Vickie McDonough - Rancher Under Fire

SABOTAGE AT ANGELFIRE RANCH

Jackson Durant would go to any lengths to protect his young daughter and his ranch. He knows the puzzling incidents on his homestead are no accidents. Someone is after him…but who? And why? Reporter Mariah Reyes is determined to find out. She never expected her pursuit of a story on the reclusive rancher would endanger her life—nor that she’d fall for the cowboy. But when Jackson’s daughter is kidnapped, she’ll do anything to help save the little girl—even if it means becoming a target herself.

Mariah was the last woman he should be interested in.

A reporter who had the power to destroy his peaceful life.

But Jackson had to admit he enjoyed the feel of her arms locked around his waist as they rode out to the fence line. He stared at the damage. The fence had obviously been cut. By whom? He didn’t have any enemies. But for several weeks there had been incidents that made him uneasy.

“This repair might take a while,” he told her. “Why don’t you go down to the creek?”

He watched her walk away, but he put the brakes on his thoughts. Don’t think about the greenhorn reporter. She’ll be leaving in a few days anyway. Jackson shook his head. That was why he didn’t want women on the ranch. They were a distraction. Nothing but trouble.

He worked on the repair till a loud crack echoed over the hills. Jackson jumped, nicking his finger on a barb. Gunfire?

Another blast ripped the quiet, followed by a scream.

Mariah!

VICKIE McDONOUGH

is an award-winning and bestselling author of over thirty published books and novellas. She grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead, she married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams in her fictional stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen and others living in the West. She’s a wife of almost forty years, mother of four grown sons and one daughter-in-law, and is grandma to a feisty eight-year-old girl. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, buying cool things for her booth in an antique mall, watching movies and traveling. To learn more about Vickie’s books or to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website: www.vickiemcdonough.com. You can also find Vickie on Facebook and Twitter.

Rancher Under Fire

Vickie McDonough

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

—Isaiah 40:31

To my agent, Chip MacGregor.

If not for Chip, this book would never have happened. Thanks for pushing me and opening doors that give life to Rancher Under Fire.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text SABOTAGE AT ANGELFIRE RANCH Jackson Durant would go to any lengths to protect his young daughter and his ranch. He knows the puzzling incidents on his homestead are no accidents. Someone is after him…but who? And why? Reporter Mariah Reyes is determined to find out. She never expected her pursuit of a story on the reclusive rancher would endanger her life—nor that she’d fall for the cowboy. But when Jackson’s daughter is kidnapped, she’ll do anything to help save the little girl—even if it means becoming a target herself.

Introduction Mariah was the last woman he should be interested in. A reporter who had the power to destroy his peaceful life. But Jackson had to admit he enjoyed the feel of her arms locked around his waist as they rode out to the fence line. He stared at the damage. The fence had obviously been cut. By whom? He didn’t have any enemies. But for several weeks there had been incidents that made him uneasy. “This repair might take a while,” he told her. “Why don’t you go down to the creek?” He watched her walk away, but he put the brakes on his thoughts. Don’t think about the greenhorn reporter. She’ll be leaving in a few days anyway. Jackson shook his head. That was why he didn’t want women on the ranch. They were a distraction. Nothing but trouble. He worked on the repair till a loud crack echoed over the hills. Jackson jumped, nicking his finger on a barb. Gunfire? Another blast ripped the quiet, followed by a scream. Mariah!

About the Author VICKIE McDONOUGH is an award-winning and bestselling author of over thirty published books and novellas. She grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead, she married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams in her fictional stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen and others living in the West. She’s a wife of almost forty years, mother of four grown sons and one daughter-in-law, and is grandma to a feisty eight-year-old girl. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, buying cool things for her booth in an antique mall, watching movies and traveling. To learn more about Vickie’s books or to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website: www.vickiemcdonough.com . You can also find Vickie on Facebook and Twitter.

Title Page Rancher Under Fire Vickie McDonough www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. —Isaiah 40:31

Dedication To my agent, Chip MacGregor. If not for Chip, this book would never have happened. Thanks for pushing me and opening doors that give life to Rancher Under Fire.

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EPILOGUE

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

ONE

Mariah Reyes had to face the facts—she was lost. Hours of wandering on the desolate country roads of Northeastern Oklahoma had left her more confused than a chameleon in a bowl of Skittles.

She checked for oncoming cars—not that she’d seen more than one in the past half hour—then reached for the map on the passenger’s seat. She peeked down at the line she’d drawn before leaving home that showed the way to Angelfire Ranch, but it didn’t help. Glancing up, she jerked the steering wheel to the right to get her car back in her lane and willed her pulse to return to normal.

“This is crazy.” She slowed the car, pulled onto the gravel shoulder and searched her purse for her phone. Maybe she could find her way using the built-in GPS and maps. She turned it on and opened the map app. She’d already plugged in the address to Jackson Durant’s ranch, but she hadn’t wanted to risk driving while trying to follow the tiny GPS dot on her phone.

She studied the barren winter wilderness while she waited for the map to load. Tall, yellow grass fluttered in the wind, and the few leaves still clinging to the almost-bald trees waved at her. The land here wasn’t as flat as the Dallas area, and there were more trees, but the emptiness of the countryside after the busyness of the big city left her feeling isolated.