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
Sunrise Ridge, Book Three
Dixie Moon, Book Four
Survivor Pass, Book Five
Promise Trail, Book Six
Deep River, Book Seven
Courage Canyon, Book Eight
Forsaken Falls, Book Nine
Solitude Gorge, Book Ten
Rogue Rapids, Book Eleven
Restless Wind, Coming next in the series!
MacLarens of Boundary Mountain
Colin’s Quest, Book One,
Brodie’s Gamble, Book Two
Quinn’s Honor, Book Three
Sam’s Legacy, Book Four
Heather’s Choice, Book Five
Nate’s Destiny, Book Six
Blaine’s Wager, Book Seven
Fletcher’s Pride, Book Eight
Bay’s Desire, Coming next in the series!
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
Always Love You, Book Five
Hearts Don’t Lie, Book Six
No Getting Over You, Book Seven
‘Til the Sun Comes Up, Book Eight
Foolish Heart, Book Nine
Forever Love, Book Ten, Coming next in the series!
Peregrine Bay
Reclaiming Love, Book One, A Novella
Our Kind of Love, Book Two
Burnt River
Thorn’s Journey, Book Two by Shirleen Davies
Aqua’s Achilles, Book Three by Kate Cambridge
Ashley’s Hope, Book Four by Amelia Adams
Harpur’s Secret, Book Five by Kay P. Dawson
Mason’s Rescue, Book Six by Peggy L. Henderson
Del’s Choice, Book Seven by Shirleen Davies
Ivy’s Search, Book Eight by Kate Cambridge
Phoebe’s Fate, Book Nine by Amelia Adams
Brody’s Shelter, Book Ten by Kay P. Dawson
Boone’s Surrender, Book Eleven by Shirleen Davies
Watch for more books in the series!
The best way to stay in touch is to subscribe to my newsletter. Go to
www.shirleendavies.com and subscribe in the box at the top of the right column that asks for your email. You’ll be notified of new books before they are released, have chances to win great prizes, and receive other subscriber-only specials.
Angel Peak
Redemption Mountain
Historical Western Romance Series
SHIRLEEN DAVIES
Book Twelve in the Redemption Mountain
Historical Western Romance Series
Copyright © 2018 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 hard work of this author.
For permission requests, contact the publisher.
Avalanche Ranch Press, LLC
PO Box 12618
Prescott, AZ 86304
Angel Peak is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is wholly coincidental.
Book design and conversions by Joseph Murray at 3rdplanetpublishing.com
Cover design by Kim Killion, The Killion Group
ISBN: 978-1-941786-86-4
I care about quality, so if you find something in error, please contact me via email at shirleen@shirleendavies.com
Description
A past he’d give anything to forget. A haunting guilt he can never make right.
The one woman who held the power to heal his injured soul.
Angel Peak, Book Twelve, Redemption Mountain Historical Western Romance Series
Caleb Covington promised to find and kill the men who’d murdered his fiancée. Seeking peace upon leaving the Union Army to become a Texas Ranger, he turned to bounty hunting after Regina’s death. After months of dogged pursuit, killing two of the three men, he’d grown weary of the chase, accepting a deputy job in Splendor, Montana. The peace he sought didn’t last long.
May Bacon left the scandal and rumors behind, choosing to become a mail order bride rather than live as a spinster in her New Jersey hometown. Although marriage was her dream, she refused to settle for a union of convenience. Her desire for the tall, charming deputy had her body trembling with excitement, and his request to court her gave May a chance at a future. Her joy didn’t last long.
The appearance of a young boy not only stalled Caleb’s plan for a future with a woman he cared a great deal about, it brought forth the memory of a past he’d never put behind him. But his past wasn’t all that stood between them.
Unusual happenings and dangerous strangers stalk the streets, presenting a risk to more than Caleb and May.
Will the menace sweeping the town push them further apart, leaving their friendship beyond repair, or will it bring them closer as they search for the source of the peril?
Angel Peak, book twelve in the Redemption Mountain historical western romance series, is a full-length novel with an HEA and no cliffhanger.
Book 1: Redemption’s Edge
Book 2: Wildfire Creek
Book 3: Sunrise Ridge
Book 4: Dixie Moon
Book 5: Survivor Pass
Book 6: Promise Trail
Book 7: Deep River
Book 8: Courage Canyon
Book 9: Forsaken Falls
Book 10: Solitude Gorge
Book 11: Rogue Rapids
Book 12: Angel Peak
Visit my website for a list of characters for each series.
http://www.shirleendavies.com/character-list.html
Table of Contents
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
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Epilogue
About the Author
Books by Shirleen Davies
Angel Peak
Prologue
Austin, Texas
1866
Caleb Covington slammed the empty whiskey glass on the bar, glaring at the bartender who held the bottle an arm’s length away. “Dammit, Buell. I want another drink. Maybe several.”
