Winnie Griggs - Lone Star Heiress

Rescuer Turned Husband?

Plucky Ivy Feagan is headed to Turnabout, Texas, to claim an inheritance, not a widower’s heart. That all changes when strapping schoolteacher Mitch Parker rescues her in the wilderness. Straightlaced Mitch has never met a woman like Ivy—beautiful, adventurous and good-hearted—but he already lost love once and doesn’t dare try again.

When Turnabout’s gossips target Mitch and Ivy’s friendship, he proposes to save her reputation. But Ivy doesn’t want to marry for honor, and she doesn’t need to marry for money. Ivy will only agree to a proposal made for love’s sake—but will Mitch make his heart part of the marriage offer?

Texas Grooms: In search of their brides…

“Oh, you have a tree swing!”

Ivy turned back to Mitch with a teasing grin. “It appears there’s a bit of playfulness in you after all.”

“I hate to disappoint you, but that swing was already there when I moved in.” He regretted the words as soon as he saw the disappointment flash across her face.

She fisted a hand on her hip, looking quite severe. “You mean to tell me that you’ve never once even sat in that swing.”

“Guilty.”

“Well, that’s downright wasteful.”

He waved a hand toward the swing. “Feel free.”

“Well, there’s no time like the present.” With a saucy smile she started across the lawn. Ivy set the swing in motion, soaring high and laughing aloud.

Mitch leaned against a porch support, crossing his arms and enjoying the view.

As he watched her it occurred to him that perhaps her presence in his once quiet household was going to change his life more than he’d considered.

But it was too late to go back now.

What troubled him more was that he didn’t want to.

WINNIE GRIGGS

is a city girl born and raised in southeast Louisiana’s Cajun Country, who grew up to marry a country boy from the hills of northwest Louisiana. Though her Prince Charming (who often wears the guise of a cattle rancher) is more comfortable riding a tractor than a white steed, the two of them have been living their own happily-ever-after for thirty-plus years. During that time they raised four proud-to-call-them-mine children and a too-numerous-to-count assortment of dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, turtles and 4-H sheep.

Winnie retired from her “day job” and now, in addition to her reading and writing, happily spends her time doing the things she loves best—spending time with her family, cooking and exploring flea markets.

Readers can contact Winnie at P.O. Box 14, Plain Dealing, LA 71064, or email her at winnie@winniegriggs.com.

Lone Star Heiress

Winnie Griggs

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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He shall choose our inheritance for us.

—Psalms 47:4

To my awesome agent Michelle and my fabulous critique partners Connie and Amy, who all, at various points, helped me talk through some of the tough spots I encountered while writing this story. Thanks for your willingness to listen, offer terrific suggestions and most of all your belief in and enthusiasm for this story.

Contents

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

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Chapter One

Texas

June 1896

“This doesn’t look good.”

Ivy gently set the hoof back down on the grassy road and patted the mule’s side. “No wonder you’re limping, Jubal—it ’pears like you’ve picked up a honey of a stone bruise.”

The mule turned around to nip at her, but she avoided him easily enough. Although Jubal might be ornery at times, he usually wasn’t mean. Unfortunately, these weren’t usual circumstances.

Maybe she shouldn’t have set such a demanding pace this past day and a half, but she’d hoped to make it to Turnabout in two days’ time. A woman traveling alone for this distance, even if she was dressed as a boy, was vulnerable to gossip and worse.

But it looked as if she was doomed to spend another night on the trail.

“Not that anyone’s gonna notice we’re late,” she told Jubal, “since no one is expecting us exactly. I’m just anxious to find out what the mysterious inheritance is that this Drum Mosley fellow is holding for me.”

Ivy gave the mule’s side another pat as he brayed out a complaint. “I wish there was something I could do to make you feel better.” They were a day-and-a-half’s ride from home and headed in the opposite direction. It had been several hours since they’d seen signs of people or habitation, so she figured they’d be better off pressing forward. “Guess we’ll just have to get by as best we can.”

She turned to her other traveling companion, also of the four-legged variety. “Well, Rufus, I guess I’ll be walking the rest of the way alongside you.”

The dog barked in response and she rubbed his head, comforted by the feel of his shaggy coat and the trusting look in his eyes.

“Let’s hope we find a homestead with neighborly folks who won’t mind strangers bunking in their barn.” She straightened. “At least there’s lots of good foraging to be had this time of year.”

She took off her straw hat and wiped her forehead with her sleeve. It might be the first week in June, but the summer heat had already set in.

How far had they come since they’d started out at dawn yesterday? Other than a couple of short breaks, they’d only stopped when darkness made it unsafe to travel last night. They broke camp at daybreak this morning and she estimated it was getting on to four o’clock now. Surely they were getting close to Turnabout. Which meant it would be time to exchange her britches for a skirt soon.

She glanced down at Rufus. “Whatever this inheritance is, it sure better be worth all this trouble. ’Cause we could really use some good luck about now.”

She patted Jubal’s neck. “Wouldn’t it be something if we could return home with enough money to rebuild the barn and buy a new milk cow? That would sure make Nana Dovie’s life a lot easier.”

Grabbing the reins, Ivy looked the mule in the eye. “I know you’re hurting, but we need to make it a little farther before dark.”

She moved forward and lightly tugged. To her relief, Jubal decided to cooperate. She glanced down the narrow, deserted road as she absently swatted a horsefly away. They hadn’t seen so much as a fence post or wagon rut since before noon. Apparently this shortcut to Turnabout wasn’t well used. But surely they’d spot some sign of civilization soon.

Not one to enjoy long silences, Ivy shared her thoughts aloud. “It’s been a wearisome day and you two have been great companions. Don’t think I don’t appreciate it. In fact, I have a special treat for each of you that I’ll hand out as soon as we stop for the night.”