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Desert Time
Young and full of dreams, Matilda Beaumont marries a virtual stranger, a man more focused on the call of the New Mexico Territory than the realities of life in 1857 St. Louis. Only her prideful dignity gives Tildy the courage to endure, even when her husband abandons her in the midst of an influenza epidemic.
Nat Carruthers becomes obsessed with Tildy after rescuing her from a near-drowning on her wedding day. As a Virginia gentleman and respected St. Louis attorney he distances himself yet stays informed of the Beaumont fortunes. After losing his brother, he heads to Santa Fe, only to learn influenza had taken Tildy.
Cards, liquor and gun play dominate Nat’s life until he travels to the southern part of the territory, where he finds Tildy very much alive—and struggling for a dignified existence. Newly widowed, she has become the inexplicable nemesis of a wealthy Spanish Don, a man who had mysteriously financed her husband’s pitifully small ranch and now insists on controlling Tildy’s life. The Spanish-American tensions and Apache fears turn the Mesilla Valley into a tinder box. Nat must figure out why Tildy has become the match that is likely to ignite a political explosion.
Nat Carruthers becomes obsessed with Tildy after rescuing her from a near-drowning on her wedding day. As a Virginia gentleman and respected St. Louis attorney he distances himself yet stays informed of the Beaumont fortunes. After losing his brother, he heads to Santa Fe, only to learn influenza had taken Tildy.
Cards, liquor and gun play dominate Nat’s life until he travels to the southern part of the territory, where he finds Tildy very much alive—and struggling for a dignified existence. Newly widowed, she has become the inexplicable nemesis of a wealthy Spanish Don, a man who had mysteriously financed her husband’s pitifully small ranch and now insists on controlling Tildy’s life. The Spanish-American tensions and Apache fears turn the Mesilla Valley into a tinder box. Nat must figure out why Tildy has become the match that is likely to ignite a political explosion.
437 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2005
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February 14, 2009
Who knew one woman could be so much trouble? The truth is that Matilda (Tildy) Beaumont does not seek out trouble but trouble finds her. She leaves Iowa with her new husband, Ike Beaumont, who cares more about himself than her. From the beginning, I wanted to see her with Nat Carruthers because he rescued her from drowning while Ike was busy caring more about her valuable possessions than about her. In fact, that is how things progressed for Tildy. Determined to make her marriage work, she does what Ike asks her to do. She even goes to the New Mexico Territory to be with him (after he abandons her because he thinks she's so sick that she'll die). I was disgusted with Ike and was very happy to see him die. (That might sound mean, but when you read this book, you'll understand that this man wasn't a good one.)
As for Nat, he leaves his law business to be a gunman, trying to walk the fine line between life and death. Though he tries to put Tildy from his mind, he can't. I did like the way these two fought their feelings for each other. It made for great romantic tension. But another man also showed an interest in her as well. I won't spoil how that goes.
Meanwhile, there is something fishy about Don Miguel's business dealings. One of those dealings is his determination to get rid of Tildy. The reader has to wonder why he is so insistent that she return to Iowa, and this is the prevailing question that takes the reader through the second half of the book. So how does she cause so much trouble? By standing on her own two feet and deciding her own fate, rather than having Don, or any other man, decide it for her. This creates a mountain of trouble.
I won't spoil it for you, but let's just say Sally J. Walker has a few surprises that caught me off guard. I strongly recommend this western for its entertaining value and the realities of life out in the New Mexico Territory in the late 1850's. And if anyone is interested, the page quality and cover quality are excellent.
As for Nat, he leaves his law business to be a gunman, trying to walk the fine line between life and death. Though he tries to put Tildy from his mind, he can't. I did like the way these two fought their feelings for each other. It made for great romantic tension. But another man also showed an interest in her as well. I won't spoil how that goes.
Meanwhile, there is something fishy about Don Miguel's business dealings. One of those dealings is his determination to get rid of Tildy. The reader has to wonder why he is so insistent that she return to Iowa, and this is the prevailing question that takes the reader through the second half of the book. So how does she cause so much trouble? By standing on her own two feet and deciding her own fate, rather than having Don, or any other man, decide it for her. This creates a mountain of trouble.
I won't spoil it for you, but let's just say Sally J. Walker has a few surprises that caught me off guard. I strongly recommend this western for its entertaining value and the realities of life out in the New Mexico Territory in the late 1850's. And if anyone is interested, the page quality and cover quality are excellent.
Displaying 1 of 1 review