WHEN A COWBOY AND A CITY GIRL MEET, IT'S A SHOWDOWN New Yorker Emily Jean Barlett, author of dime novels about the Wild West frontier, is determined to save her career with a ripsnorting book based on Jess Murdock, "Legend of the West." But the lanky, sexy cowboy living in True Love, Montana, refuses . . . unless Emily proves she can handle the hardships of real ranch life. Now, between marauding rustlers, Jess's long, hot kisses, and one tragic lie, true love might break Emily's spirit--or give her a man and a dream to fight for with all her heart.

Chapter One

New York City, Summer 1889

"WE'RE IN A WORLD OF TROUBLE, EMILY JEAN." Maxwell Wise paused before Emily Jean Bartlett's desk, waiting impatiently for her to finish writing her sentence.

When Max cleared his throat for the third time, Emily finally looked up, and the chastisement teetering on the tip of her tongue died suddenly at the ashen look on her publisher's face. Max was not a man given to hysteria or theatrics, so it was obvious that something was terribly wrong.

After setting down her ink pen, she gathered up the sheets of her latest dime novel, The Montana Kid, and pushed them aside, intending to transcribe them later on the typewriting machine, as was her practice.

She hadn't decided yet whether or not the Kid was going to kill off the determined sheriff anyway, so it was probably just as well that she had more time to think the scene through. Fight scenes were always the most difficult for her to write; she absolutely abhorred violence. That was a bit ironic, considering the type of lurid novels she wrote.

"What's wrong? You look like you've lost your last friend."

"More like my business." He waved a piece of paper at her. "I've just received another dunning notice. The third in as many days." Heaving a dispirited sigh, he eased himself into the oak chair fronting her desk, looking far older than his fifty-eight years. His kind gray eyes were troubled, and the deep frown he wore only added to the numerous wrinkles etched across his forehead.

"Wise Publishing is failing, Emily Jean. I don't know what we're going to do. I've got stacks of bills and little money to pay them."

His words were leaden and laced with defeat, alarming the young novelist. Max Wise had excellent business instincts. He was not one to turn tail and run from a problem. He thrived on a good fight. In the three years Emily had worked for him, he had waged many a battle on behalf of his publishing house, and her.

Unlike novelists who wrote a completed manuscript, then sold it to a publisher for a sum of money, Emily was a work-for-hire writer. Max planned the books he wanted written, hired authors to pen them, then packaged them up and sold them to the public.

The job didn't pay a great deal, but what she'd learned from Max about writing and the publishing business in the last three years couldn't be measured monetarily.

"I've got a little money put aside-- "

"No!" Insulted by the offer, Max shook his head. "You should know me better than that by now. I would never take your money."

Emily did know better, but she had to try just the same. Max was like a father to her. He had hired her to work for him when no one else would, had saved her from becoming destitute after her own parents had cut her off both financially and emotionally. She owed him. And if her meager savings could help him out of his present predicament, then she wanted him to have it.

"Don't be so proud and stubborn," she scolded gently. "You helped me when I needed it. I want you to take the money. It's the least I can do to repay you for your many kindnesses."

His affectionate smile held a great deal of sadness. "You have a good heart, Emily, and it's always in the right place. But I'm afraid that your hard-earned funds won't be enough to pay off my creditors."

"But I thought you said that my last book had sold very well.

 

A hilarious love story that pits Old West against new from rising Warner star Millie Criswell.

"One of the best in the Western romance genre."

 

"This spunky, heartwarming Western will surely delight Millie Criswell's many fans."

 

"Nobody does a better Western romance with style and panache than Millie Criswell. As the bard would have said: 'All's well with a Criswell.'"

 

"Millie Criswell is a master of sexual tension."

 

The award-winning author of twelve historical romances, Millie Criswell lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with her hero/husband, two children, and one neurotic Boston Terrier. An avid collector of books, she has an extensive library and combines book research with her hobbies of haunting used bookstores and traveling to exotic places.

 

True Love by Millie Criswell
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