A Cowboy To Keep

A Cowboy To Keep
Karen Rock

Can't stop running from the pastDani Crawford has a secret…and if bounty hunter Jackson Cade finds out, he could ruin everything. The scarred yet handsome cowboy has tracked a dangerous criminal to the dude ranch Dani manages, and to get rid of Jack she’ll have to help him catch his man. But the closer they get to cornering their quarry the more Dani wants Jack to stay. Spending time with him is making her long for things she can never have thanks to her past mistake. And if the truth comes out she may be spending her future behind bars rather than safe in her cowboy's arms…

Can’t stop running from the past

Dani Crawford has a secret...and if bounty hunter Jackson Cade finds out, he could ruin everything. The scarred yet handsome cowboy has tracked a dangerous criminal to the dude ranch Dani manages, and to get rid of Jack she’ll have to help him catch his man. But the closer they get to cornering their quarry the more Dani wants Jack to stay. Spending time with him is making her long for things she can never have thanks to a past mistake. And if the truth comes out she may be spending her future behind bars rather than safe in her cowboy’s arms...

“Thought you were waiting for my signal.”

Dani’s voice was breathy.

“If I waited any longer, I’d be drawing social security.”

“Ha-ha,” she said slowly, so Jack understood exactly how funny she thought him, and, contrarily, wouldn’t suspect that she really did find him amusing.

No more flirting.

He tipped his hat. “Never thought I’d hear you laugh.”

“You didn’t. Tanya!” she called again, turning away from the man who kept snagging too much of her attention. “Stopped by for that visit!” She waved Jack back, hoping he’d return to the porch, but he waltzed right by...technically trespassing.

Then again, bad boys didn’t ask for permission. Follow rules. Both of which should be huge caution signs...

Dear Reader (#u48e3b601-4dcf-5d6b-adba-429c9629c524),

Remember when Mary Poppins stepped into a sidewalk drawing and vanished into another world? Opening a new book has always had the same effect on me. In a flash, I’m transported to different times and places, each stop another stamp on my virtual passport.

In this novel, you’ll travel with me to the fictitious Mountain Sky Ranch, a dude ranch in Denver’s Front Range in the southern Rocky Mountains. Back in the late 1800s, this area teemed with copper-mining companies supplied by the Central, the first railroad corporation in Colorado. Cowboys, speculators, lawmen and outlaws flocked to this rugged outpost to roll the dice and make their fortunes. Likewise, wranglers, bounty hunters and bandits inhabit the pages of my novel, standing for those timeless principles that define the West to this day: justice and order...courage and conviction.

If you like A Cowboy to Keep, keep an eye out for my next book, where we meet the rest of Jackson’s family at Cade Ranch. These Rocky Mountain cowboys are proud, loyal and independent men who work hard, play harder and love forever. Visit me at karenrock.com to learn more about my releases or to let me know what you think of my books. I’d love to hear from you!

Happy reading!

Karen Rock

PS: Don’t forget to check out Heartwarming’s author blog at heartwarmingauthors.blogspot.com (http://www.heartwarmingauthors.blogspot.com).

A Cowboy to Keep

Karen Rock

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

KAREN ROCK is an award-winning young adult and adult contemporary author. She holds a master’s degree in English and worked as an ELA instructor before becoming a full-time author. Most recently, her Harlequin Heartwarming novels have won the 2015 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award and the 2015 Booksellers’ Best Award. When she’s not writing, Karen loves scouring estate sales, cooking and hiking. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, daughter and Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Visit her at karenrock.com (http://www.karenrock.com).

To wise and wonderful Tara Randel for reading this book while she managed her family’s business and penned her own mysteries and Heartwarming romances. You don’t have to say “I’m here for you” because you prove it every day. Thank you, my friend!

Contents

Cover (#u32d1480c-7b82-5418-904f-57803c48890d)

Back Cover Text (#ubd62e728-2704-5e16-a418-3f0f90a17658)

Introduction (#u888f35d7-de0f-5d27-97ae-91ffc2fcf715)

Dear Reader (#u7bd16d7d-1a5a-51ed-81a8-650bb8b9b830)

Title Page (#u6d78c6e3-556f-5b6f-90ad-0ece5a750505)

About the Author (#u260bf310-8d48-52a0-a452-5b6a7e95473b)

Dedication (#u1074bd4d-de23-56a0-8843-5070f8be60f9)

CHAPTER ONE (#u7d202382-e4b8-5dfd-a909-08447642b8fe)

CHAPTER TWO (#ud505b7fb-d8b4-5da1-a896-c6b3bdcef006)

CHAPTER THREE (#ufd18d178-a543-5d2c-9dce-938bb16bbcec)

CHAPTER FOUR (#ub0a78b19-d745-5096-bb92-6eb5758f45e2)

CHAPTER FIVE (#ud7beb0a5-776d-53e5-b6ae-82f26a1b7219)

CHAPTER SIX (#u2053a811-cb98-50e2-9cd5-8491063a9a2c)

CHAPTER SEVEN (#u15f084d5-6297-55f6-a0f7-464368aa127a)

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)