The Rancher's Surprise Son
The Little Boy Had His Eyes Cody Masters always believed that nothing could keep him and his high school sweetheart, Laura Duke, apart. Not her parents, not town gossip–not even a jail sentence! But when the cowboy returns home, he finds a new man in Laura's life. Johnny is three-and-a-half-feet tall, adores his pony and stares back at Cody with all-too-familiar blue eyes…The Mother Had His Heart Even though Laura insists a quickie marriage produced Johnny, Cody isn't giving up on his dream of their family. The only problem is getting her–and the rest of the town–to trust him again. Besides, Laura is harboring a secret that is keeping them apart, but could also bond them, and little Johnny, forever!
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Laura reached for a piece of toast and took her coffee with her.
She had an hour before the first guests would arrive, and she was going to enjoy it with Cody and Johnny.
Johnny insisted on putting on his cowboy boots and his cowboy hat. He said that he wanted âto look just like Mr Masters.â
Oh, you do, my little boy. You do.
Laura walked past all the tables with Johnny. She had to admit everything looked beautiful. Where she would be sitting, at the head table, sheâd have a perfect view of the barn. Maybe she could catch glimpses of Cody and Johnny during the riding lesson.
As Laura and Johnny approached the barn, Cody appeared, leading Pirate into the corral.
Johnny waved excitedly. âHi, Mr Masters. Hi, Pirate.â
âHello, son,â Cody replied, and Lauraâs heart did a flip in her chest at that simple greeting, which had much more meaning now.
* * *
Gold Buckle Cowboys: Theyâll steal your heart in eight seconds!
CHRISTINE WENGER has worked in the criminal justice field for more years than she cares to remember, but now she spends her time reading, writing and seeing the sights in our beautiful world. A native central New Yorker, she loves watching professional bull riding and rodeo with her favorite cowboy, her husband, Jim. You can reach Chris at PO Box 1823, Cicero, NY 13039, USA, or through her website at www.christinewenger.com.
For all cowboys and cowgirls everywhereâin the country, the suburbs and in the city.
(You know who you are!)
Contents
As far as Laura Duke knew, no Duke vehicle had ever left a tread on the Masters familyâs Double M Ranch...until now.
It started out to be a perfectly normal day, whatever ânormalâ meant. Since nothing had been normal for the past several years, Laura was enjoying the quiet respite of visiting with her son Johnnyâs babysitter, Cindy Masters, at the nearby Double M.
In a cloud of Arizona desert dust, one of the Duke Ranchâs white pickups came lumbering down the road.
âThat looks like one of your trucks,â Cindy said. âIâve always loved the crown on the side. I told my mom that the Double M needs a cool logo like yours.â
âA crown for a duke,â Laura answered. More like a king, she thought. Since my father rules the entire county.
Laura loved Cindy and so did Lauraâs son, Johnny. Cindy was a wonderful babysitter, but Laura asked her to sit only when she was in a jam, like this Friday. She had to speak at an awards luncheon, and her parents would be out of town. Clarissa, Johnnyâs nanny, had that day off.
âSure. Iâd love to watch Johnny again,â thirteen-year-old Cindy said. âHeâs the cutest.â
Laura was relieved, but if her parents knew she was at the Double M and Cindy was babysitting Johnny, thereâd be hell to pay.
Lauraâs heart raced thinking that if her parents even suspected that she was good friends with Georgianna Masters, Cindyâs mom, and enjoyed her company, theyâd really flip. Well, her mother would definitely flip, but her father seemed to have a well-hidden soft spot for Georgianna.
Still, Laura had her reasons for risking the wrath of her parentsâgood reasonsâreasons that sheâd been keeping to herself for a long time.
The screen door of the porch squeaked open, and Georgianna walked out onto the porch.
âCody? Is that Cody coming in the Duke truck?â Georgianna asked, wiping her hands on a terry towel. âOh, thank goodness. Heâs finally here!â
The pickup was still making its way toward the front of the ranch house, and Laura found herself holding her breath.
Why on earth would Cody Masters be riding in a Duke truck?
More important, how did he get out of prison?
âIs it really him?â Cindy asked, straining her neck. âThree years. I havenât seen my brother in three years.â
Three years and four days, to be exact.
Georgianna took Cindyâs hand. âIt sure is Cody, sweetie. Heâs home.â
Lauraâs heart beat wildly in her chest. She felt warm, then chilled, then as if she was frying under the desert sun in spite of the shady roof overhead.
She knew that this day would come sooner or later and dreaded itâyet she couldnât wait to see Cody again.
So many secrets. So many lies. So much heartbreak.
Georgianna and Cindy took off at a run to meet the truck.
Laura stayed in the shade, holding back. The scenario that she had planned when she first talked to Codyâreally talked to Codyâseemed ridiculous now. She needed to think!
The pickup slowed, and then stopped. Laura willed herself to run, to hide, but she was rooted in that spot. She needed to delay seeing Cody until she had a better planâand it sure as hell had better be a great one.
Procrastination might as well be her middle name.
