The Outlaw's Second Chance

Renegade on the run

When Cort Stanton and Aubrey Huxley try to claim the same land in the Oklahoma Land Run, Cort offers a deal—one that could help him keep his freedom. After taking the blame for his brother’s crime, Cort needs to lie low, so he gives Aubrey the land for her horse ranch...if she’ll hire him. Now he just has to avoid growing too close to the gorgeous seamstress, who can never know his secret.

Aubrey refuses to depend on any man, even one as handsome and kind as Cort. Yet, as they work together to make her dream a reality, it’s impossible to imagine life on the prairie without him. And though Aubrey knows Cort has secrets that stand between them, she can’t help but wish she could stake a claim on his heart.

“It’s your land.” Aubrey’s voice cracked. “You can come and go as you wish.”

“What if it wasn’t my land? I mean, what if I let you...” Cort expected he would regret his next words. “What if I just worked a piece of it until I leave? What if you registered the land in your name?”

Miss Huxley narrowed her eyes. “What are you saying, Mr. Stanton?”

“One hundred and sixty acres is big enough for both of us, is all. What if you let me lease the land from you?”

Miss Huxley’s lips parted. She blinked several times before whispering, “You’d give it to me?”

“Sure. Doesn’t seem right that I keep it all to myself when I might—” Cort cleared his throat. “I’ll be away more than I’d be working it.” And sooner rather than later if that surveyor recognizes me.

“I—I don’t know what to say.” She clamped her mouth shut. Her lips grew thin as she frowned. “What’s in it for you, Mr. Stanton?”

ANGIE DICKEN credits her love of story to reading British literature during life as a military kid in Cambridgeshire, England. Now living in the American heartland, she blogs about author life along with her fellow Alley Cats on The Writer’s Alley blog. Besides writing, she is a busy mom of four and works in adult ministry. Angie enjoys eclectic new restaurants, authentic conversation with friends and date nights with her Texas-native husband. Connect with her online at www.angiedicken.com.

The Outlaw’s Second Chance

Angie Dicken

www.millsandboon.co.uk

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

—Ephesians 2:10

To my dad, who raised me to dream big, and to my husband, whose support is unwavering.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

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

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

The Cherokee Strip

September 15, 1893

Aubrey Huxley rushed over when her father shoved his bony finger against the customer’s shoulder.

“You’re crossing a line there, boomer,” he threatened. Aubrey cringed as she approached the tense business negotiation. Of course, her brother was nowhere to be found. It was up to her to deal with Pa. Ed Huxley would try to sell a jar of the red Oklahoma dirt and label it “Gunpowder,” if it meant an easy profit. Just the same, the skinny horses with matted manes did nothing to live up to the sign tacked on the fence post: “Fastest in the West.” Yet he’d talked himself blue trying to convince any challenger that afternoon.

After all, it was the day before the land run. Thousands of settlers bustled around the sprawling camp, preparing for the next day’s race for free land. Each one had a flag, waiting to stake their claim at the precious markers dotted about the prairie. Leave it to her father to take advantage of the poor land-hungry boomers who’d need a horse to claim their own quarter section tomorrow.

She sucked in her dignity with a swallow of air. “Excuse me, sir.”

The disgruntled customer turned toward Aubrey, and her breath caught. Beneath his cowboy hat, green eyes squinted with cynicism—a handsome, stirring cynicism that made doubt look like a cool drink on a hot Oklahoma day. Aubrey doubted she’d change his opinion at all.

“Ma’am, this isn’t any concern of yours.” He smiled cordially then tipped his dusty hat. Her temptation to melt slid away with his smoldering look. She was not a pretty little fixture to be brushed off. This stubborn man, adorned with a shadow of stubble along his jaw and dark hair curling against a sunburned neck, had no idea he was dismissing the wrong girl.

Aubrey cleared her throat when he tried to turn his attention back to her father. “This is as much of my concern as it is my father’s.” But their reasons were as polarized as the sun to the moon. Her jaw ached from clamping her mouth shut day in and day out during this shady operation. Her mother would have never agreed to any of this. She was probably stomping around in Heaven knowing her beautiful horses had been sold to double Pa’s inventory with these pathetic creatures.