Fugitive. Shirlee McCoy

      “HELP ME.”

      When she opens her door to a wounded, handcuffed stranger, Laney Jefferson is terrified…until she recognizes her unexpected visitor. Thirteen years ago, Logan Randal was there for her when she desperately needed a friend. Now the wrongfully convicted lawman needs the widow’s help. On the run from the law and guided only by Laney’s unswerving faith in Logan’s innocence, their mutual attraction begins to break down the barriers around Laney’s heart. But the real culprit is much closer than they imagine…a cunning enemy determined to keep the past—and the truth—buried forever.

      Heroes for Hire: Seeking the truth—at any cost

      “It’s as easy as you want it to be, Laney.”

      Logan stood behind her, looking out over the pastures and orchards that made up the farm. All of it overgrown and snow-covered now, but he remembered the years that he and Laney had worked the fields together, given tours of the orchards, pretended that the beauty on the outside of the house matched what was inside.

      He’d done it for her.

      There’d been so many times when he’d thought about running, but he’d stuck it out because he couldn’t imagine leaving Laney.

      Now, leaving her was all he could think about.

      “I’d like to borrow one of your dad’s old cars. Is that okay with you?”

      “Do you think any of them will be working after all this time?” She turned, her arm brushing his.

      He stepped away, his pulse racing.

      No way would he let himself think about what that meant.

      Not when there was so much riding on his ability to walk away.

      SHIRLEE McCOY

      has always loved making up stories. As a child, she daydreamed elaborate tales in which she was the heroine—gutsy, strong and invincible. Though she soon grew out of her superhero fantasies, her love for storytelling never diminished. She knew early that she wanted to write inspirational fiction, and she began writing her first novel when she was a teenager. Still, it wasn’t until her third son was born that she truly began pursuing her dream of being published. Three years later, she sold her first book. Now a busy mother of five, Shirlee is a homeschooling mom by day and an inspirational author by night. She and her husband and children live in the Pacific Northwest and share their house with a dog, two cats and a bird. You can visit her website, www.shirleemccoy.com, or email her at [email protected].

      Fugitive

      Shirlee McCoy

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

      —Psalms 55:22

      In loving memory of Joanna Trigsted. Even the shortest of lives can make an impact on the world. You are proof of that. Dance on, little one!

      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

       CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

       CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

       CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

       EPILOGUE

       DEAR READER

       QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

      ONE

      Just another step.

      That’s all he had to take.

      Another step. And another.

      Wind howling.

      Blood dripping on fresh white snow.

      Fire behind. Darkness ahead. Only one way to go. Up.

      Deputy Sheriff Logan Randal pushed through winter-dry