Description:

Hannah and Caleb are young newlyweds on the plains of Texas in the late nineteenth century. They’ve staked their claim and have built a new home and a new life as cattle ranchers. But a cloud of dust in the distance rides towards their cabin and changes Hannah’s life forever. Caleb is shot and Hannah is abused and raped by a gang of rustlers.

Left for dead, Hannah recovers and sets off to exact revenge. Join Hannah on her determined quest through the bordellos, churches, and shanty courts of the old west as she makes her own justice — and finds a new love along the way.

Excerpt:

Hannah's body flopped about like a rag doll when she was thrown onto the bed. Her mind slipped into a circular loop that continued to play and replay her preparations for the stew she'd been making. Onions, carrots and potatoes were cut and recut. The heat of the cast iron stove and the searing, cubed deer meat created beads of sweat on her brow.

Her kitchen scene delusion masked the feel of many hands exploring her body. She never felt the multiple invasions into her most private parts that left her damp and bloody. The bites on her breasts and throat would have evoked screams of terror in a sane person, but Hannah just kept preparing the stew. Finally, she slept.

*****

Intense pain niggled at her consciousness. Struggling through sleep cobwebs, she sought light. It seemed locked away. Attempts to open her eyes generated terrible pains in her head, brow and eyes. She was about to moan, when from what seemed far away she heard a deep voice. Hannah vaguely remembered the voice and instinctively held herself immobile.

"Well, boys, I think we're done here. Time to move on." A chair scraped the wood floor and Hannah heard footsteps. The deep voice seemed almost upon her. "We got to get movin'. Can't hang around waiting for a neighbor or the law to stumble by."

"Hell, Drake, there ain't no neighbors for miles." Benny laughed.

"You heard me. Pump a bullet into her and let's get going."

Hannah heard multiple footsteps tromp heavily across the floor, then nothing. But, she sensed she was not alone.

"You really gonna kill her?" a new voice asked.

"You heard Drake. Gotta' or he'll kill me," Benny answered.

"I think she's crazy. When my turn came last night, she was like dead or somethin’. Real limp. You know what they say about killin’ a crazy person. They'll haunt you, forever."

Spurs jingled as someone scuffed his way toward the door. She struggled to remain calm, but jumped as a hand covered her mouth.

"Listen, woman," Benny whispered into her ear. "If you can hear me, you best keep quiet 'til you're sure we've ridden off. I'm gonna shoot the mattress here next to your head. You’re probly gonna die anyhow, but don't you go hauntin' me. You hear?"

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