Lone Star Heiress

Lone Star Heiress
Winnie Griggs

Rescuer Turned Husband?Plucky Ivy Feagan is headed to Turnabout, Texas, to claim an inheritance, not a widower's heart. That all changes when strapping schoolteacher Mitch Parker rescues her in the wilderness. Straightlaced Mitch has never met a woman like Ivy–beautiful, adventurous and good-hearted–but he already lost love once and doesn't dare try again.When Turnabout's gossips target Mitch and Ivy's friendship, he proposes to save her reputation. But Ivy doesn't want to marry for honor, and she doesn't need to marry for money. Ivy will only agree to a proposal made for love's sake–but will Mitch make his heart part of the marriage offer?Texas Grooms: In search of their brides…

Rescuer Turned Husband?

Plucky Ivy Feagan is headed to Turnabout, Texas, to claim an inheritance, not a widower’s heart. That all changes when strapping schoolteacher Mitch Parker rescues her in the wilderness. Straightlaced Mitch has never met a woman like Ivy—beautiful, adventurous and good-hearted—but he already lost love once and doesn’t dare try again.

When Turnabout’s gossips target Mitch and Ivy’s friendship, he proposes to save her reputation. But Ivy doesn’t want to marry for honor, and she doesn’t need to marry for money. Ivy will only agree to a proposal made for love’s sake—but will Mitch make his heart part of the marriage offer?

Texas Grooms: In search of their brides…

“Oh, you have a tree swing!”

Ivy turned back to Mitch with a teasing grin. “It appears there’s a bit of playfulness in you after all.”

“I hate to disappoint you, but that swing was already there when I moved in.” He regretted the words as soon as he saw the disappointment flash across her face.

She fisted a hand on her hip, looking quite severe. “You mean to tell me that you’ve never once even sat in that swing.”

“Guilty.”

“Well, that’s downright wasteful.”

He waved a hand toward the swing. “Feel free.”

“Well, there’s no time like the present.” With a saucy smile she started across the lawn. Ivy set the swing in motion, soaring high and laughing aloud.

Mitch leaned against a porch support, crossing his arms and enjoying the view.

As he watched her it occurred to him that perhaps her presence in his once quiet household was going to change his life more than he’d considered.

But it was too late to go back now.

What troubled him more was that he didn’t want to.

WINNIE GRIGGS

is a city girl born and raised in southeast Louisiana’s Cajun Country, who grew up to marry a country boy from the hills of northwest Louisiana. Though her Prince Charming (who often wears the guise of a cattle rancher) is more comfortable riding a tractor than a white steed, the two of them have been living their own happily-ever-after for thirty-plus years. During that time they raised four proud-to-call-them-mine children and a too-numerous-to-count assortment of dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, turtles and 4-H sheep.

Winnie retired from her “day job” and now, in addition to her reading and writing, happily spends her time doing the things she loves best—spending time with her family, cooking and exploring flea markets.

Readers can contact Winnie at P.O. Box 14, Plain Dealing, LA 71064, or email her at winnie@winniegriggs.com.

Lone Star Heiress

Winnie Griggs

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

He shall choose our inheritance for us.

—Psalms 47:4

To my awesome agent Michelle and my fabulous critique partners Connie and Amy, who all, at various points, helped me talk through some of the tough spots I encountered while writing this story. Thanks for your willingness to listen, offer terrific suggestions and most of all your belief in and enthusiasm for this story.

Contents

Chapter One (#u2038834d-1929-5ee5-be14-4642e6efcb30)

Chapter Two (#u43ba3d45-47cf-52e3-acbe-ba479dcface4)

Chapter Three (#ue1f1ac71-7fca-5f63-a708-f26ff08a83c4)

Chapter Four (#ued6c0686-2636-5063-b128-1b51c2199101)

Chapter Five (#ub973392b-6f5d-5f5a-8011-6c842315200d)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-One (#litres_trial_promo)