Great Hunting in the Dark (Preview)

Prologue

Martin woke up in a pool of sweat, his head pounding, a loud grunt escaping his lips when he sat up in bed. He immediately threw the covers to the side and swung his legs over the edge. He leaned over, propping his elbows on his knees and cupping his forehead with his hands.

His heart was pounding, his breath coming and going rapidly.

It took a few minutes for him to pull his emotions away from the nightmare he’d just come from.

Martin Poole had come to South Bend, Wyoming, to run a saloon that was doing well before he took over and was still doing well after. He was still adjusting but the previous owner had left hand- written instruction manuals that made every day’s work a simple checking off of boxes. It was amazing and had left him with enough free time to explore South Bend and make it the home he wanted to retire to.

Martin wasn’t an old man. He was just thirty-six years old but had spent the last twenty years of his life as a bounty hunter in Texas. Texas was one of the favorite states of outlaws, he’d discovered, so he’d made his home base in Low Valley and had chased robbers, murderers and other ilk of that nature from the time he was fifteen years old till last year.

He’d been in South Bend for nine months. So far, he loved it. There was a pretty girl he was interested in talking to but she was much younger than him at twenty-one and so far he hadn’t gathered up the courage.

Martin stood up and lifted his long arms up in the air above his head, stretching his back. He twisted from side to side and did a short jog in place to get the blood running through his body. After a few more exercise maneuvers, he went to the dresser and took out the clothes he would wear that day.

He’d bought the ranch with the money he’d saved over the years. The best advice he’d ever gotten had come from his pa, who’d told him every time he got paid, keep a penny to the side. After a while, that money would start to gather if he saved more. But if he couldn’t do anything else, he should save at least a penny.

The ranch was small but functioning and the previous owner had hired some good help, who agreed to stay on when Martin took over. He didn’t know much about ranching but they did and the foreman, Jack Nichols, was a friendly man, more than willing to tutor Martin in the ways of a ranch man.

After a sponge bath and general morning hygiene, Martin was dressed and pouring himself a cup of hot coffee the housekeeper had ready for him. She’d come along with the house, too. Martin wasn’t used to having so many people around all the time. As a bounty hunter, he’d spent most of his days alone, sometimes on the road, sometimes staking out a farm or a ranch, waiting to possibly get shot.

He sat at the table with the cup and stared out the window, thinking about the nightmare that had rocked him awake. He was in a cellar, tied up, waiting to be executed, struggling with the ropes, trying to free himself. It wasn’t just men that came after him in the dreams anymore. What he saw were monsters, men who looked like they’d been dead for years, apparitions and ghosts. His mind had tired of the norm and had started getting creative.

It was frustrating. And the silence of the large house seemed deafening to him.

He was getting on in years. It was time to settle down. That’s why he’d come to South Bend. That’s why he’d bought the ranch. He wanted more out of life than materialistic things. A few children and a lovely wife on his arm. Those were his current goals.

The silence around him was broken and he was drawn out of his melancholy state when he heard the front door open with force and he heard boots step in.

“Martin Poole!” an authoritative voice called out.

Martin couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face. He stood up and stepped out into the foyer. Ted Crowley was looking at him with a matching grin on his large face. Ted was the first friend Martin made when he came to South Bend. He was the one who had facilitated the transactions that had allowed Martin to buy the ranch and the saloon because the two men had a mutual friend.

Martin was glad Ken Harbinger, his longtime friend and partner on a few cases, had gotten the two men in contact with each other. Ted was now Martin’s best friend.

“What is all this noise?” Martin asked, mocking irritation. “Why are you stomping into my house and yelling at me?”

“It’s just so darn good to see you, Martin!” Ted exclaimed in an overly enthusiastic way. “I wouldn’t know how to get through my day if I wasn’t able to come over here and work on your ranch with you for free.”

Martin had to laugh. He shook his head. “You don’t have to and you know it.”

Ted walked toward him with his hand extended. “Which is exactly why I do. How are you this morning, fella?”

“I’m good. Glad you’re here. Everyone else here, too?”

“Yeah.” Ted was eyeing Martin’s coffee, giving Martin the distinct impression his friend would like a cup.

