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  A western tale from Karen Michelle Nutt…

  WANTED

  Sheriff Jace Kelly's wife died birthing his remarkable daughter, Emma. She inherited the families' seer abilities. At six years old, she can't tell the difference between a vision and an ordinary dream. So Jace doesn't put much faith in Emma's recent premonition: marriage for him and a new mother for her.

  When JoBeth Riley arrives, Emma is convinced she's the woman in her dream: dark hair, green eyes, and shamrocks in her pocket. There's one problem – she's the notorious outlaw, Baby Face Jo. Her stay in town is meant to keep Shane Maverick, the leader of the outlaw gang, from finding her before the authorities devise a plan to capture him.

  JoBeth finds the Kellys a strange lot. A little girl, who believes her dreams are tales of the future and the rugged sheriff whose kindness proves a distraction. She's an outlaw, for heaven's sake, but Jace is bound and determined to steal her heart.

  Enjoy a snippet…

  JoBeth leaned against the wall of the jail, stretching out her weary limbs on the cot. For the first time in ages, she didn't fear for her life. Jace Kelly may be a sheriff, but he proved a man of honor. She couldn't remember the last time anyone addressed her as a lady. She snorted with amusement. Do I call you Miss Maverick or is it Misses? God, the man was too polite for his own good. Nice on the eyes, too, with his sandy colored strands draped over his ears from lack of a trim. Blue-gray eyes looked at her with curiosity and not disdain. He stood perhaps six feet or close to it with a build that told her he didn't sit behind his desk all day. She wondered if the good sheriff had a wife tucked away at home. Seemed like all the polite men did. They were snatched off the market the moment they were available.

  "Papa, Papa." A little cherub, in the lovely form of a child came traipsing through the door. Her blonde braided-ponytails bobbed behind her like a flag. She flew into Sheriff Jace Kelly's outstretched arms.

  "Hello darlin'." His large arms encircled the little girl with affection. "Where's Mrs. Gunthry?"

  "Oh, you know how her old bones don't move so fast. She's right behind me, only not so close 'cause I ran." Her lips curved into a bright toothless grin.

  So the good sheriff was married after all. A stab of disappointment wormed its way into her heart before she managed to shut down the foolish notion of wishing the sheriff had no wife to warm his bed. So what if he was married? Had a little girl, too. She was cute as a button with rosy cheeks and big blue eyes, a brighter blue than her father's. As if the little girl sensed someone staring at her, she turned. Her gaze landed on JoBeth with curiosity before those baby blues widened in surprise.

  She tilted her head to the side then squealed in delight, clapping her hands together as if someone presented her with a wondrous gift. "She's here. She's really here."

  JoBeth's brows drew together. She turned to look beside her, half expecting someone to be standing next to the cot. Her gaze fastened onto the little girl once more with a frown.

  "Now, Emma, don't be making this out to be something it's not," her father gently told her.

  Emma's hand went to her mouth, cupping it as if she were going to whisper, but her voice rang clear as day. "She has dark hair and green eyes. Didn't you notice?"

  JoBeth studied Jace's reaction to his daughter's bold statement and, by damn, he turned two shades of red. Strange, but she couldn't help being a tad bit intrigued. She glanced at Emma again. Who did the child think she was?

  "That's quite enough, Emma. We'll talk about this later."

  "But she's my Christmas present." Her hands flew to her waist and she stomped her foot with indignation.

  JoBeth's brows rose on their own accord. A Christmas present? Now this she had to hear. Surely the good sheriff didn't offer up prisoners as some sort of perverse entertainment for the child.

  "I tell you, Emma Kelly..." An older woman with gray hair and a round figure strolled into the office with a purpose. "You're faster than anyone I know," she added. "You can't be bothering your Papa at work." Waving her hand in front of her face, she drew in a breath and let it out again. Poor woman probably had her hands full if she had to contend on a daily basis with the little cherub, while the sheriff conducted his civic duties.

  "Oh, he don't mind. Do you, Papa?" She looked up at him with her baby blues.

  Good Lord, JoBeth thought. Even she'd be hard press not to fall for the sweet-as-pie expression the child gave her father.

  "No, I don't mind, darlin'." He patted her head. His lips curved into a smile, but his eyes said it all. He loved his little girl.

  "See." Emma faced the older woman again. "He don't mind." Now she leaned close to Mrs. Gunthry as if to tell her a secret, but obviously no one explained the art of whispering. "Did you see? She's here."

  "Who's here?" Mrs. Gunthry asked, glancing at the sheriff for the explanation.

  "No one," the sheriff insisted, his skin still sporting a nice crimson color.

  The child simply would not take the hint. "My mama, she's here." Emma turned her gaze on JoBeth and pointed.