A sardonic smile appeared on Buell’s face. “One m
ore, Ranger man, and that’s all you’re getting.”
Mumbling a string of curses, the reason for his limit on whiskey hit Caleb full force. “Did my captain talk to you?”
The smile on the bartender’s face grew wider. “Don’t know why you’d think that.” Setting the bottle on a counter behind him, Buell leaned on the bar, his features sobering. “I heard you might be planning to meet Sadie upstairs. I’m thinking that’s a much safer diversion than burying yourself in another bottle.”
“Nothing’s safe for me any longer.” Caleb held up his empty glass. “One more and I’m done, Buell.”
Resting his hands on the edge of the bar, Buell leaned forward, his face devoid of emotion. “You’ve got to get over this, put it all behind you. Regina’s been in her grave almost two years, and you know she wouldn’t want you grieving by drowning yourself in drink.”
Not many men dared bring up the topic of Caleb’s murdered fiancée. Not to his face anyway. The smart ones didn’t risk the consequences, especially after he’d finished half a bottle of whiskey. And certainly not so close to the anniversary of her death.
Sweet Regina had been a rare beauty. The daughter of a wealthy rancher, she’d had her pick of suitors. Out of all the men in Austin, she’d fallen in love with Caleb. And he’d fallen just as hard for her. On one glorious, star-studded night, she’d accepted his proposal. Two hours later, her life had been snuffed out by a bullet meant for him.
His features contorted, Caleb slowly raised his head to meet Buell’s unyielding glare. “How the hell would you know what Regina would want?”
Buell ignored the question. “You aren’t the only one who loved that young woman. She grew up here, brought sunshine to darn near everyone’s life. I don’t believe there’s a single person her bright smile and soft heart didn’t touch.” Pushing away from the bar, Buell straightened. “So I guess I’ve a right to give you my opinion. Regina loved you, Caleb, and as sure as I’m standing here, I know she wouldn’t want you wasting your life away staring into the dry end of a bottle.”
Caleb wished Buell’s heartfelt words were a lie. They weren’t. One glance from Regina and anybody’s day would become better. She had a gift for putting people at ease, ignoring the bad to see only good in everyone. The day she’d sent her light his way had been the most exquisite of his life.
If only he’d stayed away, she might still be alive.
Scrubbing a shaky hand down his face, Caleb swallowed the unending ache of loss. “It should’ve been me.”
Buell knew what he meant. Most everyone who’d known the young couple did. “No one blames you for her death. Not even Big Mike, and he loved that girl more than anything on this earth. Everyone knows he loves and is proud of his son, but Regina?” Buell shook his head, a humorless chuckle escaping. “After his wife died, his daughter became the heart and soul of that man. It’s a wonder her death didn’t drive him to his own early grave. But it didn’t, Caleb. Instead, he kept going because, deep inside, he knew Regina would be sitting on the brightest star in heaven, keeping a watchful eye on him. The last thing Big Mike wants is for his baby girl to think less of him for giving up. And it’s the last thing she’d want from you.”
Grabbing an already damp rag, Buell wiped off the bar, his own emotions raw after all this time. He’d seen it all, still woke at night to the image of Regina cradled in Caleb’s arms, the life seeping from her. A man didn’t easily forget such horror.
Throat thick, chest drawn so tight he could barely draw a breath, Caleb set the empty glass down. “They got away with it.”
Buell sucked in a slow breath. “Yes, they did. No one’s tried harder to find those men than you. And like Regina’s death, not one person faults you for not finding those murderous scoundrels. The entire state has been looking for them. Someday, when they’re caught, we’ll have a grand celebration and your girl will finally be put to rest.”
At the sound of laughter, Buell moved to the other end of the bar, pouring drinks for a group of young cowhands. Caleb stared at their faces, the way he did with every unfamiliar face, looking for any sign of recognition. As much as he wanted to believe the killers were still close by, his instincts said otherwise.
He found peace in one of two ways. Whiskey was his salve of choice, but every once in a while, he’d soothe the never-ending ache in Sadie’s bed. The irony of the situation hadn’t been lost on him.
Regina and Sadie grew up together, fate providing one with a life of love, safety, and wealth. The other had been graced with a drunk for a father and a mother who’d ridden off after Sadie turned ten. Regina reveled in a life few experienced, while Sadie survived by sure determination. Complete opposites, Caleb always thought it a wonder the two had stayed friends. But Regina never gave up on Sadie, praying for a way to tear her friend from the life she couldn’t seem to escape.
