Second Chance Hero

Winning the Widow’s Heart

To help his dying sister, Nate Cooper once broke the law—and he’s regretted it ever since. Now the ex-con turned saddler hopes for a new beginning in Turnabout, Texas. So when Nate saves a young widow’s daughter from imminent harm, he’s shocked to be called a hero.

Single mom Verity Leggett leads a safe life, avoiding danger and excitement at all costs. But her daughter’s rescuer Mr. Cooper seems like a perfectly responsible—and handsome—man she can rely on. But when his secrets come to light, will Verity be able to get over his past and see Nate for the caring man he’s become?

Texas Grooms: In search of their brides…

“Nate, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

“Don’t.”

His sharp command startled her into silence. Why was he so angry with her?

His jaw tensed and he raked his fingers through his hair with an angry, jerky thrust. “Don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Was he just being polite, trying to spare her feelings? “I don’t understand.”

He took a deep, defeated-sounding breath. “You think I’m a hero. I’m not.”

That again. “You’re being too modest. You—”

But he wouldn’t let her finish. “Verity, I don’t deserve hero worship. Not from you, not from anyone. I treasure every moment of our time together this afternoon, more than you will ever know. But you don’t know—”

Seeing the dread in his expression, she wasn’t really sure she wanted to hear what he had to say. “If it’s something you’d rather not talk about, don’t feel you need to tell me.”

His smile had more grimace than humor to it. “Too late. I need to tell you this for myself as well as for you. There’s something you don’t know about me, about what I’ve done.”

WINNIE GRIGGS is the multipublished, award-winning author of historical (and occasionally contemporary) romances that focus on Small Towns, Big Hearts, Amazing Grace. She is also a list maker and a lover of dragonflies and holds an advanced degree in the art of procrastination. Winnie loves to hear from readers—you can connect with her on Facebook at facebook.com/winniegriggs.author or email her at [email protected].

Second Chance Hero

Winnie Griggs

www.millsandboon.co.uk

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity;

but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

—2 Timothy 1:7

With sincere thanks to my generous friends who are always ready to brainstorm with me—Connie, Amy, Christopher, Dustin, Renee, Beth and Lenora. And to my fabulous editor Melissa Endlich, whose suggestions are always aimed at making my work tighter and stronger.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Quote

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

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Turnabout, Texas April 1897

Verity Leggett took firmer hold of her daughter’s hand as they approached the street crossing. There wasn’t much in the way of carriage or horse traffic this time of morning, but she always preferred to err on the side of caution, especially where Joy was concerned.

Suddenly Joy stopped in her tracks and pointed to her right. “Look, Mama, a dog.”

Verity stared suspiciously at the hound slinking out of an alley two blocks away. She was glad they weren’t headed in that direction. Joy loved animals with all the indiscriminate abandon her five-year-old heart could summon. She definitely hadn’t learned the value of caution yet.

“I see him.” Verity hitched the handle of the hatbox she carried a little closer to her elbow. “But Miss Hazel’s dress shop is this way. And don’t forget, you can play with Buttons when we get there.”

Distracted by thoughts of the cat who resided in the dress shop, Joy faced forward again, cradling her doll, Lulu, in the crook of her arm, and gave a little hop-skip. “I brought a piece of yarn for Buttons to play with.”

“I’m sure Buttons will be quite pleased.” Verity knew her droll tone was lost on her daughter, but that was okay. It was just so good to see how well Joy was thriving since they’d moved to Turnabout a year ago.

As Verity guided her daughter onto Second Street, her gaze slid past the closed doors of the apothecary and the saddle shop to focus on the last building on the block. Good—the dress shop was already open. She gave the hatbox a little swing and grinned in anticipation of Hazel’s reaction to her latest millinery creation. It was just the sort of flamboyant frippery her friend liked.

The new sign Hazel had recently hung over her shop door was an example of just how far her friend would take her love of the dramatic. It was elaborate in shape, brick red in color, and was emblazoned in fancy gold lettering that proclaimed the establishment to be Hazel’s Fashion Emporium. Her friend was quite put out that folks in town still referred to her business as simply “the dress shop.”