Shirlee McCoy - The Lawman's Legacy

Merry shuddered, pulling Douglas’s coat close.

Leather, soap, subtle masculinity. They clung to the bomber jacket and to Merry. She took a few steps away from the activity, wanting to run back to her SUV and drive home. Wanting to believe that the young woman’s heartbreaking death would change nothing.

Just stay calm.

Answer the questions.

Try not to look like a criminal.

But she was.

She was.

FITZGERALD BAY:

Law enforcement siblings fight for justice and family

The Lawman’s Legacy—Shirlee McCoy, January 2012

The Rookie’s Assignment—Valerie Hansen, February 2012

The Detective’s Secret Daughter—Rachelle McCalla, March 2012

The Widow’s Protector—Stephanie Newton, April 2012

The Black Sheep’s Redemption—Lynette Eason, May 2012

The Deputy’s Duty—Terri Reed, June 2012

Shirlee McCoy

has always loved making up stories. As a child, she daydreamed elaborate tales in which she was the heroine—gutsy, strong and invincible. Though she soon grew out of her superhero fantasies, her love for storytelling never diminished. She knew early that she wanted to write inspirational fiction, and she began writing her first novel when she was a teenager. Still, it wasn’t until her third son was born that she truly began pursuing her dream of being published. Three years later, she sold her first book. Now a busy mother of five, Shirlee is a homeschool mom by day and an inspirational author by night. She and her husband and children live in the Pacific Northwest and share their house with a dog, two cats and a bird. You can visit her website at www.shirleemccoy.com, or email her at shirlee@shirleemccoy.com.

The Lawman’s Legacy

Shirlee McCoy

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Dear Reader,

Welcome to Love Inspired!

2012 is a very special year for us. It marks the fifteenth anniversary of Love Inspired Books. Hard to believe that fifteen years ago, we first began publishing our warm and wonderful inspirational romances.

Back in 1997, we offered readers three books a month. Since then we’ve expanded quite a bit! In addition to the heartwarming contemporary romances of Love Inspired, we have the exciting romantic suspenses of Love Inspired Suspense, and the adventurous historical romances of Love Inspired Historical. Whatever your reading preference, we’ve got fourteen books a month for you to choose from now!

Throughout the year we’ll be celebrating in several different ways. Look for books by bestselling authors who’ve been writing for us since the beginning, stories by brand-new authors you won’t want to miss, special miniseries in all three lines, reissues of top authors, and much, much more.

This is our way of thanking you for reading Love Inspired books. We know our uplifting stories of hope, faith and love touch your hearts as much as they touch ours.

Join us in celebrating fifteen amazing years of inspirational romance!

Blessings,

Melissa Endlich and Tina James

Senior Editors of Love Inspired Books

Dear Reader,

When I was a kid, summer and winter vacations meant trips to Massachusetts to visit family. Since then, I’ve had a love for New England. Beautiful fall foliage, cold crisp winter, bright blue summer sky… You can’t beat it for seasonal changes, nor can you help feeling the history of the places you visit there. It thrilled me to be asked to participate in a continuity series set in the area. The small town of Fitzgerald Bay is quaint and tight-knit, the people that live there full of character and strength. Writing the story of Douglas Fitzgerald and Merry O’Leary brought me back to those wonderful days I spent with people I loved in a place I loved. It also reminded me of God’s power. Even in the worst times of our lives, even when we aren’t sure we’ve made right decisions, done the right thing…even when we know we haven’t… He is there, His love so powerful and strong, His desire for us so great that it rises above our failures and pulls us back to Him again and again.

I hope that you enjoy the first book in the Fitzgerald Bay continuity series.

I love to connect with readers. You can visit me at http://shirlee-mccoy.blogspot.com, connect with me on Facebook or drop me a line at Shirlee@shirleemccoy.com.

Blessings!

Shirlee McCoy

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

—Jeremiah 32:17

Contents

Dear Reader Dear Reader, When I was a kid, summer and winter vacations meant trips to Massachusetts to visit family. Since then, I’ve had a love for New England. Beautiful fall foliage, cold crisp winter, bright blue summer sky… You can’t beat it for seasonal changes, nor can you help feeling the history of the places you visit there. It thrilled me to be asked to participate in a continuity series set in the area. The small town of Fitzgerald Bay is quaint and tight-knit, the people that live there full of character and strength. Writing the story of Douglas Fitzgerald and Merry O’Leary brought me back to those wonderful days I spent with people I loved in a place I loved. It also reminded me of God’s power. Even in the worst times of our lives, even when we aren’t sure we’ve made right decisions, done the right thing…even when we know we haven’t… He is there, His love so powerful and strong, His desire for us so great that it rises above our failures and pulls us back to Him again and again. I hope that you enjoy the first book in the Fitzgerald Bay continuity series. I love to connect with readers. You can visit me at http://shirlee-mccoy.blogspot.com, connect with me on Facebook or drop me a line at Shirlee@shirleemccoy.com. Blessings! Shirlee McCoy

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

Epilogue

Questions for Discussion

ONE

Captain Douglas Fitzgerald pulled up in front of his father’s colonial-style house, eyeing the line of cars that stretched along the curb. The entire Fitzgerald clan had gathered for his grandfather’s birthday celebration, and it looked like he was the last to arrive. Not a problem. He had a foolproof excuse. Duty first. That’s the way his father had raised him. It was the only way he knew how to be. Seeing as how he was working his shift with the Fitzgerald Bay police department, he had no choice but to show up late and leave early. His father knew that. His grandfather knew it.

Yeah. He had an excuse, but he still wished he could spend a little more time visiting with Granddad and the rest of the clan and a little less time doing paperwork back at the office. He loved Fitzgerald Bay. Loved the people, the community, the easy predictability of small-town life, but predictability could be boring.