Linda Warren - A Child's Gift

Will an abandoned child bring them together?

Or tear them apart?

Cowboy Jericho Johnson lives a good life working on the Rebel family’s Texas ranch. All he’s missing is a wonderful woman like Anamarie Wiznowski. But Rico’s troubled past and Ana’s disapproving family conspire against them. When Rico is named guardian to a four-year-old boy, he asks Ana for help. And suddenly, he’s falling faster than Christmas snow...for Ana, sweet little Dusty and life as a family man!

Two-time RITA® Award–nominated author LINDA WARRENhas written over forty books for Harlequin. A native Texan, she’s a member of Romance Writers of America and the RWA West Houston chapter. Drawing upon her years of growing up on a ranch, she writes about some of her favorite things: Western-style romance, cowboys and country life. She married her high school sweetheart and they live on a lake in central Texas. He fishes and she writes. Works perfect.

Also By Linda Warren

Texas Rebels

Texas Rebels: Egan

Texas Rebels: Falcon

Texas Rebels: Quincy

Texas Rebels: Jude

Texas Rebels: Phoenix

Texas Rebels: Paxton

Texas Rebels: Elias

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

A Child’s Gift

Linda Warren

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90090-8

A CHILD’S GIFT

© 2020 Linda Warren

Published in Great Britain 2019

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.

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“Can Ana come, too?”

Rico looked into Anamarie’s blue eyes. “You bet.” He got up, feeling a little unsure of what was ahead of him, but he could do no less.

“That’s so nice of you to take him.”

Rico placed Dustin on his feet. “Go tell the sheriff thank you for letting you stay with me. Then we’ll go.”

“’Kay.”

Rico needed a minute to talk to Anamarie. She picked up the sippy cup, which hadn’t broken or leaked onto the floor. “I might need your help. Are you available?”

She smiled one of her trademark smiles. “You bet.”

They walked back to the bakery with Dusty between them. Mickey trailed behind. Rico carried the duffel bag and quilt over his shoulder, and thought this was a slice of heaven being together with Anamarie and Dusty. It was almost like a family. It was almost real. The almost kept him from thinking any further. Happily-ever-after wasn’t in his future. It never had been.

Dear Reader,

The Texas Rebels series began in Harlequin Western Romance, and I’m so happy to continue the series for Harlequin Heartwarming.

Jericho Johnson’s life hasn’t been easy, but he’s grateful to the Rebel family for giving him a home. Even so, he never feels as if he fits in, and he yearns for a family of his own. But he’s a loner by nature and feels that will never happen. Until Anamarie Wiznowski smiles at him. She gives him hope that they could have a future together. These are two people who want the same thing: a home and a family. But the struggle to get them there was a tearjerker. I shed a few tears over their story.

I have to say Jericho is the kindest hero I have ever written. I was so glad to give him his happy ending. It’s been a long time since I visited Horseshoe, Texas, and I hope you enjoy the visit and Jericho and Anamarie’s journey.

With love and thanks,

Linda

PS: You can email me at Lw1508@aol.com, send me a message on Facebook.com/authorlindawarren, find me on Twitter, @texauthor, write me at PO Box 5182, Bryan, TX 77805 or visit my website at lindawarren.net. Your mail and thoughts are deeply appreciated.

The heroine in this book is a great cook. So I dedicate this book to Tammy Medina, my friend, my right hand, for all the marathon cooking days in my kitchen.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Introduction

Dear Reader

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

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

About the Publisher

CHAPTER ONE

JERICHO JOHNSON WASN’T a complicated guy; the simple life suited him just fine.

Like this morning, driving in the early dawn with the morning dew glistening off his windshield, the beam of his headlights piercing the wall of darkness as he drove into Horseshoe, Texas. Simple. Quiet. Perfect.

A two-story limestone courthouse, over a century old, stood as sentinel over the two-thousand-plus citizens. Large gnarled oaks gave it a bygone-days presence. At the top was a Gothic-like clock tower that never had the correct time. Most people in Horseshoe set their watches by it, making them a little off. Time-wise.

At this hour there wasn’t much going on in the small town, but the lights were on in the diner and in the bakery. He pulled in at the bakery.

It was Tuesday morning. No fanfare. No balloons. No confetti. Just plain ol’ Tuesday—his favorite day of the week. For about two years now he’d been picking up kolaches for the guys at Rebel Ranch every Tuesday morning. That was his excuse to see Anamarie Wiznowski. He liked Anamarie more than he wanted to admit, but nothing could come of their relationship. Her parents, especially her mother, would never allow her to date an ex-con.