  JoBeth thought the sheriff would have liked to hide under his wood carved desk, but the man apparently didn't hightail it at the first sign of trouble. His gaze wavered over to her with an apologetic shrug.

  JoBeth chuckled, enjoying the sheriff's discomfort. "Please do tell, Sheriff. Why would such a sweet angel think I'm her mother?" Her fingers feathered down her dirt-worn threads. She hadn't heard a good story in a long time and this one ought to be good.

  Mrs. Gunthry appeared uncomfortable with the conversation or, at the very least, her apprehension stemmed from the child believing her mother stood behind bars. Either way the effect proved the same. Mrs. Gunthry reached for the child and drew her close to her bosom.

  JoBeth couldn't help herself. She laughed even harder until tears stung her eyes and her side ached. Goodness, it felt good to laugh. It had been a long time. Too long. If she'd known being behind bars would prove such a hoot, she would have turned herself in a long time ago. "My, my, do you think I can slink through the bars here and steal the child away?"

  Emma shrugged out of Mrs. Gunthry's arms. "Can you truly slink through bars?" Her eyes widened with awe. "'Cause that would be somethin' to see."

  For a moment, JoBeth lost her haughty disposition, wondering if she'd ever been so innocent. Then she hardened her heart against such compassion. It was better this child knew now there were monsters in the world. She threw her legs over the edge of the cot and stood. Her steps took her to the bars where she outstretched her hand through one of the slots. "Come here, child, and let's give it a try, shall we?" Her lips curved into a smile.

  Emma only took a step before her father's hand flew out and snagged the child by the cuff of her jacket, bringing her back to safety. "You go home with Mrs. Gunthry, Emma. I'll be along later."

  "Oh, Papa..." she whined.

  Mrs. Gunthry took hold of the little girl's hand and ushered her out of the office, ignoring Emma's complaints.

  "But I don't want to go home," Emma said. "I want to chat with…"

  Emma's voice trailed off until she could only make out a murmuring sound of conversation as Mrs. Gunthry hurried the child away from the big bad outlaw. Good riddance, JoBeth thought. She didn't need a starry-eyed child playing havoc with her emotions.

  Jace turned to JoBeth then, his gaze latching onto hers with what looked like pity. This threw her off. She expected a tongue lashing at the very least for her behavior.

  "I'm sorry Emma put you on the spot," he told her.

  He was sorry?

  "She... well, Emma never knew her mother, " he went on to explain as if she needed to hear an explanation why his daughter was a wee bit touched in th
e head. "It was a difficult birth and… Emma's mother didn't survive."

  His sad smile pulled at her heartstrings, and she squirmed, feeling uncomfortable with the sensation. Her hands squeezed the bars, willing herself not to give a lick about Sheriff Jace Kelly and his woes. She didn't want to hear anymore, but the man obviously had mistaken her for a preacher and continued to bare his soul.

  "Emma had a dream last night about me finding a wife, and well..." His voice trailed off and his big shoulders lifted in a shrug.

  Dang it, anyway. Why did he have to look so sweet? "If'n you had a wife, she'd have a mother," she added, understanding perfectly and wishing she didn't.

  He nodded. "Yep, she'd have a mother."

  She pushed away from the bars and backed away until her legs felt the edge of the cot. "Guess you should explain to your daughter that some women aren't cut out to be mothers." She plopped down on the cot and scooted back until she could lean her head against the brick wall. She closed her eyes, believing the conversation was over, but Jace Kelly proved to be a talker.

  "Are you one of those women who aren't cut out to be a mother, JoBeth?" he asked.

  Her gaze riveted to his to see if he mocked her, but, by golly, the man stood there waiting for her to answer him. "Were you not there when the deputies brought me in? I rob stagecoaches for a living, Sheriff. Does it sound like I'm mother material to you?"

  He gave her a long, even look before he answered. "I believe there's more to you than meets the eye. No one is one way or the other. We're like onions with layers needing to be peeled back so we can discover the real person."

  She snorted in disbelief. "No wonder your little girl has her head in the clouds." She leaned against the wall again. "You're all a little touched in the head here." Her forefinger tapped her temple for emphasis.

  He chuckled, not in the least bit offended. "I think if you get to know us, you'll find we're a pretty likable bunch." His sure steps took him to his desk. Taking a seat, he reached for his paperwork.

  She had a hunch there were wanted posters on his desk, and there was probably one for her and Maverick. Reward. Dead or Alive... Their posters never contained photographs. She and Maverick never sat for a photo, but there were sketches. Not precisely a correct rendition of their likeness, but in the past that proved a benefit in their favor. Now, the authorities knew what she looked like. She'd have to change her appearance once she escaped.

