Dewanna Pace - The Texas Ranger's Secret

Ranger for Hire

Willow McMurtry’s writing career could end before it even begins—unless she learns the ways of a Texas Ranger. She can’t write tales about Ranger life if she’s constantly making mistakes, so she needs handsome Texan Gage Newcomb to teach her. Willow just can’t tell him the true purpose behind her request.

Gage agrees to teach Willow how to shoot, ride and lasso—but only to keep her close. An outlaw who’s cost him dearly is still on the loose. And the hidden lawman trusts no one, especially not a feisty woman who might be working with his foe. But as the cowboy lessons progress, Willow may convince him to share all of his secrets—and his heart—with her.

“You ready to give lassoing a try?”

Gage walked over and unfastened the loop, recoiling the rope to its original position.

Willow shook her head and finally grabbed her writing instruments, taking a seat on the bench. “I want to write it all down so I can remember it later.”

She opened her journal and began recording the images so vivid in her mind.

“Like I said, practice is the way to make yourself good at it.” He turned around and built his loop again, throwing it a second time, only to miss.

She looked up from her scribbling. “Why did you miss?”

“The truth?”

“Always.” She stared and wondered why he’d even considered being anything but honest with her.

“You distracted me.”

She usually messed herself up and didn’t mind taking the blame if she was truly guilty of causing trouble for someone else, but she’d been nowhere near his target. “How did I do that?”

Gage retrieved his rope and strolled over to sit beside her on the bench.

“I let you. I was paying more attention to your hair than I was the picket.”

DeWANNA PACE is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author. She has published two dozen novels and anthologies, several of which have been chosen as book club selections by Doubleday, Rhapsody, Book-of-the-Month, Woman’s Day and The Literary Guild. DeWanna combines her faith with her love of humor and historical romance. Let her show you the ways a heart can love.

The Texas Ranger’s Secret

DeWanna Pace

www.millsandboon.co.uk

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

—Colossians 3:17

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Ranger for Hire Willow McMurtry’s writing career could end before it even begins—unless she learns the ways of a Texas Ranger. She can’t write tales about Ranger life if she’s constantly making mistakes, so she needs handsome Texan Gage Newcomb to teach her. Willow just can’t tell him the true purpose behind her request. Gage agrees to teach Willow how to shoot, ride and lasso—but only to keep her close. An outlaw who’s cost him dearly is still on the loose. And the hidden lawman trusts no one, especially not a feisty woman who might be working with his foe. But as the cowboy lessons progress, Willow may convince him to share all of his secrets—and his heart—with her.

Introduction “You ready to give lassoing a try?” Gage walked over and unfastened the loop, recoiling the rope to its original position. Willow shook her head and finally grabbed her writing instruments, taking a seat on the bench. “I want to write it all down so I can remember it later.” She opened her journal and began recording the images so vivid in her mind. “Like I said, practice is the way to make yourself good at it.” He turned around and built his loop again, throwing it a second time, only to miss. She looked up from her scribbling. “Why did you miss?” “The truth?” “Always.” She stared and wondered why he’d even considered being anything but honest with her. “You distracted me.” She usually messed herself up and didn’t mind taking the blame if she was truly guilty of causing trouble for someone else, but she’d been nowhere near his target. “How did I do that?” Gage retrieved his rope and strolled over to sit beside her on the bench. “I let you. I was paying more attention to your hair than I was the picket.”

About the Author DeWANNA PACE is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author. She has published two dozen novels and anthologies, several of which have been chosen as book club selections by Doubleday, Rhapsody, Book-of-the-Month, Woman’s Day and The Literary Guild. DeWanna combines her faith with her love of humor and historical romance. Let her show you the ways a heart can love.

Title Page The Texas Ranger’s Secret DeWanna Pace www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. —Colossians 3:17

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

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

May 1868

The thunderstorm rushed ahead of Willow McMurtry, as if warning all who lived in High Plains, Texas, that she would arrive and with her came trouble.

Seeking a new path because she couldn’t stay on her last one, she prayed, Please don’t let me mess up in this town, too.

Wind buffeted the curtain meant to keep out the dust stirred up beneath the churning hooves of the horses pulling the overland stage. Lightning bolts blinked in and out as the curtain flapped back and forth, offering popping whips of relief from the oppressive heat to the only passenger who had not yet reached her destination.

With glimpses of the passing prairie, she watched uprooted vegetation tumble toward the coach searching for a barrier to the wind’s fury. But the team’s pounding hooves and the coach’s wheels crushed the wind-driven fodder or ricocheted it hither and yonder across the countryside.

“High Plains ahead!” yelled the driver, heralding the blessed fact that the long journey was near its end.

At least for now.

She would finally be inside somewhere, out of biting range of bugs and flies trying to hitch a ride.

“One-hour stop, coming up!”

The sense of stifling solitude gripped Willow even more profoundly, threatening to spill the unshed tears she’d held back when she’d said goodbye to the other passengers many miles ago. How she hated to be alone, and wanted so desperately to be among friends—a tribe of her own. A tribe made not just of family members, who were expected to include her, but friends who chose and enjoyed being in her company.

Willow called upon the light of hope living within her that this place so loved by her sisters might also prove the haven that would welcome her, rescue her from herself and become a home to her if she could not resolve her problem back in Georgia.

How much she wanted to be an asset to a community rather than an object of scorn. A blessing to someone, not a hindrance.

She took a lace kerchief from her reticule, then dabbed the perspiration dotting her face and neck, hoping to make herself look more presentable for when she arrived. Willow pinched her cheeks a little to add color, then brushed her fingers through wisps of hair that had gone astray from her upswept curls.