Tina Leonard - The Triplets' Rodeo Man

“Yes,” Cricket said softly. “To triplets, actually.”

Jack Morgan couldn't move, couldn't speak. Never had his life rushed by so fast, not even the eight seconds he rode to the buzzer.

This was different.

His brothers congratulated him, pounded him on the back, shook his hand.

He tried to say he was excited, too, but all that came out of his mouth was a rusty croak no one heard over all the sudden hugging and kissing of Cricket.

He knew he needed to say something to her, act pleased, brag like an expectant father—but all he could do was try to keep his knees from knocking together and suck air into his lungs.

He'd never been so scared.

How could he —a man who spent all his time on the rodeo circuit—be a father?

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Dear Reader,

March is a month for new beginnings—a time when everything feels fresh and new as winter begins to ebb away. Though it’s still cold in many places, we can begin making our summer reading lists, as it won’t be too much longer before the kids are out of school!

It’s time for some healing and new beginnings in the Morgan family. In The Triplets’ Rodeo Man, Jack Morgan, the eldest son, must find his way back home. But can a wild man like Jack fall for a good girl—the town deacon, no less!—like Cricket Jasper? This is one relationship maybe even stalwart matchmaker/patriarch Josiah Morgan couldn’t have bet on—and yet Cricket’s long had her eyes on Jack. Used to rodeo life and being the outcast of his family, Jack will have many new challenges if he wants to win Cricket. Is it possible that the ladylike deacon has an even wilder side than his own?

Jack knows his brothers were lured into ready-made family life, in Texas Lullaby (June ‘08), The Texas Ranger’s Twins (January ‘09), and The Secret Agent’s Surprises (February ‘09), so he’s well aware that he’s the last bachelor Morgan brother—and the man who has the most to lose. Or gain. Can this black sheep turn into a family man?

I hope you’ve enjoyed THE MORGAN MEN miniseries. As March brings us hope of reborn wonder in the world around us, I hope you’ll let the Morgans and their triumphs over their personal trials warm your corner of the world.

Best wishes and much love,

Tina Leonard

Tina Leonard is a bestselling author of more than forty projects, including a popular thirteen-book miniseries for Harlequin American Romance. Her books have made the Waldenbooks, Ingram’s and Nielsen Book-Scan bestseller lists. Tina feels she has been blessed with a fertile imagination and quick typing skills, excellent editors and a family who loves her career. Born on a military base, she lived in many states before eventually marrying the boy who did her crayon printing for her in the first grade. Tina believes happy endings are a wonderful part of a good life. You can visit her at www.tinaleonard.com.

Many thanks to my editor, Kathleen Scheibling,

for believing in this series, and to

Lisa, Dean and Tim, who understand that

time with family is my personal dream.

A word of gratitude to Pat Wood for assisting me

with this book during a time of her own difficulty—

Pat, you are a true friend.

Any factual errors are mine.

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

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Epilogue

“You reap what you sow.”

—Josiah Morgan to his four sons, a general reminder.

Late March, Union Junction, Texas

Jack Morgan stood at his father’s bedside in the Union Junction hospital, staring down at the large sleeping man. Josiah Morgan had the power to impress even in his peaceful state. Jack couldn’t believe the old lion was ill. He didn’t think Pop had ever had so much as a cold in his life.

But if his brother Pete said Pop was weak and in need of a kidney transplant, then those were the facts. Jack took no joy in his father’s situation, even though the two of them had never been close. He hadn’t seen Pop in more than ten years, not since the night of his rodeo accident, his brothers’ car accident and the all out battle he and Pop had waged against each other.

It had been a terrible night, and the details of it were still etched in his mind. And then there was the letter he’d received through Pete from his father just last month.

Jack, I tried to be a good father. I tried to save you from yourself. In the end, I realized you are too different from me. But I’ve always been proud of my firstborn son.

Pop

As patriarchal letters went, it stank. Jack figured Pop wouldn’t have sent a letter at all if he wasn’t sick, so he’d decided to come see for himself. He hadn’t expected to care what happened to the miserly old man; Josiah was miserly with his affection, miserly with his money, time, everything. At least that was the father Jack remembered. Still, Jack preferred his father fighting.

“All right, Pop, you old jackass,” Jack said, “you can lie in that bed or you can fight.”

One eye in the craggy, lined face opened to stare at him as he spoke, then the other opened in disbelief. “Jack,” Josiah murmured.

A thousand emotions tore through Jack. “Get up out of that bed, old man.”

“I can’t. Not today. Maybe tomorrow,” Josiah said gamely.

“Damn right,” Jack said. “Because if I’m giving you one of my kidneys, I expect you to be jumping around like a lively young pup.”

Josiah squinted at him. “Kidney?”

“Hell, yeah,” Jack said. “You and I might as well be tied together for a few more years of agony—don’t you think? It could be the one thing we have in common. We’re apparently the perfect match for a kidney swap, which I find amusing in a strange sort of way. Not any of my brothers—me, the perfect donor match for you. It’s almost Shakespearean.”

His father shook his head and closed his eyes. “I don’t want any favors, thanks.”

Jack pulled a chair close to the bed and sat. “No one’s trying to do you a favor, you old jackass, least of all me. Quit feeling sorry for yourself, because I sure as hell don’t.”

Josiah’s eyes snapped open, sparks of fire shooting at his son. “No one has ever felt sorry for Josiah Morgan.”

Jack nodded. “Glad we got that settled. You’ll need to be in the right frame of mind to get healthy for all those brats you thought you needed.”