Mia Ross - Her Small-Town Cowboy

A Family for the Teacher

Lily St. George dreams of marriage and a family of her own. But as a temporary kindergarten teacher, she can’t get too attached to anyone in Oaks Crossing. When a student brings in her single father for show-and-tell, Lily is drawn to charming cowboy Mike Kinley. Working overtime to save his struggling horse farm, Mike claims to have no room in his life for love. But when they team up to start a riding school for children at his ranch, Lily knows she’ll have to help Mike see their partnership is meant to be permanent.

“Thanks for making time for me today,” Lily said with a smile.

“No problem,” Mike responded. “Sorry it wasn’t much of a riding lesson.”

The sweet smile warmed to something he didn’t quite understand. And wasn’t sure he wanted to.

“Actually, I learned a lot. About you.”

“Yeah? Like what?” he asked.

“That you don’t hesitate to put yourself in danger to help an animal when it’s in trouble. That says a lot about a person, don’t you think?”

“I guess so,” he hedged, feeling awkward and proud at the same time. He wasn’t used to being praised for simply being himself.

“Someone like that is just the person I want teaching me. Do you think you can work me into your schedule again soon?”

“How ’bout Monday at four?” he heard himself ask, cringing at the eager tone in his voice.

Since he couldn’t take it back, he did his best to act as if seeing her again that soon didn’t matter all that much one way or the other. When deep down, he knew it did matter. A lot.

MIA ROSS loves great stories. She enjoys reading about fascinating people, long-ago times and exotic places. But only for a little while, because her reality is pretty sweet. Married to her college sweetheart, she’s the proud mom of two amazing kids, whose schedules keep her hopping. Busy as she is, she can’t imagine trading her life for anyone else’s—and she has a pretty good imagination. You can visit her online at miaross.com.

Her Small-Town

Cowboy

Mia Ross

www.Harlequin.com

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Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

—Luke 6:37

For Ruth

Acknowledgments Acknowledgments Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Epilogue Dear Reader Extract Copyright

To the very talented folks who help me

make my books everything they can be:

Elaine Spencer, Melissa Endlich

and the dedicated staff at Love Inspired.

More thanks to the gang at Seekerville

( www.seekerville.net), a great place to hang out with readers—and writers.

I’ve been blessed with a wonderful network of supportive, encouraging family and friends. You inspire me every day!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text A Family for the Teacher Lily St. George dreams of marriage and a family of her own. But as a temporary kindergarten teacher, she can’t get too attached to anyone in Oaks Crossing. When a student brings in her single father for show-and-tell, Lily is drawn to charming cowboy Mike Kinley. Working overtime to save his struggling horse farm, Mike claims to have no room in his life for love. But when they team up to start a riding school for children at his ranch, Lily knows she’ll have to help Mike see their partnership is meant to be permanent.

Introduction “Thanks for making time for me today,” Lily said with a smile. “No problem,” Mike responded. “Sorry it wasn’t much of a riding lesson.” The sweet smile warmed to something he didn’t quite understand. And wasn’t sure he wanted to. “Actually, I learned a lot. About you.” “Yeah? Like what?” he asked. “That you don’t hesitate to put yourself in danger to help an animal when it’s in trouble. That says a lot about a person, don’t you think?” “I guess so,” he hedged, feeling awkward and proud at the same time. He wasn’t used to being praised for simply being himself. “Someone like that is just the person I want teaching me. Do you think you can work me into your schedule again soon?” “How ’bout Monday at four?” he heard himself ask, cringing at the eager tone in his voice. Since he couldn’t take it back, he did his best to act as if seeing her again that soon didn’t matter all that much one way or the other. When deep down, he knew it did matter. A lot.

About the Author MIA ROSS loves great stories. She enjoys reading about fascinating people, long-ago times and exotic places. But only for a little while, because her reality is pretty sweet. Married to her college sweetheart, she’s the proud mom of two amazing kids, whose schedules keep her hopping. Busy as she is, she can’t imagine trading her life for anyone else’s—and she has a pretty good imagination. You can visit her online at miaross.com .

Title Page Her Small-Town Cowboy Mia Ross www.Harlequin.com

Bible Verse Forgive, and you will be forgiven. —Luke 6:37

Dedication For Ruth

Acknowledgments Acknowledgments Acknowledgments Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Epilogue Dear Reader Extract Copyright To the very talented folks who help me make my books everything they can be: Elaine Spencer, Melissa Endlich and the dedicated staff at Love Inspired. More thanks to the gang at Seekerville ( www.seekerville.net ), a great place to hang out with readers—and writers. I’ve been blessed with a wonderful network of supportive, encouraging family and friends. You inspire me every day!

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Mike Kinley hated weddings.

Maybe hate was a little strong, he amended as he guided a team of perfectly matched bays into the shade of a nearby oak tree. Setting the carriage’s brake with his boot, he glanced over at the gazebo where a photographer was taking shots of the bride and groom he’d just delivered. Poor kids, Mike thought with a grimace. They had no idea what they were in for.

Then again, neither had he. He’d done everything in his power to make Dana happy, and where did that get him? Divorced and wishing he’d listened to his head instead of his heart. Now he was thirty years old and working seven days a week desperately trying to hold up his end of a faltering family business. If they couldn’t come up with a way to bring in more cash—and soon—their shaky bottom line would crater to a depth they wouldn’t be able to recover from. They’d be forced to sell the place that generations of Kinleys had worked so hard to build up from a scenic bluegrass meadow to the well-respected Gallimore Stables. He and his brothers would be hunting for jobs, and his mother would lose the home she cherished so much. While Mike couldn’t deny that weddings brought in some much-needed revenue, they sure were tough on his nerves.