Short Westerns

A collection of twenty-four adventure, western and humor stories by the short story author John T. Watts. This is the first of two volumes. Volume II being comprised of different subjects and genres.

The FOUR series features relatable characters who unexpectedly find their happily-ever-afters in unconventional relationships. Each story stands alone, but there are character connections among the books.

Three spectacular stories all set on New Year's Eve. First, Stephanie Laurens enthralls us with a New Year's scandal, when a rake awakens in the bed of the temptress who seduced him years before. Then, Victoria Alexander enchants with her tale of a love promised, then foiled and then rekindled on another midnight. And Rachel Gibson delights with the reunion of two estranged friends and the passionate sparks that fly when the clock strikes 12.

There are worse things waiting... Young maiden Perina escapes from a cruel dungeon and makes her way to King Gathelaus and reveals that he must defeat a mysterious foe that has become a tyrant ruling over a far-flung fiefdom. What strange powers does the tyrant hold to seem invulnerable and inhumane? How can he be defeated? How can Gathelaus beat an unbeatable foe? Blades of the Boneless is a sword and sorcery adventure mixed with a hint of body horror. Live the adventure in this exciting fantasy novella.

Once upon a time in a land far, far away, a wish-granting spirit rapidly approaches burnout. Meanwhile, a banished fairy answers a Craigslist ad, a Victorian orphan navigates an occult situationship, and a multiverse assassin contemplates the one who got away. With both iconic fan-favorite stories and entirely original pieces, Januaries features modified fairy tales, contemporary heists, absurdist poetry, and at least one set of actual wedding vows. Escape the slow trudge of mortality by diving into these enchanting new worlds with a master of imagination.

John LeBrock is the greatest MMA fighter on Earth. He takes on all opponents and destroys them with ease. He is rich, good-looking, and oozes charisma. He wants for nothing, and life is good. John will soon find out that a seemingly perfect life can change in the blink of an eye. The MMA world champion will be given the opportunity to travel through a cosmic doorway that leads to the other side of the universe to a strange but beautiful world called Azura.

The magnetic chemistry between two star-crossed lovers: a billionaire cowboy and a small town girl. Indulge in a luxurious escape to the tropical paradise of Hawaii, where two bestselling authors, Brenda Clemmons, and Katie Wyatt, join forces to bring you a heartwarming tale of love, second chances, and the power of destiny. When billionaire Brock Ellison hires Richards and Sons for a large furniture order, he doesn’t expect to have the owner’s daughter, Laurel, show up to meet him... As fate would have it, their paths cross on the idyllic island of Oahu, where they soon realize that ...

Red Butte Showdown: Selected Unabridged Stories from May There Be a Road includes four unforgettable adventures - "Red Butte Showdown", "Friend of a Hero", "Wings Over Brazil", and "The Ghost Fighter" - all previously uncollected stories, now offered for the first time together.

Emma Mitchell had been floating on clouds since the day of the carnival and fashion show. She had designed and modeled her dress in the fashion show and couldn't wait to hear what Mark Turner thought of it. Not only did he like it, but he couldn't stop complimenting her on how lovely and beautiful she looked in it. He further whispered that if they weren't in such a large crowd, he would ask her permission to kiss her! Emma gasped in surprise because she had never been kissed before! What would it be like to receive her first kiss? He interrupted her thoughts and asked if she would like to ...

Just when I thought I'd overcome the biggest obstacles my fae mates and I could face, I find myself in the hands of their greatest enemies. Enemies who have far more power than we ever imagined. Enemies who hold so much more sway over my life than I want to believe. I have to escape, and not just to warn the men I love and defend the home I've made with them. The longer I remain, the more these villains can use me to destroy everything I care about. If I fail now, the entire faerie world will crumble.

Inside these pages dwell denizens of the mythic Old West; ranchers and rustlers, wranglers and robbers, and Pony Express riders who spirits still inhabit dusty trails. Meet the men and women fiercely protective of their land and kin. Discover their loyalty. Marvel at their sacrifices. Learn about their deep passion for the animals that convey them; their magnificent horses. Sheehan's ode to Americana is on full display here.Tom Sheehan is also the author of these fine western books: The Nations, Where Skies Grow Wide, and Cross Trails.

