Glynna Kaye - Mountain Country Cowboy

Second-Chance Daddy

When he’s offered a job at Hunter’s Hideaway, single dad Cash Herrera immediately accepts. It means the former bad boy can start over and gain custody of his son, Joey. Still, small-town folk have long memories—especially Cash’s pretty childhood nemesis. Rio Hunter is now a lovely, courageous woman...and Cash’s new boss. Past betrayal makes them both wary, and Rio’s secret promise will soon take her away from Hunter Ridge. Yet working with Cash and teaching Joey about her beloved horses draw her closer to both. Can she create a loving family with the man who’s claiming her future?

“We both want to make this transition work.”

Rio slowly nodded, as if not yet convinced. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt. Maybe we can try it tomorrow, anyway.”

“That’s all I ask.”

Her mouth curved. “Not asking much, are you?”

With a sense of elation that he’d won her over, Cash couldn’t help but share her smile as they openly studied each other, her mind likely teeming with as many questions about their working relationship as filled his. If he guessed right, this spunky lady kept many a man on his toes these days, and not because they were on guard for an ambush as he’d often been in his youth.

Looking down at her, he caught the soft, quick intake of her breath before she abruptly spun away and started down the trail back to the heart of the Hideaway.

“See you at sunrise,” she called over her shoulder with a sassy toss of that ponytail, and he shook his head. This might prove to be a long—and interesting—few months.

Dear Reader,

Thank you for joining me in Arizona mountain country as Cash and Rio journey on a rocky road to a happily ever after!

Cash had struggled through the betrayal of someone he’d loved. Rio, likewise, learned things about herself and the one she’d given her heart to that left her empty. Both are wounded souls. People who, because of past experiences, question their self-worth and are suspicious of the motives of others. They are people who doubt they deserve love and who desperately need to recognize that the love God offers is not “deserved,” not “bargained for,” but a free gift because He loves them unconditionally. Don’t we all need the kind of love only God can give us through his son Jesus Christ?

If, like Rio, you are in a destructive relationship—or know someone who is—seek help or encourage them to seek it. While I don’t have the background, training or connections to personally help you, there are those who do. Churches, campus counselors, law enforcement, community and faith-based shelters. And never forget God loves you!

You can contact me at Love Inspired Books, 195 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007. Or via email at glynna@glynnakaye.com. Please stop by loveinspiredauthors.comand Seekerville.blogspot.com—designated as one of Writer’s Digest magazine’s 101 Best Websites for Writers. We love readers, too!

Glynna Kaye

GLYNNA KAYE treasures memories of growing up in small Midwestern towns—and vacations spent with the Texan side of the family. She traces her love of storytelling to the times a houseful of great-aunts and great-uncles gathered with her grandma to share candid, heartwarming, poignant and often humorous tales of their youth and young adulthood. Glynna now lives in Arizona, where she enjoys gardening, photography and the great outdoors.

Mountain Country Cowboy

Glynna Kaye

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares

the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm

you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

—Jeremiah 29:11

For it is by grace you have been saved,

through faith—and this is not from yourselves,

it is the gift of God—not by works,

so that no one can boast.

—Ephesians 2:8–9

To my “Seeker Sisters”

at seekerville.blogspot.com.

Thank you for over a decade of love,

prayers and encouragement.

God did a beautiful thing

when He brought us together.

Mary Connealy

Janet Dean

Debby Giusti

Audra Harders

Ruth Logan Herne

Pam Hillman

Cara Lynn James

Myra Johnson

Sandra Leesmith

Julie Lessman

Tina Radcliffe

Missy Tippens

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

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

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“Nice try, Grady, but I’m not buying it.”

Riona “Rio” Hunter confidently shook her head as her older brother pulled a weathered suitcase out of her pickup truck and set it in the gravel at her booted feet. She gave him a serenely sweet smile, knowing his idea of welcoming her back to mountain country Arizona after a week’s absence at a spiritual retreat would be to try to get her riled. “Grandma Jo wouldn’t do something like that behind my back.”

And certainly not right when they’d gotten word of a potential opportunity for a much-needed financial boost. Tallington Associates, an events coordinating company, would soon be evaluating the family-run Hunter’s Hideaway that catered to outdoor enthusiasts as a possible recommended site for client gatherings. If all went as hoped, that contractor could be arranging bookings for years to come.

Grady shrugged. “Well, Grandma did do it. Like I said, Cashton Herrera interviewed several days ago, an offer was made and he’ll be back to sign on the dotted line sometime today.”

No way. She stared up at him. Was he telling the truth? Both he and their other brother, Luke, were masters at keeping a straight face when they wanted to. Although Rio had plans to leave the family business later that summer and return to college, Grandma wouldn’t hire someone without consulting her, would she? Rio’s reservation for the out-of-state getaway had been made months ago, and Grandma couldn’t wait one week for her to return?

Narrowing her eyes, she gave Grady a good-humored push. “Liar.”

With a laugh, he reached out to playfully tug on the ponytail draped over her shoulder. “I’m not lying, Rio. It’s a done deal. Ask her. Ask Mom and Dad. Cash arrives today to start as your assistant, then will step into full responsibility when you take off in August.”

He was serious.

Grandma Jo hired a man—who not only had a reputation like that of his father for settling scores with his fists, but had even done jail time for striking a woman—to work with Rio?

“So you’re telling me none of you voiced objections or bothered to call me so I could voice mine?” A pang of betrayal echoed in her heart. Knowing what they did regarding her past—and her intentions for the future—how could they be so insensitive? “You all know how I feel about men who hit.”