Texas Ranger Dad

Texas Ranger Dad
Debra Clopton

Everyone in Mule Hollow can see the resemblance between former Texas Ranger Zane Cantrell and Rose Vincent's son.The same gold-flecked amber eyes. The same smile. Not that Zane is smiling. He's in shock! How could Rose have kept their child a secret from him? Rose reminds Zane that he's the one who walked away. He has to make her see he had no choice.But Rose is as prickly as the cactus jelly she makes. And that's where their hopeful son and the Mule Hollow matchmakers come marching in.

“It’s been a long time, Rose. How are you?”

How are you? After all they’d been through and all that had happened between them…What kind of question was that? This man had torn her world apart and now he wanted to make small talk? Her insides rolled. “Fine,” she blurted. “Mule Hollow is a great place.” How was she chatting when she wanted to throw up? Pass out. Run.

“That’s what I hear,” he said, his gaze searching hers. “Here, do you want me to take those for you?”

“No!” she exclaimed, and jerked away. Experiencing his touch again was the last thing she wanted. She was amazed she didn’t drop her packages. More amazed she didn’t throw them at him.

“I—I really need to be going. I have to get to work. But I’m sure we’ll see each other again. This is a small town.”

Too small for the both of them, she thought, angling past him.

“That’s what I’m counting on.”

DEBRA CLOPTON

was a 2004 Golden Heart finalist in the inspirational category, a 2006 Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award winner, a 2007 Golden Quill Award winner and a finalist for the 2007 American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award. She praises the Lord each time someone votes for one of her books, and takes it as an affirmation that she is exactly where God wants her to be.

Debra is a hopeless romantic and loves to create stories with lively heroines and the strong heroes who fall in love with them. But most importantly she loves showing her characters living their faith, seeking God’s will in their lives one day at a time. Her goal is to give her readers an entertaining story that will make them smile, hopefully laugh and always feel God’s goodness as they read her books. She has found the perfect home for her stories writing for the Love Inspired line and still has to pinch herself just to see if she really is awake and living her dream.

When she isn’t writing she enjoys taking road trips, reading and spending time with her two sons, Chase and Kris. She loves hearing from readers and can be reached through her Web site, www.debraclopton.com, or P.O. Box 1125, Madisonville, Texas 77864.

Texas Ranger Dad

Debra Clopton

Published by Steeple Hill Books

For you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.

—Malachi 4:2

To my lifelong buddies and best friends in all the

world, Debra Drake and Lisa Webb—the fun and

laughter we’ve shared through the years is the

inspiration that fuels my stories today! God truly

blessed me with your friendship.

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

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

Zane Cantrell was looking for a woman. And not just any woman.

As a Texas Ranger, he’d made a career of either tracking or protecting men, women and sometimes even children. But this time it was different. This time it was personal.

His gut twisted and his jaw tightened. He wasn’t a Ranger anymore; still, following her to this small town of Mule Hollow had been the easy part.