Title: Cherishing Caitlin
Author: Linda Carroll-Bradd
Genre: Clean historical romance
Book Blurb:
On a visit with an aunt and uncle at an army fort, Caitlyn O’Mara meets a man with exceptional horse riding skills and is intrigued. At a ball, she enjoys a flirtation with the cocky rider where they exchange only first names. Anxious to return to her horse breeding program, she travels back to the family ranch, only to discover the charming stranger is on the same stagecoach. When a broken wheel rolls the coach, everyone is injured and alone on the Texas prairie.
Mateo Beltran is on his way to investigate specially trained horses. He’s on the lookout for cutting horses to give him the edge for the roping event in the newly established professional rodeo. An accident leaves him injured with his future career in jeopardy.
Determined they are the most fit, Caitlyn and Mateo lean on each other to reach the next stagecoach stop to summon help. Trust develops but will it last when they discover an unknown connection?
A tragedy forces them to rely on each other to reach safety, but will the connection last?
Excerpt:
Whoops, hollers, and galloping hooves filled the air.
What in the world? Caitlin spun to face the commotion and sucked in a breath.
Two riders, hunched low over their horses’ necks with elbows flapping, raced down the path. They moved like they were extensions of the galloping beasts, thighs gripping the saddle tight and boots clinging to their mount’s chests.
Usually she focused on the animal, studying its gait and form. But, when she saw the riders poking and grabbing at each other, she realized the imminent danger. Intent on their mutual horseplay, they paid little attention to anything in their path. “Mary, step back now!” She clamped a hand on the maid’s elbow and yanked…hard. Too hard.
Mary stumbled and fell, skirt and petticoats flying. She grunted.
At the same time, something knocked into her, and Caitlin landed on her behind. Her split skirt didn’t reveal much more than a couple inches of leather riding boots.
The rider on the close side widened his eyes as he cantered by.
His features blurred in the quick passing, but she had the impression of a pleasant face with dark eyes and flowing hair.
He lifted his right leg, like in a dismount, but instead crouched over the left stirrup. The man rode, clinging to the left side of the saddle, and swung the horse into a wide circle.
Caitlin stared gape-mouthed at the grace of his horsemanship.
The horse slowed to a trot and tossed its head.
After levering himself back into the saddle, the rider guided the horse to approach at a walk.
The wondrous action stunned her, and she breathed deep to stifle a congratulatory shout. This was not O’Mara Acres, and she had her uncle’s reputation to consider. She stretched out her hands to yank her hems over her shoes. Finally, her presence of mind returned, Caitlin scrambled to her feet, brushing off the back of her skirt. Her right palm stung. But she ignored it, keeping her gaze on the horse, a well-muscled roan with black mane and tail. It brought each leg high, like the prancing step she’d observed on the parade grounds when the soldiers drilled.
The dark-haired rider dropped the reins against the horse’s neck.
Within two steps, the animal stopped, its side parallel to the bystanders, and heaved out a breath, shaking its head. Flecks of foam dotted its chest and flanks.
Pressing both hands to the pommel, the rider leaned forward, then shot out his legs parallel with the horse’s back. Sunlight flashed on a silver conch shell near the heel of his boot before he dropped over the horse’s left side.
She gasped, her heart pounding as if she, herself, just rode the race. Caitlin had read about trick riders in newspaper accounts of the traveling Wild West shows, but she’d never attended one. What strength the man must possess for that type of dismount. To keep from clapping, she curled her fingers into the sides of her skirt.
“Lordy be, did ye see that, miss?” Mary pressed close, a hand planted flat on her chest.
“Hard not to witness such a display.” The more time that passed, the more Caitlin analyzed what she’d seen. The speed was reckless, not to mention the pull and jolting on the horse’s shoulder when all the rider’s weight hung from one side.
Murmuring soft words, the man skimmed a hand over the horse’s neck before ducking under its head. “Ladies, please accept my profuse apologies. I most sincerely hope we did not frighten you.” He swept off a black, wide-brimmed hat, held it to his chest, then he bowed at the waist. His chin-length hair danced around his cheeks. He straightened and closed the distance, giving them both a wide smile. “My brother and I should have been more careful in the path we chose for our race.”
A glint in his almost-black eyes told her he spoke only a partial truth. “I couldn’t agree more.” Caitlin stiffened to her full height, which ended up being several inches shorter than this man. In her mind, she couldn’t stop picturing his athletic display. So many questions tumbled over each other. How long had he practiced that move? How had he discovered the balance between upward motion and the static pose?
The second rider trotted to the group. “Mateo, I need to get these mounts back to the stables so I can report for duty.”
Mateo waved a hand without breaking eye contact. “Sí, hermano. Hasta luego.”
Caitlin flicked her gaze between the mounted man and the one standing only two feet away. A familial resemblance was evident in the dark, wavy hair, deep-brown eyes, and caramel-tan skin. No one would argue about them being attractive men. But her preference had always been for men with lighter hair—to provide contrast to her being a brunette. Lessons from Miss Angelina rang through her mind, and she lowered her gaze. Giving him such a bold appraisal was not ladylike. But she kept him in view with short peeks through lowered eyelashes.
“Adios.” The other man collected the reins and led away the riderless horse.
Mateo narrowed his eyes and glanced between the two women. “Oh, lo siento. I have committed another social mistake. I apologize again for excluding such lovely ladies from my conversation with my brother, Lazaro.” Again, the wide smile appeared. This time, a dimple winked close to the left side of his mouth.
Mary stepped in front of Caitlin and squared her shoulders. “Sir, yer third mistake is addressing this young lady without a proper introduction.” The maid turned and swung an arm forward. “Miss, we are expected at Baruch House.”
“Good day.” Caitlin dipped a curtsy and turned away. After a few steps, the absurdity of her action hit. A curtsy? Why did I do that? We weren’t even introduced.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/books/cherishing-caitlin-thanksgiving-brides-book-6-by-linda-carroll-bradd
What makes your featured book a must-read?
I lived in San Antonio for twelve years and wanted to include some historical facts about the military in that city. Plus I was researching the beginnings of rodeos and decided to find a way to include that event in this romance, as well.
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Author Biography:
As a young girl, I spent lots of my free time lying on my bed reading about fascinating characters having exciting adventures in places far away and in other time periods. In later years, I discovered and devoured family saga stories and romance novels. At a certain point, I grew cocky enough to think I could write one of these stories. Then I learned what a balancing act writing a novel is, but I wasn’t deterred. Twelve years later, my first fiction sale was achieved--a confession story.
After reading Debra Holland’s “Montana Sky” series and Caroline Fyffe’s “Prairie Hearts” series, I wanted to try my hand at historicals. I was thrilled to be invited to contribute to Sweetwater Springs Christmas and continued writing in the Montana Sky world by developing my Entertainers of the West series.
Married with 4 adult children and 2 granddaughters, I now write heartwarming contemporary and historical stories with a touch of humor and a bit of sass from my home in the southern California mountains. Lots of my stories are set in Texas where I lived for a dozen years.
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