Connealy Combines Western Action and Charming Historical Romance The Boden clan thought their problems had ended with the death of a dangerous enemy, but have they truly uncovered the real plot to take their New Mexico ranch? Rancher Justin Boden is now in charge. He is normally an unshakable and rugged man, but with his brother, Cole, shot and in mortal danger, even a tough man faces doubts. And it doesn't help that Angie DuPree, the assistant to the doctor trying to save Cole, is as distracting a woman as Justin ever laid eyes on. With her and the doc's timely skills, Cole looks to be on the mend, and Justin and the rest of the Bodens can turn their attention back to the dangers facing them. It's clear now that everything that's occurred is part of a much bigger plot that could date back to a decades-old secret. Can they uncover all the pieces before danger closes in on them, or is the threat to the ranch even bigger than any of the Bodens could imagine? Someone Will Stop at Nothing to Claim the Boden Homestead! The Boden clan thought their problems had ended with the death of a dangerous enemy, but have they uncovered the real plot to take their 1880s New Mexico ranch? Justin Boden is a top rancher and a rugged man, and yet with his brother, Cole, shot and in mortal danger, even a tough man faces doubts. And it doesn't help that Angie DuPree, the assistant to the doctor trying to save Cole, is as distracting a woman as Justin ever laid eyes on. With her and the doc's timely skills, Cole looks to be on the mend. Now Justin and the rest of the Bodens can turn their attention back to the threats facing them. It's clear now that everything that's occurred is part of a much bigger plot that could date back to a decades-old secret. Can they pull together all the pieces before danger closes in on them, or is the risk of losing the ranch even greater than any of them could imagine? "Connealy spins a sweet love story within a fast-paced adventure, and she knows her westerns."-- Publishers Weekly "Fans of cowboys and romance will enjoy this humorous and hopeful tale set in the Old West." --Library Journal Praise for the Cimarron Legacy series! "Connealy provides us with another amazing, fast-paced, suspenseful read." RT Book Reviews on No Way Up Mary Connealy writes "romantic comedies with cowboys" and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than 1.5 million books and is the author of the popular series A Western Light, Wyoming Sunrise, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Learn more at MaryConnealy.com. Long Time Gone By Mary Connealy Baker Publishing Group Copyright © 2017 Mary Connealy All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-7642-1182-9 CHAPTER 1 Skull Gulch, New Mexico Territory November 1880 Abandoning his sister to save his brother, Justin Boden felt as gutshot as Cole. He left Heath Kincaid behind to find his little sister, Sadie, feeling as though he were tearing himself in half to make that choice. But he had only minutes to get his big brother home to stop the bleeding and tend his wound. Still, leaving her behind went against everything he knew about caring for his family. "No." Cole's words were slurred. "Sadie." He drooped forward until he almost lay on his horse's neck. Justin gritted his teeth. The outlaw who had gotten a bullet into Cole was tied over his saddle, its reins tied to Cole's horse. But Sadie was missing. So Justin had to ask if there was more than one villain chasing them. Justin grabbed the reins out of Cole's hands and turned up the trail. Leading two horses, one with his wounded brother, trailed by one with the unconscious outlaw, forced Justin forward — the trail was too narrow to look back. Cole didn't have long. If the gutshot was a bad one, it might already be too late. Sadie was missing, and if the man they'd taken prisoner wasn't alone, killers might be on her trail — or have her even now. Even King Solomon would have a hard time deciding what to do about this. Turning his back on Sadie was like cleaving himself in two. But he did it and then pushed hard up the trail for home. Only a few more minutes and he could get Cole inside. If he'd been gut-shot — and that was what it looked like — they couldn't save him. It nearly drove Justin mad to think of it. The trail twisted and turned. It bent so it went alongside the mountain, then headed up a while until it got so steep it was impossible to climb, then it wound off sideways again to another spot they could climb. It was narrower and steeper with every step until on some of the sideways stretches, one of Justin's booted feet was in a stirrup dangling over a dead drop, while on the other side he could have reached out a hand and brushed the mountainside. He came to a place the trail had caved off. He sure hoped his horse knew how to walk on tiptoes. Justin prayed for all he was worth as he passed th