Hill Country Cattleman

Hill Country Cattleman
Laurie Kingery

A MATCH MADE IN TEXAS To escape a scandal in England, Violet Brookfield is sent to her brother’s ranch in Texas. Soon she discovers the vibrant new world and rugged trail boss Raleigh Masterson are perfect material for the Western she’s writing. And when her time is up, she’ll return to the nobleman she left behind. Violet is the most elegant female ever to set foot in Simpson Creek, and Raleigh is sure she’ll never stay.He has no business falling for the beautiful aristocrat. But soon Violet makes a place for herself in the Hill Country—and in his heart. Now if only he can convince her that she belongs here forever…Brides of Simpson Creek: Small-town Texas spinsters find love with mail-order grooms!

A Match Made In Texas

To escape a scandal in England, Violet Brookfield is sent to her brother’s ranch in Texas. Soon she discovers that the vibrant new world and rugged trail boss Raleigh Masterson are perfect material for the Western she’s writing. And when her time is up, she’ll return to the nobleman she left behind.

Violet is the most elegant female ever to set foot in Simpson Creek, and Raleigh is sure she’ll never stay. He has no business falling for the beautiful aristocrat. But soon Violet makes a place for herself in the Hill Country—and in his heart. Now if only he can convince her that she belongs there forever….

“I’ve never met a writer before.” He let his admiration show in his voice.

Violet turned back to him, surprised. “You’re

the first person who’s ever called me a writer, Raleigh Masterson. Even Gerald doesn’t—” She stopped suddenly, as if she’d said too much.

“Who’s Gerald?” he asked.

“Gerald is the man I’m in love with. He’s the Earl of Lullington.” She spoke so softly that he had to strain to hear, but when he made sense of her words, his heart sank. Of course she’d found someone to love, someone who was titled and wealthy, as she was. He’d been a fool to think otherwise.

“I’m surprised you could leave him for so long,” he said.

“I didn’t have a choice. My brother thinks if he separates us for a time, I’ll forget about Gerald. But I won’t, of course.”

There was an uncertain look in her eyes, as if she couldn’t speak with confidence about her beau’s feelings for her.

“I’m sure no man in his right mind could forget about you, Miss Violet.”

LAURIE KINGERY

makes her home in central Ohio, where she is a “Texan-in-exile.” Formerly writing as Laurie Grant for the Harlequin Historical line and other publishers, she is the author of eighteen previous books and the 1994 winner of a Readers’ Choice Award in the Short Historical category. She has also been nominated for Best First Medieval and Career Achievement in Western Historical Romance by RT Book Reviews. When not writing her historicals, she loves to travel, read, participate on Facebook and Shoutlife and write her blog on

www.lauriekingery.com (http://www.lauriekingery.com).

Hill Country Cattleman

Laurie Kingery

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

Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which

so easily doth beset us, And let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

—Hebrews 12:1

To my “adopted sisters”

Carole Tyson and “Tudie” Metzer.

Thanks for being part of my family!

And as always, to Tom.

Contents

Chapter One (#u60c1d744-002d-559d-97c4-01fb5ca3ed74)

Chapter Two (#u69fd63ef-827b-5641-9df7-a9be4da7ec9c)

Chapter Three (#u7f6beece-22d2-595b-9bd3-b3ce1a468072)

Chapter Four (#u00187d4a-5580-5dc1-b402-fddcd35cbb63)

Chapter Five (#u99fc7628-2b74-51b4-adda-a17915ea41ec)

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)

Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)