Jenna Night - Last Stand Ranch

HER COWBOY HERO

After crossing a mob lawyer, Olivia Dillon knows she has to run for her life. But on the way to her great-aunt’s remote Arizona ranch, she’s forced off the road. The message is clear. She can run, she can hide…but she’ll never be safe again. So with Elijah Morales—the rancher next door—by her side, she’s determined to face the danger head-on. The former Army Ranger and natural-born protector promises to end the attacks against her. Even if helping her puts him directly in harm’s way. Staying means risking his life, but can Olivia leave to confront her enemies—and the future—without Elijah?

Things had just gotten a whole lot more dangerous.

Two shooting incidents, a wounded shoulder. She should get a customer loyalty card at the doc’s.

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She did neither. She turned to Elijah. “If it’ll make my aunt safer, I’ll take your advice and go to your ranch.”

“It’ll make things safer for you, too.”

“You don’t know that. Nobody knows what’s happening.” She heard the shakiness in her voice.

How long was this going to go on? She was sick of being afraid. Tired of seeing other people get hurt. Angry enough to fight back. But she didn’t know how. And she didn’t know where to strike.

“It’s going to be all right,” he told her.

All right? The scrapes on her hand and face from getting thrown down on the asphalt stung. Her head pounded. She was so tired she could barely move. She couldn’t stop trembling.

Fear and helplessness gnawed at her. This was never going to end. Not until the shooter got what he wanted.

JENNA NIGHT comes from a family of Southern-born natural storytellers. Her parents were avid readers and the house was always filled with books. No wonder she grew up wanting to tell her own stories. She’s lived on both coasts, but currently resides in the Inland Northwest where she’s astonished by the occasional glimpse of a moose, a herd of elk or a soaring eagle.

Last Stand

Ranch

Jenna Night

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:

not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

— John 14:27

To my mom, Esther. Thanks for the faith!

Acknowledgments Acknowledgments ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN TWELVE THIRTEEN FOURTEEN FIFTEEN SIXTEEN SEVENTEEN EIGHTEEN NINETEEN TWENTY Dear Reader Extract Copyright

Thank you editor Elizabeth Mazer for selecting me to be on your team in the Love Inspired Suspense Killer Voices contest. Your encouragement and stellar editing skills are much appreciated. Yay, Team Elizabeth!

Thank you agent Sarah E. Younger for your guidance and for making the pathway to publication clearer. Yay, Team Sarah!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text HER COWBOY HERO After crossing a mob lawyer, Olivia Dillon knows she has to run for her life. But on the way to her great-aunt’s remote Arizona ranch, she’s forced off the road. The message is clear. She can run, she can hide…but she’ll never be safe again. So with Elijah Morales—the rancher next door—by her side, she’s determined to face the danger head-on. The former Army Ranger and natural-born protector promises to end the attacks against her. Even if helping her puts him directly in harm’s way. Staying means risking his life, but can Olivia leave to confront her enemies—and the future—without Elijah?

Introduction Things had just gotten a whole lot more dangerous. Two shooting incidents, a wounded shoulder. She should get a customer loyalty card at the doc’s. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She did neither. She turned to Elijah. “If it’ll make my aunt safer, I’ll take your advice and go to your ranch.” “It’ll make things safer for you, too.” “You don’t know that. Nobody knows what’s happening.” She heard the shakiness in her voice. How long was this going to go on? She was sick of being afraid. Tired of seeing other people get hurt. Angry enough to fight back. But she didn’t know how. And she didn’t know where to strike. “It’s going to be all right,” he told her. All right? The scrapes on her hand and face from getting thrown down on the asphalt stung. Her head pounded. She was so tired she could barely move. She couldn’t stop trembling. Fear and helplessness gnawed at her. This was never going to end. Not until the shooter got what he wanted.

About the Author JENNA NIGHT comes from a family of Southern-born natural storytellers. Her parents were avid readers and the house was always filled with books. No wonder she grew up wanting to tell her own stories. She’s lived on both coasts, but currently resides in the Inland Northwest where she’s astonished by the occasional glimpse of a moose, a herd of elk or a soaring eagle.

Title Page Last Stand Ranch Jenna Night www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. — John 14:27

Dedication To my mom, Esther. Thanks for the faith!

Acknowledgments Acknowledgments Acknowledgments ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN TWELVE THIRTEEN FOURTEEN FIFTEEN SIXTEEN SEVENTEEN EIGHTEEN NINETEEN TWENTY Dear Reader Extract Copyright Thank you editor Elizabeth Mazer for selecting me to be on your team in the Love Inspired Suspense Killer Voices contest. Your encouragement and stellar editing skills are much appreciated. Yay, Team Elizabeth! Thank you agent Sarah E. Younger for your guidance and for making the pathway to publication clearer. Yay, Team Sarah!

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

ONE

Olivia Dillon gripped the steering wheel of her sedan tighter and pressed the accelerator a little harder. She didn’t want to drive recklessly, but Las Vegas, Nevada, and the threat to her life were only two hundred and fifty miles behind her.

She’d left the busy interstate twenty minutes ago, turning onto a quieter county highway that snaked gradually upward through scrubby Arizona high desert. To her right and left, shadowy rust-colored mesas towered like thunderheads in the distance. Straight ahead, the crumbly strip of asphalt angled sharply upward.

When summoning the courage to leave Vegas, she’d promised herself she would be at her great-aunt’s ranch in Painted Rock, Arizona, before dark. That wasn’t going to happen. Jamming the last few items from the apartment she’d just vacated into her rented storage space had taken longer than expected. Now the sun barely clung above the horizon to the west and she still had several more miles to go.

“It will be okay,” she told herself for probably the hundredth time today. Not that she believed it.