Scoundrel

Lucilla Drummond is the third story of the BRIDES OF THE WEST SERIES.She has fallen for and means to marry the young man she has been corresponding with. With trepidition, on arriving in Starlight, New Mexico, she offers up a prayer that David McQuaid will love her.She grows uneasy as she watches a dark-clad man with a gold watch fob swinging gently against the satiny cloth of his vest. His gunbelt with its leather loops filled with brass cartridges reminds her of those pistol duelists on the cover of Beadle's Half-Dime Library.This dark stranger, whose blue eyes with a worn, hardened look as if they had seen too much, couldn't be the author of those warm, friendly letters to her or else he was displeased with what he saw."I'm Sam McQuaid, Miss Drummond -- We have something to discuss and ----" Lucy couldn't disguise her relief "Sam McQuaid . . . not David?"Oh Boy, here it comes!I found this a most intrigueing and wonderful love story. Of course, neither party seemed to realize that love was blossoming in their hearts. Sam kept trying to get Lucy to return to Boston - for various reasons. Maybe he recognized that she was a threat to his emotional state. And she was too wary of trusting a man to recognize Sam's growing concern for her.I loved his want ad poster for the black cat. And I could never understand the womens' temperance movement. They meant well but there was no way they could stop men from drinking. The Marshall even owned a saloon and gambling parlor. Was it corruption or just good business when he collected ten percent from the other saloon owners??It seems everyone in Starlight has an agenda of their own and each grabs the opportunity that presents itself to them. Yet one question is left hanging at the end.I've got to hand it to Raul for balancing out the mystery. The characters kept the story moving at a good pace with enough bonding to make you love them all. Most Excellent!HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -- AND Definitely a keeper.