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384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1997
"After you give a promise, see, the person you gave it to is out of the deal. It's just you and the promise." - Jenny Jones
He: "I can't explain this, but I have a powerful hankering for you."
She: "You make a move in my direction, and I'll shoot your butt."
A desperate mother takes Jenny Jones' place in front of a firing squad in exchange for Jenny's promise to see her daughter safely to California. Though she and the six-year-old Graciela get off to a rocky start, Jenny will do everything in her power to keep her promise, even with the child's cousins in hot pursuit. Then she is mysteriously drawn to the handsome cowboy Ty Sanders, and though neither know it yet, their purpose is the same.
“Honesty is all I've got," she said finally, speaking in a low voice. "I don't have family. I don't have beauty, or a man. I don't have money, and I sure as hell don't have a future. All I've got to prop up my pride is my word." Her chin rose. "When Jenny Jones says something, you can bet your last peso that it's true.”
“Anything else, Your Majesty?"
"I didn't say my prayers."
"I'll say them for you. Our father who art in et cetera, bless all the rotten cousins and kill Jenny. Amen.”
Jenny didn't like children. The banter between herself and Graciela is very funny. Jenny loves to cuss. Graciela has been raised as a proper little lady. Chalk and cheese.“Listen. Just because we got a mutual hankering, doesn't mean we have to act on it. Aside from the hankering, there isn't much about you that I like. So far, you've been a pain in the behind. And I might as well tell you, I've followed through on one hankering and getting shot was more of an enjoyable experience. I didn't like it.”“Say yes, Jenny. Promise you'll marry me. Promise you'll still be here, driving me crazy and loving me when we're little and old and surrounded by grandchildren. Promise that you'll let me love you until I take my last breath. Promise.”
I got my epilogue ... many years later. Swoon.
Here came the tears again. Jenny rolled her eyes.Indeed, Graciela detests Jenny, and sees her as the cause of her mother’s death. For those readers who don’t like children in their romance books, hang on to your runaway horse’s mane. Ms. Osborne has written Graciela as a real person, a real child, which is vital to this wonderfully real romance. Truly, this is also Graciela’s book, as well as Ty and Jenny’s, and we get to see all three transformations. Graciela had me when, even though she hated Jenny, she had enough sense to ask herself: "What would Jenny do now?" It is a perfect question to ask when she finds herself trembling, confronted with snakes in an alleyway, in the desert, or in her family.
"My mama always kissed me good night..."
"Well, I'll be goddamned. First you ask God to kill me dead, now you're hinting I should kiss you good night?"
"Anything else, Your Majesty?"And what of Ty, Graciela’s uncle? Well, he is a hero damn near perfect as written for Jenny. *sigh* From his reasons for his attraction and admiration of Jenny, to his determination to woo her, to his willingness to be honest with her.
"I didn't say my prayers."
"I'll say them for you. Our father who art in et cetera, bless all the rotten cousins and kill Jenny. Amen."
You've got promise Jenny Jones...
"Anything else, Your Majesty?" "I didn't say my prayers." "I'll say them for you. Our father who art in et cetera, bless all the rotten cousins and kill Jenny. Amen. Now lift up your feet so I can strap these onions on you."
It was too bad that he'd never see the red-haired woman again. She had the best breasts he's ever wanted to put his hands on. She was one hell of a woman.
Ty embraced her, holding her for a long moment. "If he doesn't treat you right, you just tell me and I'll have your mother beat the piss out of him."