A new life...an old love
Can she risk loving him again in Shepherd’s Crossing?
With her family in disgrace, Lizzie Fitzgerald never imagined she’d end up at an Idaho ranch. Fortunately, she’s working with horses she loves—even if it means dealing with her old sweetheart Heath Caufield. The widowed father of an adorable boy, Heath hasn’t forgiven Lizzie for their past. But even a stubborn cowboy can’t stop the heart’s ability to forgive...or love again.
Multipublished bestselling author RUTH LOGAN HERNE loves God, her country, her family, dogs, chocolate and coffee! Married to a very patient man, she lives in an old farmhouse in upstate New York and thinks possums should leave the cat food alone and snakes should always live outside. There are no exceptions to either rule! Visit Ruth at ruthloganherne.com.
Love Inspired
Shepherd’s Crossing
Her Cowboy Reunion
Grace Haven
An Unexpected Groom
Her Unexpected Family
Their Surprise Daddy
The Lawman’s Yuletide Baby
Her Secret Daughter
Kirkwood Lake
The Lawman’s Second Chance
Falling for the Lawman
The Lawman’s Holiday Wish
Loving the Lawman
Her Holiday Family
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk
Her Cowboy Reunion
Ruth Logan Herne
ISBN: 978-1-474-08552-6
HER COWBOY REUNION
© 2018 Ruth M. Blodgett
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
“I’m going to bunk here so I can keep an eye on things...”
Lizzie was going to sleep in the stable? On the floor?
It felt wrong to leave her there, which was silly because Heath had spent many a night in the lambing barns. But this wasn’t him. It was Lizzie. And when she stuck a ridiculously small pillow behind her head, he wanted to snatch it, send her to bed and say he’d watch the horse.
She gazed up at him, looking so much like the girl she’d been twelve years before. But different, too.
“It’s my job, Heath.” She kept her voice quiet. Matter-of-fact. And quite professional. “People don’t inherit a quarter share of a ranch worth millions without putting in some time. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She was right. He knew that.
But walking away from her—moving through the door into the cold spring night—was one of the toughest things he’d done in a long time.
He did it because it was the right thing to do. But he hated every minute of it.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
—Colossians 3:14–15
I loved writing this story. I loved writing it because it gave me a chance to explore the two sides of forgiveness, and how our choices combine with our faith to make or break our paths in this world. Lizzie went through a tragic time at the age of eighteen. She should have had the best of everything by society’s standards, and yet it all came crumbling down around her and she took the challenge and lived her faith. Moving on. Moving forward. Forgiving even though she could never forget.
But Heath carried his anger like a hankie in a back pocket. He believed without question and let anger eat at him for years.
Grudges are dreadful things. There are a lot of grudge holders in my family. I guess there are grudge holders in lots of families, but what a sadness that is, to be angry and then stay angry...for how long? Too long.
Forgiveness isn’t just a Biblical reminder. It’s sound advice. It’s the basis for so much good in the world. That doesn’t make it easy, I know...but it makes it worthwhile. A true heart is a forgiving heart.
I hope you loved this story! Thank you for reading it, and you know I love to hear from readers, so feel free to email me at [email protected] or friend me on Facebook where I love to play and pray with readers, family and friends. And if you’re wondering what’s happening, visit my website ruthloganherne.com or follow me @RuthLoganHerne on Twitter.
May you and yours be blessed in every way possible!
Ruthy
This book is dedicated to Casey...
I was blessed to help raise you and I’m absolutely delighted with the wonderful young woman you’ve become. You are a part of us...and always will be. You can’t get rid of me easily!!! Love you, kid.