The Cowboy's Surprise Baby. Deb Kastner

      

      Hometown Reunion

      After years away serving his country, Cole Bishop finally returns home—with a newborn baby in tow. As a single dad, Cole needs help. But the last thing he expects to encounter at his new job is his high school sweetheart—all grown up and more beautiful than ever. Tessa Applewhite might have broken Cole’s heart years before, but she’s never forgotten him. And he can wrangle her heart like no one else ever has. But Tessa rejected him when the stakes weren’t nearly as high. Can Cole trust her again—and in the process, form a forever family?

      “Cole.”

      Ice filled Cole’s chest. His lungs. His veins.

      It would have frozen his heart if he’d had one—but the woman into whose enormous emerald eyes he was staring had stolen it from him long ago and ripped it to shreds.

      “Tessa.” Cole clenched his jaw and both fists. What kind of nightmare had he just stepped into?

      “I—uh—” Tessa stammered, her wide-eyed, questioning gaze flashing from Cole to Alexis and then back to Cole again. “What are you doing here?”

      That was exactly the question he wanted to ask her. But she’d asked him first. Her eyebrows rose as she waited for his answer.

      “Workin’,” he answered reluctantly, tapping his hat against his blue jeans.

      “Here?” Her voice, which Cole remembered as soft and lilting, sounded scratchy and strained, much as he imagined his own voice did. “Alexis? Wh-what—”

      “We’ve just hired Cole on as a wrangler now that he’s moved back to town,” Alexis explained, her tone overly bright. “Surprise!”

      DEB KASTNER is an award-winning author who lives and writes in beautiful Colorado. Since her daughters have grown into adulthood and her nest is almost empty, she is excited to be able to discover new adventures, challenges and blessings, the biggest of which are her sweet grandchildren. She enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music, singing in the church choir, and attending concerts and musicals.

      The Cowboy’s

      Surprise Baby

      Deb Kastner

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      And the King will answer and say to them,

      “Assuredly, I say to you,

      Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren,

      You did it to Me.”

      —Matthew 25:40

      To my wonderful sister Amy for all her help in giving the horses in my book their unique names and personalities. Your animal sanctuary makes a real difference in the world!

      Those interested in Amy’s animal rescue program can find out more about

      Happy Haven Farm & Sanctuary on Facebook or at her website, happyhavenfarm.org.

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Introduction

       About the Author

       Title Page

       Bible Verse

       Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Dear Reader

       Extract

       Copyright

Chapter One

      Cole Bishop didn’t know who’d originally coined the phrase “Home is where the heart is,” but whoever it was, she should have been shot. Home was where the heartbreak was, and if it wasn’t for the fact that his whole world was in an uproar, Cole would happily have never set foot in his hometown again for as long as he lived. Except maybe to visit his family, and there were ways to get around that obstacle.

      Serendipity, Texas, was too small even to warrant a dot on the map, and its residents had minds like elephants and considered gossip a national pastime. He must be out of his mind for returning. His worst memories would be dredged up, and fast.

       A man’s got to do what he’s got to do. For his son.

      Truth was, he had nowhere else to go.

      “Much obliged for the job.” Cole nodded to Alexis Haddon of Redemption Ranch and curled the brim of his hat in his fist, tapping the dark brown Stetson against his thigh. He and Alexis had grown up together. When she’d heard he was back in town, she’d immediately contacted him to see if he wanted to work for her. And he was grateful. Now that he had a son, he needed steady employment more than ever, and wrangling sounded mighty good after years serving on an aircraft carrier in the navy. Less structure, more open space.

      Alexis leaned her hip against the corner of her neatly organized desk and beamed at him with happy eyes and a white-toothed smile. Her husband, Griff, kicked back in the desk chair, lacing his fingers behind his head and admiring his wife.

      “That’s my Alexis.