“Shhhaaay.”
The voice whispered across the air, nudging Shay Brennan awake. “Who’s there?” she mumbled groggily, while rolling onto her side. The springs of the old iron bed squeaked under her weight.
It came again, soft, lilting in her ear. “Shhhaaay.”
Fingernails stroked her jaw. A palm caressed her cheek. Eyes popping open, Shay jolted up and bumped the back of her head on the bars of the headboard. With her back rigid, she scooted to a sitting position and glanced around the room, clutching the downy pillow to her chest. It took a moment for her to remember where she was. It was her first night sleeping in the Buckhorn Saloon, an 1885 Hill City establishment located in the historic section of town on the original Main Street. She’d walked past it a week ago. Having seen a For Sale sign in the window, she’d made an offer on a whim and closed on the legendary South Dakota property this afternoon.
“Who’s there?” she repeated, touching her cheek and blinking several times as her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the bedroom. Goosebumps prickled her arms, and a chill crept across her nape.
“Shay.” The voice spoke clear and strong this time. Shay’s attention flew to the foot of the bed, where a gray mist began to take shape. With her heart lodged in her throat and barely able to breathe, her body began to quake. She bit back a scream when the unearthly figure of a female materialized.
“Help…me,” the woman whispered, outstretching a ghostly arm. In a white petticoat and V-shaped corset that closed in the front with ribbon ties, the woman appeared to be dressed in Victorian undergarments. Her hair was blonde, piled high on top of her head with long curls streaming down her back. And those eyes… they were as vivid blue as any Shay had ever seen. Black and blue marks ringed the woman’s neck.
Shay’s gaze moved again to those clear eyes, and without warning, her throat closed up. If felt like she was being choked. Invisible hands were around her neck and frigid fingers pressed into her flesh, making it a struggle to breathe. The pressure on her throat was intense for a few seconds before it let up. Coughing, Shay gasped for air, and when she looked up again, the manifestation had disappeared.
She stroked her sore neck with trembling hands. She’d barely had time to process what had just happened when an urgent knocking came from downstairs. Was it the ancient oil furnace kicking on? Or someone at the front door? The clock beside her read midnight. Who would be knocking on her door at this hour?
Unraveling a mystery in a haunted saloon has never been more romantic. - Publishers Weekly
A Haunted Twist of Fate immediately grabbed this reader from the first page. Coverstone creates visual scenery of a western
town that instantly becomes lifelike, with convincing characters that walk off the pages and into the reader's life. This is one to
be added to the buyer's list for sure! - Linda L., Fallen Angel Reviews
Stacey Coverstone is becoming the Mistress of the Western Romance, in my humble little opinion, and she has a real winner
in her latest novel. She's a master in descriptive writing, and I'm giving this book 5 stars. - Bev Owens, Book Reviewer
A Haunted Twist of Fate is a gorgeous romance with an irresistible mystery. - Miranda, Joyfully Reviewed
This is a fun story with engaging characters and plenty of action. I can't think of anything else a reader would want in a romance. - C.K. Crigger, Two-time Spur finalist
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