Jake and Miranda Harkner’s love helped shape a nation
and, over the years, they’ve endured all of the dangers a wild and brutal West
could throw at them. Now they are sitting down with us to discuss how they’ve
made their happy ever after last a lifetime.
Author’s
Note: This interview would have taken
place in 1896 at Jake’s ranch (the J&L) in Colorado. The interviewer would
have taken note that Randy is a tiny, beautiful blond with gray/green eyes who
doesn’t look her age at all. Randy is a stark contrast to her husband Jake – who
stands six feet four inches. He’s broad and well-muscled, deeply tanned, with
thick, dark hair that has tiny streaks of white in it. His dark eyes capture a
person right down to their toes.
MIRANDA: Oh, my, there are so many positive aspects to our
relationship that has kept it going these past thirty years … and I must say
that in spite of all of them it’s been a challenge.
JAKE: (Lighting a cigarette) Challenge is probably the
biggest understatement of all time. I am
not an easy man to live with and I know it. This beautiful woman sitting next
to me has put up with a lot of heartache and danger and hardship because of me
and my past. She also knows I sort of go off the deep end sometimes when
something bad happens to anyone in my family.
That’s hard for her because I can become a different person when that
defensive side shows itself.
MIRANDA: Jake grew up
in a horribly abusive home where he knew no love, at least not from his father,
who often beat him with a belt and who killed Jake’s mother and little brother. At first I had to teach Jake what love was
all about, and now he has the family he never dreamed he could have, and we all
love him. He treasures that above all
things and would give his life for any one of us, especially our precious grandchildren.
We have six now.
JAKE: I have kind of
a dark side where I go when someone I love has been hurt, or when I feel
unworthy of the love my family has shown me … especially Miranda.
MIRANDA: Dark side is
putting it mildly. Jake can be extremely ruthless to his enemies, and his
enemies are anyone who threatens those he loves. But he’s a gentle, kind,
loving man to all of us. Never has he
directed that anger he carries deep inside toward any of us, not ever. And that brings us back to why we’ve
lasted. Jake adores me and he never
fails to tell me or show me. A woman
couldn’t feel more loved than the way Jake loves a woman.
JAKE: I was probably the worst thing that ever happened to
her. I was a mess when she first met me,
a wanted man. I even tried to leave her
a few times because I thought she’d be better off without me. She was all beauty and graciousness, educated
and sophisticated. I was pretty much the
opposite of all those things. When I
first met her and knew life would be hell for her if I acted on my feelings, I
decided to ride out of her life.
MIRANDA: But he came back for me because he loved me and
wanted to try to change his life. He found
me near death from a snake bite and he saved my life. He was so gentle and loving … and we knew we
couldn’t live without each other after that.
I guess you’d say the secret to our relationship is that I fully
understand Jake, how his mind works, how desperately he wants to be loved. There is a little boy inside that just wants
someone’s arms around him. Jake can be
the gentlest, sweetest, most provocative lover on the face of the earth. When we make love it’s not just physical.
It’s as though our souls are mingling and our hearts are beating for each
other.
JAKE: Randy is my rock.
She’s the air I breathe. And I
love the fact that she loves that boy inside who is sometimes an emotional
mess. She just loves me right through it
all, and I don’t desire her just for her outer beauty, but for her beautiful,
forgiving, gracious, understanding heart.
(Jake takes hold of Randy’s hand.)
I never knew about love until I met this woman.
RANDY: And I never knew I’d fall in love with an
outlaw. The man has incredible charisma…
and just look at him. He’s so handsome! His smile just melts me right to the
floor. I can’t say no to him and he
knows it.
JAKE: (Jake grins teasingly.) That’s what I love most about
you. You try hard to say no sometimes,
but you always give in.
RANDY: And you are the devil in disguise, Jake Harkner.
***
Title: Love’s Sweet Revenge
Series: Outlaw Hearts, #3
Author: Rosanne Bittner
Pubdate: September 6th 2016
ISBN: 9781492631446
Their Passion Shaped a Nation
Over the years, Jake and Miranda Harkner have endured
all the dangers a wild and brutal West could throw at them. Now, settled on
their ranch in the beautiful Colorado hill country, they’ve finally found
peace. But for a man like Jake Harkner, danger is always lurking, and the world
may not be ready for an infamous outlaw-turned-lawman-turned-legend to hang up
his guns.
Threatened by cruel men in search of revenge, the
Harkner clan must be stronger than ever before. Yet nothing can stop the coming
storm. With the Old West dying around them and the rules of this new world
ever-changing, Jake vows to end the threat to his family no matter what it
takes…
Even if it means sacrificing himself so his beloved
Miranda may live.
USA Today bestseller and award-winning novelist Rosanne Bittner is known as the “Queen
of Western Historical Romance” for her thrilling love stories and historical
authenticity. Her epic romances span the West—and are often based on Rosanne’s
personal visits to each setting. She lives in Coloma, Michigan, with her
husband and two sons.
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