A Rancher for their Mom

Cowboy for Hire

Cowboy Joel Kaye has ambitions as big as Texas. And after decades away, rodeo glory seems finally within reach. But when two little boys “hire” him to work on their ranch, Joel can’t turn them down. He tells himself it’s only for one week, but widow April Landers and her family soon begin to fill a void in the rodeo rider’s scarred heart. April lives for her three kids—and the ranch she’s fighting fiercely to keep. This determined mama’s not looking for another wandering partner. Will this ready-made family inspire Joel to put down roots…for good?

“Why are you on the rodeo circuit if you love ranch work so much?”

Joel’s hand closed over hers. “It seems contradictory, doesn’t it?”

April couldn’t concentrate on what he said. Her mind focused on where his hand surrounded hers. As hard as she tried to understand, her mind had gone on overload. “Uh, yes.”

His gaze locked with hers and he slowly lowered his head toward her.

The screen door slammed, bursting the bubble surrounding them. The boys stood on the porch.

“Could you come inside and say good-night, Mr. Joel, before you leave?” Saved by a screen door. Her heart beat so hard she thought it would jump out of her chest.

His gaze didn’t move from her face for several moments. He broke the connection and looked at the boys. “Of course I’ll come in and say good-night.”

He leaned down and whispered, “I’ll be back.”

April watched as her boys waited on Joel. It stole her breath. They were so eager to have a man’s time and attention.

But what would the boys do when Joel was gone?

LEANN HARRIS has always had stories in her head. Once her youngest child went to school, she began putting those stories on a page. She is active in her local RWA chapter and ACFW chapters. She’s a teacher of the deaf (high school), a master composter and avid gardener, and teaches writing at her local community college. Her website is leannharris.com.

A Rancher

for Their Mom

Leann Harris

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Your love, Lord, endures forever—

do not abandon the works of Your hands.

—Psalms 138:8

This book has been a journey for me. I want to thank the editors at Love Inspired for their help and support, particularly my editor, Shana Asaro. Her guidance has been invaluable. And I want to thank Dr. Nandita Rao, the nurses and technicians at Texan Oncology for their support and wonderful smiles while I was going through chemotherapy.

And my Sunday School class, the ladies in my Bible study, and my family and friends who brought meals. I did not go through this cancer alone.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

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

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“Mom, Mom,” six-year-old Todd yelled, the back screen door slamming against its frame. The sound of little cowboy boots pounded through the kitchen and down the hall. “Where are you, Mom?”

“I’m in the office,” April Landers answered.

The screen slammed again, followed by another set of small boot falls. April winced, hoping the boys didn’t wake their younger sister from her nap.

Breathless, Todd appeared in the doorway. “Wes told me no one born in February could be a cowboy. Only boys born in June could be cowboys. That’s not true, is it?”

Eight-year-old Wes appeared behind his brother, a smirk on his face. April’s brow arched as her gaze engaged her older son. His grin disappeared.

“I can be a cowboy, too, can’t I?” Todd pleaded.

“Opa and your cousin Chad have birthdays in February. Weren’t they cowboys?”

Todd’s frown disappeared and his eyes widened. “Yes.” He turned to his brother and stuck out his tongue.

Wes’s expression went from somber to a grin. He shrugged.

“Ha, you’re wrong. I can be a cowboy, too.” Todd stomped back down the hall.

Wes turned to follow his brother.

“Stop, young man.”

Wes halted, his shoulders hunching.

April pushed away from the antique desk. “Come here.”

He looked up and she motioned her son to her side. Wes dragged his feet as if going to an execution and stopped when he got to her knees. He refused to raise his head.

“Wes, look at me.”

Her son slowly raised his head.

“Why did you tell your brother he couldn’t be a cowboy?”

He shrugged his shoulders, kicking an imaginary piece of dirt on the floor.

April sighed. She knew her boys missed Opa—their grandfather Vernon—who had died last September. “Do you think Opa would’ve liked you telling that story to your brother?”

He hung his head. “No. He wouldn’t have liked it.”

“I didn’t like it, either. I’m disappointed with you.”

Wes’s lips pursed.

“Come closer.”

He moved and April drew him into her arms and hugged him. All sorts of emotions bounced around her chest.

The boys needed a male figure in their lives to help and guide them since Opa’s death. Their father had died in an oil platform accident over three years ago. April’s own father couldn’t fill the role, since he still worked on an oil platform out in the Gulf. He was the manager and only made it back to shore once every six months.