Brenda Minton - His Montana Bride

The Cowboy Gets Hitched!

Wrangling fifty brides and fifty grooms is not rancher Cord Shaw’s idea of fun. But somehow he’s in charge of the World’s Largest Old-Tyme Wedding in Jasper Gulch, Montana. Thankfully good-natured bridesmaid Katie Archer has agreed to help him with the details. Twice burned, Cord has vowed never to lose his heart again. And yet, picturing sweet Katie in vintage silk and lace makes him wonder…. When a couple suddenly pulls out of the festivities, Cord and Katie are roped in to tie the knot! It’s all for show, of course, but Cord begins to wish his make-believe bride could be his for real.

In Honor of The Jasper Gulch Centennial, You Are Cordially Invited to Attend the World’s Largest Old-Tyme Wedding

One hundred brides and grooms to celebrate

one hundred years of history! Folks are coming from

all over to see this romantic spectacle. Everyone

seems happy—except perhaps perpetual bridesmaid

Katie Archer. She’s starting to regret her decision

to come to Jasper Gulch to watch her sister wed….

For better or worse, she’s agreed to help Cord Shaw, the mayor’s son, pull off the perfect wedding ceremony. But we suspect that Katie is harboring her own secret wish involving a tuxedo and a long white gown. Things are about to get very complicated—and you’ve got the best seat in the house to watch it all unfold. Something old, something new, something borrowed…and you! Stay tuned for an Old West wedding you will never forget!

* * *

Big Sky Centennial:

A small town rich in history…and love.

His Montana Bride by Brenda Minton—October 2014

BRENDA MINTON

started creating stories to entertain herself during hour-long rides on the school bus. In high school she wrote romance novels to entertain her friends. The dream grew and so did her aspirations to become an author. She started with notebooks, handwritten manuscripts and characters who refused to go away until their stories were told. Eventually she put away the pen and paper and got down to business with the computer. The journey took a few years, with some encouragement and rejection along the way—as well as a lot of stubbornness on her part. In 2006 her dream to write for Love Inspired Books came true. Brenda lives in the rural Ozarks with her husband, three kids and an abundance of cats and dogs. She enjoys a chaotic life that she wouldn’t trade for anything—except, on occasion, a beach house in Texas. You can stop by and visit at her website, www.brendaminton.net.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek,

and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

—Matthew 7:7

To the wonderful ladies who made working on

this continuity such a pleasure: Valerie Hansen, Carolyne Aarsen, Ruth Logan Herne, Jenna Mindel and Arlene James. Your support and prayers

have meant so much to me. And to our editor,

Shana Asaro, for making it a great project to work on.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text The Cowboy Gets Hitched! Wrangling fifty brides and fifty grooms is not rancher Cord Shaw’s idea of fun. But somehow he’s in charge of the World’s Largest Old-Tyme Wedding in Jasper Gulch, Montana. Thankfully good-natured bridesmaid Katie Archer has agreed to help him with the details. Twice burned, Cord has vowed never to lose his heart again. And yet, picturing sweet Katie in vintage silk and lace makes him wonder…. When a couple suddenly pulls out of the festivities, Cord and Katie are roped in to tie the knot! It’s all for show, of course, but Cord begins to wish his make-believe bride could be his for real.

Introduction In Honor of The Jasper Gulch Centennial, You Are Cordially Invited to Attend the World’s Largest Old-Tyme Wedding One hundred brides and grooms to celebrate one hundred years of history! Folks are coming from all over to see this romantic spectacle. Everyone seems happy—except perhaps perpetual bridesmaid Katie Archer. She’s starting to regret her decision to come to Jasper Gulch to watch her sister wed…. For better or worse, she’s agreed to help Cord Shaw, the mayor’s son, pull off the perfect wedding ceremony. But we suspect that Katie is harboring her own secret wish involving a tuxedo and a long white gown. Things are about to get very complicated—and you’ve got the best seat in the house to watch it all unfold. Something old, something new, something borrowed…and you! Stay tuned for an Old West wedding you will never forget! * * * Big Sky Centennial: A small town rich in history…and love. His Montana Bride by Brenda Minton—October 2014

About the Author BRENDA MINTON started creating stories to entertain herself during hour-long rides on the school bus. In high school she wrote romance novels to entertain her friends. The dream grew and so did her aspirations to become an author. She started with notebooks, handwritten manuscripts and characters who refused to go away until their stories were told. Eventually she put away the pen and paper and got down to business with the computer. The journey took a few years, with some encouragement and rejection along the way—as well as a lot of stubbornness on her part. In 2006 her dream to write for Love Inspired Books came true. Brenda lives in the rural Ozarks with her husband, three kids and an abundance of cats and dogs. She enjoys a chaotic life that she wouldn’t trade for anything—except, on occasion, a beach house in Texas. You can stop by and visit at her website, www.brendaminton.net .

Title Page His Montana Bride Brenda Minton www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. —Matthew 7:7

Dedication To the wonderful ladies who made working on this continuity such a pleasure: Valerie Hansen, Carolyne Aarsen, Ruth Logan Herne, Jenna Mindel and Arlene James. Your support and prayers have meant so much to me. And to our editor, Shana Asaro, for making it a great project to work on.

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

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Jasper Gulch Welcomes You To the World’s Largest Old Tyme Wedding. The banner was stretched across one wall of the Jasper Gulch, Montana, festival hall at the fairgrounds. The town was celebrating its centennial and for some reason, a hundred years meant a hundred brides and grooms. Or at least that was someone’s opinion. Katie Archer wasn’t one of the brides. Instead, she stood on the sidelines, the sister of a bride, as well as a potential bridesmaid. It was the place where she felt comfortable and where she’d spent most of her life—standing in the shadow of her older sister, Gwen.

Gwen was beautiful, intelligent, gifted and so many other positive adjectives, but she was also unfailingly kind. And Katie was loyal. When Gwen had asked her to make this trip, Katie hadn’t been able to refuse, even though she knew Gwen would have to leave at times. Katie had taken vacation from her job in Missoula, packed a bag and climbed into the backseat of Jeffrey’s Land Rover, Jeffrey behind the wheel, Gwen in the passenger seat. Jeffrey Parker, the groom, was an orthopedic surgeon originally from Denver but now practicing in Missoula. The two had met when Gwen started her residency.