The Outlaw Takes a Bride

December 22, 2014
Davis (Prairie Dreams trilogy) pens a simple stand-alone story set in 1885 Texas centered on Johnny Paynter, a hard-working ranch hand who learns that he’s wanted for a murder he didn’t commit. His friend Cam Combes convinces Johnny to run rather than face the charges. The pair then heads to a ranch owned by Mark, Johnny’s brother, only to find Mark dead and the homestead pillaged. When a bearded Johnny is mistaken for his dead brother, Cam and Johnny decide to continue the ruse in order to charge supplies and withdraw money from Mark’s accounts. The deception becomes difficult, however, when Johnny learns that a widow, Sally Golding, is on her way to Texas to marry Mark. Johnny marries Sally as soon as she steps from the train, so as not to expose himself as an imposter. As Sally reintroduces Johnny to his Christian faith, their bond grows stronger, but so do Johnny’s anxieties over his deception. Though the final revelations will not surprise most careful readers, Davis has crafted an easy read for those who are partial to historical romances. Agent: Chip MacGregor, MacGregor Literary Agency.