Beth Cornelison - Cowboy Christmas Rescue - Rescuing the Witness / Rescuing the Bride

Praise for Beth Cornelison

“Steady pacing and a solid plot, complete with a dramatic, passionate ending, are all hallmarks of one terrific romance.”

— RT Book Reviews on Colton Cowboy Protector

“Cornelison has written a page turner that is truly enjoyable from beginning to end.”

— Fresh Fiction on Cowboy’s Texas Rescue

“A tough, protective hero is at the center of this suspenseful story. Good pacing, expert storytelling and sweet chemistry makes this story a page-turner.”

— RT Book Reviews on Protecting Her Royal Baby

Praise for Colleen Thompson

“Sizzling chemistry and heartfelt love between Dylan and Hope make for one engaging story.”

— RT Book Reviews on The Colton Heir

“RITA ®Award finalist Thompson takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride full of surprising twists and turns in this exceptional novel of romantic suspense.”

— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Equal parts suspense and romance, this fast-paced story is filled with plenty of action and intrigue. Vulnerable, genuine characters and an interesting mystery make for a thrilling read.”

— RT Book Reviews on Lone Star Redemption

BETH CORNELISONstarted writing stories as a child when she penned a tale about the adventures of her cat, Ajax. A Georgia native, she received her bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Georgia. After working in public relations for a little more than a year, she moved with her husband to Louisiana, where she decided to pursue her love of writing fiction.

Since that first time, Beth has written many more stories of adventure and romantic suspense and has won numerous honors for her work, including a coveted Golden Heart Award in romantic suspense from Romance Writers of America. She is active on the board of directors for the North Louisiana Storytellers and Authors of Romance (NOLA STARS) and loves reading, traveling, Peanuts ’ Snoopy and spending downtime with her family.

She writes from her home in Louisiana, where she lives with her husband, one son and two cats who think they are people. Beth loves to hear from her readers. You can write to her at PO BOX 5418, Bossier City, LA 71171, USA or visit her website, www.bethcornelison.com.

After beginning her career writing historical romance novels, in 2004 COLLEEN THOMPSONturned to writing the contemporary romantic suspense she loves. Since then, her work has been honored with a Texas Gold Award, along with nominations for a RITA ®Award, a Daphne du Maurier Award and multiple reviewers’ choice honors. She has also received starred reviews from RT Book Reviews and Publishers Weekly. A former teacher living with her family in the Houston area, Colleen has a passion for reading, hiking and dog rescue. Visit her online at www.colleen-thompson.com.

Cowboy Christmas Rescue

Rescuing the Witness

Beth Cornelison

Rescuing the Bride

Colleen Thompson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Table of Contents

Cover

Praise

About the Authors

Title Page

Rescuing the Witness

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Rescuing the Bride

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Extract

Copyright

Rescuing the Witness

Beth Cornelison

To Colleen Thompson—thanks for sharing

Chapter 1

She’d known seeing Brady today was inevitable. He was, after all, one of the groomsmen. She’d also known seeing him would be difficult. One didn’t fall out of love with a man like Brady McCall easily. She’d just never imagined it would be this hard.

Kara Pearson pressed a hand to her stomach, trying to calm the swirl of acid gnawing at her and hoping to avoid his detection as she wended her way through the crowd at the wedding. Despite reasons to be “jolly,” like Christmas being a week away, and her good friends’ nuptials, Kara was finding it hard to feel festive this year. Not only had Christmases been difficult for her since her parents had died, but this year she was mourning her broken relationship with the man she’d hoped to marry.

“There are a couple seats on the back row,” she said to Hannah Winslow, her “plus one” and moral support for the wedding.

Hannah gave her a withering glance. “The back row? Really? How long are you going to hide from Brady?”

“Until I die or until it doesn’t feel like I’m being gored by a bull when I talk to him. Whichever comes first.” She tipped her head toward the back corner seats and tugged on Hannah’s sleeve. “Come on. Before someone else takes them.”

The Wheeler Ranch bustled with more activity than Santa’s workshop on Christmas Eve, especially in light of the last-minute change of venue for the wedding festivities. The water pipes in the restroom for the ranch lodge, where the ceremony and reception had been set to take place, had sprung a massive leak that morning and flooded the building.

At first light today, Kara had responded to a frantic text from her friend April, the bride, to help relocate chairs, flowers and sound equipment as water gushed under the bathroom door and soaked the carpet of the lodge.

A few crazy hours later, the reception had been moved to Sal’s Diner, the only place available at the last minute in tiny Rusted Spur, Texas, that could accommodate the caterer. The ceremony itself had simply been shifted outside to the ranch yard. Thankfully, the Texas Panhandle was enjoying one of the unseasonably warm December days that Southern states boasted on occasion.

But the balmy warmth came with a price. The pleasant temperature was the result of an encroaching cold front, compacting all the warm air in its path as it bulldozed into Texas. A line of violent thunderstorms was creeping in from the west, and the ceremony was on the clock. The groom’s mother, in a dither to finish before the storms hit, waved her hands, hurrying people to take their seats.

Around the ranch yard, guests assembled, many of whom she recognized as clients of the large-animal veterinary clinic where she worked as a vet’s assistant. Near the front, musicians tuned up, and behind her at the barn, ranch hands decked out a pair of first-class cutting horses with black-and-white ribbons and satin drapes in preparation for the bridal couple’s departure from the ceremony.

“You okay?” Hannah asked.

“I’ve been better. The drama this morning didn’t help my nervous stomach.”

Hannah gave Kara’s hand a quick squeeze. “You can do this. But...if you must toss your cookies, please remember these are new Kate Spade heels. Clearance sale or not, they still cost me my grocery money for the month.”

Kara met her friend’s crooked smile with her own. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Hannah shoulder-bumped her. “Hey, you got this. And you look quite eye-catching, by the way.”

Kara draped her coat and purse on the back of her chair, then tugged discreetly on the skirt of her red patterned maxi dress. It might be in the seventies now, but by the time the reception was over, the temperature was supposed to be closer to thirty-five. “Thanks. But eye-catching wasn’t what I was going for. I was hoping for simple, trying to blend in. If April and Nate weren’t such good friends, I’d probably be home now.”