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Always You
Prologue
He’d never stalked a woman before.
He didn’t much like it. But there was no other way.
As he sat with his hat pulled low over his eyes and his long legs stretched out beneath a small square table in the Ginger Horse Saloon, the tall, quiet stranger drank whiskey and let the talk swirl around him, talk as thick and heavy as the tobacco smoke that drifted over the baize-topped gaming tables and the gleaming mahogany bar.
The place was like many others he had passed through in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada. Flocked red-velvet wallpaper, brass chandeliers. A big, crowded room teeming with cowboys and ranchers and townsmen. There were some gamblers and a half dozen red-lipped women in cheap, gaudy dresses and strong perfume—heady floral fragrances that vied for attention with the odors of tobacco, whiskey, and sweat. A piano player pounded at the keys of the instrument in the corner; coins clinked; boots scraped against the floor.
A typical place, the stranger thought, full of colors, sounds, smells.
And talk.
Talk about Melora Deane.
She was the belle of the town, maybe even the belle of the territory, from the sound of it. Daughter of rancher Craig Deane of the Weeping Willow Ranch, one of the largest spreads around.
He’d already seen the ranch. But not the girl—not yet.
He finished his whiskey, ordered another, and listened some more.
Almost everyone in the Ginger Horse had something to say about her. People talked openly, admiringly. They said she was a handful. A beauty. They said she was every inch her father’s daughter.
And they said she was getting married tomorrow to Wyatt Holden.
The stranger was the only one who knew she wasn’t.
Because tomorrow at this time Melora Deane would have vanished. And the stranger in the gray shirt and sleek black pants, with the silver handled gun belt slung low on his hips and the dark blue neckerchief loosely knotted at his throat, was the only one who would know what had become of her.
He didn’t want her. But he was going to take her anyway.
Because there wasn’t going to be any wedding for this talked-about happy couple; there was only going to be a funeral.
An uproarious burst of laughter erupted from the poker players near the window, followed by someone shouting for another round of drinks.
The stranger paid for his whiskey, glanced neither here nor there, and strode out the double doors into the Wyoming dusk.
It was time.
He’d never stalked a woman before.
He didn’t much like it. But there was no other way.
As he sat with his hat pulled low over his eyes and his long legs stretched out beneath a small square table in the Ginger Horse Saloon, the tall, quiet stranger drank whiskey and let the talk swirl around him, talk as thick and heavy as the tobacco smoke that drifted over the baize-topped gaming tables and the gleaming mahogany bar.
The place was like many others he had passed through in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada. Flocked red-velvet wallpaper, brass chandeliers. A big, crowded room teeming with cowboys and ranchers and townsmen. There were some gamblers and a half dozen red-lipped women in cheap, gaudy dresses and strong perfume—heady floral fragrances that vied for attention with the odors of tobacco, whiskey, and sweat. A piano player pounded at the keys of the instrument in the corner; coins clinked; boots scraped against the floor.
A typical place, the stranger thought, full of colors, sounds, smells.
And talk.
Talk about Melora Deane.
She was the belle of the town, maybe even the belle of the territory, from the sound of it. Daughter of rancher Craig Deane of the Weeping Willow Ranch, one of the largest spreads around.
He’d already seen the ranch. But not the girl—not yet.
He finished his whiskey, ordered another, and listened some more.
Almost everyone in the Ginger Horse had something to say about her. People talked openly, admiringly. They said she was a handful. A beauty. They said she was every inch her father’s daughter.
And they said she was getting married tomorrow to Wyatt Holden.
The stranger was the only one who knew she wasn’t.
Because tomorrow at this time Melora Deane would have vanished. And the stranger in the gray shirt and sleek black pants, with the silver handled gun belt slung low on his hips and the dark blue neckerchief loosely knotted at his throat, was the only one who would know what had become of her.
He didn’t want her. But he was going to take her anyway.
Because there wasn’t going to be any wedding for this talked-about happy couple; there was only going to be a funeral.
An uproarious burst of laughter erupted from the poker players near the window, followed by someone shouting for another round of drinks.
The stranger paid for his whiskey, glanced neither here nor there, and strode out the double doors into the Wyoming dusk.
It was time.
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First published March 1, 1996
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About the author
Jill Gregory
63 books201 followersNew York Times and USA Today best-selling author Jill Gregory is the award-winning author of more than thirty novels. Jill has been awarded the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence and her novels NEVER LOVE A COWBOY and COLD NIGHT, WARM STRANGER were honored with back-to-back Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice awards for Best Western Historical Romance.
Jill Gregory's novels have been translated and published in Japan, Russia, Norway, France, Taiwan, Sweden, Italy, and Germany. Jill grew up in Chicago and received her bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of Illinois. She currently resides in Michigan with her husband.
Jill Gregory's novels have been translated and published in Japan, Russia, Norway, France, Taiwan, Sweden, Italy, and Germany. Jill grew up in Chicago and received her bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of Illinois. She currently resides in Michigan with her husband.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 5, 2020
I really enjoyed this romance! It takes place in the Wild West (United States). Very enjoyable and filled with lots of action and love-to-hate relationship antics.
March 5, 2016
3.5 out of 5 stars
July 12, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, beautifully written and set sometime in the late 1800's USA. Set mostly in the black hills of South Dakota. The romance was sizzling and steamy in places, although it was very slow burn to start with. Lots of action, gunfights with a plot that was well thought out. 4.5 stars.
April 18, 2025
Easy read, loved the story, unique plot. Strong hero, not 100% sure about the heroine, came across a bit childish in the beginning instead of strong. Good amount of romance, emotional, and a tiny bit of spice.
February 11, 2016
Good western romances make me think that camping out in the middle of nowhere with your honey can be a good idea. This is one of those romances. Jill Gregory always does such a nice job describing the landscape that I want to either jump into the story or plan a Wyoming vacation. Her heroes are always perfectly rough, gruff, and lovable, and heroines are almost always beautiful and high spirited.
Melora is a recently orphaned 20 year old left to run her father's failing ranch and care for her sister, who lost the ability to walk after coming across their father's dead body. On the eve of her marriage to this guy named Wyatt Holden, Melora is abducted from her room and taken to the middle of nowhere. Her abductor is Cal, who is super hot and super nice, even though he kidnapped Melora. Despite the awkward circumstances, Melora comes to care for Cal, who she realizes is an honorable man trying to take care of his family, just like she's trying to care for her own. The story really isn't too complicated, but it was sweet and entertaining. I give it 4 stars.
Melora is a recently orphaned 20 year old left to run her father's failing ranch and care for her sister, who lost the ability to walk after coming across their father's dead body. On the eve of her marriage to this guy named Wyatt Holden, Melora is abducted from her room and taken to the middle of nowhere. Her abductor is Cal, who is super hot and super nice, even though he kidnapped Melora. Despite the awkward circumstances, Melora comes to care for Cal, who she realizes is an honorable man trying to take care of his family, just like she's trying to care for her own. The story really isn't too complicated, but it was sweet and entertaining. I give it 4 stars.
January 3, 2011
A case of Stockholm Syndrome if I have ever seen one.... except the kidnapper turns out to be the hot hero!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews