The Rancher's Cinderella Bride. Sara Orwig

was late afternoon when she got in her car to go home and her mother came rushing out the back door.

      “I wanted to talk to you before you go,” she said after Meg rolled down her window. “I hope you rethink seeing Gabe Callahan. You know our families don’t get along.”

      “Gabe and I had a good time. We’ve been friends forever,” she said. “I’m going out with him next weekend.” Difficult as it was, she faced her mother, realizing the woman had more gray hairs streaked in among the brown hair around her face. Meg felt a pang because she was going to worry her family, but she had to worry them or end up married to a man she didn’t love.

      “You know what kind of man Gabe Callahan is,” her mother said. “Besides being Dirkson Callahan’s son, he’s got a reputation for being wild and taking risks. He was a terrible influence on Hank. Your father is so unhappy to hear you’re going out with him.”

      Meg smiled at her mother. “I love you and I love my family with all my heart, but I have to live my life. I had a good time with Gabe and I want to see him again. Sorry, Mom, if no one in my family is happy with me, but I can’t date someone to please my family.”

      She patted her mother on her arm. “I’m not marrying Gabe next weekend. I’m just going out with him. And he moves in the same social circle Justin does. Now stop worrying. It’s just an evening with a friend.” She gave her mother a smile. “I better head home because I have a busy week ahead. Thanks again. Dinner was wonderful.”

      Her mother stood waving as she drove away. Meg sighed with relief because she felt another hurdle was over. Her family knew she was going out with Gabe.

      * * *

      Monday afternoon she received a text from Justin saying he wouldn’t be in until late Thursday night and asking her to dinner Friday. She declined, telling him she had a benefit to attend with one of her friends. Instead, she made plans to meet him at the café for a quick bite Thursday night. Suspecting he had heard about Gabe, she wanted to make their breakup official then. She was anxious to break the news to him about Gabe and she didn’t want to spend an entire evening with Justin to do so.

      She hadn’t heard a word from Gabe, but she hadn’t expected to. This was a favor he was doing for her and there wouldn’t be any reason for him to call to talk. She smiled at the thought. He probably wouldn’t give a thought to her or his agreement until the end of the week.

      Tuesday night Meg sat in her Dallas house and planned Saturday night at the formal country club where she and Gabe would be seen by Justin, his family and her family. She hoped Justin would be there with someone else. He hadn’t gotten around to asking her and she was certain he expected her to attend with him. That was, he would until she broke the news to him Thursday night. Meanwhile, she still needed to get a dress for Saturday night, and her makeover.

      She smiled in anticipation. Soon she would be free of her family’s meddling, thanks to Gabe. Now, if she could just resist his kisses, all would be well. No wonder half the eligible women in the county liked to go out with him.

      Thursday afternoon after work when she drove home, she was surprised to see Gabe’s black pickup in her driveway. Curious, she parked in her garage, took a glance at herself in the rearview mirror before she got out and smoothed her plaid cotton blouse and faded jeans. She wore scuffed brown boots and she had a navy band holding her hair back from her face—everything about her as plain as ever, she thought. She walked out to find him waiting near the gate that led to the back door. As she looked at him, her pulse jumped. In his black Stetson, jeans, black boots and a Western-style blue cotton shirt, he looked every inch the rancher he was. He also was handsome enough to be a celebrity. Slight dark stubble shaded his jaw, giving him a rugged touch that added to his appeal. How could she have gone all those years without noticing how handsome he was? He took her breath away now just standing still and doing nothing. And the closer she got, the better she could see the fantastic, thickly lashed blue eyes that made her heart beat faster.