He waved his hand. “Let’s go get you a cup of coffee. I can see you want one.”

Ted’s grin widened and his eyes squinted. “I’m real pleased you noticed. Yeah, I was gonna say we got a different bunch from yesterday but it’s Clark, Jimmy, and Andy and they all work hard. I think we’ll be done raising that barn by the end of the week.”

Martin raised his eyebrows, picturing the half-built barn in his mind. The end of the week was only two days away, not counting that day. “It’s Wednesday. You really think it’ll be done by Friday?”

Ted gave him a grateful look as Martin poured coffee into a mug and handed it to him. “Thanks, I really appreciate it. Yeah. Don’t you forget, buddy, I’m the rancher here. You’re the outlaw hunter. Next time I need an outlaw found, I’ll come knockin’.”

Martin laughed again. “No offense, Ted. Really.”

Ted’s grin was back. “Trust me when I tell ya, we’re gonna be done by Friday.”

Chapter One

Ted and the other men from town worked with Martin for half a day on the barn and then took off to go to other obligations. Martin spent the rest of the day with Jack, working on the ranch. It was hard work and he was exhausted, but he had more to do. He had to go to the Saddle and Horn to make sure he wasn’t needed there. He owned the place. He didn’t want them thinking he was abandoning them to take care of all the business.

Fred was behind the bar when he got there. It was about half-full, which satisfied Martin. He would check in with Fred and the new waitress before talking to the townsfolk. He nodded and waved to a few of them as he passed to go to the bar at the back right corner of the room. He felt obligated to let everyone know he was a man who could be trusted.

Being a newcomer to a small town was usually intimidating. But for Martin, who had done a lot of traveling as a bounty hunter, it was not. He knew how to present himself so that others would see him for who he was. He was a peaceful, friendly man who just wanted a peaceful, quiet life.

“How is everything going, Fred?” he asked, sliding onto a stool and resting one arm on the bar in front of him. Fred, a thin, sprightly man with tufts of hair growing out of his ears but none on his head, gave his boss a crooked smile.

“Howdy, Martin. Things are going good. Nothin’s changed around here but the new girl.”

Martin looked around him but didn’t see Jessica. It was Jessica Kent, his new waitress, who had caught his eye. She was the one he thought about when he dreamed of a wife and family. Her effect on him hadn’t happened right away. But when she’d come in seeking a job and he sat down to talk to her, that was it for him. He hadn’t been able to get his mind off her since.

She was short. Much shorter than Martin at his height of six feet, four inches tall. But her stature didn’t keep her fiery nature from showing. She had long brown hair she kept back in a braid most of the time and a pair of sultry light brown eyes that made him feel like he was falling into a deep pit. She had a way of giving a smoldering look that he was sure she was unaware of. Any man would fall for her if she gave him that look.

Martin couldn’t remember a woman ever having an effect on him the way Jessica did.

But he’d kept it completely professional from day one. She was on her second month working at the Saddle and Horn. She was good at her job and made good tips from the men.

“Where’s she at?” he asked.

“Sent her to the general store for some supplies we’re missin’.”

“Make sure you give me the receipts for that. I don’t want you paying for anything. My business, I gotta pay the expenses.”

Fred lifted the corner of one side of his mouth. “Sure thing, boss. You know I will.”

Martin turned around and looked at the patrons, scanning them one by one. He noticed as he swept his eyes around the room that a man in the corner was waving at him. He recognized him as Josh Blankenship, who had come to his ranch on Monday, the first day, to help lay the foundation for the new barn. He was a hard worker and friendly.

Martin slid off the stool and crossed the room to shake Josh’s hand and sit down across from him.

“What are you doing here all alone, Josh?” Martin asked in a teasing voice.

Josh grinned at him. “Not alone for long, Mr. Poole.”

Josh was twenty-one years old, the same age as Jessica. Martin flushed. “You can call me Martin, Josh. I’m not that much older than you.”

Josh laughed through his words. “But you’re an established adult, aren’t you? I’m still wild and young and fresh at life.”

Martin joined his laughter. “Yeah, I suppose you are. You haven’t been beaten down yet.”

