A Daddy For Her Triplets
His Unexpected ValentinesClint Daniels knows he is nobody’s sweetheart. The rugged mountain guide has lived most of his life alone, and with his heartbreaking past, he can’t imagine a domestic future with anyone. Especially not a warm and graceful widow like Olivia Barlow.But when her three tow-headed little boys approach him at the Lone Star Cowboy League’s annual Valentine’s dance, he finds it impossible to turn them away. Clint isn't prepared to be a father, but these boys draw out his paternal side. And somehow, vulnerable Olivia and her children begin to make the cowboy suspect their wary hearts might actually be a perfect match…
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His Unexpected Valentines
Clint Daniels knows he is nobodyâs sweetheart. The rugged mountain guide has lived most of his life alone, and with his heartbreaking past, he canât imagine a domestic future with anyone. Especially not a warm and graceful widow like Olivia Barlow. But when her three towheaded little boys approach him at the Lone Star Cowboy Leagueâs annual Valentineâs dance, he finds it impossible to turn them away. Clint isnât prepared to be a father, but these boys draw out his paternal side. And somehow, vulnerable Olivia and her children begin to make the cowboy suspect their wary hearts might actually be a perfect matchâ¦
Relationship.
It was a heavy word, and one that would have sent him literally running for the safety and anonymity of his beloved mountains.
Not this time.
This time, he wanted to stay.
It was Olivia who should be running, as far as she could go. He was no good for her. He didnât even know what a long-term relationship ought to look like. And as wonderful as he felt whenever he interacted with the triplets, he could hardly be the father figure they needed in their lives.
What did he know about being a father? Trying to pursue a long-term relationship was simply setting himself up for failure, and with that, Olivia and the triplets would also crash and burn.
What had he been thinking, spending all this time with Olivia? Giving her the wrong impression?
He hadnât been thinking at all. Heâd been acting on his emotions.
He should end this relationship nowâbefore it got too serious. It didnât matter that it was already serious to him. He wasnât who counted here.
* * *
Lone Star Cowboy League:
Bighearted ranchers in small-town Texas
A Reunion for the Rancher by Brenda Minton, October 2015
A Doctor for the Nanny by Leigh Bale, November 2015 A Ranger for the Holidays by Allie Pleiter, December 2015 A Family for the Soldier by Carolyne Aarsen, January 2016 A Daddy for Her Triplets by Deb Kastner, February 2016 A Baby for the Rancher by Margaret Daley, March 2016
Award-winning author DEB KASTNER lives and writes in beautiful Colorado. Since her daughters have grown into adulthood and her nest is almost empty, she is excited to be able to discover new adventures, challenges and blessings, the biggest of which is her sweet grandchildren. She enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music, singing in the church choir, and attending concerts and musicals.
There is no fear in love;
But perfect love casts out fear,
Because fear involves torment.
But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
We love Him because He first loved us.
â1 John 4:18â19
To my Lord Jesus Christ. May every word I write always serve to glorify, adore and bring honor to my Savior. There would be no books without His Spirit working in and through my life.
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Deb Kastner for her contribution to the Lone Star Cowboy League miniseries.
Contents
âOlivia Barlow, as I live and breathe. Finally! There you are. Iâve been looking all over for you. I was beginning to think you werenât going to show up tonight at all. Then what would I have done?â Elderly Miss Betty Leland had clearly been watching for Olivia, because the sprightly old woman made a beeline for her the moment she herded her triplet six-year-old boys into the leagueâs brightly decorated red-and-pink-crepe-papered banquet hall.
A cold finger of premonition skittered up Oliviaâs spine. Miss Betty was clearly up to something. Olivia could see it in the pale blue sparkle of the aged womanâs eyes. Nothing good could possibly come out of that kind of mischief, however friendly and well-intentioned.
Olivia forced a laugh she didnât feel and returned the elderly womanâs smile. It wasnât Miss Bettyâs fault Olivia wasnât in the mood for a party, especially Little Hornâs Lone Star Cowboy Leagueâs Valentine Roundup.
Valentineâs Day anything was more than widowed Olivia wanted to deal with. She felt out of place here among seeking singles, newly engaged couples and newlyweds. It seemed as if everyone was in love except herânot that she wanted to be. She had her plate full to overflowing already.
The local band was warming up its fiddles, playing a lively Texas two-step for eager dancers. Various couples and hopeful single men and women were flooding into the Grange hall. There were also quite a few teenagers. The boys were roughhousing and trying to look cool for the groups of giggling girls watching them, but Olivia knew they hoped to pair up before the night was over.
She spotted Carson Thorn and Ruby Donovan, a newly engaged couple who were laughing together as they helped serve the punch. Engaged couple Finn Brannigan and Amelia Klondike were already testing out the dance floor. In a far corner away from the noisy speakers, Grady Stillwater stood with his grandma Mamie and his fiancée, Chloe Miner. Chloe was bouncing Gradyâs seven-month-old nephew, Cody, on her shoulder in time to the music.
