A Ranch To Call Home
“I won’t let you steal my ranch.”But will this rancher steal her heart?Laura Lee is devastated when Jesse Creed arrives claiming that her new, perfect house doesn’t belong to her absent fiancé – but to him! Until he can prove it, however, Laura isn’t going anywhere. But living side by side with the alluring rancher is temptation itself. And suddenly this house starts to feel an awful lot like the home she’s always longed for…
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“I won’t let you steal my ranch.”
But will this rancher steal her heart?
Laura Lee is devastated when Jesse Creed arrives claiming that her new, perfect house doesn’t belong to her absent fiancé, but to him! Until he can prove it, however, Laura isn’t going anywhere. But living side by side with the alluring rancher is temptation itself. And suddenly this house starts to feel an awful lot like the home she’s always longed for...
“This book is well-written, well-populated and full of action.”
—RT Book Reviews on The Rancher’s Inconvenient Bride
“Readers will be charmed by the spirited heroine and her love-struck cowboy [...] wonderfully written.”
—RT Book Reviews on The Cowboy’s Cinderella
CAROL ARENS delights in tossing fictional characters into hot water, watching them steam and then giving them a happily-ever-after. When she’s not writing she enjoys spending time with her family, beach-camping or lounging about a mountain cabin. At home, she enjoys playing with her grandchildren and gardening. During rare spare moments, you will find her snuggled up with a good book. Carol enjoys hearing from readers at [email protected] or on Facebook.
Dreaming of a Western Christmas
Western Christmas Proposals
The Cowboy’s Cinderella
Western Christmas Brides The Rancher’s Inconvenient Bride
The Walker Twins miniseries
Wed to the Montana Cowboy
Wed to the Texas Outlaw
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.
ISBN: 978-1-474-07379-0
A RANCH TO CALL HOME
© 2018 Carol Arens
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
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To Caitlyn Iaccino
The world is a kinder place because of your sweet smile.
Contents
September 1883, Forget-Me-Not, Texas
A frizzle of unease teased Laura Lee’s stomach. She rolled up the newest edition of the Ladies’ Home Journal and Practical Housekeeper tight in her fist.
The elegant wedding gown that she had stitched with her own blistered fingers fell in lacy waves to the boardwalk, where she stood in front of Auntie June’s boardinghouse waiting for her very own prince to arrive and carry her off to the preacher.
The pocket watch tucked within the secret pouch stitched into her petticoat marked time against her hip.
Tick, tock, tick... Seconds turned into minutes. Minutes crept up on half an hour.
As a distraction, she watched the breeze pluck golden leaves from the trees and blow them over the rooftops of the main street of Forget-Me-Not. One leaf fell on the brim of a man’s Stetson. He brushed it off, then went inside the bank.
At forty-five minutes, with Johnny nowhere in sight, she reminded herself she had nothing to fear. Her groom had no doubt been delayed by something that was far beyond his control.
Any moment now, dust would stir at the end of the street... Johnny urging his horse to a gallop through a veil of falling leaves. He would be wearing an expression of apology on his dashingly handsome face.
And truth be told, it wasn’t uncommon for Johnny to be late. Once they were married, she would be able to help cure him of that habit.
