#1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller returns to Stone Creek, where secrets have a way of coming to light…
Where does an outlaw go when he’s ready to turn straight? For Wyatt Yarbro, reformed rustler and train robber, Stone Creek is his place of redemption. And lovely Sarah Tamlin is the perfect angel to help him clean up his act.
But Sarah keeps a dark secret behind her prim and proper facade, even as her heart is lost to charming, sexy Wyatt. When a vengeful enemy prepares to unleash havoc on their peaceful town, Wyatt and Sarah will discover that they can’t hide from the past. To win the fight, they must believe in something they never trusted before—the hope of tomorrow.
Praise for The Rustler by #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller
“Miller’s third Stone Creek novel gets as hot as the noontime desert. Miller’s portrayal of Sarah as a strong, independent woman sets this novel apart from customary tales of the damsel in distress and the rescuing hero. Instead, Miller focuses on Sarah and Wyatt’s shared and separate vulnerabilities and how they find it easier to face the difficulties of everyday life when they’re together. Well-developed, personable characters and a handful of loose ends will leave readers anticipating future installments.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Welcome back, Yarbros, those bad-boy outlaws turned into heroes! But it’s Miller’s intrinsic understanding of the West that is the real hero of her novels. Her characters are true to their nature, the era and the place. This story creates lasting memories of soul-searing redemption and the belief in goodness and hope.”
—RT Book Reviews
“As the attraction between Wyatt and Sarah deepens, the anticipated happy ending veers in an unexpected direction that makes this novel a real page-turner. With vibrant prose, fully realized characters, an engrossing plot set amid the dangers of the Old West, and a dash of Eastern guile thrown in for good measure, Ms. Miller has hit another bull’s-eye.”
—LoveWesternRomances.com
“My, my, there is nothing like a ruggedly handsome cowboy to make good reading. Throw in a feisty heroine, sexual tension and a tale told by bestselling author Linda Lael Miller and you have the best of the best reads. Ms. Miller’s words flow effortlessly weaving a story that captures and holds the reader spellbound. The Rustler is an awesome addition to the Stone Creek novels.”
—SingleTitles.com
“Linda Lael Miller is a good judge of horseflesh, and an astute student of human nature. Miller seems to understand her characters’ thoughts and state of mind while fulfilling her reader’s expectations. She doesn’t disappoint.”
—Armchair Interviews
The Rustler
Linda Lael Miller
Dear Reader,
Those wonderful Yarbro men are back! This time, it’s Wyatt, down on his luck after a lifetime of rustling and robbing trains, and determined to make a fresh start with Sarah Tamlin, the spirited banker’s daughter and a woman with a past.
I invite you to stop by my website, www.lindalaelmiller.com, where you’ll find my blog and information on the Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women, a cause near and dear to my heart. As a young, divorced mom, I experienced my share of hard times, so I have a lot of sympathy for women in tough situations—and for their children, as well. I believe education is the best way to improve lives, and the scholarships, awarded annually, are my way of giving back.
I have been tremendously blessed. I’m so grateful to live on a thirty-acre horse property outside of Spokane, Washington, and I really enjoy the country life—though I also love to travel. I get to tell stories for a living—does it get any better?—and have lots of animals around.
I adore animals, obviously, and although I’m not formally associated with any group, I like to encourage people to support the shelters in their own communities first. Spokanimal and SCRAPS are my local favorites, and I know several of the dedicated folks who run them with wisdom and compassion.
My own menagerie currently includes five horses, two cats, and one Yorkie named Bernice. Buck, a gelding, and Sadie, a beagle, both gone now, live on in our hearts. Although I don’t have much time for hobbies, I love to make artist trading cards, raise peonies and read, read, read.
I hope you’ll enjoy reading this historical tale as much as I enjoyed writing it.
May you be blessed.
With love,
For Donna Hayes,
and all cowgirls everywhere.
Contents
PROLOGUE
Southern Arizona Territory
August, 1907
A RUSTLER’S MOON GLIMMERED faintly in the sky, a thin curve of light soon obscured by rain-ripe clouds. Wyatt Yarbro sat a little straighter in the saddle and raised the collar of his battered canvas coat, not so much against the threat of bad weather as the intuitive sense that