Bev Magee
Men unwillingly fell in love with Shawna Kane, but only one man had her heart. Kneeling at her brothers’ graves, a young man joined her under the watchful eyes of another admirer. Claiming to be family, he wanted to know about the Gang. Shawna agreed to tell him, on the trip home. Believing she wasn’t recognized, Shawna and Justin headed for Phoenix.
Two men wandered into El Paso days later. The hostler knew them for who they were, but told no one. Identified by the ex-saloon owner, they make a hasty retreat. Information from the old man pointed them in the direction of their sister and long-lost brother.
Owning a ranch meant Shawna was in charge of a crew of men. Tannen, the foreman, thought more of her than the other hands. He left the best job he ever had, to Joshua’s relief, to avoid doing something he’d regret. Attempts to keep his little brother from getting trap by her charms failed when Chris refused to join him.
Still intent on acquiring her guns, Cliff Warrant used any means available. Blackmail, kidnapping and the help of her former boss only angered her. His last attempt, during a cattle drive, got him killed. Events during the cattle drive brought many surprises to all involved. A young marshal, on the trail of another gang, learns of Shawna’s identity and asks for her help. Double-crossed by his boss gets them both injured. Taken in by her charms, Rio Dylan tried to warn off a former lover.
But Jack didn’t scare easy, not even seeing Joshua worried him. Knowing she was married didn’t stop Jack from wanting to spend time with Shawna. Not wanting to see her cousin Mandy unhappy, Shawna made a proposal to Jack, one he’d heard before.
The Loves of Shawna Kane was actually the first book written in the Buddie Fox series. Though it was written first, it became the third book of the series. As the author was writing it, many questions were coming to mind that needed answered before Loves could be finished. Books 1 and 2 were written using Book 3 as a guide, which in turn helped to complete what became Book 3. Loves underwent many changes including several name changes.
After accidentally scrapping an unfinished manuscript, the author decided to take the book in another direction. The new ideas flowed better with the partially completed Books 1 and 2, allowing the author to write all three books at one time. This created the challenge of consistency as well as kept the author from getting tired of only one story line. As characters were added to Loves, their beginnings were written into their respective places in either of the first two books. While each book can be read independently of the others, the element of surprise in Loves would be lost.
Shawna stood at the gate of the cemetery and stared at the graves. She hadn’t been sleeping well since arriving in town. Staying in the hotel that was built on the site of the saloon had kept her up most of the night. Her brother’s ghosts haunted her dreams. A stand of trees shaded the center graves and it was toward this that she walked.
“It’s ironic,” she said to the trees.
Caught off guard, Brook Chambers asked from his hiding place, “What is?”
“Staying in the same place where my brothers were killed. I didn’t sleep at all last night.”
“I was worried about that,” he said from high in the trees. “That’s why I stuck around. Maybe you should find another room in a different hotel.”
She shook her head, “I don’t plan on staying much longer. When are you finally leaving?”
He grinned though he knew she couldn’t see him, “Not until I know you’re all right.”
“I should be used to strangers wanting to protect me by now,” she muttered before continuing her search.
Justin was still contemplating his dream as he walked to the cemetery. He turned around and scanned the buildings for the ones he saw. The only one he didn’t see was the saloon. It should have been right where the hotel was sitting. How did he know that, he had never been to El Paso before. As he touched the gate, another image from the fire flashed in his mind. It was the woman he was following. She was the one in the saloon fighting.
“Impossible,” he said shaking the image away. A woman of her standing wouldn’t be in a barroom brawl.
He saw her stop near the stand of trees and stay there a long time. She was just staring at the ground. It appeared that she was talking to herself. Slowly, she continued her search. Justin came to the trees and looked around him. Other than a few footprints, there was no indication that someone else had been with the woman.
But Brook did see him. He had his hand on his gun, ready for anything. But the young man wasn’t wearing a gun. The more he watched the half-breed, the less he was worried about him. All the same though, he watched as the man approached Shawna. She had found her brothers’ graves and she was crying.
A shot rang out and a man thudded to the ground clutching his leg. He heard shuffling feet as two men approach him. Looking around the darkness, he searched for his brother who should have been close by. A moan let him know his brother was hurt, unable to help him.
“I’ll get this one, you get the other one,” one of the attackers whispered.
Struggling to a seated position, he reached for the gun at his side. But before he could use it, his attacker pounced on him. Something solid hit his head. Not enough to knock him out, but enough to stop any defense he thought of using.
Lying there helpless, he felt his gun belt and matching Russians slide from his body. He heard the scuffle of his brother and the other man as he tried to do the same to him. The man standing over him walked back to his partner.
“Forget it, Job. We got one. It’ll have to do. Folks are starting to get curious,” Ezra said seeing a lantern heading their way.
“You wanting to pass up that kind of money, Ezra?”
“Ain’t worth it if we get caught.”
The injured man blinked back the fog that threatened his brain. What did those two want with their guns? He searched his memory for anyone named Job or Ezra and came up blank. By now his brother had crawled over to him and was searching his body for injuries.
“You okay, Little Brother?”
“Fine except for the bullet in my leg and the knot on my head,” he moaned.
“Then we better get you to my office,” the man said holding the lantern above them. “I’m a doctor. I figured someone would be needing my help when I heard the shot. Others in town are a little more gun shy than me.”
“Much obliged Doc.”
An hour later, the doctor turned to the older brother. “I can’t be sure I got all the fragments out of his leg. I’d like for him to stay another day to be sure.”
“We can’t, I’m afraid. We have some business to attend to that can’t wait.”
“But your brother has lost a lot of blood. It’s not a good idea for him to travel just yet.”
“To be honest, Doc it’s not the first time he’s been shot. We’ll be taking it easy for now, but we really must be going.”
“I can’t stop you from leaving, but he’s resting right now and shouldn’t be disturbed.”
“Can I at least see him?”
“As long as you don’t wake him,” the doctor said leaving the office.
The older brother was startled awake by a moan from the man in the bed. “You okay?”
“It hurts,” the younger brother said.
“Bullets usually do,” he said standing up. “Come on, we have a long trip ahead of us yet.”
“You were right, Sis,” he mumbled swinging his legs over the edge. “He doesn’t listen.”
