Heidi Hormel - The Accidental Cowboy

COWBOY IN A KILT

When former bronc rider Lavonda Leigh is asked to guide a Scottish archaeologist through the Arizona desert, she’s expecting a fussy egghead. But then she discovers tall, strong Jones Kincaid competing at the local Highland games. She can’t help her interest in him—and that’s before he puts on his cowboy hat and hits the trail like a pro.

Jones is after more than he’s letting on. His quest could clear a past scandal and let him live his dream—studying the old West. But as he spends time with Lavonda in this rugged landscape, he realizes that what he wants isn’t just academic—he yearns for a life with her on the ranch. If she discovers his deception, this professor-turned-cowboy will lose his reputation...and Lavonda, too.

Jones watched her move with assurance to the donkey to unload a small cooler.

That didn’t seem very Wild West, as he’d imagined it as a boy. But they weren’t in the Wild West. They had cell phones and sunscreen.

He turned back to the wall. His archaeologist’s interest was piqued. He heard Lavonda talking to their donkey, but he didn’t catch what she said because he’d noticed something else. Accessing his flashlight app, he shone it into the cave’s dark corners.

“What did you find?” Lavonda’s hushed voice whispered over his skin.

“Probably nothing, but I saw... Ahh, just there.” He pointed.

Lavonda moved closer, and a shiver of awareness skittered through him. Distracted, he let the flashlight beam swing wildly.

“Did you see something?” She touched his forearm briefly, her small fingers leaving a heated impression.

“Not yet,” he said calmly, as though he was in a lecture hall and not standing next to an enchanted pixie, a leannán sí out of a Scottish fairy tale. He concentrated on the beam of light and what had caught his eye.

“There it is.”

Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author 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 Extract Copyright ,

Welcome to Angel Crossing, Arizona—my new series set in a fictional town filled with heart and humor. It’s fitting that the first book in this series is about two people finding their way home. Lavonda Leigh (who showed up in both The Surgeon and the Cowgirl and The Convenient Cowboy) is back to being a cowgirl after years in the corporate world, and Scottish archaeologist Jones Kincaid is combing the desert for ancient treasure to save his career. These two never planned to stick around Angel Crossing, but they soon discover what home is in Arizona’s wide-open spaces and their own warm embraces.

Despite a very German name, I have quite a bit of Scots in my background and have traveled to the country of haggis and kilts a number of times. Something in the Scottish take on life reminds me of the cowboy attitude. Arizona is even home to an annual Highland games, which I’ve included in this book.

As my new series gets started off with a bagpipe and a yee-haw, I am already working on other stories of the men and women in Angel Crossing. No matter their backgrounds, they each find their place in this town that embraces change while staying true to its heart. Quite a feat.

If you want to know more about my inspirations and musings or want to drop me a note, check out my website and blog at heidihormel.net, where you also can sign up for my newsletter. Or connect with me at Facebook.com/authorheidihormel; Twitter.com/heidihormel; or Pinterest.com/hhormel.

Yee-haw,

Heidi Hormel

www.millsandboon.co.uk

With stints as an innkeeper, radio talk show host and craft store manager, HEIDI HORMELsettled into her true calling as a writer by spending years as a reporter (covering the story of the rampaging elephants Debbie and Tina) and as a PR flunky (staying calm in the face of Cookiegate). Now she is happiest penning romances with a wink and a wiggle.

A small-town girl from the Snack Food Capital of the World, Heidi has trotted over a good portion of the globe, from Tombstone in Arizona to Loch Ness in Scotland to the depths of Death Valley. She draws on all of these experiences for her books, especially for her Angel Crossing, Arizona series.

Heidi is on the web at heidihormel.net, as well as socially out there at Facebook.com/authorheidihormel; Twitter.com/heidihormel; and Pinterest.com/hhormel.

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Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text COWBOY IN A KILT When former bronc rider Lavonda Leigh is asked to guide a Scottish archaeologist through the Arizona desert, she’s expecting a fussy egghead. But then she discovers tall, strong Jones Kincaid competing at the local Highland games. She can’t help her interest in him—and that’s before he puts on his cowboy hat and hits the trail like a pro. Jones is after more than he’s letting on. His quest could clear a past scandal and let him live his dream—studying the old West. But as he spends time with Lavonda in this rugged landscape, he realizes that what he wants isn’t just academic—he yearns for a life with her on the ranch. If she discovers his deception, this professor-turned-cowboy will lose his reputation...and Lavonda, too.

Introduction Jones watched her move with assurance to the donkey to unload a small cooler. That didn’t seem very Wild West, as he’d imagined it as a boy. But they weren’t in the Wild West. They had cell phones and sunscreen. He turned back to the wall. His archaeologist’s interest was piqued. He heard Lavonda talking to their donkey, but he didn’t catch what she said because he’d noticed something else. Accessing his flashlight app, he shone it into the cave’s dark corners. “What did you find?” Lavonda’s hushed voice whispered over his skin. “Probably nothing, but I saw... Ahh, just there.” He pointed. Lavonda moved closer, and a shiver of awareness skittered through him. Distracted, he let the flashlight beam swing wildly. “Did you see something?” She touched his forearm briefly, her small fingers leaving a heated impression. “Not yet,” he said calmly, as though he was in a lecture hall and not standing next to an enchanted pixie, a leannán sí out of a Scottish fairy tale. He concentrated on the beam of light and what had caught his eye. “There it is.”

Dear Reader Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author 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 Extract Copyright , Welcome to Angel Crossing, Arizona—my new series set in a fictional town filled with heart and humor. It’s fitting that the first book in this series is about two people finding their way home.