Lynn Patrick: The Long Road Home

Not everybody gets a second chance...

Back in Sparrow Lake after fifteen years away, and Sam Larson’s already messing with Priscilla Ryan’s life. Saying yes when they were kids and he asked her to be his girl was her biggest mistake. The bad boy rode out of town the next day. She isn’t about to make a second mistake by falling for him again.

Getting his dude ranch off the ground is the former rodeo star’s first priority. That, and reconnecting with the quiet girl he took to the prom...the best night of Sam’s life. He has a lot to make up for. And yet he’s keeping his secrets. But when sabotage threatens his business—and one of Priscilla’s nieces—it’s his chance to prove he isn’t the boy he once was.

Sam smiled. “You really care about other people.”

Did he care about her, too? Priscilla wondered. “I’m sure your father is sorry about what happened.”

“I think so. At least that’s what I told myself, or I would never have returned to Wisconsin.” He slid his arm around her shoulder and turned her so that he could look down into her face. “We wouldn’t be standing here in the moonlight if I hadn’t come home.”

Her pulse thrummed. “Then I’m glad you did.”

“Me, too.” His gaze seared her. “And I was lucky to find you again.”

Time stood still, and Priscilla felt as if she could stay in this moment—in Sam’s arms—forever.

She only wished that were true.

Dear Reader Contents Cover Back Cover Text Introduction Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication PROLOGUE 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 EPILOGUE Copyright ,

There are two of us writing as Lynn Patrick—Linda Sweeney and Patricia Rosemoor—and we’re both horse crazy, so The Long Road Home was especially fun for us to write. In the past, we traveled to Kentucky to research horse farms for a story. And the Kentucky Derby, of course. Plus, on a trip to Ireland, we had a private tour of The Irish National Stud.

Linda grew up on a farm and often had to round up the cows on one of their horses. I (Patricia) rode for pleasure and competed both in Western and English. I got to round up cows, too, one time when doing research for a ranching series. My mount used to be the lead horse, and when the cows saw him, they ran like everything, with my horse right on their tails. The cows crossed the river as was planned, only a bit too soon, as they brought down some fencing.

We hope you’ll enjoy a fun ride on the road to love with Priscilla and Sam.

Best,

Lynn Patrick

The Long Road Home

Lynn Patrick

www.millsandboon.co.uk

LYNN PATRICK is the pseudonym for two best friends who started writing together a few decades ago. Linda is a professor with a reading specialty, and Patricia writes as Patricia Rosemoor. Together they enjoy creating worlds that are lightened by the unexpected, fun and sometimes wonderful vagaries of real life.

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For all those dedicated people who have given the wild mustangs at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota another chance at living free.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Not everybody gets a second chance... Back in Sparrow Lake after fifteen years away, and Sam Larson’s already messing with Priscilla Ryan’s life. Saying yes when they were kids and he asked her to be his girl was her biggest mistake. The bad boy rode out of town the next day. She isn’t about to make a second mistake by falling for him again. Getting his dude ranch off the ground is the former rodeo star’s first priority. That, and reconnecting with the quiet girl he took to the prom...the best night of Sam’s life. He has a lot to make up for. And yet he’s keeping his secrets. But when sabotage threatens his business—and one of Priscilla’s nieces—it’s his chance to prove he isn’t the boy he once was.

Introduction Sam smiled. “You really care about other people.” Did he care about her, too? Priscilla wondered. “I’m sure your father is sorry about what happened.” “I think so. At least that’s what I told myself, or I would never have returned to Wisconsin.” He slid his arm around her shoulder and turned her so that he could look down into her face. “We wouldn’t be standing here in the moonlight if I hadn’t come home.” Her pulse thrummed. “Then I’m glad you did.” “Me, too.” His gaze seared her. “And I was lucky to find you again.” Time stood still, and Priscilla felt as if she could stay in this moment—in Sam’s arms—forever. She only wished that were true.

Dear Reader

Title Page The Long Road Home Lynn Patrick www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author LYNN PATRICK is the pseudonym for two best friends who started writing together a few decades ago. Linda is a professor with a reading specialty, and Patricia writes as Patricia Rosemoor. Together they enjoy creating worlds that are lightened by the unexpected, fun and sometimes wonderful vagaries of real life.

Dedication For all those dedicated people who have given the wild mustangs at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota another chance at living free.

PROLOGUE

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

EPILOGUE

Copyright

PROLOGUE

A SKITTER OF hoofbeats drummed through his subconscious, gradually awakening him. With a start, Sam Larson sat up in bed. No dream, the sound was coming from outside the cabin. A rush of hoofbeats and whinnies and snorts...

He shot out of bed and into his jeans, then hopped across the room while pulling on his boots. The door opened to a Wisconsin night swept by a warm breeze and silvered by moonlight. Before he could step outside, one of his horses whipped by the open doorway.

Sam whistled. “Cloud, whoa, girl.” He whistled again.

The Pinto stopped, the skin along her spine quivering. When he called a second time, she turned and trotted back to him.

“What are you doing out here?”

She snorted in answer.

He threaded calloused fingers through the mare’s black mane and coaxed her back toward the pasture, and from a distance saw that the grassy expanse was empty. The gate was open. Horses scattered, prancing nervously, spooked, one heading for the opening in the property fence that would take him directly onto the highway.

“Tomcat!” Letting go of Cloud, Sam moved toward the gelding, calling him with a sharp series of whistles.

Tomcat slowed and threw his head in Sam’s direction. His eyes rolled and he still moved sideways toward the opening, as if he was trying to make up his mind whether or not to listen.