When their laughter died down, Martin said, “Listen, I really appreciate you coming out and helping with the barn on Monday. You didn’t have to do that and I thank you for it. The more men come out to help, the sooner it will be done.”

“I didn’t mind at all, Martin.” Josh said his first name hesitantly. “We all want to welcome you to our town. You don’t get any of this special treatment after you’ve been here a year, though, so you have three more months to take advantage of it and make yourself at home. Otherwise…” The young man shrugged, grinning from ear to ear. “You’ll be doing it all on your own next year.”

“That sounds horrible. I’d better make friends with everyone in the next three months.”

Josh laughed. “Just don’t make enemies and you’ll be fine. I’m exaggerating anyway.”

Martin nodded. “I know you are. So why are you sitting in here all alone?”

“I’m not alone.” Josh lifted one hand and waved it in the air. “You’re right here talking to me. No, my girl, Sarah, will be along soon. We’re going on a picnic. She loves the fall weather. Loves the sound of leaves crunching under her feet and the chill in the air.” Martin could see by the look on Josh’s face how much he loved his sweetheart.

“That does sound nice.”

Josh tilted his head to the side and lifted that same shoulder to meet it. “I guess. I’m not a huge fan of a cold breeze but whatever makes her happy.”

This made both men laugh again. Martin pushed himself to his feet. “I’ll let your woman have her seat. Hope she gets here soon so you two can enjoy the day together.”

“I’m sure she’ll be along soon.”

Martin nodded at him and turned to walk away. He saw Jessica when she came in the door and his heart jumped in his chest. He was about to go over to her when he saw her turn and say something over her shoulder to someone behind her. The young man following her came in and closed the door behind him.

Martin saw him take her elbow briefly, saying something, release her and then walk toward the bar. He moved his eyes to Jessica’s face to see her reaction to what he’d said. He regretted the jealousy that ran through him. He had no authority over her. She was a young woman free to make her own choices. Plus, he’d never even told her he was attracted to her so he had to right to feel jealous.

She didn’t look after the young man with a passionate expression. She didn’t look after him at all. She hefted the box she was carrying and headed toward the back room behind the bar.

Martin crossed the room so he would walk in front of her before she got to the back. When he did, he glanced at her and caught her eye.

“Do you need help with that?” he asked, stopping to hold out his arms to her.

She shook her head, grinning wide, which made his stomach knot up and then explode in butterflies. “You men. You all think I can’t carry a box a short distance. I’m okay.”

Martin raised his eyebrows, wondering if he’d offended her. She was smiling but that didn’t really mean anything, did it? She was a polite woman. Maybe her smile was just her being polite.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t…”

Now she laughed, a tinkling sound that sent a tingle up his spine.

“No, no, boss, you didn’t upset me. I’m only teasing. Thank you for the kind offer. I’m just getting it into the kitchen. It’s not really heavy, I promise you.”

“All right, if you say so.” He grinned at her and stepped back to let her pass, holding out one arm in the direction of the kitchen door, which was cracked open a few inches. The smell of cooking food wafted into the lobby area. Martin realized how hungry he was. It was a good thing he owned the place. He could eat for free.

The thought made him chuckle as he followed Jessica to the door. A moment later, he was in the kitchen, hovering over a pot of beef stew Fred had in the works. The bartender was one of the best chefs Martin had ever seen. There certainly wasn’t one like him in all of Texas. Not in Martin’s experience, anyway.

The beef stew smelled like it was done. He wanted to sample it. Jessica set the box on a counter and emptied it, setting everything on the counter around it and then sliding the box underneath. She glanced at him.

“That stew is done. It’s just staying warm right now. You should have some. It’s real good.”

That was all the encouragement Martin needed. He grinned wide and grabbed a bowl.

Chapter Two

Jessica had been sleeping late ever since she started working into the night at the Saddle and Horn. It was her job on the farm to feed the chickens, pigs and other animals that roamed the land, and the sweet creatures had almost adjusted to the new feeding schedule. She had worried about them at first, thinking they would be very agitated by the change.

After the first week, though, they seemed to adjust and didn’t crowd around her “barking at her,” as she put it when she’d described it to her mother, Helen.

