A Doctor For The Nanny

A Season for Healing

As Little Horn, Texas, prepares for Thanksgiving, Dr. Tyler Grainger tries to count his blessings. Returning to his family’s ranch brings bittersweet memories of the sister he lost. But one thing he can be grateful for is Eva Brooks, who’s just become the nanny for her cousin’s baby. Tyler is glad to offer advice, but when his late sister’s horse is stolen, Eva’s the one who helps him cope. Tyler’s past heartache urges him to ride off into the sunset—alone. Yet the holiday season offers hope that the good doctor may have finally found a woman to heal his heart.

“Oh, what a cutie pie. He has his mommy’s chin,” the woman exclaimed.

“And his daddy’s nose,” the other woman said. “You must be very proud.”

Tyler blinked in confusion. They obviously thought he and Eva were the baby’s parents.

Eva inhaled a sharp breath. Even in the darkness, Tyler could see her face flush beet red with mortification.

“Oh, but we’re not… I mean, we aren’t…” Eva stammered.

“What’s his name?” the first woman asked.

“Cody,” Tyler supplied.

“What a perfect name for a perfect baby.”

The women smiled with admiration. When they moved on down the sidewalk, he finally exhaled. They were completely oblivious that their words had caused anyone any discomfort.

He turned to Eva. For a flashing moment, he saw intense misery in her eyes.

“Eva, are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes, I was just thinking about…” She hesitated and gave a sad little laugh. “Oh, it’s nothing, really. Just ignore me.”

But he knew. All the things she wasn’t saying, and he still knew it had something to do with her broken engagement and being left at the altar with no groom.

* * *

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

LEIGH BALE is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author. She is the winner of the prestigious Golden Heart Award and is a finalist for the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Booksellers’ Best Award. The daughter of a retired US forest ranger, she holds a BA in history. Married in 1981 to the love of her life, Leigh and her professor husband have two children and two grandkids. You can reach her at leighbale.com.

A Doctor

for the Nanny

Leigh Bale

www.millsandboon.co.uk

And therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him.

—Isaiah 30:18

Many thanks to Gary and Judy MacKay for their ranching expertise. You two are amazing!

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Leigh Bale for her contribution to the Lone Star Cowboy League miniseries.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Eva Brooks opened the oven door and peered inside. A blast of heat struck her in the face and she pulled back quick. The biscuits looked as flat as pancakes, yet they’d been in there for thirty minutes already. Maybe they needed more time. Maybe the oven wasn’t hot enough. But weren’t Martha Rose’s biscuits usually golden brown by now? These biscuits still looked anemic white, like pieces of chalk.

Eva closed the oven door, feeling dismayed. “They’re not done yet.”

Martha Rose, the head cook at Stillwater Ranch, showed a doubtful frown. “Let me see them.”

Eva stepped aside. Martha Rose jerked open the door, released an impatient huff, then snatched up an oven mitt and pulled out the pan of biscuits. She set them on the counter with a clatter.

“Darlin’, you can bake these biscuits until the Second Coming, and they’re never gonna get any fluffier than that. You obviously forgot to put in the baking powder.”

Eva’s face heated up like a flamethrower. She clenched her eyes closed. A feeling of mortification rushed over her. There was no doubt about it. She was no cook. Never had been, never would be. And it was time she faced up to it.

“Oh, no, Eva! You’re supposed to be caramelizing those onions, not incinerating them.”

Eva whirled around and gaped in horror at the stove top. Martha Rose pointed a plump finger to where the gas flame flickered beneath the bottom of a blackened skillet. The pungent odor of burning onions filled the air. Eva’s nose twitched. She shook her head and groaned. The beautiful onions she’d carefully chopped up had shriveled into little black spikes that popped around in the hot pan.