From Cowboy to Father Figure
Rancher Nick McGarrett wants to help orphaned ten-year-old Corey Phillips, the brother of his late comrade. But heâs not fit to be a fatherânot with his troubled past. Thankfully, the child finds a home at the Lone Star Cowboy League Boys Ranch, where Nick volunteers. When wealthy newcomer Darcy Hill discovers sheâs Coreyâs cousin, she hopes to eventually take him in. Nick and Darcy couldnât be more oppositeâor more drawn to each other. But for Darcy, raising Corey in her hometown means leaving Texasâ¦and Nick. Itâll take a special little boy to show these two grown-ups that the key to forging a new future is being together.
âHow about the boys ranch for Corey?â Darcy asked.
âI know they have room for one more boy,â Nick said, âand Iâd much rather see Corey there, but Iâm not sure itâll happen. I volunteer at the boys ranch, and it would be great for Corey.â
Darcy wasnât surprised that Nick would volunteer there. In the short time sheâd been with him, she saw a man of action and heart. âThen Iâll pray that something is done for Corey.â
Nick looked away. âIn my experience He hasnât helped much.â
There was something in Nickâs voice that touched Darcy. Who did he turn to when he was in trouble or upset?
She started to say something, but the tense set of his jaw and rigid posture indicated this wasnât a good time. He wouldnât hear her.
She didnât want to leave Haven until something was done for Corey. How could she walk away from a child in need?
And how could she walk away from Nick McGarrett?
* * *
Lone Star Cowboy League: Boys Ranch
Bighearted ranchers in small-town Texas
The Rancherâs Texas Match by Brenda Minton October 2016
The Rangerâs Texas Proposal by Jessica Keller November 2016
The Nannyâs Texas Christmas by Lee Tobin McClain December 2016
The Cowboyâs Texas Family by Margaret Daley
January 2017
The Doctorâs Texas Baby by Deb Kastner February 2017
The Rancherâs Texas Twins by Allie Pleiter March 2017
Dear Reader,
I wanted to thank the authors I had the pleasure of working with on this second Lone Star Cowboy League continuity as well as Shana Asaro, our editor on this project. I worked on the first one and had as much fun with this one as I did with that first LSCL series.
Iâm a retired teacher, and I loved working and helping children. Thatâs what this series is about. There are some kids who need extra love and attention because of what they are dealing with. Corey was one of those and got the help he needed. Nick was also a troubled child while growing up, but he wasnât fortunate enough to receive the support he needed and his past affected his present. He learned he couldnât run from it. Forgetting the past wasnât easy until he dealt with his emotions concerning it. He used what heâd learned growing up to help Corey and that in turn also made Nick a stronger person.
I love hearing from readers. You can contact me at [email protected] or at P. O. Box 2074, Tulsa, OK 74101. You can also learn more about my books at www.margaretdaley.com. I have a newsletter that you can sign up for on my website.
Take care,
Margaret
MARGARET DALEY, an award-winning author of ninety books (five million sold worldwide), has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isnât traveling, sheâs writing love stories, often with a suspense thread, and corralling her three cats, who think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret, visit her website at margaretdaley.com.
For if you forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
âMatthew 6:14
To my editor, Melissa Endlich. Thank you.
Special thanks and acknowledgment
are given to Margaret Daley for her contribution to the Lone Star Cowboy League: Boys Ranch miniseries.
Chapter One
Nick McGarrett marched into Fletcher Snowden Phillipsâs law office in Haven, Texas. It was time the man stepped up and helped a member of his family. Fletcherâs secretary looked up and frowned. As Nick crossed to her desk, he glanced at his mud-splattered jeans and boots. When heâd received a tearful call from Corey Phillips, a ten-year-old second cousin of Fletcherâs, Nick had come straight from replacing a section of a fence on his ranch.
Nick owed Coreyâs older brother, Doug. When theyâd gone on their last mission together, Nick had promised his combat buddy that after he left the service he would watch out for Corey until Doug could. At the time Nick had thought it would be only a few months until Doug returned home. His friend was killed in that mission by a sniper. Young Corey looked like Doug, whoâd always had Nickâs back when they had gone on assignments together.