  Sheriff Jace Kelly and his family might be likable, but she wouldn't be here long enough to find out. Good riddance too. She didn't need their fairytale existence clouding her judgment. She knew what awaited her outside of these bars, and it had nothing to do with living happily-ever-after.

  Other Novels by Karen Michelle Nutt

  The Gryphon and His Thief

  Some Treasures are Priceless…

  A long time ago, a Gryphon shifter's duty was to guard and protect the people of the tribes, but Darrien Andros failed to keep his human wife safe from harm. Cursed for the crime, he must guard everything in the Museum of Cursed Antiquities forever, never to truly live and never to die. Centuries have passed, but when he encounters a thief, who uncannily resembles his dead wife, he is convinced he has a second chance.

  Calli Angelis is hired to steal Hecate's Stone from the Museum, believing she would be returning it to its rightful owner. She never really trusted the person who hired her and now Darrien makes her doubt her motives, too. He also has her questioning the possibility of reincarnation when the attraction between them ignites into something she can no longer ignore.

  As the two work together to unravel the mysteries behind the stone, it becomes apparent an old and dangerous enemy from Darrien's past is determined to have history repeat itself.

  Lost in the Mist of Time

  Dougray Fitzpatrick has buried one wife and vows to never love again—but destiny has other plans for this 16th century Irish Lord. During a battle, a mist separates Dougray from his men and casts him into the future. Dougray must return to Dunhaven and to his century, but Aislinn Hennessy follows him into the mist, leaving him no choice, but to take her home with him.

  Conspiracies, feuds and unexpected violence are commonplace threats, but along the way, Aislinn and Dougray discover a surprise neither one expects: a chance for love even when they're Lost in the Mist of Time.

  A Twist of Fate

  Arianna memory is lost when she suffers a blow to her head. It's 1814 and she's married to Captain Keldon Buchanan, a man who despises her. The more Arianna learns about her life, the more she realizes why she's chosen to forget it. Keldon doesn't trust his wife, but he finds his heart softening to the woman his wife has become. If he didn't know better, he'd swear he's married to another woman and he's fallen in love with her.

  Creighton Manor

  Zachary Creighton, a gambler with one goal: to win back Creighton Manor. Marriage is not part of the plan, but since he is found with Gillian in his room, reputations are at stake, his included. To keep peace with his reluctant bride, he makes a bargain with her. He needs a tutor for his nephew Tyler, and she needs a roof over her head until they can annul their sham of a marriage. However, Zachary finds himself falling for Gillian's oddly charming ways despite the fact the woman claims to be from the future. The gamble is trust, but will the stakes prove too high for Zachery to risk it all and win Gillian's heart?

  Soul Taker

  A vampire, a werewolf, and a Necromancer are a most unlikely team, but Garran, Harrison, and Isabella plan on putting a kink in the dubbed Soul Taker's plans. It's personal now. One of their friends has fallen victim to the Soul Taker's charms, but to stop him from hurting anyone else, their efforts may involve raising the dead.

  Twilight's Eternal Embrace

  If Bram cannot find a way for Adryanna to survive the blooding ritual, their romance is doomed. They seek help from Sheerin, Bram's cousin, who believes he's found a way for the Lathe Sith to survive, but others in the Oiche Sith clan do not wish for them to succeed.

  Magic of the Loch

  Michaela and Alan vow to take what time has to offer, but another threat loomed. A sinister shape shifter with a vendetta against Alan is making Loch Ness his personal hunting ground. Now he's threatening Michaela. Alan must discover who the shifter is and stop him before it's too late.

  Storm Riders

  Storm Riders must step in and repair the rift before the dimensions collide. Samantha Skelley and Denny Randeli are sent to 1879 Bodie, California, one of the wildest towns of the west. It should have been an easy snatch and rescue, but Ace McTavish is determined to put himself in harms way. Samantha and Denny are forced to help him with his plans before they take the next storm ride home.

  Eli (Fallen Angels, Book 1)

  Hashasheen demons, assassins for hire, are sent to take out Eli and Ryden. Eli is a warrior and will fight to keep Ryden safe, but time may be his biggest enemy. The Elders gave him until the end of Ol' Hallow's Eve. Ryden must fall in love with him by then or his life will be forfeited.

  Lucca (Fallen Angels, Book 2)

  Lucca Marlowe is half human, half angel, one of the Nephilim. Banished for crimes against one of his fellow brethren, the elders bind his glamour and wings, casting him to the human's realm.

  Angels and demons demand he do their bidding. His estrange father resurfaces after centuries of being absent and he's brought a friend from Hell. To make his life more complicated, he fears he found his soul mate in a human female. Only Juliet Romeo has a secret that will bring the wrath of Heaven down upon their heads.

  It's a race against time to find out who will end up with his soul.

  Ms. Nutt's works are available at most online book retailers...

 

 

 
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