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  A STOLEN KISS

  “Sir, you may not realize it, but, quite often, a good name is all a poor girl has to cling to,” Maura said.

  “I realize that. I’m also sure that, by the time we get to Paradise, we’ll have thought of some good explanation, something that will soothe most of those ruffled feathers. Like having you travel under an assumed name.”

  “It might work.”

  “You know it will.” Tyrone stood up, grasped Maura by the hand and tugged her into his arms. “Why, you could do a great deal of misbehaving beneath the shelter of that name.”

  “Misbehaving?” she snapped, and started to push him away.

  Pretending he misread her shock as confusion or surprise, he tightened his hold on her. Tyrone suspected he would pay dearly for stealing a kiss, but the temptation to do so was too strong to ignore. The look that briefly flared in Maura’s eyes as he touched his mouth to hers hinted that she was as curious as he....

  Books by Hannah Howell

  ONLY FOR YOU * MY VALIANT KNIGHT *

  UNCONQUERED * WILD ROSES * A TASTE OF FIRE *

  HIGHLAND DESTINY * HIGHLAND HONOR *

  HIGHLAND PROMISE * A STOCKINGFUL OF JOY *

  HIGHLAND VOW * HIGHLAND KNIGHT *

  HIGHLAND HEARTS * HIGHLAND BRIDE *

  HIGHLAND ANGEL * HIGHLAND GROOM *

  HIGHLAND WARRIOR * RECKLESS * HIGHLAND

  CONQUEROR * HIGHLAND CHAMPION *

  HIGHLAND LOVER * HIGHLAND VAMPIRE *

  THE ETERNAL HIGHLANDER * MY IMMORTAL

  HIGHLANDER * CONQUEROR’S KISS * HIGHLAND

  BARBARIAN * BEAUTY AND THE BEAST *

  HIGHLAND SAVAGE * HIGHLAND THIRST *

  HIGHLAND WEDDING * HIGHLAND WOLF *

  SILVER FLAME * HIGHLAND FIRE * NATURE OF

  THE BEAST * HIGHLAND CAPTIVE * HIGHLAND

  SINNER * MY LADY CAPTOR * IF HE’S WICKED *

  WILD CONQUEST * IF HE’S SINFUL * KENTUCKY

  BRIDE * IF HE’S WILD * YOURS FOR ETERNITY *

  COMPROMISED HEARTS * HIGHLAND PROTECTOR *

  STOLEN ECSTASY * IF HE’S DANGEROUS *

  HIGHLAND HERO * HIGHLAND HUNGER

  Publishes by Kensington Publishing Corporation

  A STOCKINGFUL OF JOY

  HANNAH HOWELL

  ZEBRA BOOKS

  KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.

  http://www.kensingtonbooks.com

  All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected.

  ZEBRA BOOKS are published by

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  119 West 40th Street

  New York, NY 10018

  Copyright © 2000, 2011 by Hannah Howell

  “A Christmas in Paradise” copyright © 2000 by Hannah Howell “Maura’s Christmas Secret” copyright © 2000 by Hannah Howell

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

  Zebra and the Z logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

  ISBN: 978-1-4201-4275-4

  Table of Contents

  A STOLEN KISS

  Books by Hannah Howell

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  A christmas in Paradise

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapler Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Maura’s Christmas Secret

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Epilogue

  Teaser chapter

  Teaser chapter

  Teaser chapter

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  A christmas in Paradise

  Prologue

  Dunstanville, MO

  October, 1882

  “I CAN’T STOP THE bleeding,” Deidre Kenney said in a voice choked with grief.

  She looked over her father’s pain-wracked body to her cousin Maura and saw the devastating knowledge of approaching death in the young woman’s dark-blue eyes. In the hour since her father had stumbled into their small farmhouse bleeding profusely from three bullet wounds, Deidre had fought any acceptance of that cold truth, but she could do so no longer. Her father was going to die. It was probably a miracle and sheer stubbornness that had kept him alive this long.

  “Ah, my two lovelies,” Patrick Kenney rasped, opening his eyes and looking from Deidre to Maura and back again. “My tiny angels. None in heaven will look so lovely.”

  Even though she could see the dull glaze of death in his green eyes, Deidre said, “Well, you won’t be judging the truth of that too soon.”

  Patrick smiled faintly and, shuddering with the effort, reached out and grasped each girl by the hand. “I will and we all know it.”

  “No, Papa,” Deidre said, clenching his cold hand in both of hers.

  “No, Uncle,” Maura said at the same time.

  “Yes, my pretties. Ah, I will surely miss you both. But, heed me now. I must tell you a few things and, I fear, I must ask you to finish something for me.”

  “The something that got you shot?” asked Deidre, fighting back her tears.

  “Yes. There are some papers in my coat—deeds—and I have sworn to get them to Montana. ’Twas an oath sworn on my friend’s deathbed and must be fulfilled.”

  “And this friend was also killed? It was Bill.”

  “I fear so. I don’t want to put you children in danger, but . . .”

  “But an oath must be fulfilled.”