It was her mother she saw when she went down the stairs, dressed and ready for the day. Jessica had chosen a red and white gingham dress. It brought out the red in her brown hair, making it look more auburn than usual and that’s what she liked.

She smiled as soon as she saw her mother, who was at the stove, stirring a pot of gravy.

“Good morning, dear,” Helen said, glancing over her shoulder when the kitchen door opened.

“Morning, Mother,” Jessica replied, strolling up to the woman and kissing her cheek. “How are you feeling?” Helen had been under the weather lately, a symptom of her age, she’d told her daughter. But Helen was only forty-eight, which Jessica, even in her youth, knew wasn’t terribly old.

“I slept well last night,” Helen replied. “Maybe I’m pulling out of whatever it was that’s been bugging me.”

Jessica nodded, giving her mother an encouraging look. “I certainly hope so,” she exclaimed. “It kills me to see you hurting.”

“I know.” Helen smiled at her. “You take good care of me.”

“I’m going into town to visit Abby,” Jessica said, opening a cabinet and pulling out a mug. She poured herself a cup of coffee and turned back to her mother. “Do you need anything?”

She sipped the coffee, gazing at the older woman over the rim of the cup, her eyebrows raised, as her mother thought about it.

“I can’t think of anything right now. Are you going right away?”

Jessica nodded. “I still have to feed the animals. I’ll do that and come back and check with you. How’s that sound? Give you a little time to think about it.”

“I appreciate that,” Helen replied with a nod.

Jessica took her coffee and a morning pastry her mother shoved into her hand out on the porch and looked around. The animals were crowded around the gates, waiting for her but she figured they would be. They weren’t restless like they were that first week but they were still anxious, still getting used to the change.

Jessica thought about her job while she spread the feed. She liked working for Martin. He was very nice to her. It wasn’t her first job. The first place she’d worked was at the dress shop with Abigail. But she’d tired of selling and making quick repairs. Fashion didn’t interest Jessica. When she found out the saloon had been bought by a nice, decent gentleman, she decided to try her hand at waitressing. The girls she’d talked to who worked there told her it wasn’t a bad establishment but that she’d have to prepare herself for the men. They were often too forward and though she could deny their advances, they would still make them.

Some of the girls were scared by the environment and didn’t last long. Others were there for years before leaving. Some were still there.

The change in management had made a huge difference, according to Jessica’s friend, Lisa. She was the girl who took the day shift now that Jessica was working nights. Lisa said the previous owner of the saloon was a gruff old man who didn’t want the ways of the world to change and was stubborn to the extreme. Martin was described as a young entrepreneur, a big word for Jessica.

She was glad when she was finished feeding and could go back to the house to freshen up. She would see if her mother needed anything from town and get her horse saddled. She was ready to go. She and Abigail always had a good time together. Abigail was a slender, blond-haired, blue-eyed angel of a girl, whose outlook on life was always one of cheer and positivity. Jessica felt blessed she just happened to live in South Bend with her. It was a small town with a minimal population.

She washed her hands off and used the towel to clean her face as well. She walked back to the kitchen and stuck her head in the door. Her mother was seated now, a newspaper open in front of her on the table. Helen looked up at her daughter.

“You’re getting ready to leave?” she asked.

“Yes, Mother, you think of anything?”

“I would appreciate it if you’d bring back a bag of sugar.”

“Half-pound?”

Helen nodded. “Yes, that will do for now.”

“All right. Anything else?”

“No, I don’t think so. You be careful. I love you.”

“Love you, too, Mother. I will, I promise.”

Jessica pulled back from the door, her heart warmed by her mother’s affection. She crossed the small foyer and went through the door, grabbing a heavy shawl and a bonnet from the rack by the door before going out.

The air was a little chilly but there was no wind. Jessica was pleased. She didn’t like having her face exposed when the wind was strong. She’d rather just stay inside and avoid venturing out at all.

Unfortunately, riding a horse created wind and Jessica laughed at herself as she rode into town, trying to turn her head or lower it so the wind didn’t strike her in the face. She made sure Striker, her brown and white Quarter Horse, didn’t run too fast. She had time, she decided.