A year after Regina’s death, Caleb and Sadie showed up at her grave on the same evening. He’d been carrying a bouquet of daisies, while Sadie carefully laid one wilting wildflower next to the headstone. It didn’t matter. Their sentiments were the same.
He’d been visiting Regina’s friend ever since. Sadie was the only one who understood. The only one who offered comfort in a world where none existed. At least not for him.
Forcing himself to turn from the bar, Caleb’s weary body carried him upstairs to stand before a door he’d come to know well. Hesitantly, he lifted a hand, stalling a few seconds before giving in and knocking.
He’d almost given up when the door creaked open, his gaze landing on the familiar face with sad, searching eyes. Reaching out her hand, Sadie laced their fingers together, drawing him inside before closing the door on a soft click.
Chapter One
Splendor, Montana Territory
November 1869
Deputy Caleb Covington sipped his punch, enjoying the wedding celebration for his good friend, Adam “Mack” Mackey, and Sylvia Lucero, one of the mail order brides brought to town by several of Splendor’s more prominent women. He grinned, remembering the fool Mack made of himself before coming to terms with his true feelings for the black-haired beauty with golden brown eyes.
Surprisingly, Caleb didn’t feel the pang of loss at their happiness. After almost four years, he’d learned to live with his fiancée’s murder, allowing him to think of a future for the first time since her death. On that thought, his gaze moved across the room to another of the mail order brides. Curvy, with wavy, flaxen hair and light blue eyes, his attention centered on her rosy and quite kissable lips.
“I don’t know what’s stopping you.”
Caleb’s attention jerked to see Mack standing beside him. “Stopping me?”
Chuckling, Mack tilted his glass toward May Bacon. “You’ve been interested in her for months. Don’t you think it’s time you considered courting her?” Caleb’s lack of response didn’t deter him. “There’s no better time than right now to ask her. I’ll walk over with you and retrieve my bride.”
A sudden terror tore at Caleb’s chest. “Now?”
“Why not? It’s not going to get any easier, and you certainly don’t want to go through what I did with Morgan Miller…or Dutch, Hex, or—” Mack mentioned the single men of Splendor who would’ve jumped at the chance to court Sylvia.
Caleb held up his hand. “I understand what you’re saying.” Sucking in a breath, he finished the punch and set the cup down. “All right.”
He took determined strides across the room, stopping within inches of a startled May.
“Oh, Deputy Covington.” May flushed, eyes widening.
Swallowing any doubt, he met her confused gaze. “Miss Bacon. I wonder if I could speak with you. In private.”
May’s eyes lit in surprise before she schooled her reaction. “Of course.”
Escorting her to a quiet corner, he settled her into a chair, taking a seat next to her. They sat in silence for several minutes, May watching the way he appeared to battle some unspoken emotions, making her s
tomach clench.
Shifting in the chair, he let out a ragged breath, then stood. Glancing around the room, he met her expectant gaze. “I’d like to know if you would allow me to call on you.”
Lips parting, she stilled, unsure she’d heard him right. “You want to court me?”
His brows furrowed. “Does that come as such a surprise?”
Clasping her hands in her lap, she considered the question. “Not really. I do like you very much, Mr. Covington.”
“Caleb.”
She offered him a shy smile. “Caleb. But you must call me May.”
He liked the way she said his first name. Sitting back down, he pulled one hand from her lap, holding it. “You don’t have to decide right now, May. It’s a big decision. Consider it for as long as you need.”
Staring into his deep blue eyes, May knew she’d be putting off the inevitable. “I don’t need time to consider it. Yes, I’d very much like you to call on me.”
Eyes twinkling, Caleb squeezed her hand, a relieved smile lifting the corners of his mouth. “That’s wonderful.” Standing, he helped her up.
Biting her lip, she glanced across the room before gazing up at him. “Would you mind if I let Sylvia and Lena know you’ve asked to call on me?”
His gaze softened. “Of course not.” Placing a hand at the small of her back, he guided May across the room where Sylvia and Mack spoke with Sheriff Gabe Evans and his wife, Lena.
Clearing her throat, May looked between the two ladies, ignoring Mack and Gabe. “Caleb has asked permission to court me. I’ve agreed.”
Gabe sent Caleb a questioning glance, saying nothing. Mack simply grinned.
Lena smiled at Caleb. “That’s wonderful.” She looked at her husband, then back at the other two couples. “Would it be too presumptuous of me to invite the four of you to our house for supper on Saturday evening?”
Before anyone could answer, the front door opened on a bang. A woman of indeterminable age, bright red hair, and heavy makeup walked inside, holding the hand of a small boy. She’d succeeded in getting everyone’s attention.
“I’m looking for Caleb Covington. Is he here?”
Brows scrunched in confusion, he stepped forward. “I’m Caleb Covington.”