Homecoming Cowboy
Living on her grandfatherâs ranch, surrounded by her loving brothers and their families, is helping Avery Bannock put her painful past behind her. But ever since Zane Lawson came home, sheâs been fighting her feelings for the rugged former Navy SEAL whoâs sworn to keep her safeâin his arms.
After a decade undercover, Zaneâs ready to settle in Montana horse country. Buying the ranch next to the Bannock spread was the first step. Now heâs got to convince the gun-shy archaeologist that heâs the only cowboy for her. As they work together to find out whoâs stealing tribal artifacts from a nearby reservation, Zane will do everything in his power to win Averyâs trust...and turn their budding romance into a mission possible!
âIâve learned the best things in life are worth waiting for.â
âI know Iâm eight years older than you, and I have a past. Iâm hoping youâll give me a chance to get to know you better. This dinner is my way of letting you know how I feel.â
Panic set in. She was the woman whoâd captured Zaneâs interest?
But that was impossible!
Averyâs fear was so great, she found herself saying it out loud.
âWhy is it impossible?â
She trembled over and over again. âYou donât know the real me.â
Dear Reader,
Utah celebrates July 24 to honor the Pioneers who came into the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. My great-grandfather, John Brown, was among this courageous group of men and women who left their homelands across the ocean to carve out a new life. This Scotch-Irish young man had prepared to be a school teacher in the East. But unexpected circumstances brought him to the untamed American West. He was totally unprepared for the adventure awaiting him. He had to learn new skills, and learn them quickly, in order to survive. He became a cowboy.
I had Johnâs story in mind when I wrote this latest book of the Hitting Rocks Cowboys series, The New Cowboy. Zane Lawson, born in San Francisco, had been a Navy SEAL. Heâd thought it would be his lifetime career, but he, too, encountered unexpected circumstances that brought him to the wilds of Montana. It may be the twenty-first century, but he is forced to embrace a future totally foreign to him and adapt as fast as he can. In the process he morphs into The New Cowboy, who has a special skillâbringing healing to Avery Bannock, the beautiful woman he loves.
Enjoy!
Rebecca Winters
REBECCA WINTERS, whose family of four children has now swelled to include five beautiful grandchildren, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the land of the Rocky Mountains. With canyons and high alpine meadows full of wildflowers, she never runs out of places to explore. They, plus her favorite vacation spots in Europe, often end up as backgrounds for her romance novels, because writing is her passion, along with her family and church.
Rebecca loves to hear from readers. If you wish to email her, please visit her website: www.cleanromances.com.
To my great-grandfather, Pioneer John Brown, Captain of the Thirteenth Ten, who crossed the plains ten times, bringing more and more Pioneers out West. He was a son, husband, father and patriarch, who befriended members of the Ute Indian tribe, served in the Utah Legislature and helped settle parts of Southern Utah. His image is on the This Is The Place Monument in Salt Lake, riding his horse and carrying his Kentucky rifle. What a cowboy!
Chapter One
âUnca Zen!â
Zane laughed. âHey, sport. I can see you on my computer. Can you see me?â
âYes.â
âDid you get those little cars I sent you?â
âI like this one.â The three-year-old held it up for Zane to see. As far as he was concerned, Skype was the best cyberinvention ever.
âSay thank-you to your uncle,â he heard Sadie say in the background.
âThank you. When are you coming?â
âPretty soon. I still have work to do.â
âBut I want you to come home!â
Zane could tell his brotherâs son was getting ready to cry.
He got a huge lump in his throat. âThereâs nothing I want more, too. Guess what?â
âWhat?â
âIâll be there for my vacation on the Fourth of July.â Three weeks away. He was living for it. âWeâre going to have a big party with fireworks at my house!â
âGoody!â Ryan turned to Sadie. âWhatâs fireworks?â
âSheâll show you, sport. Has Jarod taken you riding?â
The boy nodded his blond head. âThe horse scared me. Heâs huge.â
Laughter poured out of Zane. âThey are kind of big.â
âIâm getting a pony.â
âWhen?â
âPretty soon,â Sadie volunteered.
âYouâll be a very lucky boy.â
Zane heard her whispering to Ryan. âShe says I have to go to bed. I donât want to!â He started crying.
âBut you need your sleep.â
âNoâ I want youââ