Paloma and the Horse Traders (Spanish Brand, #3)

As the 18th century ends, the Comanches have made peace with the Spanish colonists in New Mexico. No one is as relieved as Marco and his wife Paloma, who live on the edge of Comanchería. Then a new threat emerges: a renegade Comanche. Flanked by a disgraced lieutenant, a band of horse traders, and a slave girl, Marco and his friend Toshua venture north to defeat Great Owl or die trying. As the eighteenth century draws to a close, the Kwahadi Comanches seem to be making their peace with the settlers of the Spanish Colony of New Mexico. No one is as relieved as Marco Mondragn and his adored wife Paloma Vega, whose ranch, the Double Cross, sits on the edge of Comanchera. Their tranquility is short-lived, however, for other Comanches are terrorizing the plains, led by the ruthless renegade, Great Owl. At the annual fair in Taos, Marco and his Comanche friend Toshua arrange to buy a team of bays from horse traders who sometimes wink at the law. Marco can't complete the purchase because he spends all his money to buy a slave from Great Owl, thus saving her life. Graciela accompanies them back to the Double Cross, along with Diego Diaz, one of those traders Marco still owes for the team. Great Owl's threat to tentative peace between the Kwahadi and the Spanish must be squelched. Marco and Toshua bolster their small army of two with an unexpected ally in Joaquim Gasca, a disgraced former lieutenant with the Royal Engineers. They are joined by Diego Diaz, who turns out to be a key figure from Paloma's past. Adding two shady horse traders and the secretive Graciela, Marco leads his small but determined army north to land contested by both Utes and Comanches. Though woefully outnumbered, they must defeat Great Owl or die trying. The love of two brave souls offers an "oasis of beauty" on the harsh New Mexico frontier in this acclaimed historical Western romance series ( Publisher's Weekly ). In the late 1700s, rancher Marco Mondragón and his loving wife Paloma Vega live on the edge of Indian territory. And while the Kwahadi Comanches seem to be making their peace with the settlers of the Spanish Colony of Nuevo Mexico, other Comanche bands are terrorizing the plains, led by the ruthless renegade, Great Owl. Great Owl's threat to the tentative peace must be squelched. So Marco and his Comanche friend Toshua gather a ragtag but determined force and head north to land that is contested by both Utes and Comanches. They know they are woefully outnumbered. But they must defeat Great Owl—or die trying. With vivid historical depictions and compelling storylines, "Kelly has the rare ability to create realistic yet sympathetic characters that linger in the mind" ( Library Journal ). The love of two brave souls offers an "oasis of beauty" on the harsh New Mexico frontier in this acclaimed historical Western romance series (Publisher's Weekly). In the late 1700s, rancher Marco MondragOn and his loving wife Paloma Vega live on the edge of Indian territory. And while the Kwahadi Comanches seem to be making their peace with the settlers of the Spanish Colony of Nuevo Mexico, other Comanche bands are terrorizing the plains, led by the ruthless renegade, Great Owl. Great Owl's threat to the tentative peace must be squelched. So Marco and his Comanche friend Toshua gather a ragtag but determined force and head north to land that is contested by both Utes and Comanches. They know they are woefully outnumbered. But they must defeat Great Owl-or die trying. With vivid historical depictions and compelling storylines, "Kelly has the rare ability to create realistic yet sympathetic characters that linger in the mind" (Library Journal) "As the eighteenth century draws to a close, the Kwahadi Comanches seem to be making their peace with the settlers of the Spanish Colony of New Mexico. No one is as relieved as Marco Mondragón and his adored wife Paloma Vega, whose ranch, the Double Cross, sits on the edge of Comanchería. Their tranquility is short-lived, however, for other Comanches are terrorizing the plains, led by the ruthless renegade, Great Owl."--Author's website