Harlequin Historical #273: Saddle the Wind

Sloan Coltrane wanted freedom - fine whiskey, fast horses and frisky women -- at 32 he figured he deserved them.He had just married off the last of his family - two sisters, a brother and a step-mother. He wasn't tangling with forever after.Prudence Abercrombie had responsibilities - six of them in fact. Sixteen year old Sarah, Janey, a four year old blonde with a calico eye patch. Five year old black twins, Charlotte and Charlie. Slightly crippled nine year old Davy with the brown eyes. And the reclusive nearly fourteen year old Richard, the newest addition.This is Port Dodd, Texas in 1880. Prudence has inherited a farm [or ranch] house from Amos, her late aunt's beau. [grin] Now Sloan has inherited the property around the House and he doesn't intend being saddled with a spinster and orphans.I loved Janey asking Sloan if he was a daddy. Of course Sloan finds himself helping them out of several predicaments and unknowningly falling under their spell. A rattlesnake, a river and a tornado.The children were fascinated by Sloan and his race horses. Was great to meet his step-mother, she understood Sloan better than he knew. Sloan's frank talk with his younger brother must have been very enlightening to Prudence. [grin]Once the seduction took place the story seemed to lose its good pace. Although the shootout put a little bounce back. You could also feel the sense of lose that Prudence felt as the children found new homes.Definitely recommended --M.