A Cowboy In Shepherd's Crossing

From bachelor to daddy...

Shepherd’s Crossing is full of surprises

Cowboy bachelor Jace Middleton was ready to leave Shepherd’s Crossing for good—until he learns his family’s unspoken secrets. Now Jace finds himself not only caring for his twin baby nieces, but working with beautiful, strong-willed designer Melonie Fitzgerald to renovate his grandmother’s run-down estate. Love wasn’t part of the plan...but Jace soon finds himself wishing Melonie could become part of his unexpected family.

Multipublished bestselling author RUTH LOGAN HERNE loves God, her country, her family, dogs, chocolate and coffee! Married to a very patient man, she lives in an old farmhouse in upstate New York and thinks possums should leave the cat food alone and snakes should always live outside. There are no exceptions to either rule! Visit Ruth at ruthloganherne.com.

Also by Ruth Logan Herne

Shepherd’s Crossing

Her Cowboy Reunion

A Cowboy in Shepherd’s Crossing

Grace Haven

An Unexpected Groom

Her Unexpected Family

Their Surprise Daddy

The Lawman’s Yuletide Baby

Her Secret Daughter

Kirkwood Lake

The Lawman’s Second Chance

Falling for the Lawman

The Lawman’s Holiday Wish

Loving the Lawman

Her Holiday Family

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

A Cowboy in Shepherd’s Crossing

Ruth Logan Herne

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09043-8

A COWBOY IN SHEPHERD’S CROSSING

© 2018 Ruth M. Blodgett

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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“If a man isn’t smart enough to love you for yourself, who needs him?”

It sounded so right coming from Jace. “So we’re the walking wounded?” Melonie asked.

“My scars are healed, but I am most assuredly gun-shy,” he said firmly. “Besides, we’ve been busy enough the past couple of years that it didn’t much matter.” He stood and rolled his shoulders, and she tried to pretend he didn’t look absolutely amazing when he did it. “Now with kids to raise, my focus needs to be on them.”

“Agreed.” She stood, too.

He stayed right there, looking at her.

She looked right back.

“So why is my focus longing to shift, Melonie?” Jace whispered the words, gazing at her. Into her eyes.

Was his heart slow-tripping like hers? Were his palms growing damp?

Stop this. You know better. You know your plans. You’re leaving as soon as you’ve secured your inheritance. His life is here. Yours isn’t. And there are two baby girls to consider...

Dear Reader,

Life has a way of handing us curves, doesn’t it? Sometimes we see them coming and we dodge left, then right. And yet they still come!

Sometimes we’re caught unaware, and we’re faced with life changes we didn’t expect and maybe didn’t want.

But faith is our rock. Faith is our solidity, it’s the binding force that lets us face those challenges head-on to make a difference.

Melonie knew what she wanted. She’d felt unloved and often unworthy to be loved, even when she knew it wasn’t true. Taking a sharp right turn toward Idaho wasn’t in her plans, but isn’t it funny what God holds in store for us?

Jace was facing a future he didn’t want. He’d lost his parents, had no work, and his sister was finding her own life, and he could do nothing to stop the changes.

But when old sorrows intervened, a whole new path sprang open.

Sometimes our deepest regrets spawn unexpected opportunities.