Rhonda Gibson - Baby On Her Doorstep

The Rancher’s Temporary Nanny

Laura Lee has longed for a child of her own—but she never expected one would suddenly appear on the school steps. With a note begging her to raise the baby girl, the teacher must find a new home since there’s a rule against children in the boardinghouse. Her only option is becoming a temporary live-in nanny for a rancher.

Widowed single father Clint Shepard needs a nanny for his daughter immediately—even if hiring Laura means he’ll have to find someone else in a few months when school starts up. But after spending time with her and the little girl she’s raising, he starts falling for them, and wishing their arrangement could be permanent.

RHONDA GIBSON lives in New Mexico with her husband, James. She has two children and three beautiful grandchildren. Reading is something she has enjoyed her whole life, and writing stemmed from that love. When she isn’t writing or reading, she enjoys gardening, beading and playing with her dog, Sheba. You can visit her at rhondagibson.net. Rhonda hopes her writing will entertain, encourage and bring others closer to God.

Also By Rhonda Gibson

Love Inspired Historical

The Marshal’s Promise

Groom by Arrangement

Taming the Texas Rancher

His Chosen Bride

A Pony Express Christmas

The Texan’s Twin Blessings

A Convenient Christmas Bride

Baby on Her Doorstep

Saddles and Spurs

Pony Express Courtship

Pony Express Hero

Pony Express Christmas Bride

Pony Express Mail-Order Bride

Pony Express Special Delivery

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Baby on Her Doorstep

Rhonda Gibson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08440-6

BABY ON HER DOORSTEP

© 2018 Rhonda Gibson

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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Was Mr. Shepard the answer to her prayers?

He took a deep breath, then blurted, “I’m looking for a nanny for my daughter, Grace. If you take the job, you’ll need to move out to the ranch. I will make sure that you make more than what you do now as a teacher. I’ll double what they are paying you to teach.”

Laura needed the money. If she could work until planting season was over and school started back, maybe she’d make enough money to buy her own house.

She swallowed. “Mr. Shepard, I have no desire to give up my teaching position. School is closed for the summer until the end of the harvest planting. My goal is to obtain a house for myself and Hope by that time.”

Clint nodded. “I see. What if I promise to help you look for a house and you work for me until school resumes?”

Laura’s gaze moved to the two little girls sitting on the floor at their feet. Grace’s small voice was speaking in low tones to Hope. Hope sucked her thumb and nodded as if in agreement with Grace. Would Hope become attached to Grace if Laura took the job and they moved to the ranch? Or worse, would she?

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

—Joshua 1:9

Dear Reader,

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this book. I hope you enjoyed it. Clint and Laura’s story is my last book for the Love Inspired Historical romance line. I’m going to miss writing for this line but know that God has other plans. If you enjoy reading my historical novels, please know that I have more coming out, and you can learn about them by going to www.rhondagibson.net.

I love hearing from my readers, so please feel free to write to me at rhondagibson65@hotmail.com or send a note to: Rhonda Gibson, P.O. Box 835, Kirtland, NM 87417.

Until we meet again,

Warmly,

Rhonda Gibson

This book is dedicated to my readers—thank you so much for reading my books and supporting my writing. You are the reason I write.

James Gibson, I wouldn’t be able to write the stories of my heart without your help. Thank you, Michelle Matney—you pulled my bacon out of the fire this time. You’re the best.

Above all, thank You, Lord, for letting me write for You.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Bible Verse

Dear Reader

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

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Epilogue

Extract

About the Publisher