RaeAnne Thayne - The Pines Of Winder Ranch

Come home to Winder Ranch in these two beloved stories, where broken hearts can find exactly what they need to heal—and love again

A COLD CREEK HOMECOMING

When Quinn Southerland returns home to Winder Ranch, Idaho, to find former high school queen bee Tess Claybourn serving as his dying mother’s hospice nurse, he’s far from pleased. But recently widowed Tess has done a lot of growing up since then. And as the two reconnect, she can’t help but wonder if there’s room in Quinn’s tortured heart for forgiveness—and maybe even love...

A COLD CREEK REUNION

After Taft Bowman lost his parents ten years ago, he buried himself in a grief that shut fiancée Laura Pendleton out completely. But now she’s back, recently widowed with two kids in tow, and Taft refuses to let her slip away again. Laura just wants a fresh start, but that’s easier said than done when seeing Taft stirs up feelings she thought she’d left in the past...

Praise for New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne

“Romance, vivid characters and a wonderful story; really, who could ask for more?”

—Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on Blackberry Summer

“Entertaining, heart-wrenching, and totally involving, this multithreaded story overflows with characters readers will adore.”

—Library Journal on Evergreen Springs (starred review)

“This holiday-steeped romance overflows with family and wintry small-town appeal.”

—Library Journal on Snowfall on Haven Point

“A sometimes heartbreaking tale of love and relationships in a small Colorado town.... Poignant and sweet.”

—Publishers Weekly on Christmas in Snowflake Canyon

“This quirky, funny, warmhearted romance will draw readers in and keep them enthralled to the last romantic page.”

—Library Journal on Christmas in Snowflake Canyon

“RaeAnne Thayne is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.... Once you start reading, you aren’t going to be able to stop.”

—Fresh Fiction

“RaeAnne has a knack for capturing those emotions that come from the heart.”

—RT Book Reviews

“Her engaging storytelling...will draw readers in from the very first page.”

—RT Book Reviews on Riverbend Road

The Pines of Winder Ranch

A Cold Creek Homecoming

A Cold Creek Reunion

RaeAnne Thayne

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Table of Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Come home to Winder Ranch in these two beloved stories, where broken hearts can find exactly what they need to heal—and love again A COLD CREEK HOMECOMING When Quinn Southerland returns home to Winder Ranch, Idaho, to find former high school queen bee Tess Claybourn serving as his dying mother’s hospice nurse, he’s far from pleased. But recently widowed Tess has done a lot of growing up since then. And as the two reconnect, she can’t help but wonder if there’s room in Quinn’s tortured heart for forgiveness—and maybe even love... A COLD CREEK REUNION After Taft Bowman lost his parents ten years ago, he buried himself in a grief that shut fiancée Laura Pendleton out completely. But now she’s back, recently widowed with two kids in tow, and Taft refuses to let her slip away again. Laura just wants a fresh start, but that’s easier said than done when seeing Taft stirs up feelings she thought she’d left in the past...

Praise Praise for New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne “Romance, vivid characters and a wonderful story; really, who could ask for more?” —Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on Blackberry Summer “Entertaining, heart-wrenching, and totally involving, this multithreaded story overflows with characters readers will adore.” —Library Journal on Evergreen Springs (starred review) “This holiday-steeped romance overflows with family and wintry small-town appeal.” —Library Journal on Snowfall on Haven Point “A sometimes heartbreaking tale of love and relationships in a small Colorado town.... Poignant and sweet.” —Publishers Weekly on Christmas in Snowflake Canyon “This quirky, funny, warmhearted romance will draw readers in and keep them enthralled to the last romantic page.” —Library Journal on Christmas in Snowflake Canyon “RaeAnne Thayne is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.... Once you start reading, you aren’t going to be able to stop.” —Fresh Fiction “RaeAnne has a knack for capturing those emotions that come from the heart.” —RT Book Reviews “Her engaging storytelling...will draw readers in from the very first page.” —RT Book Reviews on Riverbend Road

Title Page The Pines of Winder Ranch A Cold Creek Homecoming A Cold Creek Reunion RaeAnne Thayne www.millsandboon.co.uk

A Cold Creek Homecoming A Cold Creek Homecoming RaeAnne Thayne

Dedication In memory of my dear aunt, Arlene Wood, for afghans and parachutes and ceramic frogs. I only wish I’d dedicated one to you before! And to Jennifer Black, my sister and hero, for helping her pass with peace and dignity.

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

A Cold Creek Reunion

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

A Cold Creek Homecoming

RaeAnne Thayne

In memory of my dear aunt, Arlene Wood, for afghans and parachutes and ceramic frogs. I only wish I’d dedicated one to you before!

And to Jennifer Black, my sister and hero, for helping her pass with peace and dignity.

CHAPTER ONE

“YOU’RE HOME!”

The thin, reedy voice whispering from the frail woman on the bed was nothing like Quinn Southerland remembered.

Though she was small in stature, Jo Winder’s voice had always been firm and commanding, just like the rest of her personality. When she used to call them in for supper, he and the others could hear her voice ringing out loud and clear from one end of the ranch to the other. No matter where they were, they knew the moment they heard that voice, it was time to go back to the house.

Now the woman who had done so much to raise him—the toughest woman he had ever known—seemed a tiny, withered husk of herself, her skin papery and pale and her voice barely audible.

The cracks in his heart from watching her endure the long months and years of her illness widened a little more. To his great shame, he had a sudden impulse to run away, to escape back to Seattle and his business and the comfortable life he had created for himself there, where he could pretend this was all some kind of bad dream and she was immortal, as he had always imagined.