Her Rebel Cowboy

by Marcia Lynn McClure

(Previously released as The Touch of Sage...) Sage’s hands trembled as she held her cards. One card—that’s all she needed. Just one more three to finish her set and she would win! Reb had won the first hand they’d played—Sage the second. Now Sage was holding everything she needed to beat him—save one silly three. ...Sage sat, mouth gaping open in astonishment. She had lost! She had actually lost! Reb looked at her…“Well, Sage,” he began, “I’ll drop in Saturday and collect my winnin’s.” “N-now, Reb,” Sage stammered, a nervous smile and pleading expression washing over her face. “Why…why don’t I just fix you up a nice supper on Saturday…some of my special sage gravy…” “Oh, I like the flavor of sage, all right,” Reb interrupted, smiling at her as he smoothed his mustache with the side of an index finger…“Yes, ma’am! I do love to savor the taste of sage! And I plan on gettin’ my fill of it Saturday night…but supper won’t be necessary, Sage.” Sage felt her cheeks run vermilion as the other ladies in the room giggled… Following the death of her parents, Sage Willows had lovingly nurtured her younger sisters through childhood. She loved her sisters. She’d seen each one married, and was glad to see them settled and happy. Furthermore, she held no resentment at never having found a good man of her own to settle down with. Yet, regret is different than resentment—and far more haunting. Still, Sage found as much joy as was allowed a lonely young woman—in being proprietress of Willows’ Boardinghouse, and in the companionship of the four beloved widow-women boarding there. Until, that is, the devilishly handsome Rebel Lee Mitchell appeared. It seemed Reb Mitchel instantly and forever vanquished Sage’s feigned contentment. Dark, mysterious and secretly wounded, Reb Mitchell utterly captured Sage’s lonely heart. Nevertheless, to Sage Williows, the powerfully attractive cowboy—admired and coveted by every female in his path—seemed entirely unobtainable. How could a weathered, boardinghouse-proprietress resigned to spinsterhood, ever hope to hold the attention of such a man? And knowing she couldn’t—would Sage Willows simply sink deeper into the bleak loneliness she’d secreted for so long?

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction

223 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 26, 2017

About the author

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Marcia Lynn McClure grew up influenced by the reminiscent stories of rugged, rural Colorado farm life fascinatingly recounted to her by her parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts…tales of runaway buckboards, mule-drawn plows and dust pneumonia; verbalized images of stream-flooded meadows, frozen over in winter, where a child could peer through the crystal clear ice in wonder at the small fish, snakes and mice sealed in the meadow grasses beneath; stories of hardship and tragedy, love and loss. But always the stories, and the people telling them, bore evidence of the wonder and worthiness of simpler, yet sometimes brutal, times.

These influential people and the family legends they detailed, coupled with her own life experiences and utterly romantic nature, led Marcia to begin writing novels as Christmas gifts for her closest friends…friends who long for a breath of the past and miss the romance of bygone eras; friends searching for moments of distraction from the stressful, demanding times we live in.

And so, knowing that it is the breath of the past and the "take me in you arms and kiss me" kind of moments that so many women long to relive, Marcia spins her tales of love, life and laughter…adventures woven around those compelling, romantic instances that most appeal to a woman's loving heart. Marcia feels that if her readers close one of her books with a contented sigh and a delighted smile, feeling rejuvenated, cheerful and edified, then she has achieved what she set out to do…shower refreshment and happiness on anyone having experienced the story.

Marcia lives in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. There she writes her stories surrounded by her beloved friends and family...and the beautiful desert landscape of New Mexico!

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read back in 2010 when it was titled The Touch of Sage...
This one made me laugh multiple times while reading it. The antics of the old widows were hilarious to read. If you like sappy, clean, fun romances you'll enjoy this one. A broken hearted cowboy, a lonely young lady running a boarding house & 4 old widows determined to bring them together make for a delightful romp of a book.

[Richelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

I absolutely loved this one! The characters were alive and so funny. I am gonna miss this book! I feel like I am friends with the people. Loved it!

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't read this in awhile, but since it had a new title, I thought it was time to revisit of one my favorite cowboy tales from my fav author.
I must've been in some kind of sappy mood tonight for never before had this book made me bawl my eyes out with sweet, sappy sentimental tears, but it sure got to me tonight!
This book is just fun and sweet and the kissing scenes are top knotch, as per Marcia usual.

[Elaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book before but it was under a different title. As I was reading the book I knew what was reading and reading this book the second time it pulled me in and I couldn't put it down. Love the characters, the tricky hilarious old widows, adventure, the West, the heartache and the romantic scenes. Love, love love this book!!

[Teya Teya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's that time of the year again to devour the deliciousness of Marcia Mcclure's journeys to destiny books. Okay, I'm a month early starting but who cares!

12/5/23
I love this with the old biddies and sweet sage who finds her love and joy.

8/12/2022
I love this book. I love Sage and I love their story. It's a little frustrating but it wouldn't be great without it. I love the old bitties too, they remind me of my grandmother. Sigh, I should be writing but I just can't help myself.

Another year
I love the antics of these women. I would love to be a little like each of them. I love how Reb always smells Sage's fingers of Sage. I love Reb's love to find little Ruthy's kin.

[Collette · Rating 5 out of 5]

True good Romance

I have read several of your books now and have enjoyed them all very much. I have not written a review until now as I enjoy reading clean romance during my retirement. I read for four to eight hours a day and do not take time for reviews, I am sorry I am so thoughtless, I just really, really like too read. But this book really got to me, it was so good. Very well written!!! Thank you!!!
My wife wants me too tell you that I am 77 years old, a male and I enjoy good romance stories. Brent

[Flora W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet romance

Loved this book. All of the characters are well written. And Sage and Rebel are so cute together. Love the kissing scenes. If you are looking for a sweet romance that is clean, with no erotic sex scenes and vulgar language, give this a try.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also known as “ A Touch if Sage” one of my favorites that marcia has written.

[Nellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Western romance

Very clean romantic story, with some seriously lickery kissing.
Fun characters, interesting story, and fun writing. I love this author.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published as A Touch Of Sage

[Lauri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as the title "The Touch of Sage"

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was confused and thought that this was different than the touch of sage but no it is the same but it just goes by different names.

[Bessie Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun clean read!!

Just the type of book to grab your coffee, put your feet up and ESCAPE!!! Be prepared to laugh, cry and enjoy!

[Alexis Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute. Love the widows in this story. Ending dragged on a bit, but has more depth than some of her others!

[A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

2* Sweet silliness. Did a lot of skimming.