Linda Ford - Montana Lawman Rescuer

Falling for Her Protector

After a stagecoach robbery nearly kills her and the small boy she’s traveling with, Emily Smith can’t remember who she is or where she’s going. Lost and with only wisps of her memory, she must rely on the handsome, dark-eyed sheriff who saved her.

Jesse Hill protects his heart as fiercely as he protects the small Montana town of Bella Creek. How did Emily’s kindness and beauty get past his armor? But Jesse knows well his own tainted past—one that means he could never marry a woman like Emily...even if her love could prove his redemption.

LINDA FORD lives on a ranch in Alberta, Canada, near enough to the Rocky Mountains that she can enjoy them on a daily basis. She and her husband raised fourteen children—four homemade, ten adopted. She currently shares her home and life with her husband, a grown son, a live-in paraplegic client and a continual (and welcome) stream of kids, kids-in-law, grandkids and assorted friends and relatives.

Also By Linda Ford

Big Sky Country

Montana Cowboy Daddy

Montana Cowboy Family

Montana Cowboy’s Baby

Montana Bride by Christmas

Montana Groom of Convenience

Montana Lawman Rescuer

Montana Cowboys

The Cowboy’s Ready-Made Family

The Cowboy’s Baby Bond

The Cowboy’s City Girl

Christmas in Eden Valley

A Daddy for Christmas

A Baby for Christmas

A Home for Christmas

Lone Star Cowboy League: Multiple Blessings

The Rancher’s Surprise Triplets

Journey West

Wagon Train Reunion

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Montana Lawman Rescuer

Linda Ford

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08256-3

MONTANA LAWMAN RESCUER

© 2018 Linda Ford

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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“Jesse, promise me you will never do that again...”

Jesse cupped Emily’s shoulder. “Do what?”

“Face down three men.”

“Emily, I can’t promise you that. It’s my job.”

“To die protecting others?”

He nodded.

“So you can prove you’re a good man?”

Her words cut him. “I vowed to honor the law and protect my fellow man, and I intend to live up to my vow.”

He heard the hard tone of his voice but couldn’t help it. Seemed she wasn’t all that different than the other young ladies he’d tried to court who either hated his profession or, even more strongly, hated his background. What had made him think she might be? Only his misguided dreams.

Not that he was courting her or had even considered it.

After all, who courted a woman who didn’t know who she was?

Dear Reader,

Jesse has been in every one of the Big Sky Country books previous to this, so it was necessary to give him his own story. I have never before written an amnesia story and found it both a challenge and a pleasure. I hope the lessons both Jesse and Emily learned about dealing with their pasts and their futures will help you find the same assurance of God’s love and care.

You can learn more about my upcoming books and how to contact me at www.lindaford.org. I love to hear from my readers.

Blessings,

Linda Ford

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

—Psalms 56:3

For a special young lady, my granddaughter, Jordyn, on her graduation. You have grown more beautiful with every birthday. Your spirit is strong and beautiful, too. May you follow the path God has set before you as you embark on a new chapter of your life. So proud of you. Love you.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

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

About the Publisher

Chapter One

Bella Creek, Montana, summer 1891

What was she doing sitting on the ground, her head throbbing? She slowly turned to take in her surroundings. The stagecoach lay on its side, one wheel broken in half.

“Ma’am?”

Blinking away the pain behind her eyes, she turned toward the voice. A man with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes faced her from a few feet away. A gray cowboy hat had been pushed back, allowing her to see his strong features clearly. He hunkered down on his haunches, his look gentle and patient, making her feel safe even though he was a stranger and she in an awkward position. Or perhaps it was the silver star on his chest that made her feel safe.

“Do you recall what happened? Who did this?” His voice eased through her thoughts.

“There were three men chasing us. They yelled at the driver to stop and shot at him. Then we went over the edge of the cliff.” Her voice wobbled as she recalled the terror.

“I’m sorry to question you when you’re injured, but if you can tell me anything about the men, it would help.”

She pressed her hands to her face, drew in a deep breath and let her mind fill with the terrifying pictures of the robbery and accident. “Three of them, like I said. With their faces covered.” She squinted. “One man wore a pair of boots with silver tips.”