The Cowboy's Return. Linda Warren

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      “May I help you? I’m Tripp Daniels.”

      The girls stared at him, mouths open.

      “Are you selling something?”

      The dark-haired girl shook her head.

      “Did you find a lost dog?”

      She shook her head again and held the dog tighter against her chest.

      “Well, I’m running out of questions, so you’d better tell me what you want.”

      There was no response—just wide-eyed silence.

      “I have to get back to work,” he said, and stepped back to close the door.

      “I’m Jilly Walker,” the dark-haired girl blurted out.

      Tripp paused. Was this Camila Walker’s kid? Yeah, she had the same gorgeous hair, skin and eyes. That would mean…

      “I make straight A’s and I’m going to be a doctor. I’m a good kid, everyone says so, and your family missed a lot by not knowing me. You missed even more by not knowing my mama. That’s all I have to say.”

      She took a step backward and ran into her friend, who seemed to have turned to stone. The two of them locked hands and ran toward their bikes, then quickly rode away.

      Dear Reader,

      If you’ve read The Christmas Cradle, you might remember Tripp Daniels, a rodeo cowboy estranged from his family. The Cowboy’s Return is his story. After thirteen years, he returns home to face his past and a woman he can’t forget.

      Camila Walker is used to rumors and gossip. Those tidbits of malicious hearsay have affected her life, her relationships and the way she feels about herself. She is a survivor, though, and she’s built a good life for her daughter.

      Tripp is still drawn to the beautiful Camila, but he’s determined to find out if her daughter is his dead brother’s child. Through the lies and the secrets, they can’t deny the attraction building between them. But will they be able to overcome the past?

      Come along and get involved in the rumors and gossip. Just don’t believe everything you hear.

      Hope you enjoy Camila and Tripp’s story.

      Warmly,

      Linda Warren

      P.S. It’s always a pleasure to hear from readers. You can e-mail me at [email protected] or write me at P.O. Box 5182, Bryan, TX 77805 or visit my Web site at lindawarren.net or superauthors.com. Your letters will be answered.

      The Cowboy’s Return

      Linda Warren

      Mrs. Ida Baker (Big Mama)—To our amazing grandmother

       When I first married my husband, his grandmother would give us lye soap. Young and immature, I wasn’t sure what to do with it. But as always, years bring wisdom, and I began to see this wonderful lady’s ability to create necessities out of the simplest things and admired her indomitable spirit and immeasurable love. We still miss you.

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      Lola Dee Vavra—thanks for lovingly sharing your knowledge of quilting.

      Becky Hess of Eden Naturals for graciously explaining her soap-making techniques. Thanks.

      Any errors are strictly mine.

      Contents

      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

      Epilogue

      Chapter One

      “We’re gonna be in so much trouble.”

      Eleven-year-old Jilly Walker ignored her friend, Kerri, and pedaled her bicycle that much faster against the cool February breeze. She had to do this, even if it meant she’d be grounded for life. In two weeks she’d turn twelve and her mama had said that she could do something special for the big day. Special meant one thing to Jilly…meeting her father’s family.

      And this was the only day she could sneak away to make it happen.

      The Danielses lived on a large ranch about a mile outside of Bramble, Texas, population 994 and counting. Everyone kept track of the births. The city council planned a big celebration for number one thousand, but Jilly wasn’t thinking about that today. The bike’s wheels slid on the gravel as she stopped outside the Danielses’ entrance to the Lady Luck Ranch.

      Patrick Daniels, her father, had died before her parents could get married. The Danielses shunned her mother, Camila, saying the baby she’d been carrying wasn’t a part of their family. Jilly didn’t understand how they could have said that, but she respected her mother’s wishes and stayed away from the Danielses’.

      Until today.

      Over the years, she’d seen Leona and Griffin, her grandparents, in their chauffeur-driven car. She’d never had enough nerve to speak to them—she didn’t know if she had enough today, either.

      Kerri stopped beside her, gasping for breath. “Are we going home now?”

      Jilly stared at the broken boards on the fence and the weeds growing wild around them. She didn’t expect the entrance to be so unkempt. The stone pillars with the Lady Luck brand were impressive, though.

      “Jilly?”

      “No,” she answered and pedaled across the cattle guard to the big house. Her hands trembled on the handlebars, but she wouldn’t let her nervousness stop her—she was going to introduce herself to the Danielses. The bike bounced over potholes, jarring her insides, and finally she rolled to a stop in the circular drive. A round brick pond with a broken waterfall stood in the center of the overgrown yard. Stagnant water caked with mildew stank like Mr. Wiley’s pig farm.

      At the odor, she wrinkled her nose and jumped off her bike. She adjusted the kickstand and scooped Button, her Chihuahua, out of the basket on the handlebars. Button shivered and Jilly tucked the dog inside her navy windbreaker, stroking the dog’s ears.

      “It’s okay. We won’t be here long.”

      Kerri hopped off her bike and joined her. They looked up at the white stone two-story colonial house with the weatherworn and peeling brown trim. Shutters hung like broken arms, dust and spiderwebs coated the windows, and weeds had taken over the flower beds.

      “This place is like totally spooky,” Kerri said.

      “Yeah,” Jilly murmured. She hadn’t expected this, either. The Danielses were supposed to be rich.

      “Let’s go,” Kerri said. “I don’t think anyone lives here.”

      “Yes, they do,” Jilly insisted, clutching Button. “The Temple paper said he came home to the family ranch.”