  “And the money paid will be a fitting legacy for you girls.”

  “We would rather have you, Uncle,” said Maura.

  “And that warms an old fool’s heart. Now, these papers must get to the Callahans at the Sweet Kate Ranch in Paradise, Montana, before the turn of the year. If the deeds aren’t presented at the land office by then, they will lose everything. Don’t forget to take that letter from Bill, too. It gives us Kenneys the right to finish this job and collect the money owed him. Can you do it, girls?”

  “We will do it,” said Deidre, and Maura nodded.

  “Maybe I ask too much of you,” he whispered. “ ’Tis dangerous and you’re just wee girls.”

  “Women, Da, and we will do it. Be at ease. We’ll do it, if for no other reason than to make certain that the bastards who killed you and Bill won’t win.”

  “That’s my girl. How I hate to leave you, but, soon, I will be with my sweet Maggie again.”

  Soon came an hour later. Deidre and Maura still held his hands as Patrick Kenney breathed his last. They wept as they cleaned his body and dressed him in his Sunday best. It was hard for them to accept that they were alone now, the only surviving members of what had once been a large family.

  The sheriff dutifully listened to their tale, but offered little hope of justice. The undertaker showed little sympathy for their loss as he charged them what both women thought an exorbitant amount for little better than a pauper’s burial. As they prepa
red to bury Patrick Kenney, Maura carefully made copies of the deeds and letters that had to be taken to the Callahans, and Deidre made arrangements for the neighbor’s oldest son to watch the farm while she and Maura were gone.

  It was a gray, chilly day when they buried Patrick Kenney next to his wife, the love of his life. Deidre and Maura stood at his graveside holding hands, lingering long after the last of the mourners had left. They were packed and ready to go but neither was eager to begin what could be a long, dangerous journey.

  “I am afraid,” whispered Maura.

  “So am I,” said Deidre. “Terrified. Two men are dead. This is not a simple delivery.”

  “Well”—Maura took a deep, steadying breath—“we have helped Uncle and Bill before.”

  “Ye-es, but those jobs did not carry much risk. Until now, the most Papa and Bill risked in their detective and courier work was a punch in the face. These Callahans have some far more serious enemies than jealous husbands and disappointed heirs.”

  “Are you saying that we should forget about finishing this job?”

  “No, we need the money and it’s only right that Bill and Da end their careers as winners. We can’t leave it, can’t have them dying for nothing.”

  “And, if the ones after these papers follow us, we might just find a chance for justice as well.”

  “Exactly. These papers could give us the killers, and I want them.” She took a deep breath and looked at Maura. “You’ve made certain that you have copies of everything?”

  “Yes, and that little weasel, Johnnie, made sure that they looked official.”

  “Maybe I should take the direct route. It could prove to be the more dangerous one.”

  “No. We tossed for it. It was all fair. Don’t worry about me.”

  “Easier said than done.” She hugged Maura. “take care. I don’t want to lose any more of my kin.”

  Maura kissed Deidre’s cheek. “Neither do I.” She stepped back, and, smiling faintly, saluted Deidre. “To success and Paradise, Montana.”

  Deidre saluted her back. “And to justice.”

  * * *

  “He should be here by now,” grumbled Tyrone Callahan as he scowled out of the window of his front parlor.

  “Bill Johnson was highly recommended. Pa trusted him, too. Trusted the man’s partner, Paddy Kenney, as well,” said Tyrone’s brother Mitchell as he sprawled more comfortably in a large wing chair as he closely watched his older brother. “Maybe he’s slow because he is being very careful.”

  “He’s a month late and there hasn’t been a word. I think it’s more than caution.” Tyrone took one last look at the acres of the Sweet Kate Ranch spread out in front of the ranch house before turning his attention fully on his brother. “It’s November. He should have been here by now, him or Paddy, and all of this nonsense sorted out. Time’s running out now.”

  “What do you suggest we do?”

  “Go look for him.”

  “And if he comes here while we’re stumbling around in the cold?”

  “Stephen will be here. He can turn the papers in at the land office. He’s not only our brother, but a lawyer. He’ll know what to do.”

  “It could be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Worse. We’re not sure which needle we’ll be looking for—Bill or Paddy.”

  “I know, but I can’t just stand here watching the time slip away.”

  “Agreed. How do we do this then?” Mitchell asked as he rose, went to the sideboard, and poured them each a whiskey.

  “You go the straightest route and I’ll take the less direct one.” Tyrone moved to stand next to Mitchell and accepted the whiskey. “We meet in Saint Louis at Johnson’s office or our lawyer’s.”

  “And if Johnson or Kenney can’t be found?”

  “Then we send Stephen a telegram and tell him to try and hold off the vultures.”

  “Damn it, why did Pa have to keep the papers so far away?”

  “Maybe because he suspected that the Martins would try to steal everything. Be glad that he was such a cautious bastard. If he hadn’t kept legal copies in another place, we’d be destitute and homeless by now.”

