Cody sauntered back into the room
He returned after a good two minutes of making them all sit and wait on the edges of their seats. This kid really needed straightening out, Luke thought. He only hoped he was as up to the challenge as he claimed to be.
When Judge Benson explained to Cody what the adults had decided, he leaped to his feet and let loose with a string of colorful adjectives that had Megan blushing and begging him to stop. The judge sat there sagely, waiting for the tirade to end.
It eventually did and Cody threw himself into his chair. The room fell silent. âIâm not goinâ anywhere,â he snarled.
The judge sighed. âThen Iâm afraid you give me no other choice, Cody.â She picked up her phone and said, âIâll have to send you to juveââ
âIâll do it on one condition,â he interrupted. Obviously there was room for negotiation where juvenile detention was concerned.
âAnd what might that be?â
âThat heââ he pointed at Luke ââmarries my mom.â
It was hard to tell who gasped more loudly, Megan or Luke.
Dear Reader,
It is my pleasure to bring you the third installment of The OâMalley Men series.
Youâve met the oldest brother, Luke, in Colorado Christmas and The Sheriff and the Baby and Iâm sure youâve wondered just why Luke is so ornery. Youâll find out in Colorado Cowboy.
Lukeâs world is turned upside down when heâs summoned to New York to meet the teenage son he didnât know he had. A son in trouble with the law. Already the father of three adorable daughters, Luke canât get his son away from the mean streets of the big city and back to Colorado fast enough. Thereâs just one little problem: Cody refuses to budge until Luke marries his mom!
I loved throwing challenges at Luke. The guyâs virutally indestructible. Heâs the rock of his family and has suffered along the way, but will this final challenge break him?
I hope you enjoy reading Lukeâs story of how he adapts to life with yet another child, and how he and Megan fall in love. Itâs a bit of a back-to-front story in that Luke and Megan have a baby, get married and then fall in love.
I love hearing from readers. You can email me at [email protected]. On my website, www.cccoburn.com, youâll also find photos of the Santa Maria ranch that helped inspire this story.
And please watch for firefighting brother Adamâs story, coming soon.
Happy reading and healthy lives!
C.C. Coburn
C.C. Coburn married the first man who asked her and hasnât regretted a day sinceâwell, not many of them. She grew up in Australiaâs Outback, moved to its sun-drenched Pacific coast, then traveled the world. A keen skier, she discovered Coloradoâs majestic Rocky Mountains and now divides her time between Australia and Colorado. Home will always be Australia, where she lives with her husband and two of her three grown children (the third having recently moved to England), as well as a Labrador retriever and three cats. But her heart and soul are firmly planted in Colorado, too. Her first book, Colorado Christmas, received glowing reviews and a number of awards. She loves hearing from readers; you can visit her at www.cccoburn.com.
Many thanks to:
My fellow Harlequin American Romance author Cathy McDavid for her invaluable assistance in all matters to do with accounting.
Authors Karen Templeton and Katharine Swartz for their help with New York City.
Rancher Phil Craven of Texas. And George Meyers of the spectacular Santa Maria Ranch in Coloradoâa true romantic, working hard to preserve the traditions of the West. Theoretical mathematician and sometime ranch hand and burro racer Daniel McCarl, for introducing me to George and showing me around the Santa Maria.
Sergeant Cale Osborn of Summit County Search and Rescue for his help with mountain rescue procedures.
And my dear friends equine veterinarian Dr. Holly Wendell and horse rescuer Helen Lacey for patiently educating me about horses.
Any errors or discrepancies in this story are the fault of the author and in no way reflect the expertise of the aforementioned.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Epilogue
Luke OâMalley didnât like the look of New York City one little bit. And he didnât like the look of his son any better.
The young street tough lounged in the judgeâs chambers, chewing gum and wearing an insolent expression. His contempt for everyone in the room extended to his unlaced sneakers braced against the judgeâs desk as he leaned back on the legs of his chair.
Last night, after receiving the call from the judge summoning him to New York to meet the son heâd fathered by Megan Montgomery, Luke couldnât help wondering: Is this some sort of scam?
Now a successful rancher, Luke employed innovative techniques at Two Elk, his ranch in the Colorado Rockies, which had ensured that his herds were among the best in the state, if not the West. And the horses he bred were of superior quality and in demand by ranchers and riders alike.