Debra Clopton - Texas Ranger Dad

How are you? After all they’d been through and all that had happened between them…What kind of question was that? This man had torn her world apart and now he wanted to make small talk? Her insides rolled. “Fine,” she blurted. “Mule Hollow is a great place.” How was she chatting when she wanted to throw up? Pass out. Run.

“That’s what I hear,” he said, his gaze searching hers. “Here, do you want me to take those for you?”

“No!” she exclaimed, and jerked away. Experiencing his touch again was the last thing she wanted. She was amazed she didn’t drop her packages. More amazed she didn’t throw them at him.

“I—I really need to be going. I have to get to work. But I’m sure we’ll see each other again. This is a small town.”

Too small for the both of them, she thought, angling past him.

“That’s what I’m counting on.”

was a 2004 Golden Heart finalist in the inspirational category, a 2006 Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award winner, a 2007 Golden Quill Award winner and a finalist for the 2007 American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award. She praises the Lord each time someone votes for one of her books, and takes it as an affirmation that she is exactly where God wants her to be.

Debra is a hopeless romantic and loves to create stories with lively heroines and the strong heroes who fall in love with them. But most importantly she loves showing her characters living their faith, seeking God’s will in their lives one day at a time. Her goal is to give her readers an entertaining story that will make them smile, hopefully laugh and always feel God’s goodness as they read her books. She has found the perfect home for her stories writing for the Love Inspired line and still has to pinch herself just to see if she really is awake and living her dream.

When she isn’t writing she enjoys taking road trips, reading and spending time with her two sons, Chase and Kris. She loves hearing from readers and can be reached through her Web site, www.debraclopton.com, or P.O. Box 1125, Madisonville, Texas 77864.

Published by Steeple Hill Books ™

For you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.

—Malachi 4:2

To my lifelong buddies and best friends in all the

world, Debra Drake and Lisa Webb—the fun and

laughter we’ve shared through the years is the

inspiration that fuels my stories today! God truly

blessed me with your friendship.

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

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Questions for Discussion

Zane Cantrell was looking for a woman. And not just any woman.

As a Texas Ranger, he’d made a career of either tracking or protecting men, women and sometimes even children. But this time it was different. This time it was personal.

His gut twisted and his jaw tightened. He wasn’t a Ranger anymore; still, following her to this small town of Mule Hollow had been the easy part.

Facing her…that was where the hard part would begin.

“Zane Cantrell?”

Hearing his name, Zane turned just in time to see a giant of a man emerge from Sam’s Diner. A broad smile spread across the man’s chiseled features. Given the gold star pinned over his heart and the fact that only one person knew he’d been due to arrive in town late last night, Zane took this to be Sheriff Brady Cannon.

When Zane had called inquiring about a job, the sheriff had surprised him by hiring him as deputy within minutes. Of course he’d been officially checked out and no doubt the background check had revealed his story—at least most of it. The sheriff didn’t know about Rose. Didn’t know that Zane had more reasons than just a bum leg to take early retirement.

“Sheriff Cannon?” Zane said, extending his hand for a brisk shake.

“Glad you made it. I see you found the apartment all right.”

A funny statement, since there were only two intersecting streets. Zane’s mood eased with a feeling of finding a kindred spirit in his new boss. “I didn’t have too much trouble,” he said.

“It’s not exactly Corpus, is it?”

One side of Zane’s mouth lifted. “Not by a long shot.”

Only seven hours separated the two places, but they seemed worlds apart. However, his leg injury required frequent stops to walk and stretch the recovering tendons. Because of that it had taken him eleven hours. He’d arrived in town shortly after ten, long after the streets had been rolled up. In Corpus, the nightlife would have just been getting started. He doubted the police here had much going on at any time of the day.

“Thanks for locating the apartment for me. You didn’t have to do that, but I appreciate it.” He glanced behind him at his new home over Mule Hollow’s only real estate office. That it had twenty steep steps was a painful blessing Zane welcomed. Every step would help him heal more quickly.

“I’m the one who should be thanking you,” Brady was quick to counter. “Having a man with your credentials call up out of the blue looking for a job, especially when I’m in need of help—it goes without saying that I’m pleased.” He chuckled. “And my wife insists you’re a godsend. Come on, let’s go around the corner to the office.”

A godsend. Zane could only pray that God was directing his steps here.

Rose Vincent lived here.

And that was Zane’s only reason for coming. Plain and simple.

Falling into step with his new boss, he surveyed the tiny town in the daylight. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen such a colorful place.” Each building along Main Street was painted a different color. The feed store was yellow, the diner grass-green and across the street was a pink hair salon among a row of equally bright buildings. When he’d walked down the stairs that morning and seen the town in the light of day for the first time, he’d been startled. But he’d adjusted, liking the idea of Rose living in a place that looked so…happy. Especially after learning about the years she’d had between then and now. The time she and her son had spent in hiding, struggling and alone, because he’d failed her. It was a small comfort to know she’d found this place. He owed this town a debt of gratitude.

Brady’s expression warmed. “The people are just as colorful. You won’t find a better group of folks. The pace around here is pretty slow, but with all the festivals and weekend traffic we’ve started attracting, it can get wild sometimes. Keeps me busy and me and my wife have got a baby on the way so I really need the extra help.”

“I’m glad to be of help,” he said, and knew he meant it. “So how’s the leg?” Brady asked. They turned the corner at the end of town, their boots clicking on the plank sidewalk. Though he could usually hide the weakness, the sound of his boots hitting the wooden planks accentuated the limp. “It’s coming along.” He’d been up front about his healing process from the injury that had almost killed him. He’d already assured Brady before taking the job that he was on the road to a full recovery. That was all the talking he planned to do. However, that wasn’t what had Zane’s answer stuck in his throat as they approached the sheriff’s office. It was the color of the law enforcement headquarters—chocolate brown with…It couldn’t be.