Page 1 of Haunted Cowboy

Chapter 1

Hazel

Business suit pressed and professional looking - check

Hand drawn map of where I’m going, contract and paperwork - check

Overwhelming nervousness and pressure to make a good impression - check

“You sure you want to go to the other side of the country? Just for one temporary job?” My father’s voice rings in my ears. If he had his way, I’d stay home in Chicago with him forever.

But this is my chance. My big break. The start of my wonderful career. Okay, my business card was meant to read Marketing Co-ordinator, NYC. But Event co-ordinator of Halloween carnival, in a town called Hog Wash, middle of butt fuck nowhere is… well, it’s something. A stepping stone. A line on my resume. And now that I’m here, surrounded by country folk, in a town where chickens roam freely in the streets, and mountains in the background, there is a sense of freedom. A tingle of excitement. I’m going to make the best of this opportunity. I’m going to pull off the best damn Halloween party this town has ever seen.

There is just one last obstacle to conquer. The owner of the land we’re going to use.

“The Jones family can be a bit strange. Don’t let those boys bully you or scare you off.” The warning from the mayor. “We’ve got it in writing. A legal right to use that land for the carnival.”

It seems an odd situation to me. I’ve been here a few weeks, making plans, booking vendors. We’ve even been advertising this event. All without me having seen the land we are going to use. And more importantly, the replica of the Wild West town that is to be the star of the event.

“It’s the small town way. No need to rush.” Is the mayor’s frustrating response.

Well, that all changes today. I’m on my way to see this Wild West town everybody’s been talking about. And it better be good. I’ve heard all sorts of things about this place. And about the man who built it and his grandson who now owns it. I’m suited up and ready for battle.

It’s a long, straight, empty dirt road. Paddocks of cows on either side, the occasional tree. Land that seems to stretch on forever. At the end of the road I park up next to an old wooden building. My heels are not suited to the dust.

I never thought my marketing degree would see me coming out to a place like this. I grew up in a big city, always surrounded by people. Out here, it feels very empty.

Coming around the corner I know I’m in the right place. Like I’ve stepped back in time into an Wild West town. But a place long since abandoned.

Buildings line both sides of the dusty street. With wooden platforms running down the sides, complete with railings. The signs are in various stages of decay, but I can make them out. The bank. The jail house. The doctor’s rooms. An apothecary. Haberdashery. Blacksmith. General store. There is an eerie feeling walking down this street. I tell myself it’s not real, but it feels like it could have once been a bustling town filled with people. People shopping, maybe some cowboys riding into town to pull up at the hotel for a night of drinking. People with dreams for their future. But now it’s empty. Quiet. A little breeze blows up some dust. An old wooden shutter bangs behind me. My skin crawls. It feels empty but I have this feeling that I’m not alone.

Shoulders back, chin up. I’m a twenty-first century girl. I’m here to do a job. Let’s look at this with a professional eye. This place will make a fantastic setting for the Halloween party. It’s amazing that one man built all this. An old west replica town. All the shop fronts have old time glass window frames. Hanging signs and the different outlines that make an Wild West town so distinctive.

Sure it’s dusty but it’s the most amazing backdrop. And, from my short time Jones spent all his time out here putting this together. Even organizing power. It seems strange to me that he wouldn’t allow people to see it. And yet he left it in his will that he wanted it used for a big Halloween party and the whole town is to be invited to see his work.

The buildings look sturdy. But I’m still not getting too close. I’ve always had a wild imagination and I’m a little bit worried about a ghost pulling me inside one of these buildings, sucking out my soul and I’ll never be seen again.

Another gust of wind. The window shutter bangs. A squeaky hinge creaks slowly open. Okay, that’s not my imagination. Another loud bang scares the crap out of me and makes me jump. Ghost or axe murder, I’m hiding. Half walk, half jog, I scoot out of the street. Leaning up against a wall as I look around carefully. The wind howls. I try the door closest to me. It opens and I duck inside the saloon. A long bar runs along the side. A few tables and chairs. And an old piano. Stairs leading to an upper level. I crouch down behind the bar. Holding my breath. Willing my heart to stop pounding so loudly.

And then I stop breathing all together as I hear the door open and then slam shut. Heavy footsteps on the wooden floor. Walking right towards me.

Chapter 2

Hazel

My mind is racing, my imagination out of control. I’m arguing with myself if I would prefer this to be a ghost or an axe murder. Wishing things had gone different in my life to put me anywhere else right now.

“You can come out now. Show yourself.” It’s a deep, angry masculine voice that reeks with authority.

“Okay.” My voice is shaky. I clear my throat, willing myself to move. “But I’m warning you. I know karate.” I don’t know karate. But it seems like the thing to say in this situation. I raise my head slowly above the bar to see what I’m facing. I let out a long whoosh of breath. In front of me is a tall, broad shouldered, sexy looking cowboy. Hat in hand, stunning green eyes staring right at me. A handsome face, strong browline, sharp jawline. All cowboy, from the dusty t-shirt stretched across his chest, the hat, the denim jeans down to big dusty boots hip width apart.

“Who the hell are you?” He asks in that deep, sexy gruff cowboy voice.

It is a fair question. And now that my fear of ghosts is gone I put on my most professional smile. “I’m Hazel Hart.” And then, because I’ve never seen a man this sexy before, so much raw masculinity. Because he makes my heart race and makes me feel like a giggling school girl, I give him a cheeky grin. “Who the heck are you?”

He crosses his arms in front of him. I swear that glare gets a little darker.

“I’m Liam Jones. I’d like to know why you're on my property.”