Miss Lizzy's Legacy

Peggy Moreland

The Cowboy and the City Gal Callie Benson had come to Guthrie, Oklahoma, to trace her roots, only to discover she was descended from Lizzy Sawyer, the town's original local madam! And when sexy cowboy Judd Barker began trailing after her - branding her with his fiery kisses - she discovered there was more of Lizzy's passion in her than she'd ever dreamed!But Judd was hiding a shocking secret - far more serious than the family scandal Callie had uncovered. And while he couldn't resist the promise of passion he saw in her eyes, he knew that once she discovered the truth, he would never be able to claim her as his own.

Miss Lizzy’s Legacy

Peggy Moreland

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

For my grandparents Jesse and Audra Admire, who gave me my Oklahoma roots. Thanks for sharing with me your love for the country, and by example, your strength of character, your integrity and the joy derived from simple things.

Dear Reader,

Many times a story idea is spawned from a setting. Such is the case with Miss Lizzy’s Legacy. Several years ago, I visited Guthrie, Oklahoma, and visited the Blue Bell Saloon and Miss Lizzie’s Once a bordello, the upstairs of the Blue Bell has been renovated into a collection of antique, art and gift shops and affectionately named Miss Lizzie’s Bordello. I found the entire concept, as well as the speculation concerning Miss Lizzie, intriguing, and allowed my imagination to spin its own idea of Miss Lizzie and how she became the most infamous madam of Guthrie. Thus this story, and others to follow.

Many residents and business owners of Guthrie contributed information and/or gave permission to fictionalize their businesses: Jane, Claude and Randy Thomas of the Harrison House; Lloyd C. Lentz III whose book Guthrie, A History of the Capital City, 1889–1910 provided much-needed information and pictures; Craig and Judy Randle of the Blue Bell Saloon; the employees of the Logan County Court House; the staff at The Territorial Museum; Shirley and Bob Powell; the staff of the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple. The mistakes, of course, are all mine! I’m a fiction writer, not a historian, and I took liberty with the original building dates and origins of some of the businesses in order for my story to happen in the way I saw it.

There is a note in the newsletter published by the owners of Miss Lizzie’s Bordello. It reads, “Our hope is the same as the girls of the old house, that all our customers leave satisfied.” My wish for my readers is the same..that when you turn the last page of this book, you, too, are satisfied with the tale and the romance as I have chosen to spin it.

Enjoy!

Peggy Moreland

Contents

Prologue (#u9f0aacb1-fcde-5260-8276-babd3ced2db3)

Chapter One (#u31c0e01e-3750-5aff-8c06-f9be5ba94beb)

Chapter Two (#u828fdabf-a7b6-5720-8d1b-8b41b40e5f1d)

Chapter Three (#u0e736681-008b-581c-b2e2-317d135c416c)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Prologue

Guthrie, Oklahoma—1890

On days like today, I yearn for home. With the wind coloring the sky red with dust, the air so thick a person can barely breathe, I long for the ocean and its stretch of white beaches, its crisp, clean, salty breeze. I think, too, of my family, my life in Boston...but the memories do nothing but sadden me and remind me that I can never return. The decision to leave was mine, knowing when I did, my family would never permit me to come home.

The sacrifices made in coming here were great. First my family, my baby, and lastly my heart. Some will say my father was right, that I should have listened to him and stayed away from Ethan. Others who knew Ethan might understand the blindness of my adoration. At any rate, this is my home now, whether by chance or by choice.

To brighten my spirits, I have only to look out my window. The sights and sounds on the street b