The Maverick's Bride

The Maverick's Bride
Catherine Palmer

Her faith takes her across the world and into the path of a most extraordinary man. Freshly arrived in East Africa, Emma Pickering is instantly drawn to Adam King.The rugged cowboy is as compelling as he is mysterious. And if he'll agree to a marriage of convenience, it would solve both their problems. Emma could secure her inheritance–and with it, her chance to find her sister. Adam could gain the funds needed to carve his ranch out of the savanna. Yet their match is anything but "convenient" when Emma's fears gain hold, and malicious whispers threaten to tear the couple apart. Only their love and shared faith can save their life together.

“Leave me, I beg you. You have no place here.”

“Emma, wait. Listen to me.” Adam caught her wrists and pulled her back toward him. He’d never been a man to think things through too carefully. He did what felt right.

“I want you to come with me,” he told her. “I need your help. Let’s go right now. Emma, I’ll take care of you.”

“I don’t need anyone to take care of me,” she shot back. “God is watching over me.”

“Emma!” Both turned toward the open door where Emma’s sister stood, eyes wide.

“Emma, go with him!” Cissy crossed the room toward them. “Run away with him, Emma. It’s your chance to escape—to become a nurse, as you’ve always wanted. You’ll be safe at last, and you can have your dream.”

Emma turned back to Adam.

“Come on,” he urged her. “Let’s get moving.”

CATHERINE PALMER

The bestselling author of more than fifty novels with over two million copies sold, Catherine Palmer is a Christy Award-winner for outstanding Christian romance fiction. Catherine’s numerous awards include Best Historical Romance, Best Contemporary Romance, Best of Romance from Southwest Writers Workshop and Most Exotic Historical Romance Novel from Romantic Times BOOKreviews. She is also a Romantic Times BOOKreviews Career Achievement Award winner.

Catherine grew up in Bangladesh and Kenya, and she now makes her home in Georgia. She and her husband of thirty years have two sons. A graduate of Southwest Baptist University, she also holds a master’s degree from Baylor University.

The Maverick’s Bride

Christy Award-Winning Author

Catherine Palmer

Refreshed version of THE BURNING PLAINS newly revised by the author.

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

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give the desires of thine heart.

—Psalms 37:4

For Tim

With all my love

Always…

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

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

1898, British Protectorate of East Africa

“Oh, Emma, what shall I do?” Priscilla Pickering lifted her tear-rimmed blue eyes. Sniffling, she raised her white lace handkerchief and dabbed at her cheek.

Emma sighed inwardly as she looked at her sister. “You will do as you’ve always done, Cissy. You will put on your brightest smile and bid him farewell as if he didn’t mean a thing in the world to you.” Stepping back from the open trunk, Emma tossed a pink ostrich-plumed hat onto the bed. “This will have to do, Cissy. We haven’t time to look for the white one. Father is already waiting on deck.”

“But, Emma, you don’t understand. Dirk is different. I do love him—truly.”

Emma buckled the trunk and picked up her own lavender hat. How many times had she helped her sister recover from a broken heart? She pursed her lips for a moment. “I know you love him. But, Cissy, honestly—you’ve loved them all. You insisted you loved that awful what’s-his-name who tried to take you off to Sussex. And you loved that banker chap who was going to carry you to France if Father hadn’t ordered him away and locked you in your room.”