Between Heaven and Hell by Jacqui Nelson Excerpt

Between Heaven and Hell by Jacqui Nelson Excerpt
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Welcome to a new Old West

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas - 1850
Hannah knows one thing the moment she enters Fort Leavenworth—she's arrived in Hell. But inside is the means to a new life, a position as a scout on a wagon train bound for the Western Territories. All she has to do is convince the wagon master, Paden Callahan, she's the right person for the job.
After his wife was murdered by the Comanche, Paden let his work as a Texas Ranger consume him. Now he wants nothing more than to disappear into the West. Unfortunately, the one man he can't refuse has asked him to guide a wagon train full of tenderfoots across thousands of miles of Indian land. But Paden's greatest challenge turns out to be Hannah, a woman his heart won't allow him to ignore even though she was raised by an enemy he hates.

Between Heaven and Hell – Excerpt

Copyright © 2014 Jacqui Nelson

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas—Spring 1850

Lord help her, for she had entered Hell. That Hannah had sought guidance from the God of her past made her loneliness increase tenfold. She should’ve prayed to Grandfather Spider.

“Well, what’a we got here?” someone yelled from behind her. The voice was rough with malicious undertones.

“Don’t reckon I know,” replied another man. “Though she be a purty lil’ yellow-haired thing.”

“Maybe, but we’d hafta get them injun’ clothes off her to tell fer sure.”

Hannah stiffened in her saddle but kept her buckskin-clad knees tight against White Cloud’s sides, urging him forward. She fought the need to tug down the frayed cuffs of her wool coat or touch the beads and feathers in her belt for comfort.

Don’t react, she told herself. Don’t make eye contact. Don’t turn back.

A mountain man, the size of a bear, spat a foul-smelling stream of brown chewing tobacco in front of White Cloud’s path. He sneered at Hannah with lips stretched over rotting teeth.

Behind him on a saloon porch, a trio of dusty cowhands rose from their card game, waved their whiskey bottles at her and hollered, “Ooh-wee, lovey! Come on down from yer horse. Let us show you a good time.”

Strident feminine laughter filled the air. Hannah’s gaze darted heavenward to discover a row of women dressed in corsets and short calico skirts. They leaned over the balcony railing, watching her with black-rimmed eyes full of disdain.

If she ignored them, maybe they’d leave her alone. Or maybe coming to Fort Leavenworth hadn’t been such a good idea. She had no choice. She couldn’t turn back.