Linda Ford - Falling for the Rancher Father

The Daddy Dilemma

Widower Abel Borgard has his hands full raising twins and establishing a homestead. Mercy Newell’s offer to care for his son and daughter seems like the perfect solution. And though it takes no time for Mercy to steal his children’s hearts, Abel’s is another story, because he’s a single father set on stability and she’s a wild-at-heart beauty searching for adventure.

Joining a Wild West show as a trick rider is Mercy’s dream. She never foresaw the joy she’d find caring for Abel’s children. The rugged widower hardly trusts her yet. But by the first snowfall, there could be a new family—and new love—in Eden Valley….

Cowboys of Eden Valley: Forging a future in Canada’s West country

“I would like to ask you to consider coming a bit longer.

“I could get my work done so much faster if I didn’t have to watch the twins, and they really enjoy having you here.”

That she knew to be true. But what did Abel think of her presence? Mercy dared not ask. “I enjoy keeping them company.”

“So you’ll think about it?”

It was a beginning. More time would allow him to see how ordinary she could be. “I don’t need to. My answer is yes.”

He jumped to his feet and stood by her chair. “That’s great.”

She took her time inserting the threaded needle into the fabric she held. Carefully, she folded it, keeping the needle visible on top, and set it on the basket of other items to be mended. Only then did she lift her gaze to him.

He grinned widely. She wondered if his eyes revealed approval or only relief.

LINDA FORD

lives on a ranch in Alberta, Canada. Growing up on the prairie and learning to notice the small details it hides gave her an appreciation for watching God at work in His creation. Her upbringing also included being taught to trust God in everything and through everything—a theme that resonates in her stories. Threads of another part of her life are found in her stories—her concern for children and their future. 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.

Falling for the Rancher Father

Linda Ford

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

—Psalms 139:2

To my grandson, Julien, as he graduates from high school. Good for you.

I know you’ve worked hard. We’re so proud of you.

Contents

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

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Excerpt

Chapter One

Eden Valley Ranch, Alberta, Canada

Fall 1882

She was gone.

His heart slammed against his ribs. He scanned the entire clearing again just to make sure but she wasn’t there.

“Allie.” Abel Borgard yelled his daughter’s name. One minute ago the nine-year-old sat on the chair by the cabin. He’d warned her to stay there while he unloaded the supplies, but now she’d disappeared. “It’s not like her,” he complained aloud. Ladd, her twin brother, was a different matter. He’d set off exploring the moment they’d alighted from the wagon. Abel had warned him to stay nearby, but it didn’t worry him when Ladd got out of sight. The boy had learned at a young age to be self-reliant. Allie, on the other hand, needed rest and protection. The doctor’s warning reverberated through Abel’s brain. “She’s extremely fortunate to have survived scarlet fever, especially under the circumstances.”

“Allie.” He didn’t bother calling this time, just muttered the word under his breath. He again turned full circle, studying his surroundings. The tiny cabin would provide temporary shelter until he could erect a larger one, which he had to do before winter. The chill in the air reminded him time was short.

The trees, a nice mix of spruce and aspen, were far enough from the buildings to allow plenty of sunshine to reach the living quarters yet provide protection and privacy. The mountains rose to the west in all their fall majesty.

He completed his inspection of the surroundings but saw no little girl. Not so much as a hint of the blue dress she wore.

Abel understood the doctor’s warning. Abel had come home from a three-month absence as he sought work to discover his wife had left days before, abandoning the then eight-year-olds to care for themselves. He’d found them huddled together, hungry and afraid. According to what he could get from the children, Allie had been sick even before Ruby left. Though in all fairness, Ruby likely hadn’t known at that point it was anything more than a chill. Perhaps she hadn’t even meant to leave them for more than a night but she’d fallen into the river and drowned. He liked to believe it had simply been misfortune, but he guessed she’d spent too much time in the back room of the saloon sharing drinks.

He strained to catch any sound of the children. Wasn’t there a thud to his right...like distant horse hooves? Every nerve in his body tensed. An intruder? Were the children in danger?

The doctor had left Abel with no misconceptions as to the seriousness of Allie’s situation. “I fear she will have damaged her heart. You’ll need to limit her activities for the rest of her life or...” At this point, he’d shaken his head as if expecting the worst.

Abel had vowed on the spot that Allie would be treated as gently as a fragile china doll. He couldn’t lose her. If anything happened to her he would never forgive himself. Any more than he forgave himself for the fact the children had been abandoned by his wife while he went in search of work. Ruby had never wanted to settle down and from the beginning had found the children a heavy burden, while Abel discovered they gave him reason to leave off being a wastrel. He regretted having started down that wayward path in the first place. The only good thing to come of it was his children and his determination to live a responsible, careful life from now on. He was twenty-nine years old and would devote the rest of his life to the well-being of his children. Never again would he allow his foolish emotions to lead him down the slippery path into the arms of a woman. Any woman. He would not risk his children’s health and happiness by trusting a woman to settle down and be wife and mother.

Another thud. No mistaking the sound. There was a horse in the nearby clearing. His heart thumped him in his ribs hard enough to cause him to catch his breath.

He broke into a gallop and headed for the spot.

If anything happened to either of the twins...

He saw Allie ahead, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet, her hands clasped together as if she tried to contain some emotion. Already her cheeks had turned rosy—a sure indication of her excited state. A danger sign.

He raced toward her and scooped her into his arms. He brushed strands of her long blond hair off her face. “Baby, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Papa. Isn’t she glorious?” She twisted and pointed.

Abel jerked his gaze from his precious daughter and followed the direction she indicated. His eyes lit on a woman who reminded him of those he’d seen in saloons. Only instead of bright-colored, revealing dresses, she wore a dark red shirt, fringed gloves and riding pants. It wasn’t the clothes that brought those other women to mind—it was the look of sheer abandon on her face. Her mahogany-colored hair rippled down her back, held in place by a small cowboy hat secured under her chin. She sat on a beautiful palomino gelding.