Falling for the Rancher Father
The Daddy DilemmaWidower Abel Borgard has his hands full raising twins and establishing a homestead. Mercy Newell's offer to care for his son and daughter seems like the perfect solution. And though it takes no time for Mercy to steal his children's hearts, Abel's is another story, because he's a single father set on stability and she's a wild-at-heart beauty searching for adventure.Joining a Wild West show as a trick rider is Mercy's dream. She never foresaw the joy she'd find caring for Abel's children. The rugged widower hardly trusts her yet. But by the first snowfall, there could be a new family–and new love–in Eden Valley….Cowboys of Eden Valley: Forging a future in Canada's West country
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The Daddy Dilemma
Widower Abel Borgard has his hands full raising twins and establishing a homestead. Mercy Newellâs offer to care for his son and daughter seems like the perfect solution. And though it takes no time for Mercy to steal his childrenâs hearts, Abelâs is another story, because heâs a single father set on stability and sheâs a wild-at-heart beauty searching for adventure.
Joining a Wild West show as a trick rider is Mercyâs dream. She never foresaw the joy sheâd find caring for Abelâs children. The rugged widower hardly trusts her yet. But by the first snowfall, there could be a new familyâand new loveâin Eden Valleyâ¦.
Cowboys of Eden Valley: Forging a future in Canadaâs West country
âI would like to ask you to consider coming a bit longer.
âI could get my work done so much faster if I didnât have to watch the twins, and they really enjoy having you here.â
That she knew to be true. But what did Abel think of her presence? Mercy dared not ask. âI enjoy keeping them company.â
âSo youâll think about it?â
It was a beginning. More time would allow him to see how ordinary she could be. âI donât need to. My answer is yes.â
He jumped to his feet and stood by her chair. âThatâs great.â
She took her time inserting the threaded needle into the fabric she held. Carefully, she folded it, keeping the needle visible on top, and set it on the basket of other items to be mended. Only then did she lift her gaze to him.
He grinned widely. She wondered if his eyes revealed approval or only relief.
LINDA FORD
lives on a ranch in Alberta, Canada. Growing up on the prairie and learning to notice the small details it hides gave her an appreciation for watching God at work in His creation. Her upbringing also included being taught to trust God in everything and through everythingâa theme that resonates in her stories. Threads of another part of her life are found in her storiesâher concern for children and their future. She and her husband raised fourteen
childrenâfour homemade, ten adopted. She currently shares her home and life with her husband, a grown son, a live-in paraplegic client and a continual (and welcome) stream of kids, kids-in-law, grandkids and assorted friends and relatives.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
âPsalms 139:2
To my grandson, Julien, as he graduates from high school. Good for you.
I know youâve worked hard. Weâre so proud of you.
Contents
Chapter One
Eden Valley Ranch, Alberta, Canada
Fall 1882
She was gone.
His heart slammed against his ribs. He scanned the entire clearing again just to make sure but she wasnât there.
âAllie.â Abel Borgard yelled his daughterâs name. One minute ago the nine-year-old sat on the chair by the cabin. Heâd warned her to stay there while he unloaded the supplies, but now sheâd disappeared. âItâs not like her,â he complained aloud. Ladd, her twin brother, was a different matter. Heâd set off exploring the moment theyâd alighted from the wagon. Abel had warned him to stay nearby, but it didnât worry him when Ladd got out of sight. The boy had learned at a young age to be self-reliant. Allie, on the other hand, needed rest and protection. The doctorâs warning reverberated through Abelâs brain. âSheâs extremely fortunate to have survived scarlet fever, especially under the circumstances.â
âAllie.â He didnât bother calling this time, just muttered the word under his breath. He again turned full circle, studying his surroundings. The tiny cabin would provide temporary shelter until he could erect a larger one, which he had to do before winter. The chill in the air reminded him time was short.
The trees, a nice mix of spruce and aspen, were far enough from the buildings to allow plenty of sunshine to reach the living quarters yet provide protection and privacy. The mountains rose to the west in all their fall majesty.
He completed his inspection of the surroundings but saw no little girl. Not so much as a hint of the blue dress she wore.
Abel understood the doctorâs warning. Abel had come home from a three-month absence as he sought work to discover his wife had left days before, abandoning the then eight-year-olds to care for themselves. Heâd found them huddled together, hungry and afraid. According to what he could get from the children, Allie had been sick even before Ruby left. Though in all fairness, Ruby likely hadnât known at that point it was anything more than a chill. Perhaps she hadnât even meant to leave them for more than a night but sheâd fallen into the river and drowned. He liked to believe it had simply been misfortune, but he guessed sheâd spent too much time in the back room of the saloon sharing drinks.