  “I’d still like to know how the Martins got rid of the deeds that were in the land office.” Mitchell took a deep breath, pushed aside his anger and touched his glass to Tyrone’s in a toast. “Well, then, here’s to finding Bill Johnson or that cursed Irishman and spitting in the eye of that thieving bastard, William Martin.”

  “Here’s to success and justice.”

  Chapter One

  AS SHE STOOD QUIETLY waiting for the stage driver to set down her bag, Deidre looked around the town. She was so tired she needed a moment to recall where she was. When she did remember, her spirits were not improved by much. Only half the way there and November was already half gone.

  “The hotel’s just over there, ma’am,” the burly driver said as he set her bag down by her side.

  She glanced at the building he pointed to and inwardly sighed. There was one problem with traveling along a meandering trail to Montana, using stages and passing through small towns not considered important enough for trains: accommodations could be rough. Deidre consoled herself with the fact that they were also cheap. She picked up her bag and walked toward the large, plain building with the crudely painted hotel sign swinging precariously over the wide porch steps. At the moment, if the place had a clean bed and could produce a hot bath, she would consider it close to heaven.

  Once in her room, Deidre breathed a sigh of relief. Not only was it clean, but it had a private bathroom. The owner clearly had hopes that the town would expand. Perhaps the railroad would indeed be arriving soon, she mused as she secured the door and the window. Clean or not, she was getting tired of hotels and would be glad to go home. It was also going to be nice to finish the job and be safe again, not to have to keep looking over her shoulder, and not to wonder if every stranger was an enemy. Deidre prayed that Maura was safe, that her brilliant idea to divide up did not turn out to be a deadly failure for them both.

  “Watch your back, Maura,” she whispered as she turned the dull iron taps on and began to fill the tub with water. “If you don’t walk into Paradise safe and whole, I’ll break your neck.”

  She laughed softly at her nonsense, but the brief flare of humor did not banish her concern over her cousin. Deidre prayed she had not asked more of Maura than the young woman could accomplish. Maura was not stupid, but she was sweet, trusting, and just a little prim, a little too susceptible to being shocked. A babe in the woods, Deidre thought with a grimace as she undressed for her bath, but that could prove to be protection of a sort. No one would suspect sweet Maura of doing anything daring. Maura could, at times, be so proper, so polite and unassuming, she could disappear in a crowd, pushed from view by the brighter and gayer. Deidre prayed that Maura was doing just that right now, that her cousin was at her most unobtrusive.

  After her bath and once her hair was dry, Deidre dressed in a plain dark-gray gown and went down to the dining room. It took all of her willpower to step into the large and, to her dismay, nearly full room. A skinny young man, with a tuft of fair hair on his chin she supposed was a beard, hurried over to her and escorted her to a table. Deidre fought to hide her unease as she found herself seated in the far corner of the large room, a little too close to a large dark man who held the only other small table in the shadows. Even though they were not actually sharing a table, they were seated so near to each other they might as well have been.

  While she told the boy what she wanted, she covertly studied her companion in the shadows. He looked big, dark, and dangerous. From his thick, nearly too long black hair to his finely hand-tooled boots, he was a long, leanly muscular and intensely alert man. Pure trouble, she mused as she let her gaze skim over his vaguely hawkish features, his long, patrician nose framed dramatically by high, wide cheekbones. The only softness on his harsh face was from the long, thick lashes on his eyes and the slight, sensual fullness of his
mouth. Deidre suspected that could disappear in an instant if he became angry. She could almost see his straight, dark brows veeing harshly over his nose and his mouth tightening to a thin line. She inwardly shook her head at her own fancies as she forced her attention to the rest of the people in the room.

  It was not easy to keep her attention fixed upon the others, however, as she waited for her food. She was irritated to find herself constantly glancing at the man, at the way his long fingers held the silverware, the way his black coat hugged his broad shoulders, even at the way his long, muscular legs straddled the stand of the small round table. He made her uneasy, yet she did not fear him, sensed no threat. It was a puzzle and she decided she was simply too travel weary to figure it out. Deidre was grateful when her food was served and she was able to turn all of her attention to eating.

  “You Deidre Kenney?” asked a rough voice.

  Hesitating only briefly in finishing the bite of tart apple pie she had just taken, Deidre looked at the two men who crowded up to her table. Big and ugly was her first clear thought after she pushed aside a blinding flash of fear. She was astounded at how bold her pursuers had become. Approaching her in a crowded room was bold indeed, and did not bode well for the rest of her journey. Deidre hoped this sudden audacity was not because the men felt safe to do just as they pleased. People had always told her that there was no true civilization and no law in the West, but she had always assumed such talk was no more than rumor or descriptions of a time long past. After all, Saint Louis was considered the West by many east of the Mississippi River and it was extremely civilized. Keeping her expression as sweetly blank as possible, she covertly slipped her hand into a pocket in her skirts, calming a little when she felt the cool metal of the gun she carried. It was only a derringer, but, at this distance, even that could kill a man. She smiled sweetly and plumbed her brain for any scrap of the French she had learned from Mr. Johnson.