A Lady for the Reprobate — Dorothy A. Bell

Royce O’Bannon doesn’t think much of himself, hungover, feeling worthless, doomed to be nothing more than a skunk and a drunk like his old man. He holds little hope for his own future but would like to think his younger brother Quinn could do better than waste his life aiding and abetting their old man in his hedonistic pursuit of depravity. Their cousin Wren offers the brother’s another way, a way far from their father’s destructive influence. But cousin Wren’s way means a dull life of work, no booze, no excitement or willing women. If they refuse her offer, Royce and Quinn are certain to do serious time for their misdeeds. Caught between a rock and a hard place, the brothers choose Laura Creek. Bucking against the constraints and conditions put upon him, Royce keeps one thought in mind, escape from the no-nothing little mountain village of Laura Creek. And then one cold fall night, the beautiful, crippled, courageous music teacher, Cleantha Arnaud, entered his life. Their instant attraction to one another inspires Royce as no other man or woman has ever inspired him before. For her, Royce embraces the concept he can be better, do better even though he sees little hope he’ll ever be worthy, or be able to provide for her, give her the home, the life she deserves. Cleantha, feeling more as a broken ornament than a living being with needs, desires, and dreams, sees beneath the cocky, bad-boy façade of the town’s infamous reprobate, Royce O’Bannon. She sees a kindred spirit—an outcast, an oddity like herself. Admitting to their weaknesses and insecurities, their mutual passion for music seals the bond between them. The dream in sight, Cleantha at his side, a life of bliss and fulfillment, and peace within their reach, all is shattered by the one true Reprobate, Stanly O’Bannon, Royce’s sire. Daddy is a hard-drinking, ruthless man out for revenge against his traitorous sons and the town that gave them a second chance. Royce will have to face down his demons to survive. Cleantha holds the key to hope and Royce holds the key to her heart. Together they both know all too well. They are as a bow to the fiddle…the one is nothing without the other.