Stella Bagwell - The Sheriff's Son

Cover Page

Excerpt “Mommy, where did you get the baby?” Justine’s little son asked. “Who is that man? He’s got a baby, too!” Justine cast a glance at Roy. He was staring at her and Charlie. She couldn’t tell exactly what he was thinking, but it was quite clear that the appearance of her son wasn’t pleasing to him. And suddenly she knew she’d been right all those years ago… “Yes, honey. Mommy found the babies and the sheriff has come to help find out where they belong. Now will you go get Aunt Kitty? The sheriff would like to speak with her.” Charlie raced out of the room. Once the boy was out of sight, Roy released a long breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “You have a son?” There was an odd look of betrayal on his face. As though he knew…but no. No one, not even her sisters knew that Roy Pardee was Charlie’s father…

Dear Reader Dear Reader , This April, let Silhouette Romance shower you with treats. We’ve got must-read miniseries, bestselling authors and tons of happy endings! The nonstop excitement begins with Marie Ferrarella’s contribution to BUNDLES OF JOY. A single dad finds himself falling for his live-in nanny—who’s got a baby of her own. So when a cry interrupts a midnight kiss, the question sure to be asked is Your Baby or Mine? TWINS ON THE DOORSTEP, a miniseries about babies who bring love to the most unsuspecting couples, begins with The Sheriff’s Son. Beloved author Stella Bagwell weaves a magical tale of secrets and second chances. Also set to march down the aisle this month is the second member of THE SINGLE DADDY CLUB. Donna Clayton, winner of the prestigious Holt Medallion, brings you the story of a desperate daddy and the pampered debutante who becomes a Nanny in the Nick of Time. SURPRISE BRIDES, a series about unexpected weddings, continues with Laura Anthony’s Look-Alike Bride. This classic amnesia plot line has a new twist: Everyone believes a plain Jane is really a Hollywood starlet— including the actress’s ex-fiancé! Rounding out the month is the heartwarming A Wife for Doctor Sam by Phyllis Halldorson, the story of a small town doctor who’s vowed never to fall in love again. And Sally Carleen’s Porcupine Ranch, about a housekeeper who knows nothing about keeping house, but knows exactly how to keep her sexy boss happy! Enjoy! Melissa Senate Senior Editor Silhouette Romance Please address questions and book requests to: Silhouette Reader Service U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269 Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont L2A 5X3

Title Page The Sheriff’s Son Stella Bagwell www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dedication To Thelma and Gerald with love and appreciation

About the Author STELLA BAGWELL lives in the rural mountains of southeastern Oklahoma, where she enjoys the wildlife and hikes in the woods with her husband. She has a son, a wonderful daughter-in-law and a great passion for writing romances—a job she hopes to keep for a long time to come. Many of Stella’s books have been transcribed to audiotapes for the Oklahoma Library for the Blind. She hopes her blind audience, and all her readers, will continue to enjoy her stories.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Copyright

Justine’s little son asked. “Who is that man? He’s got a baby, too!”

Justine cast a glance at Roy. He was staring at her and Charlie. She couldn’t tell exactly what he was thinking, but it was quite clear that the appearance of her son wasn’t pleasing to him. And suddenly she knew she’d been right all those years ago…

“Yes, honey. Mommy found the babies and the sheriff has come to help find out where they belong. Now will you go get Aunt Kitty? The sheriff would like to speak with her.”

Charlie raced out of the room. Once the boy was out of sight, Roy released a long breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

“You have a son?” There was an odd look of betrayal on his face. As though he knew…but no. No one, not even her sisters knew that Roy Pardee was Charlie’s father…

Dear Reader,

This April, let Silhouette Romance shower you with treats. We’ve got must-read miniseries, bestselling authors and tons of happy endings!

The nonstop excitement begins with Marie Ferrarella’s contribution to BUNDLES OF JOY. A single dad finds himself falling for his live-in nanny—who’s got a baby of her own. So when a cry interrupts a midnight kiss, the question sure to be asked is Your Baby or Mine?

TWINS ON THE DOORSTEP, a miniseries about babies who bring love to the most unsuspecting couples, begins with The Sheriff’s Son. Beloved author Stella Bagwell weaves a magical tale of secrets and second chances.

Also set to march down the aisle this month is the second member of THE SINGLE DADDY CLUB. Donna Clayton, winner of the prestigious Holt Medallion, brings you the story of a desperate daddy and the pampered debutante who becomes a Nanny in the Nick of Time.

SURPRISE BRIDES, a series about unexpected weddings, continues with Laura Anthony’s Look-Alike Bride. This classic amnesia plot line has a new twist: Everyone believes a plain Jane is really a Hollywood starlet— including the actress’s ex-fiancé!

Rounding out the month is the heartwarming A Wife for Doctor Sam by Phyllis Halldorson, the story of a small town doctor who’s vowed never to fall in love again. And Sally Carleen’s Porcupine Ranch, about a housekeeper who knows nothing about keeping house, but knows exactly how to keep her sexy boss happy! Enjoy!

Melissa Senate

Senior Editor

Silhouette Romance

Please address questions and book requests to: Silhouette Reader Service

U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont L2A 5X3

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To Thelma and Gerald with love and appreciation

lives in the rural mountains of southeastern Oklahoma, where she enjoys the wildlife and hikes in the woods with her husband. She has a son, a wonderful daughter-in-law and a great passion for writing romances—a job she hopes to keep for a long time to come. Many of Stella’s books have been transcribed to audiotapes for the Oklahoma Library for the Blind. She hopes her blind audience, and all her readers, will continue to enjoy her stories.

Justine Murdock flexed her aching shoulders and shook her long red hair in the wind blowing through the open pickup. It was June in New Mexico. The sun was warm, and the orchards and pastures had just been washed with an overnight rain.

As the pickup rattled over a planked bridge crossing the Hondo River, Justine breathed in the fresh evening air. It was wonderful to be out of the medical clinic. She’d had an especially tiring day, and all she could think about was getting home to the ranch, taking a long, hot bath, then setting down to supper with her family.

The Bar M Ranch spread over several hundred acres at the foothills of the Capitan mountains. The house itself was built in a square, with a small courtyard in the center. The pink stucco walls, red tiled roof and ground-level porch, with arched supports, made the home a typical hacienda-style ranch house.

A graveled driveway circled the house, but since her sisters parked their vehicles in the back, Justine always used the front entrance.