Cheryl St.John - The Rancher Inherits A Family

Unexpected Father

The pretty redhead Seth Halloway pulls from a derailed train has surprising news for him. The children she’s accompanied to Cowboy Creek aren’t hers—they’re his, thanks to the last wishes of a late friend. Busy rancher Seth must suddenly cope with three rambunctious boys...and try to ignore his growing feelings for independent Marigold Brewster.

Marigold hopes to start over as the town’s new schoolteacher. She’ll choose her own path, and stay aloof from the adorable Radner boys—and their guardian. But the man who rescued her from a wrecked railcar might just be the one to save her from loneliness...if she dares to let him in.

CHERYL ST.JOHN’s love for reading started as a child. She wrote her own stories, designed covers and stapled them into books. She credits many hours of creating scenarios for her paper dolls and Barbies as the start of her fascination with fictional characters. Cheryl loves hearing from readers. Visit her website at cherylstjohn.netor email her at SaintJohn@aol.com.

Also By Cheryl St.John

Return to Cowboy Creek

The Rancher Inherits a Family

Cowboy Creek

Want Ad Wedding

Cowboy Creek Christmas

“Mistletoe Reunion”

Irish Brides

The Wedding Journey

The Preacher’s Wife

To Be a Mother

“Mountain Rose”

Marrying the Preacher’s Daughter

Colorado Courtship

“Winter of Dreams”

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

The Rancher Inherits a Family

Cheryl St.John

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08255-6

THE RANCHER INHERITS A FAMILY

© 2018 Harlequin Books S.A.

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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“I’m glad you and your boys are all right.”

“Well, that’s the thing...”

“What’s the thing?”

“They’re not my boys.”

“They’re not?”

“I never saw them before I boarded the train headed for Kansas.”

“Well, then—”

“They’re yours.”

Had he taken a blow to the head, as well? “I assure you I’d know if I had children.”

“Well, as soon as you read this letter, along with a copy of a will, you’ll know.”

At the sound of paper unfolding, he opened his eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“It seems a friend of yours by the name of

Tessa Radner wanted you to take her children upon her death.”

* * *

Return to Cowboy Creek:

A bride train delivers the promise of new love

and family to a Kansas boomtown

The Rancher Inherits a Family—

Cheryl St.John, April 2018

His Substitute Mail-Order Bride—

Sherri Shackelford, May 2018

Romancing the Runaway Bride—

Karen Kirst, June 2018

Dear Reader,

Getting reacquainted with all the wonderful characters from the previous Cowboy Creek series and once again working with fellow authors Sherri Shackelford and Karen Kirst was great fun. If you haven’t read the entire series, I hope you’ll look for previous books and enjoy them as well.

Seth and Marigold were interesting characters to develop. Marigold is a resilient, determined young lady who is hungry for love, but afraid to risk it. Seth is a hardworking, responsible rancher who doesn’t have time in his life for an injury, a schoolteacher with a pet cat, or three challenging kids who need a lot of love and attention.

When they’re thrust together, this couple has a lot to learn about themselves—and about love. We’ve all experienced losses, and we’ve all dealt with them in diverse ways. Seth and Marigold have something to teach us, and what we learn from them is that love is worth the risk.

I enjoy keeping in touch with readers.

You can contact me at: Saintjohn@aol.com.

Visit me on the web: http://www.cherylstjohn.net/.

Like my Facebook author page: https://www.Facebook.com/CherylStJ.

See inspiration photos for all the Cowboy Creek books here: http://Pinterest.com/cheryl_stjohn/.

Happy spring!

Cheryl St.John

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

—Proverbs 3:5–6

This book is dedicated to my aunt Marilyn, a kind and gentle spirit. Surely now there are chocolate chip cookies in heaven.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

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

About the Publisher

Chapter One

Cowboy Creek

April 1869

Seth Halloway heaved a burlap sack of dry beans over his shoulder and carried it to the back of the wagon, where he vaulted into the bed and stacked the bag beside kegs and crates. He yanked a faded bandana from his back pocket and wiped his face and neck. The sun was warm for April. Good for the early hay.