Margaret Daley - A Baby For The Rancher

The Cowboy’s Unexpected Family

Awakening from a months-long coma, Ben Stillwater is met with a big surprise: the footloose bachelor cowboy is a father! Ben tries to adjust to life with baby Cody and decides what the child really needs is a mom. Sheriff Lucy Benson does not seem a likely candidate—she already has her hands full closing in on the thieves who have been targeting the ranches of Little Horn, Texas. But the closer Ben gets to Lucy—and the closer they get to solving the mystery—the more it seems the free-spirited rancher and the determined officer could be the perfect match.

“What Cody really needs is a mother.”

“You, settle down with one woman?” Lucy asked.

“That’s not an impossibility when I find the right person,” Ben said.

“What are you looking for?”

“Someone who loves children, has a good sense of humor, knows what she wants and…”

She waited half a minute before saying, “And what?”

“There is a connection between us—chemistry. Any suggestions on how to find a mother for Cody?”

In that moment, his gaze locked with hers, robbing her of any response. A lump swelled in her throat, taking her by surprise. She wanted the best for Cody—and Ben. “Let me think on it. Cody is a special kid. You’ll only want the best for him.”

His eyes gleamed. “Of course. He’s a Stillwater.” He took a long sip of his milk shake, watching her the whole time.

* * *

Lone Star Cowboy League:

Bighearted ranchers in small-town Texas

A Reunion for the Rancher by Brenda Minton, October 2015

A Doctor for the Nanny by Leigh Bale, November 2015

A Ranger for the Holidays by Allie Pleiter, December 2015

A Family for the Soldier by Carolyne Aarsen, January 2016

A Daddy for Her Triplets by Deb Kastner, February 2016

A Baby for the Rancher by Margaret Daley, March 2016

MARGARET DALEY, an award-winning author of ninety books, has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense thread, and corralling her three cats that think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret, visit her website at margaretdaley.com.

A Baby

for the Rancher

Margaret Daley

www.millsandboon.co.uk

If we confess our sins,

He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

—1 John 1:9

To the other five authors in this continuity series. It was fun working with you all.

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Margaret Daley for her contribution to the Lone Star Cowboy League miniseries.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text The Cowboy’s Unexpected Family Awakening from a months-long coma, Ben Stillwater is met with a big surprise: the footloose bachelor cowboy is a father! Ben tries to adjust to life with baby Cody and decides what the child really needs is a mom. Sheriff Lucy Benson does not seem a likely candidate—she already has her hands full closing in on the thieves who have been targeting the ranches of Little Horn, Texas. But the closer Ben gets to Lucy—and the closer they get to solving the mystery—the more it seems the free-spirited rancher and the determined officer could be the perfect match.

Introduction “What Cody really needs is a mother.” “You, settle down with one woman?” Lucy asked. “That’s not an impossibility when I find the right person,” Ben said. “What are you looking for?” “Someone who loves children, has a good sense of humor, knows what she wants and…” She waited half a minute before saying, “And what?” “There is a connection between us—chemistry. Any suggestions on how to find a mother for Cody?” In that moment, his gaze locked with hers, robbing her of any response. A lump swelled in her throat, taking her by surprise. She wanted the best for Cody—and Ben. “Let me think on it. Cody is a special kid. You’ll only want the best for him.” His eyes gleamed. “Of course. He’s a Stillwater.” He took a long sip of his milk shake, watching her the whole time. * * * Lone Star Cowboy League: Bighearted ranchers in small-town Texas A Reunion for the Rancher by Brenda Minton, October 2015 A Doctor for the Nanny by Leigh Bale, November 2015 A Ranger for the Holidays by Allie Pleiter, December 2015 A Family for the Soldier by Carolyne Aarsen, January 2016 A Daddy for Her Triplets by Deb Kastner, February 2016 A Baby for the Rancher by Margaret Daley, March 2016

About the Author MARGARET DALEY, an award-winning author of ninety books, has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense thread, and corralling her three cats that think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret, visit her website at margaretdaley.com .

Title Page A Baby for the Rancher Margaret Daley www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. —1 John 1:9

Dedication To the other five authors in this continuity series. It was fun working with you all.

Acknowledgment Special thanks and acknowledgment to Margaret Daley for her contribution to the Lone Star Cowboy League miniseries.

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

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Sheriff Lucy Benson carefully replaced the receiver in its cradle, in spite of her urge to slam it down. Frustration churned her stomach into a huge knot. Where is Betsy McKay? None of her law-enforcement contacts in Texas had panned out. She’d been sure that Betsy was in Austin or San Antonio, the two largest cities closest to Little Horn in the Texas Hill Country.

Lucy rose from behind her desk at the sheriff’s office. She grabbed her cowboy hat from the peg on the wall, set it on her head and decided to go for a walk. She needed to work off some of this aggravation plaguing her ever since the series of robberies had started months ago in her county. She still hadn’t been able to bring in the Robin Hoods, as the robbers had been dubbed since many gifts given to the poor in the area had mysteriously started not long after the cattle rustling and stealing of equipment began.

Stepping outside to a beautiful March afternoon, she paused on the sidewalk and relished the clear blue sky, the air with only a hint of a chill. They needed rain, but for the moment she savored the bright sunshine as a sign of good things to come.

She was closer to figuring out who the Robin Hoods were. They were most likely teenagers who were familiar with the area and ranch life. Of course, that described all the teenagers surrounding Little Horn. But there also seemed to be a connection to Betsy McKay. The ranches like Byron McKay’s were the main targets. The owners of each place hit by the Robin Hoods hadn’t helped Mac McKay when he needed it. Could this be mere coincidence? Mac’s death, caused by his heavy drinking, had sent Betsy, his daughter, fleeing Little Horn her senior year in high school.

The Lone Star Cowboy League, a service organization formed to help its ranchers, could have stepped up and helped more, although Mac hadn’t been a member. But even more, Byron McKay, the richest rancher in the area and Mac’s cousin, should have helped Mac when he went to Byron for assistance.