The Cowboy's Christmas Courtship

The Cowboy's Christmas Courtship
Brenda Minton

With her mortgaged farm, rebellious brother and two jobs, Layla Silver is struggling to keep afloat for the holidays. But does she need Gage Cooper riding to her rescue? Back in high school, Gage was nobody’s hero.Now he’s an injured bull rider home for Christmas to make amends for his checkered past. And something about the stubborn, beautiful Layla has him wanting more than forgiveness. Can a wandering cowboy turn a Christmas courtship into an everlasting love?

The Christmas Challenge

With her mortgaged farm, rebellious brother and two jobs, Layla Silver is struggling to keep afloat for the holidays. But does she need Gage Cooper riding to her rescue? Back in high school, Gage was nobody’s hero. Now he’s an injured bull rider home for Christmas to make amends for his checkered past. And something about the stubborn, beautiful Layla has him wanting more than forgiveness. Can a wandering cowboy turn a Christmas courtship into an everlasting love?

Cooper Creek: Home is where the heart is for this Oklahoma family

“Gage, I don’t know how to thank you.”

“I have a suggestion. Have dinner with me.”

“I don’t know.”

He placed the last decoration on her tree, finding a bare spot. “We’ve become friends and I’d like to take you out.”

“My life is really complicated. And I haven’t been on a date in a long time. It isn’t fair going out with some nice guy when I have all of this going on.”

“Well, that’s how I’m different. If you go to dinner with me, you’re not going with a nice guy.” He winked and then looked in the box. “No angel for the tree?”

Layla shook her head.

“This will have to be a cowboy tree.” He pulled off his hat and placed it atop the tree, wrapping it with lights. “Perfect.”

She had to agree. The tree was perfect.

She looked at Gage, with his perpetual five-o’clock shadow, his hair messy from the hat. Unfortunately for her heart, he was perfect, too.

BRENDA MINTON

started creating stories to entertain herself during hour-long rides on the school bus. In high school she wrote romance novels to entertain her friends. The dream grew and so did her aspirations to become an author. She started with notebooks, handwritten manuscripts and characters that refused to go away until their stories were told. Eventually she put away the pen and paper and got down to business with the computer. The journey took a few years, with some encouragement and rejection along the way—as well as a lot of stubbornness on her part. In 2006 her dream to write for Love Inspired Books came true. Brenda lives in the rural Ozarks with her husband, three kids and an abundance of cats and dogs. She enjoys a chaotic life that she wouldn’t trade for anything—except, on occasion, a beach house in Texas. You can stop by and visit at her website, www.brendaminton.net (http://www.brendaminton.net).

The Cowboy’s

Christmas Courtship

Brenda Minton

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

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

—Isaiah 9:6

In memory of Ed Tonellato,

for all of his love and support.

Dedicated to Bonnie, Chloe and Lisa.

Contents

Chapter One (#u3602110a-7f46-50df-95e4-9d3cd8795fe9)

Chapter Two (#u96e46d17-6e70-514a-98e6-f37d9b2c1a60)

Chapter Three (#ucea6f5e3-dcfe-5ed2-88dc-9178cf9db600)

Chapter Four (#ua2758a21-012e-5642-a874-d8618ef38ffe)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

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)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)