women issues, you know.”

  “Details about what?”

  Everyone turned to look at Thomas Riley as he entered the dining room, and Rebecca hurried over to him.

  “Come, Thomas dear, let’s eat,” she said soothingly as her husband kissed her cheek.

  “Papa! Mama has just revealed to us that Angelica has to rush to her sick father’s side and can’t be here to cook for my banquet!” Petula pouted in a pretty way.

  Jeremiah and Jasper exchanged meaningful looks, and began to talk about ranch business with their father.

  “My baby girl will have the finest banquet, just you wait and see!” Thomas roared above the sound of his son’s voices.

  They were interrupted as two maids came in bearing trays of food, which they set down on the table.

  “This looks good,” Jasper remarked, inhaling the aroma appreciatively.

  “Well, it’s been prepared by Angelica’s replacement,” Rebecca explained. “This way, we can judge her skills.” She patted her daughter’s hand. “You see? Everything will be fine.”

  “Wait!” Thomas admonished as his children made a move to begin serving themselves from the appetizing food laid out before them. “Let us pray first,” he said, and pronounced a short blessing over the meal.

  “I feel almost disloyal to Angelica right now,” Jeremiah said after only a few bites. “because this food is delicious!”

  Rebecca heaved a sigh of relief. “I trust she will do just as well on Petula’s big day.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  JASPER’S MOONLIGHT ENCOUNTERS

  JASPER’S MOONLIGHT ENCOUNTERS

  The sky was awash with stars as Jasper stabled his horse and walked back to the house. The banquet was the following day and the house was bustling with activity. Jasper stood under a large birch tree in thoughtful silence, reflecting on his own life and the empty space that lay in his heart, yearning for companionship. All at once he realized that he wasn’t the only one soaking in the tranquility and starlight. It was the sound of a sob that caught his attention first, and he moved rapidly toward it, and then halted in his tracks.

  “Who goes there?” a shaky voice enquired of him.

  “Jasper…Riley.”

  A shadowy figure emerged. “I’m so sorry, Mister Riley. I just wanted a breath of air…I’ll be off now.”

  “Wait! Who are you?” Jasper asked, his eyes adjusting to the semi darkness and falling on a pair of very vivid blue eyes set in an oval face, glistening with freshly shed tears.

  “I’m so sorry, Mister Riley,” the woman repeated, and Jasper’s eyes moved down to her sensual lips, trembling with emotion.

  “Sorry for what?” Jasper asked softly.

  “For…trespassing…”

  “Where are you from?” Jasper began to ask, but his question was left hanging in the air as the woman hurried away, melting into the darkness like a phantom.

  Something about her eyes disturbed Jasper in a way he hadn’t thought possible. He shook his head. “It’s the stars,” he said aloud. “They always have a way of making me feel things that aren’t real.”

  “Wait!” he called, running after the woman, but she had disappeared.

  Jasper slept fitfully that night, his dreams haunted by the woman’s eyes, and woke to the sound of the musicians tuning their instruments.

  “This is bigger than most weddings,” Jasper said wryly to Jeremiah later, as the two men stood side by side, waiting for the guests to arrive. Jasper’s thick shock of dark hair curled over his collar and fell across his brow. His tall, muscular body was shown off to advantage in formal breeches and a jacket, but he carried his good looks without pride or vanity.

  “I can’t wait to get out of these restraining clothes and get onto a horse again,” Jeremiah murmured. Jasper didn’t get a chance to respond because the guests were starting to arrive.

  Pet
ula staged a dramatic entrance, dressed in lavender tulle, and Jasper grinned at her, cocking an eyebrow at the young men in the room who turned to gape at her.

  “Well, brother,” Jeremiah said, nudging Jasper playfully. “I’m going to ask some of those lovely ladies to dance…and I suggest you do the same if you don’t want to stay unmarried forever.”

  “I’m actually hungry,” Jasper said to himself, leaving his brother behind to laugh. He made his way to the banquet tables that were outside under the trees. He was helping himself to some of the exquisitely laid out food, when his eyes fell on one of the women who was setting down a tray.

  “Serena,” Jasper heard his mother say, “surely you could get someone else to do that for you?”

  The woman blushed. “Oh no, ma’am, I wanted it placed just so.”

  “You’re a perfectionist,” Rebecca responded, eyeing the table appreciatively.

  Serena smiled bashfully. “I enjoy what I do,” she said. Just then, she raised her head and her large blue eyes met Jasper’s surprised stare.

  “Jasper darling,” Rebecca said. “This is Serena, Angelica’s replacement. She’s done a simply wonderful job tonight, wouldn’t you agree?”

  Jasper grunted in reply – too overcome to say anything in response. Serena looked uncertainly at him, nodded, smiled, and then made a hasty exit.

  “Jasper,” Rebecca scolded, “you should be on the dance floor with one of those pretty debutantes.”