Once she left the last of the city behind her, she pulled out the map from Mr. Jones and studied it a moment before stuffing it inside the pocket of her skirt.
By her estimation, she was close to three miles outside of town when dust stirred on the road. She watched an open carriage approach with a stone-faced older man at the reins and a handsome young man sprawled across the seat in the back. The weight of his gaze lingered on her as he passed, but he didn’t direct the driver to stop.
Discomfited by his attention and something charged in the air, she continued marching down the road. A few hundred yards ahead, she noticed a large pasture full of horses and stopped to watch them.
One of the things she’d missed the most after leaving the ranch was her horses. Her father had taught her early on how to ride. She’d become one of his best hands with a horse until his tragic death sent her world spinning out of control.
After setting down her valise and removing her gloves, Dacey took out the packet of cookies Ellie had wrapped for her. Under the shade of a tree, she ate them and watched the horses graze in the pasture. Eventually, a chestnut mare wandered close to the fence.
Dacey brushed away the cookie crumbs from her skirt and hands then slowly approached the fence. With unhurried movements, she reached through the weathered wooden rails and stroked the mare’s silky neck.
“Hey, girl. Aren’t you a beauty?” Dacey spoke softly, gently brushing her hand over the horse’s neck. A few other horses wandered close and she gave them all a friendly pat before tugging on her gloves, picking up her valise, and turning down the road her map indicated.
Unable to resist a peek, she glanced over her shoulder. The horses she’d befriended moseyed along the fence beside her, seeking more attention.
Laughing, she set down her bag then removed her gloves and hat. Determined to enjoy her last moments of freedom, she unpinned her tightly wound hair, removed her jacket, and climbed over the fence right into trouble.
Available on Amazon
Pendleton Petticoats Series
Set in the western town of Pendleton, Oregon, at the turn of the 20th century, each book in this series bears the name of the heroine, all brave yet very different.
Dacey (Prelude) — A conniving mother, a reluctant groom and a desperate bride make for a lively adventure full of sweet romance in this prelude to the beginning of the series.
Aundy (Book 1) — Aundy Thorsen, a stubborn mail-order bride, finds the courage to carry on when she’s widowed before ever truly becoming a wife, but opening her heart to love again may be more than she can bear.
Caterina (Book 2) — Running from a man intent on marrying her, Caterina Campanelli starts a new life in Pendleton, completely unprepared for the passionate feelings stirred in her by the town’s incredibly handsome deputy sheriff.
Ilsa (Book 3) — Desperate to escape her wicked aunt and an unthinkable future, Ilsa Thorsen finds herself on her sister’s ranch in Pendleton. Not only are the dust and smells more than she can bear, but Tony Campanelli seems bent on making her his special project.
Marnie (Book 4) — Beyond all hope for a happy future, Marnie Jones struggles to deal with her roiling emotions when U.S. Marshal Lars Thorsen rides into town, tearing down the walls she’s erected around her heart.
Lacy (Book 5) — Bound by tradition and responsibilities, Lacy has to choose between the ties that bind her to the past and the unexpected love that will carry her into the future.
Bertie (Book 6) — Haunted by the trauma of her past, Bertie Hawkins must open her heart to love if she has any hope for the future.
Millie (Book 7) — Determined to bring prohibition to town, the last thing Millie Matlock expects is to fall for the charming owner of the Second Chance Saloon.
Dally (Book 8) — Eager to return home and begin his career, Doctor Nik Nash is caught by surprise when the spirited Dally Douglas captures his heart.
Quinn (Book 9) — Full of opinions and plans to help women, Quinn Fairfield has no time for such nonsense as falling in love. Too bad no one mentioned that to Walker Williams.
Evie (Book 10) — Coming in 2019
Hardman Holidays Series
Heartwarming holiday stories set in the 1890s in Hardman, Oregon.
The Christmas Bargain (Book 1) — As owner and manager of the Hardman bank, Luke Granger is a man of responsibility and integrity in the small 1890s Eastern Oregon town. When he calls in a long overdue loan, Luke finds himself reluctantly accepting a bargain in lieu of payment from the shiftless farmer who barters his daughter to settle his debt.
The Christmas Token (Book 2) — Determined to escape an unwelcome suitor, Ginny Granger flees to her brother’s home in Eastern Oregon for the holiday season. Returning to the community where she spent her childhood years, she plans to relax and enjoy a peaceful visit. Not expecting to encounter the boy she once loved, her exile proves to be anything but restful.
The Christmas Calamity (Book 3) — Arlan Guthry’s uncluttered world tilts off kilter when the beautiful and enigmatic prestidigitator Alexandra Janowski arrives in town, spinning magic and trouble in her wake as the holiday season approaches.
The Christmas Vow (Book 4) — Sailor Adam Guthry returns home to bury his best friend and his past, only to fall once more for the girl who broke his heart.
The Christmas Quandary (Book 5) — Tom Grove just needs to survive a month at home while he recovers from a work injury. He arrives to discover his middle-aged parents acting like newlyweds, the school in need of a teacher, and the girl of his dreams already engaged.
The Christmas Confection (Book 6) — Will Hardman’s sweet baker be able to soften Fred Decker’s hardened heart?
Books by Shanna Hatfield
FICTION
HISTORICAL
Baker City Brides
Tad’s Treasure
Crumpets and Cowpies
Thimbles and Thistles
Corsets and Cuffs
Bobbins and Boots
Lightning and Lawmen
Pendleton Petticoats
Dacey
Aundy
Caterina
Ilsa
Marnie
Lacy
Bertie
Millie
Dally
Quinn
Hearts of the War
Garden of Her Heart
Home of Her Heart
Hardman Holidays
The Christmas Bargain
The Christmas Token
The Christmas Calamity
The Christmas Vow
The Christmas Quandary
CONTEMPORARY
Blown Into Romance
Learnin’ The Ropes
Love at the 20-Yard Line
QR Code Killer
Rose
Saving Mistletoe
Taste of Tara
Grass Valley Cowboys
The Cowboy’s Christmas Plan
The Cowboy’s Spring Romance
The Cowboy’s Summer Love
The Cowboy’s Autumn Fall
The Cowboy’s New Heart
The Cowboy’s Last Goodbye
Holiday Brides
Valentine Bride
Summer Bride
Rodeo Romance
The Christmas Cowboy
Wrestlin’ Christmas
Capturing Christmas
Barreling Through Christmas
Chasing Christmas
Silverton Sweethearts
The Coffee Girl
The Christmas Crusade
Untangling Christmas
The Women of Tenacity
A Prelude (Short Story)
Heart of Clay
Country Boy vs. City Girl
Not His Type
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Steve the Mule
NONFICTION
Farm Girl
Fifty Dates with Captain Cavedweller
Recipes of Love
Savvy Ente
rtaining
Savvy Autumn Entertaining
Savvy Holiday Entertaining
Savvy Spring Entertaining
Savvy Summer Entertaining
About the Author
Hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield spent ten years as a newspaper journalist before moving into the field of marketing and public relations. Sharing the romantic stories she dreams up in her head is a perfect outlet for her love of writing, reading, and creativity. She and her husband, lovingly referred to as Captain Cavedweller, reside in the Pacific Northwest.
Shanna loves to hear from readers.
Connect with her online:
Blog: shannahatfield.com
Facebook: Shanna Hatfield’s Page
Shanna Hatfield’s Hopeless Romantics Group
Pinterest: Shanna Hatfield
Email: shanna@shannahatfield.com
Check out the Lightning and Lawmen Pinterest board to see the images that helped inspire the story!