The New Cowboy. Rebecca Winters

      

      Homecoming Cowboy

      Living on her grandfather’s ranch, surrounded by her loving brothers and their families, is helping Avery Bannock put her painful past behind her. But ever since Zane Lawson came home, she’s been fighting her feelings for the rugged former Navy SEAL who’s sworn to keep her safe—in his arms.

      After a decade undercover, Zane’s ready to settle in Montana horse country. Buying the ranch next to the Bannock spread was the first step. Now he’s got to convince the gun-shy archaeologist that he’s the only cowboy for her. As they work together to find out who’s stealing tribal artifacts from a nearby reservation, Zane will do everything in his power to win Avery’s trust...and turn their budding romance into a mission possible!

      “I’ve learned the best things in life are worth waiting for.”

      “I know I’m eight years older than you, and I have a past. I’m hoping you’ll give me a chance to get to know you better. This dinner is my way of letting you know how I feel.”

      Panic set in. She was the woman who’d captured Zane’s interest?

      But that was impossible!

      Avery’s fear was so great, she found herself saying it out loud.

      “Why is it impossible?”

      She trembled over and over again. “You don’t know the real me.”

Dear Reader,

      Utah celebrates July 24 to honor the Pioneers who came into the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. My great-grandfather, John Brown, was among this courageous group of men and women who left their homelands across the ocean to carve out a new life. This Scotch-Irish young man had prepared to be a school teacher in the East. But unexpected circumstances brought him to the untamed American West. He was totally unprepared for the adventure awaiting him. He had to learn new skills, and learn them quickly, in order to survive. He became a cowboy.

      I had John’s story in mind when I wrote this latest book of the Hitting Rocks Cowboys series, The New Cowboy. Zane Lawson, born in San Francisco, had been a Navy SEAL. He’d thought it would be his lifetime career, but he, too, encountered unexpected circumstances that brought him to the wilds of Montana. It may be the twenty-first century, but he is forced to embrace a future totally foreign to him and adapt as fast as he can. In the process he morphs into The New Cowboy, who has a special skill—bringing healing to Avery Bannock, the beautiful woman he loves.

      Enjoy!

      Rebecca Winters

      The New Cowboy

      Rebecca Winters

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      REBECCA WINTERS, whose family of four children has now swelled to include five beautiful grandchildren, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the land of the Rocky Mountains. With canyons and high alpine meadows full of wildflowers, she never runs out of places to explore. They, plus her favorite vacation spots in Europe, often end up as backgrounds for her romance novels, because writing is her passion, along with her family and church.

      Rebecca loves to hear from readers. If you wish to email her, please visit her website: www.cleanromances.com.

      To my great-grandfather, Pioneer John Brown, Captain of the Thirteenth Ten, who crossed the plains ten times, bringing more and more Pioneers out West. He was a son, husband, father and patriarch, who befriended members of the Ute Indian tribe, served in the Utah Legislature and helped settle parts of Southern Utah. His image is on the This Is The Place Monument in Salt Lake, riding his horse and carrying his Kentucky rifle. What a cowboy!

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Introduction

Dear Reader

       Title Page

       About the Author

       Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

       Chapter Eleven

       Extract

       Copyright

Chapter One

      “Unca Zen!”

      Zane laughed. “Hey, sport. I can see you on my computer. Can you see me?”

      “Yes.”

      “Did you get those little cars I sent you?”

      “I like this one.” The three-year-old held it up for Zane to see. As far as he was concerned, Skype was the best cyberinvention ever.

      “Say thank-you to your uncle,” he heard Sadie say in the background.

      “Thank you. When are you coming?”

      “Pretty soon. I still have work to do.”

      “But I want you to come home!”

      Zane could tell his brother’s son was getting ready to cry.

      He got a huge lump in his throat. “There’s nothing I want more, too. Guess what?”

      “What?”

      “I’ll be there for my vacation on the Fourth of July.” Three weeks away. He was living for it. “We’re going to have a big party with fireworks at my house!”

      “Goody!” Ryan turned to Sadie. “What’s fireworks?”

      “She’ll