Fall in love with the McCades one brother at a time...
What happens when a sheriff set on revenge falls for a mail-order bride with secrets of her own?
When I first envisioned Sawyer I of course wanted the tough alpha male that would make us all swoon. And since I write from the male point of view in my stories I had a unique challenge. How much was too much alpha cowboy and how to fit in the romance for a sheriff set on avenging his father's death from years before. Sawyer is a hard man. Driven to the point he doesn't want or need a wife.
Let's face it, as the eldest son of John McCade...he has a lot on his plate. He is sheriff and the duties there never seem to end. He has to keep his brothers out of trouble and there are three of those. Wyatt has a temper he can't control and it is all Sawyer can do to keep his bounty hunting brother from a fight. But the two brothers as sheriff and deputy are the best a taking out outlaws and keeping order. Their bond is close. Many an outlaw knows the McCade name. But then Sawyer has to keep an eye on things where Dawson is concerned. Dawson is a loner of sorts and follows a lot of the Cheyenne ways often hanging with an Indian Medicine man called Leaning Bear. As the only McCade Brother not on the ranch Sawyer fears for the prejudices his brother encounters along the way. Dawson is loyal no matter the happenings to his brothers. But then there is Evan, the youngest McCade Brother who is loud mouthed, wild as a buck and drinks too much. Sawyer will pay hell keeping this youngest sibling on the up and up.
And while three brothers is enough to run any sheriff crazy let's not forget the meddling mother Dodge who in her own rights runs them all. Dodge is a strong woman for that day and time has some interesting views on how things should work. She looks out for the well-being of the family and her sons. But when she places an ordered bride before Sawyer...he is none too happy. And so the story begins.
How is Sawyer suppose to do what he does when he can't keep Rose out of his head. Worse is she can be defiant and not listen to him when he says he is returning her back East on the first train. But as he begins to figure some of her story he knows there is more and he isn't gonna stop until he figures everything there is to know about Miss Rose Parker...because he like a good challenge of a fiesty educated woman now doesn't he?Blurb: As if he doesn't have enough to handle between
running outlaws out of Cheyenne, keeping his brother's out of trouble and
avenging his father's death, sheriff Sawyer McCade's meddling mother just
dumped a mysterious mail-order-bride on his doorstep. One woman can be more
trouble than a band of renegades and while this one has him all stirred up,
he'd rather get to the bottom of the story she isn't telling.
Rose Parker had it all. Until she discovers a web of danger and deceit that
sends her running to Cheyenne, posing as a mail-order-bride. Escaping the evils
of New York seems sensible until she meets the unsuspecting sheriff who didn't
ask for her, has no intention of marrying her and won't rest until he uncovers
her secret and sends her back home.
“I’m a lawman,
remember, and I read people very well. I know when I'm only hearing part of a
story.”
Her
blue eyes narrowed and that too-enticing flush lit her cheeks to a bright pink.
She darted past him to look out across the ranch and then spoke. “I came here
looking for a new life. Accepting a husband is a means to survival for any
woman in the West. But getting here and finding out you didn’t send for me--”
She swung around. “Well that’s certainly a relief. I thought I was going to
step off the train in Cheyenne, be whisked to the judge and right into your
bed. Frankly, that idea was rather frightening.”
Was
she trying to be funny? It wasn’t that the thought hadn’t crossed his mind.
Bedding her would be more than interesting, but he didn't need a wife. Not
right now. “Then why are
you here?”
“I
wanted to see the West and find adventure like I told you. So why not start
here? Did you read the papers I sent?” She shook her head realizing he hadn't.
“I suppose your mother got those.”
He
supposed so, too.
“I
filled in my application." She took a deep breath, “and I realized I had
led an incredibly normal life. An only child, raised by my father, schooled in
the proper etiquette, sent to university and spoiled to the point I hadn't
lived for myself. I am here to create a new life—my life. If you do not wish to
marry, I will find my own way, which is probably best anyway.” She stared out
across the horizon, blinking back tears.
“You
can’t stay here alone, not in Cheyenne. I’ll get your fare paid and send you
home.”
She
snapped around and glared at him. “I will not be returning home, regardless of
a marriage. You have no idea what I am capable of and I think that makes me
somewhat of a--thorn in your
side?"
Sawyer
wasn't sure which was more annoying, her presence and will to stay or the
thoughts she made him think. She wasn’t a thorn, but damned if he'd be able to
sleep with her in the same house for any length of time.
When
all he did was nod, a knowing smile spread across her face. “Good.”
As
furious as he was, he couldn't take his eyes off the sway of her hips as she
spun around and went inside. She couldn’t possibly think she would be staying
in Cheyenne as an unescorted woman. Well, he had no intention of marrying her
either and one way or the other he’d see her on a train back to New York if it
was the last thing he did.
My Thoughts on Sawyer's Rose: 2021
Sawyer's Rose was released in 2016, five years ago as I am writing this. This story was my first publication and was a Golden Heart and Maggie Finalist which at the time was a shock. In looking back at these last few years and the McCades, Sawyer holds a special place in my heart. It took this first story to build the family and the happenings and characters around Cheyenne Wyoming. And while the story was contracted as a romance, I still like to say that I write family saga with romance and suspense. As I have built a readership it's funny that I have those that read for the romance and those that read because it's a western. The romance readers do not care so much for all the cowboy stuff while the western readers care little for the sexy parts--at least that is what I have heard from readers over the years. I have women reading of course but I also have men that read my stories and I think that is totally cool!
I think what I have learned about my own stories is that while I panster, I do come up with good story and characters that readers don't want to let go when the story is over. I catch myself listening to Sawyer's Rose now and again as I drive up and down the road or I will pull out the book and thumb through it, reminding myself about things that happened along the way as Sawyer falls for Rose.
