Arlene James - Carbon Copy Cowboy

Amnesiac Bride

An injured woman in a wedding veil on Jack Colby’s ranch property? Jack has no idea who she is—and neither does she. “Kendra” doesn’t know her name, what the veil is all about or where she belongs. And since Jack’s entire life changed with the unwelcome discovery of a twin brother, he’s not in the mood for secrets or surprises. Like finding out that Kendra might be spoken for. Yet even as she helps him open his heart to his family, he finds himself praying for the opportunity to make new memories.

Enjoy a special 15th anniversary bonus story from Love Inspired Suspense, When Night Falls by Margaret Daley

“You were wearing this wedding veil when I found you,” Jack told her.

“Wearing it?” She stared at the wide, satin-covered headband to which the gossamer fabric was anchored then looked down at her jeans and athletic shoes.

“I don’t understand.”

“Well, that makes two of us. Maybe you were running from your wedding.”

“Why would I do that?” she demanded.

“Don’t know. You aren’t wearing an engagement ring.”

She checked her left hand. “I’m so confused.” Her thick brown lashes fluttered down, masking her fear.

Shaken, he got into the driver’s seat. He would keep his distance after he got her out to the ranch. She shouldn’t be around for long, anyway. Someone was bound to be missing a woman like her. Probably a man, a fiancé, maybe.

For some reason, the idea irritated Jack.

* * *

Texas Twins: Two sets of twins, torn apart by family secrets, find their way home.

Her Surprise Sister—Marta Perry

July 2012

Mirror Image Bride—Barbara McMahon

August 2012

Carbon Copy Cowboy—Arlene James

September 2012

Look-Alike Lawman—Glynna Kaye

October 2012

The Soldier’s Newfound Family—Kathryn Springer

November 2012

Reunited for the Holidays—Jillian Hart

December 2012

ARLENE JAMES

says, “Camp meetings, mission work and church attendance permeate my Oklahoma childhood memories. It was a golden time, which sustains me yet. However, only as a young widowed mother did I truly begin growing in my personal relationship with the Lord. Through adversity He has blessed me in countless ways, one of which is a second marriage so loving and romantic it still feels like courtship!”

After thirty-three years in Texas, Arlene James now resides in Bella Vista, Arkansas, with her beloved husband. Even after seventy-five novels, her need to write is greater than ever, a fact that frankly amazes her, as she’s been at it since the eighth grade. She loves to hear from readers, and can be reached via her website, www.arlenejames.com.

Carbon Copy Cowboy

Arlene James

Dear Reader,

Welcome to Love Inspired! We’re celebrating our 15th anniversary this month, and you’re invited to the party!

Love Inspired Books began in September 1997, offering readers inspirational contemporary romances. Fifteen years later, Love Inspired has never wavered from our promise to our readers; we are proud to publish short contemporary romances that feature Christian men and women facing the challenges of life and love in today’s world.

In honor of our anniversary, we are showcasing some of our top authors in September. Irene Hannon, Arlene James and Lois Richer were part of the original lineup in 1997, and we’re supremely blessed that they are still writing for us in 2012. Jillian Hart and Margaret Daley have been part of the Love Inspired family since the early 2000s. And newcomer Mia Ross rounds out the month. We hope you enjoy these sweet stories full of home, family and love.

As a special thank-you to our readers, each book this month contains a bonus story. Give them a try, and we know you’ll find our authors the very best in Christian romance!

Thank you for reading Love Inspired.

Blessings,

Melissa Endlich

Senior Editor

I am so blessed in my friends, especially

those upon whose prayers I can always depend.

Thank you, Joyce Powell, for the many years

of friendship and support—

and especially for the enumerable prayers.

God bless you, sweet sister.

DAR

* * *

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for,

but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us

through wordless groans.

—Romans 8:26

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Arlene James

for her participation in the Texas Twins miniseries.

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

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

“That can’t be good,” Jack Colby said to his grullo stallion, Tiger. Tugging his hat low over his brow, he brought the horse to a halt and leaned an elbow on the saddle horn. He judged the speed of the sleek, ruby-red coupe as he visually tracked it across the Texas landscape. “Slow it,” he urged the unseen driver. “Slow it down.”

Everyone in the area knew that the sharp curve at the base of Blackberry Hill was a dangerous spot. More than one driver had missed the turn and careened off the road. Some cars flipped, and one had even flown right over the bar ditch and plowed into the massive hickory tree on the other side. Nearly all of the accidents happened at night or in poor weather, but unless this particular driver slowed down, they were going to have a crash in broad daylight on a warm Monday afternoon in early September.

“Lord, help whomever’s in that car,” Jack prayed, “before it’s too late.”

Sitting tall in the saddle now, he held his breath, hoping the car would brake. Instead, it dropped out of sight, plunging down the hillside at breakneck speed.

Jack heeled the slate dun and set off at a dead gallop over the ridge, his ears tuned for the screech of brakes. He heard only a muted, metallic thunk, enough to tell him that the car had missed the curve. He’d been following the fence line, checking the wire for breaks, when he’d first spotted the fast-moving red car. Riding fence, the hands on the Colby Ranch called the job, as had cowboys since the first wires were strung across the open grasslands. For Jack it was mostly a way to escape the insanity of his family life just now. Today it could be some accident victim’s blessing. If he found anyone alive and got to them in time.

The grullo’s powerful legs, the insides tiger-striped in shades of brownish gray, ate up the ground, flying over gullies and low bushes until Jack reined it back on its haunches. They mostly slid down the steepest part of the incline, coming to rest just before the three-strand fence. The car rested at an angle with its crumpled front fender on one side of the drainage ditch and a single rear wheel on the other. Standing in the saddle, Jack dropped the reins and vaulted over the barbed wire, hitting dirt on the opposite side with both booted feet. He then slid down the ditch and clambered over to the car. Despite its precarious position, the vehicle didn’t appear to have suffered much damage. A female with long blond hair slumped over the steering wheel and through the open window trailed what looked like a long, white wedding veil.

“Hey!” Jack called. “You okay?”

The woman lay still as death, her head all but wedged into the steering wheel. Finding that he couldn’t reach the driver’s window from the bottom or side of the ditch, Jack quickly ran around the car. He dragged a fallen tree limb over and positioned it so that he could ease out to the passenger door, which he thankfully found unlocked.