The Cowboy's Little Surprise
THE LONG WAY HOMEA guy like Cole Slater is hard to forget. Tina Sanchez should know–for years since high school she's tried to bury the pain of Cole's cruel betrayal. But it's impossible to ignore the man she sees reflected in her young son's eyes now that Cole is back in her life–and about to meet the child he never knew he had.Returning home to New Mexico, Cole is determined to put his playboy reputation to rest. Especially now that he knows there's a little boy looking up to him. And seeing Tina again reignites all the feelings Cole ran from as a teen. Despite his fear that he can't be the man Tina deserves, he's determined to try. For his son's sake–and his own.
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The Long Way Home
A guy like Cole Slater is hard to forget. Tina Sanchez should knowâfor years since high school sheâs tried to bury the pain of Coleâs cruel betrayal. But itâs impossible to ignore the man she sees reflected in her young sonâs eyes now that Cole is back in her lifeâand about to meet the child he never knew he had.
Returning home to New Mexico, Cole is determined to put his playboy reputation to rest. Especially now that he knows thereâs a little boy looking up to him. And seeing Tina again reignites all the feelings Cole ran from as a teen. Despite his fear that he canât be the man Tina deserves, heâs determined to try. For his sonâs sakeâand his own.
Footsteps on gravel made her pause.
It wasnât Jedâs familiar tread, and they had no one staying at the hotel at the moment. Maybe this was someone who wanted to book a room. Tina turned with a welcoming smile.
That smile died on her lips when she saw the cowboy standing in front of her.
Cole Slater.
In one startled, reflexive sweep, she took in almost everything about him. The light brown hair showing beneath the brim of his battered hat. The firm mouth and jaw. Broad shoulders. Narrow hips. The well-worn jeans, silver belt buckle and scuffed boots. In the next reluctant second, she turned her gaze to the one feature she had deliberately skipped over the first time.
A pair of blue eyes that made her think instantly of her son.
She clutched the grocery sack and demanded, âWhat are you doing here?â
His face looked flushed. But he didnât look angry, the way he would have if heâd seen Robbie and put two and two together. She breathed a sigh of relief at the reprieve, no matter how brief, giving her a chance to come to grips with his reappearance.
If she ever could.
Cowboy Creek is typical of my small towns, where everyone knows everyone elseâand their business. Though youâll find lots of matchmakers and nosy neighbors around, you can be sure theyâre all wonderful folks at heart.
No one in Cowboy Creek has a bigger heart than Jed Garland, the local hotel owner and meddling grandpa who wants to see his granddaughters happy and settled down. Oh...and providing him with a few more great-grandchildren!
In The Cowboyâs Little Surprise, I hope you enjoy discovering how a marriage-shy cowboy handles secrets, betrayal, unexpected fatherhood and a matchmaker who is certain he knows whatâs best for him.
As always, I would love to hear what you think about this story. You can reach me at PO Box 504, Gilbert, AZ 85299, or through my website, barbarawhitedaille.com. You can also find me on Facebook (barbarawhitedaille) and Twitter, @BarbaraWDaille.
All my best to you.
Until we meet again,
Barbara White Daille
BARBARA WHITE DAILLE lives with her husband in the sunny Southwest, where they donât mind the lizards in their front yard but could do without the scorpions in the bathroom.
A writer from the age of nine and a novelist since eighth grade, Barbara is now an award-winning author with a number of novels to her credit.
When she was very young, Barbara learned from her mom about the storytelling magic in booksâand sheâs been hooked ever since. She hopes you will enjoy reading her books and will find your own magic in them!
Sheâd also love to have you drop by and visit with her at her website, barbarawhitedaille.com.
This book is dedicated only, and as always, to Rich.
Iâm so glad we got hitched!
Contents
Seventy-some-odd years on this earth had taught Jedediah Garland what made life most worth livingâand it was the one thing he wanted more of to call his own. Not property. He owned plenty of that, between the Hitching Post Hotel and the ranch it sat on. Not friends. He had a sufficient number of those, too, and wouldnât give up a single one of them. But the most important thing...family.
Thatâs where his life fell far short.
Paz came into the dining room toting his breakfast. The hotel business had quieted down some latelyâheck, it had up and gone to Tahitiâand he and his cook had the room to themselves. She set the platter on the table in front of him.
âChile relleno okay with you for tonight, boss?â
He shrugged.
She put her hands on her hips. âWhat? All of a sudden you donât like what I make for you?â
âItâs not that.â He shifted the cutlery on his napkin. âIâm off my feed today. Itâs Thomâs birthday.â
âYes.â
He thought of his eldest son, now long gone, and the rest of his small family, mostly scattered across the country. âI never thought things would come to pass the way they have. And I donât know what I would do without you and Tina here.â
