Leigh Riker - Last Chance Cowboy

Why couldn’t Shadow have stayed away?

Rancher Grey Wilson has fought hard to rebuild his life in the ten years since that horrible night she left, the night their love, their families, their whole town was torn apart by tragedy. And he’s almost succeeded. But now that Shadow Moran is back in Barren, everything seems to be going wrong. The family ranch his father entrusted to him is struggling. Worse, Shadow still blames him for what happened that night, and Grey’s starting to have his own doubts about his innocence. Then Shadow reveals a secret that shakes him to his core...

“Because of you, my brother will never have a ranch or anything else to lose.”

Shadow blinked back sudden tears. She hadn’t cried since she was seventeen. She wouldn’t cry now.

People in the diner were openly staring. She and Grey were clearly the stars of the town’s reality show. Their waitress came to take their orders, but Grey waved her off. He waited until they were alone again. “I didn’t...kill him, Shadow. You either believe me or you don’t, which you obviously still don’t.”

“Neither does anyone else.”

“If I had any way to prove myself to them, to you, I would.” He paused, eyeing her with those sharp blue-green eyes. “Come on,” he said. “You and I were a couple once. We even picked out baby names.”

Shadow knew she’d just turned pale.

“Why did you come in here today?” Grey asked. “I doubt it was to have lunch with me.”

“I—” She caught the pointed gaze of a woman in the booth across the aisle. “I have something to tell you. It’s important.”

“Fine. Let’s take this outside.”

Yet how would she find the words to tell him after all these years?

Dear Reader,

For Shadow Moran and Grey Wilson, the course of true love hasn’t exactly run smooth. But does it ever? My own relationship had some ups and downs before we knew we were exactly right for each other. And many years later, we still are. Of course, we never had the kind of issues to deal with that my hero and heroine do.

Ten years ago, after a tragic accident, Shadow and Grey’s relationship ended abruptly. Now she’s back in their hometown of Barren, Kansas. Grey still loves her, but he already has his hands full trying to save his family’s ranch from modern-day rustlers and seeking evidence to prove he’s innocent in the long-ago death of Shadow’s brother. Without that proof, she will never forgive him.

But when Grey learns he and Shadow have a nine-year-old daughter, things take yet another turn—and love for them seems even more impossible than it was before.

I’ve always loved reunion stories. I’m also partial to secret-baby books, and Last Chance Cowboy has both! If you haven’t read the first Kansas Cowboys book about Blossom Kennedy and Logan Hunter, you can find a coupon in this book for The Reluctant Rancher. And then please join me again for the third book in this series—coming soon!—in which Logan’s estranged brother, Sawyer, returns home to fall in love all over again with Olivia Wilson, Grey’s sister.

See what I mean about reunion stories?

If you’d like to learn more about my books, please visit my website, leighriker.com, and sign up for my newsletter there.

Happy reading!

Leigh Riker

Last Chance Cowboy

Leigh Riker

www.millsandboon.co.uk

LEIGH RIKER, like many dedicated readers, grew up with her nose in a book. This award-winning, USA TODAY bestselling author still can’t imagine a better way to spend her time than to curl up with a good romance novel—unless it’s to write one! She’s a member of the Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc. and Romance Writers of America. When not writing, she’s either in the garden, watching movies funny and sad, or traveling (for research purposes, of course). With added “help” from her mischievous cat, Daisy, she’s now at home working on a new novel. She loves to hear from readers. You can find Leigh on her website, leighriker.com, on Facebook at leighrikerauthorand on Twitter, @lbrwriter.

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

With love for Linda and Kim, Who are the daughters I always wanted (My boys chose well!)

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

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

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

GREY WILSON WAS a mistake she wouldn’t make again.

On what should have been a peaceful late morning in June, Shadow Moran peered out her office windows onto Main Street and felt another prickle of unease slide across her shoulder blades. She’d been having the same feelings for the past hour—no, since the night before—and for good reason. She had no doubts. As if she’d conjured him up after her midnight ruminations, Grey must be somewhere nearby.

In the past year, since her return to Barren and the Kansas plains where they’d grown up, she’d had an almost daily sense of him, even when he couldn’t be seen. She’d been avoiding him, but she couldn’t avoid him any longer. She’d made her decision just before dawn, and it was more than time. Ten years, in fact.

Now she just needed the courage to implement this first part of her plan at last.

After another quick scan of the area, Shadow spied him on the other side of the street. Sure enough, he’d just come out of the Cattlemen’s Bank, the door swinging shut behind him. In spite of her decision and eternal misgivings, something deep inside her turned over. She should mind her own business. Literally. Her Mother Comfort Home Health Care Agency was still like a baby that had to be nurtured and fed and cared for 24/7.

Still, she turned from the window, then right back again.

Shadow watched Grey walk along the street then enter Annabelle’s Diner before she scooted her desk chair back. Her stomach clenched with nerves, she flipped the Closed sign around on the door, locked it, then went across the street and down two blocks to the fifties-style diner at the corner of Main and Cottonwood.

At noon the place was already jumping.

Shadow halted just inside the door, taking in the swathes of chrome and Formica at the front counter and on the tables. They were all filled. Several people glanced at her before their curious gazes flicked away.

Frowning, Grey sat alone in the only four-person booth that might otherwise be empty, his long legs stretched out into the aisle as he studied his shined-up boots. His ever-present black Stetson was slung on a hook at the end of the booth. Ever the cowboy gentleman, he’d probably removed the hat as soon as he’d stepped inside.