When she did get to the dress shop, she dismounted quickly and threw the reins over the hitching rail. She knew Striker wasn’t going anywhere anyway. They were bound, human and animal, best cross-species friends for three years. Hopefully for many more. She looked up at Striker and was certain she detected a hint of affection in the animal’s big eyes.

She patted him on the neck. “You be good and stay right here, buddy. I’ll be right back. Going in to talk to Abby, you know. But I’ll be right back.”

She went around him and stepped up on the porch of the little dress shop. It looked like a cottage from medieval times to Jessica – always had. She expected to find a witch answering the door every time, despite the fact that she’d worked there.

Jessica didn’t need to knock. Abigail was expecting her and there were frequent customers coming and going anyway.

She smiled as soon as she entered, almost not hearing the bell tinkling above her head. She was used to that sound by now.

“Morning, Abby!” she exclaimed, seeing her friend on a long couch on the other side of the room. There were many tables in between the two women, all of them covered in fabrics for dresses that were yet to be made and dresses that were already made. Still others held dresses that were half-finished.

She knew exactly where everything was and what it was for. Weaving around the table, she sat next to Abigail on the couch, with a length of silky fabric in one hand and a sewing needle with thread hanging from the end in the other. Jessica recognized a sash when she saw one. It looked like a simple repair job.

“You are looking fresh this morning, Jessica,” Abigail replied. She turned her eyes to look across the room at the clock. “It’s nearly noon. You must have slept late.”

Jessica nodded. “I suppose but that’s what I’ve been doing since I’m working nights. It really wasn’t much later than usual.”

Thinking back and looking at the current time, Jessica wondered if she’d been mistaken about what time it was when she woke up.

“I suppose you’re really enjoying working with that handsome boss of yours, aren’t you?” Abigail asked in a teasing tone.

Jessica flushed. “He is handsome. But he’s a gentleman. And I think I might be too young for him.”

“What are you talking about? No one cares about that. He’s not that old. You make it sound like he’s sixty and on his death bed.”

Jessica let out a gentle laugh. “That’s not at all what I meant. I think he… he probably would want a woman with a little more experience at life under her belt. I… don’t really know what I’m doing yet. I know you know what I mean.”

Abigail nodded, giving her an affectionate look. “I do know.”

“He’s never flirted with me or anything like that. I only think of him as my boss. Nothing more.”

“Not even a friend?”

Jessica tilted her head to the side, contemplating that. “Not yet. I’m still new there.”

“And he’s new in town. Lots of people like him, though. I haven’t heard anyone say a bad thing about him.”

“I haven’t either.”

“Maybe I’ll quit here and come work there with you.” Abigail laughed and dropped her friend a wink. Jessica responded with her own laughter. “It’s good to see you laugh, Jess,” Abigail said when their laughter died down. “I know you’re still thinking about your pa. I pray for you and your ma every day.”

“Thank you.” Jessica had gone the whole morning not thinking about her father, who had recently taken ill and passed away. She missed him. But she found the more she distracted herself, the less pain she felt. “We’re doing all right. It’s been a rough six months but we’re still alive. I’m still planning to work at the law office with Jared Huntington, if he will let me. I’ve still got to learn to type though.”

Abigail chuckled, shaking her head. “I’ll help you learn. It won’t take you long, with those long fingers of yours.”

“Got to buy some better clothes, too.”

“Well, you’re working. I’m sure you can do it, Jess. You’re one of the most determined women I’ve ever known, after my own dear ma.”

Jessica smiled at her friend, once again feeling blessed to have such a good source of encouragement in her life.

Chapter Three

Jessica left the dress shop and went to the saloon a little early. She didn’t really need to, she discovered when she got there. The place was so dead, Martin had let Lisa leave early. It wasn’t surprising for a Wednesday afternoon and Martin didn’t look too worried about it.

He smiled at her as soon as she came in. She was a little taken aback to see him with a cloth wiping down the tables at a frantic pace, as if someone was holding a gun on him, forcing him to do them quickly.

“Well, hello there!” he exclaimed. “You aren’t due in for several hours.”

Jessica nodded. “I know. I didn’t have anything to do after my visit with Abby so I thought I’d come in early and see if my help was needed.” She looked around the empty room. “I guess not.”