She must leave her past behind in order to become who she’s meant to be. Being treated like a servant instead of a family member pushes Ivy Fowler to answer an advertisement for a mail-order bride. Her brother and sister-in-law promise to take her from Montana to Colorado in the back of a covered wagon as long as Ivy agrees to cook all of their meals, do their laundry, and take care of her three-year-old niece. Ivy agrees. She cannot stay in Montana any longer. Her brother and sister never gave her love, but now she’s in danger of losing much more. While her groom-to-be doesn’t ...

She’s wanted dead or alive…. a desperate plan to keep her safe…. will answering an ad for a proxy bride be the answer? Or will Ophelia Price get more than she bargained for when she finally meets her new husband, Tombstone Marshal Edward “Big Ed” Lawson? 1875, Baltimore. Ophelia Price has a secret. That may not even be her real name. But what she does know for sure is there are people looking for her, bad people who want her and her family dead. After her parents receive a mysterious missive, Ophelia learns she’s not who she thinks she is – just a daughter of poor immigrant ...

Kellyn had always loved Elias Stratton with all her heart and probably always would. She'd trusted him...but never again. Elizabeth had always believed there was nothing more magical than the precious gift of love...even now in the heart of danger, she still believed it...she always would. After telling the story of Simon's magical cowboy ranch for more years than she cared to count, Elizabeth Fountaine wondered if there might be more to the fanciful fairy-tale than being an elaborate bedtime story to tell children. More than ever before, she very much needed for even just a small piece of ...

Discover the answers in “Sunset Ridge”! A powerful story of love, heart-pounding, swoon-worthy romance filled with redemption, hope, healing, and the strength of a small town overcome the darkest trials? Cole Miles, Sunset Ridge’s most eligible bachelor, has sworn off marriage—until fate brings Irene Lopez into his life. A shy schoolteacher with a past she’s desperate to leave behind, Irene never expected a broken-down car to lead her to someone like Cole. But as sparks fly between them, Irene’s hidden past resurfaces, pulling Cole into a web of danger neither of them saw coming...

A harsh, scar-faced, rancher, An impulsive, whimsical teacher go together like dandelions and daydreams. Well, she thinks so anyway… Carrie Ann Dixon’s impulsive nature has cost her a teaching position. Destitute, she agrees to seek the help of a matchmaker. She believes there’s a happily ever after within reach for everyone, and she’ll work hard to make her dream come true. Casting her past failures aside, she’s thrilled with the idea of moving west and requests a match with someone who embraces adventure and will be enthusiastic about building a romantic relationship. Gabe ...

The second immortal volume in this dark and fantastic series, Fangs is a scintillating and sinister collection of vampire stories and part of the now legendary vampire archives. Including Clive Barker, Anne Rice, Arthur Conan Doyle, and many, many, more...Featuring: Bloody fangs, dark and foreboding crypts, mysterious nighttime apparitions, and languid ladies.

In the shared setting of fictional Balford, Wyoming, the characters in Darin Cozzens's short stories demonstrate both the follies and the virtues of rural Mormons in the late twentieth century. Hewell Penroy is a forty-two-year-old bachelor who, unbeknownst to his mother, falls in love with Benita, the meter reader he has never met. Flynn Darlington plays matchmaker with the youngest of his four unmarried daughters and an itinerant roofer. For all their married life, Rowe Sloan has struggled to supply his wife Vida with enough water for her household, but his crowning effort ends in tragedy...

Traditional and progressive meet in ruby red west-central Texas... Emmie Warren is a middle school teacher who is trying not to rock the boat until she can finish her Master’s Degree and find the courage to move herself and her son away from sleepy Sweetwater to diverse, vibrant Austin, the only place in Texas she ever felt free to be herself. She’s been hiding her truth for years. She doesn’t see any reason to change that before she can make a clean break of things and start all over. Cass Prater is a brash cowgirl who lives life out loud, wherever she lives. She's got a plan and she...

This compilation of short fiction represents the next chapter in Douglas Thayer's recent literary success. Described by Richard Cracroft as "LDS literary fiction at its finest," Thayer's third collection of stories presents a dozen of his career-best work, including several that have never before appeared in print.