About the Book:
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Matthew Ellison thought he had left his life as a lawman far behind. But when tales surface of a killer on the loose near Albury, his experience and skill are once again put to the test. Can he earn back the townspeople’s trust while protecting those he has come to love?
Tucked out of sight on her father’s ranch, Hazel McKinney’s dreams of finding love seem to grow more distant every day. Then a chance encounter with a charming young preacher changes everything - tossing her between dreams of the future and the present stark reality.
Nathan Royce traveled West years ago to join his uncle in the ministry. Dedicated to serving the townspeople of Albury, Texas, he tackles the job with all its challenges and heartache. Then one day Nathan runs into an intriguing young woman with a faith that matches his own. Can he protect her when danger threatens their newfound friendship and possibly even her life?
Excerpt:
“Tell me about when you were a sheriff.”
Matthew Ellison glanced up from his work to see the freckled face and bright blue eyes of the livery boy. With an amused smile, he turned back to the horse he was shoeing. His gaze skimmed the shape of the metal horseshoe as he fitted it to the animal’s hoof.
“What do you want to know?” Matthew finally asked his young friend. He snagged his hammer, tapping nails into the horse’s hoof with firm, even blows.
“Tell me about the gunfights and the rustlers, and the time you shot that outlaw in Smith’s café.” Jacob’s face was full of innocent curiosity.
Matthew looked away from the open admiration in the boy’s expression, suddenly feeling much older than his twenty-seven years.
“I wasn’t even the sheriff when I shot that man.” Memories barreled back from that time years ago when he had just arrived in Albury. Hidden within the hills of Texas, the small town offered refuge from a vengeful gang of outlaws—a gang he had abandoned after the death of his cousin.
“Did ya really beat him to the draw?” Jacob’s voice was full of wonder.
“Reckon I did.” Matthew tapped the last nail into the hoof. “Hand me that rasp, will you?”
Jacob snatched it up and shoved it at Matthew. “And then you became sheriff, right? That must’ve been exciting!”
“Exciting?” Matthew shook his head with a chuckle. He filed the sharp edges off the nails now protruding from the horse’s hoof. “It was a lot of hard work and long hours, with some action here and there. Sheriffing wouldn’t be for everyone, Jacob.”
“But it were for you, weren’t it?” asked the boy eagerly. “How come you stopped, Matt? How come?”
“You know how come.” Matthew lowered the hoof and straightened, looking down at the boy. “I wasn’t honest when I took the job. I didn’t tell the townspeople about my past.”
“You mean because you were an outlaw?” Instead of mirroring Matthew’s serious expression, Jacob’s eyes sparkled. “What was it like?”
“But it were for you, weren’t it?” asked the boy eagerly. “How come you stopped, Matt? How come?”
“You know how come.” Matthew lowered the hoof and straightened, looking down at the boy. “I wasn’t honest when I took the job. I didn’t tell the townspeople about my past.”
“You mean because you were an outlaw?” Instead of mirroring Matthew’s serious expression, Jacob’s eyes sparkled. “What was it like?”
Matthew sighed. “You’re full of questions today, aren’t you?”
He picked up his toolbox and started back toward the stables. The instant he turned, a gunshot exploded from somewhere nearby. Matthew wheeled around, his gaze darting past Jacob’s wide-eyed expression to the street beyond.
“Matt?” Jacob’s voice held a tremor.
Matthew didn’t reply. Another shot blasted through town, followed closely by two more. Matthew spotted a man with ragged clothes and shoulder-length hair standing in front of one of the newer buildings. He held a pistol in each hand and yelled indiscernibly as he pulled off one wild shot after the other.
People scurried into buildings all through town, trying to avoid stray bullets.
“You can stop him, can’t you, Matt?” Jacob grabbed his arm in a death grip, his voice trembling.
Matthew’s fingers groped subconsciously at his hip for the pistol that wasn’t there.
Another gunshot assaulted the afternoon. Jacob’s fingers clenched tighter. “Matt?”
“Stay here,” Matthew told him, prying the boy’s hands off of his arm. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Moving along the fronts of buildings, Matthew slowly covered the distance to the shooter.
About the Author:
Bethany Klassen has been writing stories ever since she learned to put words on paper. Her debut novel SINS OF THE PAST is a Christian Western that explores themes of redemption and faith. Bethany's goal in writing is to entertain readers with action-packed books that portray Biblical truths.
You'll find Bethany training horses in her backyard, drinking coffee by the gallons while she plots her next book, or sharing new projects with her readers on Instagram (@bethany_klassen_).
He picked up his toolbox and started back toward the stables. The instant he turned, a gunshot exploded from somewhere nearby. Matthew wheeled around, his gaze darting past Jacob’s wide-eyed expression to the street beyond.
“Matt?” Jacob’s voice held a tremor.
Matthew didn’t reply. Another shot blasted through town, followed closely by two more. Matthew spotted a man with ragged clothes and shoulder-length hair standing in front of one of the newer buildings. He held a pistol in each hand and yelled indiscernibly as he pulled off one wild shot after the other.
People scurried into buildings all through town, trying to avoid stray bullets.
“You can stop him, can’t you, Matt?” Jacob grabbed his arm in a death grip, his voice trembling.
Matthew’s fingers groped subconsciously at his hip for the pistol that wasn’t there.
Another gunshot assaulted the afternoon. Jacob’s fingers clenched tighter. “Matt?”
“Stay here,” Matthew told him, prying the boy’s hands off of his arm. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Moving along the fronts of buildings, Matthew slowly covered the distance to the shooter.
About the Author:
You'll find Bethany training horses in her backyard, drinking coffee by the gallons while she plots her next book, or sharing new projects with her readers on Instagram (@bethany_klassen_).
Connect with Bethany at her website: bethanyklassenbooks.com
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