Rancher To The Rescue
At the magnificent Wyoming dude ranch run by Ross Livingston and two fellow ex-marines, families of fallen soldiers find hope and healing. When lovely widow Kit Wentworth and her son arrive, Ross immediately finds himself drawn to them. Soon he’s able to bring young Andy out of his shell—and touch Kit’s heart as no other man has.
But this isn’t just a vacation for Kit. She is running from her domineering father-in-law—a situation Ross understands all too well. After Kit reveals her terrible secret, Ross realizes his love alone won’t be enough. Charles Wentworth is a man who will stop at nothing to control his family. Can Ross convince Kit to stand her ground—and help her fend off the forces that threaten to tear them apart?
“He said you needed watching and he shouldn’t have let you come.”
Kit looked down. “Charles will stoop to any level to achieve want he wants.”
“What does he want?” Ross prodded her.
“He wants Andy to be the son he lost!”
“There’s more to it than that for him to phone the ranch asking for one of us in charge.”
A tortured moan escaped her. “No—I mean there is a reason, but it’s not what you think.”
“Then explain it to me.”
“I—I don’t know where to start,” she stammered. “It’s complicated.”
“Nightmares usually are. I’ve got all night and you’re my responsibility while you’re here.”
“I don’t want you mixed up in this.”
His temper flared. “I already am. Does he have a case against you for being an unfit mother?”
He heard her sharp intake of breath. “In his mind he does,” she said.
Ross felt as if he’d been kicked in the gut.
Dear Reader,
The heroine in my story Her Wyoming Hero finds herself in a situation where she’s being controlled and manipulated and can no longer tolerate it. To change her life, and the life of her son, she will have to summon all her inner strength and courage to do what she needs to do.
Kit began her marriage naive and starry-eyed, but that state of bliss soon passed, and her struggle began. At the end of this struggle she emerges a strong, capable woman ready to stand on her own two feet. But when she meets Ross Livingston, she’s faced with a new, unexpected challenge and doesn’t want history to repeat itself. I hope you’ll find this story compelling and cheer Kit to the end. She deserves a happy ending, but how will she get there? That’s for you to discover.
Enjoy!
Rebecca Winters
Her Wyoming Hero
Rebecca Winters
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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 nearby, she never runs out of places to explore. These spaces, plus her favorite vacation spots in Europe, often end up as backgrounds for her romance novels. 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 all strong women everywhere with the courage of their convictions to make a difference in their lives despite the odds.
Contents
Chapter One
July 10
Bar Harbor, Maine
Kit read the letter postmarked from Wyoming one more time, positive it had been sent to her by mistake. The honor to her deceased marine husband thrilled her, but didn’t make sense.
Dear Mrs. Wentworth,
My name is Carson Lundgren. You don’t know me from Adam. I served as a marine in Afghanistan before I got out of the service.
When we returned to the U.S., I, along with Buck Summerhays and Ross Livingston, fellow retired marines, went into business at the Teton Valley Dude Ranch. Our idea was to offer what we could to the families of the fallen soldiers from our various units.
Your courageous husband, Winston Pettigrew Wentworth, served our country with honor and distinction. Now we’d like to honor him by offering you and your son Andrew an expense free, one week vacation at the dude ranch anytime in August. We’ll pay for your airfare and any other travel expenses.
You’re welcome to contact your husband’s division commander, Colonel Hodges, at the phone number below. His office helped us obtain your address. If you’re interested and have questions, please call our office. We’ve also listed our web address, where you’ll find a brochure with more details about the ranch. We’ll also be happy to email you any additional information.
Please know how anxious we are to give something back to you after his great sacrifice.
With warmest regards,
Carson Lundgren.
His words touched Kit beyond measure, but she was the daughter-in-law of Charles Wentworth, an East Coast billionaire. Such an honor should go to a grief-stricken family whose loss of the husband and father from the home would have affected them financially.
Without hesitation she reached for the phone. In a few minutes she was able to speak to Colonel Hodges. When he came on the line she explained the reason for her call.
“I think this invitation is the most wonderful thing that has happened to me and Andy since the funeral. But I fear it was sent by mistake. There are so many soldiers who’ve died in this ghastly war. They’ve left families who are now struggling to make a decent living without them. I’m not in that category and wouldn’t dream of accepting this generous offer.”
“Mrs. Wentworth, I don’t think you understand. These retired marines out in Wyoming know who you are. I’ve talked with them at length. They admired your husband for serving when he could have stayed home and enjoyed all the privileges of his life, but this invitation is about something much more important.