Christine Wenger - The Rancher's Surprise Son

Laura reached for a piece of toast and took her coffee with her.

She had an hour before the first guests would arrive, and she was going to enjoy it with Cody and Johnny.

Johnny insisted on putting on his cowboy boots and his cowboy hat. He said that he wanted “to look just like Mr Masters.”

Oh, you do, my little boy. You do.

Laura walked past all the tables with Johnny. She had to admit everything looked beautiful. Where she would be sitting, at the head table, she’d have a perfect view of the barn. Maybe she could catch glimpses of Cody and Johnny during the riding lesson.

As Laura and Johnny approached the barn, Cody appeared, leading Pirate into the corral.

Johnny waved excitedly. “Hi, Mr Masters. Hi, Pirate.”

“Hello, son,” Cody replied, and Laura’s heart did a flip in her chest at that simple greeting, which had much more meaning now.

* * *

Gold Buckle Cowboys:They’ll steal your heart in eight seconds!

The Rancher’s Surprise Son

Christine Wenger

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CHRISTINE WENGERhas worked in the criminal justice field for more years than she cares to remember, but now she spends her time reading, writing and seeing the sights in our beautiful world. A native central New Yorker, she loves watching professional bull riding and rodeo with her favorite cowboy, her husband, Jim. You can reach Chris at PO Box 1823, Cicero, NY 13039, USA, or through her website at www.christinewenger.com.

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For all cowboys and cowgirls everywhere—in the country, the suburbs and in the city.

(You know who you are!)

Contents

Cover

Introduction Laura reached for a piece of toast and took her coffee with her. She had an hour before the first guests would arrive, and she was going to enjoy it with Cody and Johnny. Johnny insisted on putting on his cowboy boots and his cowboy hat. He said that he wanted “to look just like Mr Masters.” Oh, you do, my little boy. You do. Laura walked past all the tables with Johnny. She had to admit everything looked beautiful. Where she would be sitting, at the head table, she’d have a perfect view of the barn. Maybe she could catch glimpses of Cody and Johnny during the riding lesson. As Laura and Johnny approached the barn, Cody appeared, leading Pirate into the corral. Johnny waved excitedly. “Hi, Mr Masters. Hi, Pirate.” “Hello, son,” Cody replied, and Laura’s heart did a flip in her chest at that simple greeting, which had much more meaning now. * * * Gold Buckle Cowboys: They’ll steal your heart in eight seconds!

Title Page The Rancher’s Surprise Son Christine Wenger www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author CHRISTINE WENGER has worked in the criminal justice field for more years than she cares to remember, but now she spends her time reading, writing and seeing the sights in our beautiful world. A native central New Yorker, she loves watching professional bull riding and rodeo with her favorite cowboy, her husband, Jim. You can reach Chris at PO Box 1823, Cicero, NY 13039, USA, or through her website at www.christinewenger.com .

Dedication For all cowboys and cowgirls everywhere—in the country, the suburbs and in the city. (You know who you are!)

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

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

As far as Laura Duke knew, no Duke vehicle had ever left a tread on the Masters family’s Double M Ranch...until now.

It started out to be a perfectly normal day, whatever “normal” meant. Since nothing had been normal for the past several years, Laura was enjoying the quiet respite of visiting with her son Johnny’s babysitter, Cindy Masters, at the nearby Double M.

In a cloud of Arizona desert dust, one of the Duke Ranch’s white pickups came lumbering down the road.

“That looks like one of your trucks,” Cindy said. “I’ve always loved the crown on the side. I told my mom that the Double M needs a cool logo like yours.”

“A crown for a duke,” Laura answered. More like a king, she thought. Since my father rules the entire county.

Laura loved Cindy and so did Laura’s son, Johnny. Cindy was a wonderful babysitter, but Laura asked her to sit only when she was in a jam, like this Friday. She had to speak at an awards luncheon, and her parents would be out of town. Clarissa, Johnny’s nanny, had that day off.

“Sure. I’d love to watch Johnny again,” thirteen-year-old Cindy said. “He’s the cutest.”

Laura was relieved, but if her parents knew she was at the Double M and Cindy was babysitting Johnny, there’d be hell to pay.

Laura’s heart raced thinking that if her parents even suspected that she was good friends with Georgianna Masters, Cindy’s mom, and enjoyed her company, they’d really flip. Well, her mother would definitely flip, but her father seemed to have a well-hidden soft spot for Georgianna.

Still, Laura had her reasons for risking the wrath of her parents—good reasons—reasons that she’d been keeping to herself for a long time.

The screen door of the porch squeaked open, and Georgianna walked out onto the porch.

“Cody? Is that Cody coming in the Duke truck?” Georgianna asked, wiping her hands on a terry towel. “Oh, thank goodness. He’s finally here!”

The pickup was still making its way toward the front of the ranch house, and Laura found herself holding her breath.

Why on earth would Cody Masters be riding in a Duke truck?

More important, how did he get out of prison?

“Is it really him?” Cindy asked, straining her neck. “Three years. I haven’t seen my brother in three years.”

Three years and four days, to be exact.

Georgianna took Cindy’s hand. “It sure is Cody, sweetie. He’s home.”

Laura’s heart beat wildly in her chest. She felt warm, then chilled, then as if she was frying under the desert sun in spite of the shady roof overhead.

She knew that this day would come sooner or later and dreaded it—yet she couldn’t wait to see Cody again.

So many secrets. So many lies. So much heartbreak.

Georgianna and Cindy took off at a run to meet the truck.

Laura stayed in the shade, holding back. The scenario that she had planned when she first talked to Cody— really talked to Cody—seemed ridiculous now. She needed to think!

The pickup slowed, and then stopped. Laura willed herself to run, to hide, but she was rooted in that spot. She needed to delay seeing Cody until she had a better plan—and it sure as hell had better be a great one.

Procrastination might as well be her middle name.

Holding back, she mentally called herself a supreme coward, and watched as Cody swung his long legs from the passenger side of the pickup, stood, then swept his mother into his arms. He swung her in circles as she shrieked in happiness.