Martin also swept his eyes around him, shaking his head. “No, indeed. Not a soul in here.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen it empty since I started working here.” Jessica walked to him and stopped a few feet away, unable to keep the questioning look from her eyes when she looked at the towel in his hand. “Why are you cleaning? That should have been something Lisa did before she left, isn’t it?”

Martin chuckled, his eyes dropping to the cloth. “Oh. Yes, I’m sure she did clean the table. But it’s busy work and I have nothing else to do until we get some customers. I was told it was busier in the warmer months and slow during the cold months and I’m starting to see that pattern emerge.”

She was pleasantly surprised when Martin held out his hand to the bar and said, “Let’s sit and talk. I don’t think we’ve had time to get to know each other very well in the last month, have we?”

Jessica refused to let herself think about how good-looking Martin was. He had a trim beard and mustache of dark blond and the blond hair on his head was fairly long, shaved on the sides. His green eyes flashed at her when the light from the windows caught them.

She slid onto a stool at the bar, pushing those thoughts out of her mind.

“Tell me, Jessica. What do you think of working here?”

His question sounded so genuine, Jessica didn’t feel at all worried about answering him. “Well, I’m not used to the constant movement and I’ll tell you, my feet have hurt many nights when I went home. But I like the money and you are a good boss.”

She held back a giggle when the man’s cheeks reddened. He looked away briefly before giving her a sheepish smile.

“Thank you for that. I do worry about it. I don’t want anyone to think I don’t take this business very seriously.”

Jessica nodded, feeling a bit of sympathy for the man. He obviously hadn’t owned a business with employees before. “And we know you do. You have everyone’s respect, Martin, don’t worry about that.”

A strange look passed over his face. She wondered what he was thinking. He was a complicated man to figure out. Was he upset? Was he hiding something? Was he really as genuine as he seemed?

It was hard to tell. But Jessica was willing to find out. She enjoyed being around him. She didn’t feel at all threatened and in her mind, he represented a man who would protect her if she was in danger.

Now that her father was gone, leaving Jessica before she found a man of her own, she needed that protection that came from having a man around.

Martin sat on the stool next to her, reaching out for a cup that sat next to a small black bin holding brown napkins. Jessica didn’t like using those napkins. They were rough on the skin and didn’t absorb anything. They might as well be paper as far as she was concerned and several times, she had used one to remind herself of something or to write down an order she didn’t think she’d remember right.

Martin took a sip from the cup before saying, “You can get yourself a drink if you like. On the house.”

“I don’t drink alcohol,” Jessica replied, softly. He shook his head, giving her another odd look.

“I didn’t mean alcohol. We do serve other drinks here, too, you know.” He chuckled. Jessica thought the smile on his face made him look even more handsome. Normally, he looked anxious or solemn. But when he smiled, it seemed to brighten up his face and she could see youth in his eyes. He wasn’t old, Abigail was right. He was just older than her.

And that wasn’t hard, she thought with an internal laugh. She was twenty-one, after all.

“We have all kinds of liquor. Pick something.”

Jessica focused on his face and saw that he was teasing her. She broke into a big smile and shook her head. “No thank you. I will get one of those Coca-Colas from the icebox, though. Oh my goodness, that is a good drink, isn’t it? I’ll even pay you back for it out of my tips. I know that’s probably not cheap for you.”

Martin shook his head, which was what she expected. She didn’t think she’d have to pay for it, but it was polite to offer. “Don’t you worry about that, dear. I’m just glad you like working here. You are good at your job and it’s always nice to have a pretty face around. Not that Lisa isn’t pretty. I just usually work nights.”

Jessica thought it was cute that he was defending himself, justifying what he’d said, trying not to look silly in her eyes. She sensed it. He wasn’t exactly flirting. She was just seeing him for who he really was.

She was beginning to think the years someone had been on Earth didn’t make a difference. Martin’s composure was that of a much younger man. He was smart, capable and ran his business well so far. But he also had a vibrancy and an energy about him that made him very attractive.

Jessica wondered why he wasn’t married.

