Cowgirl, Say Yes

Cowgirl, Say Yes
Brenda Mott

This hard-nosed cattleman isn't ashamed to begWidowed rancher Wade Darland freely admits that Tess Vega's way of thinking has him scratching his head. He believes in shipping old barn animals off to auction, whereas she's just set up a sanctuary for abused and abandoned horses. He can't let a day go by without tucking in to some meat, whereas she hears the word and it sends her fleeing.And then there's the matter of Wade's children–especially Wade's young daughter, whose motherless childhood is so similar to Tess's own.Tess's interference in the Darland family circle arouses Wade's ire, and he implores her to say no to Macy when the little girl starts hanging around.But after a few more encounters with the spunky redhead, Wade is soon begging the cowgirl to say yes–not just to Macy but to him, too.

“You’re not to interfere with my daughter anymore,” Wade said

“You’re her 4-H leader, not her mother,” he added.

“As though I’d want to be, since that would mean being married to you.” Tess wasn’t quite sure where that comment had come from. Actually, she’d love to be Macy’s mom…if only she came without her dad.

Wade looked stunned by her words. “Well, I reckon there’s not much danger of that.” He downed the rest of his beer and set the bottle on the countertop. “I’d throw the bottle away, but I imagine you’d like to recycle it,” he told her sarcastically, thinking of her do-good ways.

“Oh, I don’t know,” she said, crossing her arms as she got up from the table. “Maybe I’d rather break it over your thick skull.” She flashed him a mock smile.

To her surprise, he laughed. “I do like your spunk, Miss Tess Vega,” he said. He pointed a forefinger. “Just remember. You’re Macy’s 4-H leader, and that’s all.” He tipped his hat. “Night, spitfire.”

“Good night yourself,” she said to his departing back. “Jackass.”

Dear Reader,

I think one of the most common questions asked of an author is, “Where do you get your ideas?” Sometimes that’s easy to answer and sometimes it isn’t. Ideas come from many sources, often simply out of the blue, and at times sparked by an incident, a newspaper article or perhaps a conversation. I like to take my ideas and toss them into a mental slow cooker and let them simmer awhile.

The one for this book was sparked by an Alan Jackson song. When I heard Alan’s sexy voice crooning “WWW Dot Memory,” I knew instantly that I needed to write a book in which the hero is a cowboy who runs some type of Internet business. I tossed it into my slow cooker and let it stew for several months. Imagine my surprise when I opened the lid and discovered the story of Wade Darland (Macy’s dad from Sarah’s Legacy), which had cooked itself up while I wasn’t looking.

When Wade decides that ranching is simply becoming too tough to make a living at these days, combined with the fact that he wants to spend more time with his kids, he comes to the conclusion that he needs to go a little high-tech—well, for a cowboy, anyway—and put up a Web site for his new tack and leather business, “Cowboy Up.” He’s confident he’s got his world under control, his family neatly tucked into a protective circle where no outsiders are allowed—most especially a woman.

Little does he know he’s about to butt heads with Tess Vega, Macy’s new 4-H leader, a vegetarian and rescuer of abused and neglected horses. I had a great deal of fun writing Wade and Tess’s story. Come with me, dear reader, and join Wade and Tess on their journey in search of love and commitment.

Brenda Mott

P.S. I love to hear from my readers. My e-mail address is BrendaMott@hotmail.com. Please reference the book on the subject line.

Cowgirl, Say Yes

Brenda Mott

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

To my own cowboy husband, David—for your loving

support and for putting up with all my critters.

I’d like to thank the following people

for their help in providing information

that went into this book.

D’Ann Linscott-Dunham—

good friend, fellow cowgirl and 4-H leader.

Dr. Mark Flinner.

Brenda Schetnan, R.N., and Mary Jane Hangs, who have

both cared extensively for Alzheimer’s patients. Also,

Katie Lovette, fellow member of Smoky Mountain Romance

Writers and author of Loving Care for Alzheimer’s Patients.

Tom Anderson, who owns the real “Cowboy Up.”

And last, but definitely not least, the folks of

Colorado Horse Rescue and Terri Shell, Kitty and Bucky

of Dream Catcher Farm Horse Sanctuary, for graciously

answering my questions and for the wonderful work they

do. May God bless you for saving our four-legged friends.

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