Carol Arens - The Rancher’s Inconvenient Bride

A Wyoming marriage of convenience...

Agatha Magee has put her difficult past behind her and is living an independent life at the circus. But when William English rescues her—from being shot out of a cannon—their scandalous situation leaves them no option but to get married!

William has no intention of making this more than a marriage in name only. Agatha must somehow change his mind if she’s to have the family she’s always yearned for...

She bent her head, kissed him, and he didn’t have the good sense to end it.

She had been to the bakeshop! The lingering flavor of vanilla invaded his senses. With a twist and a swoop, he shifted her body down. Now he was the one on top, the one directing the kissing.

In a second the aroma of baked goods was gone, leaving in its place the heady scent of woman.

He shoved back her bonnet, loosened a pin from her hair. Soft locks tumbled over his hands, tangled in his fingers.

Why was it he felt triumphant and guilty at the same time? The woman was his wife, dash it! He deserved more than kisses. And, judging by the way her shapely bottom shifted against him, she wanted more...

Author Note

Thank you for picking up The Rancher’s Inconvenient Bride. In the hustle-bustle of everyday life, I’m happy that you have chosen to slow down and spend a few hours with Agatha Magee.

If you have read The Cowboy’s Cinderella, you will know that Agatha is nothing like her twin sister, Ivy. They are like sunshine and shadow, with Ivy being confident and outgoing and Agatha being timid and fearful.

But being timid and fearful is not all there is to our bruised Agatha. As she struggles to find her way from helplessness to independence she discovers the courageous woman inside her. She goes after the life that she wants for herself, even when she wants to hide away.

I believe we can all feel some kinship for Agatha. Every day we face challenges that we would like to run from but cannot...the car breaks down, the bills are past due, the computer crashes or your sweet toddler raises the roof while you wait in a checkout line.

Some days we need to call upon our inner lioness, go out and claim life’s joy. And some days we need to find a quiet place and let it all pass.

I hope you find a bit of escape and a bit of cheer in Agatha’s journey.

The Rancher’s Inconvenient Bride

Carol Arens

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CAROL ARENS delights in tossing fictional characters into hot water, watching them steam, and then giving them a happily-ever-after. When she’s not writing she enjoys spending time with her family, beach-camping or lounging about a mountain cabin. At home, she enjoys playing with her grandchildren and gardening. During rare spare moments you will find her snuggled up with a good book. Carol enjoys hearing from readers at carolarens@yahoo.comor on Facebook.

Books by Carol Arens

Mills & Boon Historical Romance

Renegade Most Wanted

Rebel with a Cause

Christmas Cowboy Kisses

‘A Christmas Miracle’

Rebel with a Heart

Dreaming of a Western Christmas

‘Snowbound with the Cowboy’

Western Christmas Proposals

‘The Sheriff’s Christmas Proposal’

The Cowboy’s Cinderella

Western Christmas Brides

‘A Kiss from the Cowboy’

The Rancher’s Inconvenient Bride

The Walker Twins

Wed to the Montana Cowboy

Wed to the Texas Outlaw

Linked by Character

Rebel Outlaw

Outlaw Hunter

Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.uk.

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Written in loving memory of my mother,

Catherine Alene Ebert.

Love cannot be separated.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Author Note

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

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Tanners Ridge, Wyoming, July 1883

“The Devil Wind is blowing and it’s going to make all those circus folks go mad.”

William English pressed his hat to his head. The wind was blowing devilishly, but he doubted it was going to push anyone over the brink of sanity. Unless, maybe it was the elderly woman leaning on her cane and frowning intently up at him.

“I’m sure they’re no more likely to go mad than anyone else, Mrs. Peabody.”

“If you’d seen the things I have, Mayor English, you would be running for the hills.” She pounded her cane on the boardwalk in front of Tanners Ridge Community Bank. Twice. No doubt the extra thump was to make sure he was paying attention.

A third thump might have been in order, given that he really was paying more attention to keeping his dearly priced bowler hat on his head than to her unrealistic fears.

“I’m sure you’ve seen some interesting things—”

“The skeleton of a three-headed dog,” the woman declared, cutting off his attempt to ease her fear. “And a man swallowing a sword—a flaming sword—and a fellow putting his head in the mouth of a lion! And that happened without the wind blowing. Who knows what might happen tonight.”

“Everyone will have a fine time. Just you wait and see.”

“What I’m waiting for, is for you to hire Tanners Ridge a sheriff.”

William smiled, his lips pressed tight. As mayor—and hopefully future governor—of Wyoming, it would not do to let his emotions show.

The fact that Tanners Ridge had no sheriff was no one’s fault but the good folks living here. He had presented no less than four candidates and they had all been voted down or refused the job because of low pay.

“Will you be at the meeting this afternoon? I’ve another candidate to introduce for the job.”

“Of course—unless I’m murdered by a fat woman with a beard who has gone raving.”

“Would you feel better if I went down to take a look at things?”

“Why, that would be a good idea.” Mrs. Peabody’s smile brought out the charming wrinkles in her cheeks. Her look of relief made the trip down the hill to where the circus was camped seem worth the effort.

He tipped his hat to her, nodded. “I’ll see you this afternoon at the meeting, then.”

“Be careful,” she warbled after him.

Chances were, the only danger in going down had to do with walking the steep, rocky path, not circus folks gone wind-mad.

A quarter of a mile down the path the ground leveled out, giving the traveling circus plenty of room to set up their big tent.

Even buffeted by wind, the huge structure barely moved. Still, it couldn’t hurt to have a look around and make sure folks would be safe inside tonight.

A fair distance from the tent there was a circle of colorfully painted wagons. He supposed this was where the performers and other employees lived.