She almost blurted it out but changed her words at the last minute. “How come you… What were you doing before you came here? I mean, how come you decided to buy a saloon out of the blue?”

She thought she had done a pretty good job covering up her near-blunder. Maybe she shouldn’t bring her feelings into the workplace. It might complicate things.

“I used to be a bounty hunter,” Martin said, his voice turning deep and a bit gruff. She almost regretted asking him. “And it was a rough life, traveling and shooting outlaws and eating bad food on the side of the road somewhere. Getting lost. Yeah, it wasn’t a fun twenty years, but I felt like it was my calling and now I feel like I’ve done my time.”

Jessica didn’t think he felt much positivity toward his past life.

“I guess you are very glad to be here, then,” she responded. She didn’t need him to confirm that thought. The look on his face said enough.

“Yes. This has been a real blessing to me. Getting me in touch with Ted Crowley is one of the best things my friend, Ken, has ever done for me. I can rely on people like Ted and my foreman Jack to keep the ranch running and Fred can keep this place going… I’ve been real blessed with people who know what they’re doing. They can help this Texas boy out.”

“I thought that was where you were from. Jessica grinned. “You have an accent that could only come from there. I’d recognize it in a heartbeat.”

He smiled back in an amused way and tilted his head to the side. “And what makes you an expert on the Texas accent?”

Jessica laughed. “I have a couple friends that are Texas Rangers. They don’t come through here very often but when they do, we always have dinner together, them, me and my par… well, my mom it will be now.”

“Well, I’ll be. That’s very interesting.”

“I’m glad you think so.” Jessica gave him a bright smile. She was more pleased than ever that she’d gotten the job at the Saddle and Horn.

“Do you have plans for your future? You have a beau? What would you like to do when you grow up?”

Jessica chuckled. “Well, I do consider myself a grown up. But when I become a successful grown-up, I want to work in the law office. I’m saving up now for a typewriter.”

Martin’s eyebrows shot up. He gave her a pleasant look. “My, my. What a lofty goal. You may have to get some training to hold that position. So much to take on.”

Jessica nodded. “I know. It’s just not a goal I’m willing to give up.”

Martin shook his head, his face turning sober. “Oh no, you shouldn’t give up your goal. Definitely not. You go for what you want. And I’ll tell you what, if there’s anything I can do to help you get there, you let me know. Okay? No hesitation, now.”

Jessica let out a soft laugh and nodded. “Okay, Martin. If you say so.”

“I really don’t want to find out sometime that you and your mother have been in need and I wasn’t notified. I will dismiss you on the spot. Do you understand?”

Jessica looked at him with a stunned expression. She saw nothing but gentle kindness in his eyes. Despite the harshness of his last sentence, she got his point and nodded.

“I promise, Martin. We’ll come to you.”

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“Great Hunting in the Dark” is an Amazon Best-Selling novel, check it out here!

At the age of 36, ex-bounty hunter Martin Poole decides to give up the dangerous life he has been leading for 20 years and turn a new page in life. All he wants now is to fall in love, get married and create a family of his own. When he moves to South Bend and buys a ranch and a saloon, he starts feeling that he is one step closer to his dreams. Little does he know that imminent danger is coming his way, as an outlaw from the past vows to destroy his life. Will Martin forestall the outlaw’s evil plans, or his only hope for peace will remain a pipe dream?

The day Martin meets Jessica Kent, one of the waitresses in his saloon, he is immediately captivated by her beauty and can’t stop dreaming of her. But when Jessica is almost caught in a crossfire and narrowly escapes harm, Martin realizes that it will require all of his skills to help her stay alive. Ever since, he stays on her tail and he is determined to risk it all and deal with the endless challenges he encounters. Will Martin manage to protect the woman in peril? Will a chance at happiness be in the cards for them?

Tensions mount and bullets fly in a mission that no townsman will ever forget. Will Martin’s strength and resilience win out in the end, gaining him everything he ever wanted, or will his frantic efforts for a happy life go up in smoke?

A pulse-pounding drama, which will make you turn the pages with bated breath until the very last word. A must-read for fans of Western action and romance.

“Great Hunting in the Dark” is a historical adventure novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cliffhangers, only pure unadulterated action.

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