Karen Kirst - Romancing The Runaway Bride

Second-Chance Bride

Though she came west in her wedding dress, Deborah Frazier isn’t looking for a groom. She fled St. Louis to escape marrying a man she didn’t love. In Cowboy Creek, she’s found shelter, friends and a job. All that’s now in jeopardy, thanks to a handsome newcomer.

Undercover Pinkerton agent Adam Halloway is hunting for his family’s greatest enemy. The pretty baker at the boardinghouse is certainly hiding something—but is she an accomplice to a criminal? As evidence against Deborah piles up, can Adam trust his heart and make Deborah a bride at last?

KAREN KIRST was born and raised in east Tennessee near the Great Smoky Mountains. She’s a lifelong lover of books, but it wasn’t until after college that she had the grand idea to write one herself. Now she divides her time between being a wife, homeschooling mom and romance writer. Her favorite pastimes are reading, visiting tearooms and watching romantic comedies.

Also By Karen Kirst

Return to Cowboy Creek

Romancing the Runaway Bride

Cowboy Creek

Bride by Arrangement

Smoky Mountain Matches

The Reluctant Outlaw

The Bridal Swap

The Gift of Family

“Smoky Mountain Christmas”

His Mountain Miss

The Husband Hunt

Married by Christmas

From Boss to Bridegroom

The Bachelor’s Homecoming

Reclaiming His Past

The Sheriff’s Christmas Twins

Wed by Necessity

The Engagement Charade

A Lawman for Christmas

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Romancing the Runaway Bride

Karen Kirst

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08443-7

ROMANCING THE RUNAWAY BRIDE

© 2018 Harlequin Books S.A.

Published in Great Britain 2018

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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www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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“You arrived in your wedding clothes,” he said softly.

“You have the uncanny ability to question me as if I’m on trial. Were you ever a lawyer, Mr. Draper?”

“I apologize for pressing you. It’s none of my business. Although, I will say I understand the locals’ frustration. You’re beautiful, intelligent and talented. Any man with a scrap of sense would make a bid for your attention.”

His praise emboldened her. “You haven’t.”

Adam’s lips parted. His eyes thrummed with emotion quickly squelched. After clearing his throat, he said,

“I’m not yet in that stage of my life. There are matters that take precedence over any desire to wed and produce heirs.”

“What sort of matters? Your ranches?”

“My ranches...” His brows drew together. “Oh, yes. My business obligations are many.”

“So you’ve never come close to falling in love?”

He fell silent. Deborah felt as though she were swimming in that endless brown gaze as the air between them thinned. Why had she asked such a foolish question?

* * *

Return to Cowboy Creek: A bride train delivers the promise of new love and family to a Kansas boomtown

The Rancher Inherits a Family—

Cheryl St.John, April 2018

His Substitute Mail-Order Bride—

Sherri Shackelford, May 2018

Romancing the Runaway Bride—

Karen Kirst, June 2018

Dear Reader,

Thank you for taking the time to read my book. I hope you enjoyed returning to Cowboy Creek and our heroines and heroes—familiar and new—as much as I did. Adam and Deborah’s love story was such fun to explore. Some fictitious couples give me more trouble than others. Not so the detective and the runaway bride! These two took an almost instant liking to each other, so I was glad to have all those secrets keeping them apart until the very end. They also have a lot of personal issues to work through. Toss in a pair of adorable orphans, and I had my work cut out for me.

Writing this book has been a bittersweet experience. It will be my last for the Love Inspired Historical line, which is unfortunately closing this month. I feel blessed to have been able to work with the wonderful Love Inspired editors and complete this, my seventeenth book. While I will miss writing about the past, I’m fortunate that I will be switching to the Love Inspired Suspense line. You can find more information on my website, www.karenkirst.com. I’m also active on Facebook and Twitter @KarenKirst.

If you missed the first two books in this Return to Cowboy Creek continuity, check out Cheryl St. John’s book, The Rancher Inherits a Family , and Sherri Shackelford’s His Substitute Mail-Order Bride .

Many blessings,

Karen Kirst

A man’s heart deviseth his way:

but the Lord directeth his steps.

—Proverbs 16:9

To my mom, Dorothy Kirst, and my sister, Shelly Benson. I’m blessed to have you both! Thanks for making my first writing conference an experience I never want to forget. Thanks for the laughs and fun memories.

Acknowledgments

A huge thank-you to editor Elizabeth Mazer. I’ve enjoyed working with you on this project. And to the other Return to Cowboy Creek authors, Cheryl St.John and Sherri Shackelford. It’s been a pleasure.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four