Last Chance Cowboy

Last Chance Cowboy
Leigh Riker

Why couldn't Shadow have stayed away?Rancher Grey Wilson has fought hard to rebuild his life in the ten years since that horrible night she left, the night their love, their families, their whole town was torn apart by tragedy. And he’s almost succeeded. But now that Shadow Moran is back in Barren, everything seems to be going wrong. The family ranch his father entrusted to him is struggling. Worse, Shadow still blames him for what happened that night, and Grey's starting to have his own doubts about his innocence. Then Shadow reveals a secret that shakes him to his core…

Why couldn’t Shadow have stayed away?

Rancher Grey Wilson has fought hard to rebuild his life in the ten years since that horrible night she left, the night their love, their families, their whole town was torn apart by tragedy. And he’s almost succeeded. But now that Shadow Moran is back in Barren, everything seems to be going wrong. The family ranch his father entrusted to him is struggling. Worse, Shadow still blames him for what happened that night, and Grey’s starting to have his own doubts about his innocence. Then Shadow reveals a secret that shakes him to his core...

“Because of you, my brother will never have a ranch or anything else to lose.”

Shadow blinked back sudden tears. She hadn’t cried since she was seventeen. She wouldn’t cry now.

People in the diner were openly staring. She and Grey were clearly the stars of the town’s reality show. Their waitress came to take their orders, but Grey waved her off. He waited until they were alone again. “I didn’t...kill him, Shadow. You either believe me or you don’t, which you obviously still don’t.”

“Neither does anyone else.”

“If I had any way to prove myself to them, to you, I would.” He paused, eyeing her with those sharp blue-green eyes. “Come on,” he said. “You and I were a couple once. We even picked out baby names.”

Shadow knew she’d just turned pale.

“Why did you come in here today?” Grey asked. “I doubt it was to have lunch with me.”

“I—” She caught the pointed gaze of a woman in the booth across the aisle. “I have something to tell you. It’s important.”

“Fine. Let’s take this outside.”

Yet how would she find the words to tell him after all these years?

Dear Reader (#u995d0323-f33c-51bf-a6be-3f279ccd2c50),

For Shadow Moran and Grey Wilson, the course of true love hasn’t exactly run smooth. But does it ever? My own relationship had some ups and downs before we knew we were exactly right for each other. And many years later, we still are. Of course, we never had the kind of issues to deal with that my hero and heroine do.

Ten years ago, after a tragic accident, Shadow and Grey’s relationship ended abruptly. Now she’s back in their hometown of Barren, Kansas. Grey still loves her, but he already has his hands full trying to save his family’s ranch from modern-day rustlers and seeking evidence to prove he’s innocent in the long-ago death of Shadow’s brother. Without that proof, she will never forgive him.

But when Grey learns he and Shadow have a nine-year-old daughter, things take yet another turn—and love for them seems even more impossible than it was before.

I’ve always loved reunion stories. I’m also partial to secret-baby books, and Last Chance Cowboy has both! If you haven’t read the first Kansas Cowboys book about Blossom Kennedy and Logan Hunter, you can find a coupon in this book for The Reluctant Rancher. And then please join me again for the third book in this series—coming soon!—in which Logan’s estranged brother, Sawyer, returns home to fall in love all over again with Olivia Wilson, Grey’s sister.

See what I mean about reunion stories?

If you’d like to learn more about my books, please visit my website, leighriker.com (http://www.leighriker.com), and sign up for my newsletter there.

Happy reading!

Leigh Riker

Last Chance Cowboy

Leigh Riker

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

LEIGH RIKER, like many dedicated readers, grew up with her nose in a book. This award-winning, USA TODAY bestselling author still can’t imagine a better way to spend her time than to curl up with a good romance novel—unless it’s to write one! She’s a member of the Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc. and Romance Writers of America. When not writing, she’s either in the garden, watching movies funny and sad, or traveling (for research purposes, of course). With added “help” from her mischievous cat, Daisy, she’s now at home working on a new novel. She loves to hear from readers. You can find Leigh on her website, leighriker.com (http://www.leighriker.com), on Facebook at leighrikerauthor (https://www.facebook.com/LeighRikerAuthor) and on Twitter, @lbrwriter (https://twitter.com/lbrwriter).

With love for Linda and Kim, Who are the daughters I always wanted (My boys chose well!)

Contents

Cover (#u52dd99ab-cea5-50f8-9e35-eb3b63e0e64a)

Back Cover Text (#ub82cacef-6eff-5e89-bb6f-6a3e4d579018)

Introduction (#u1bc8b099-35ac-510d-ad25-940028e2513b)

Dear Reader (#udb786065-0d5e-587a-a110-ecd908fef699)

Title Page (#u71424225-1b84-524c-9f3b-962ab43af9df)

About the Author (#ue4a8fada-2610-50de-a24e-6ec73dfbdd88)

Dedication (#u1946c67f-e1be-5702-aa6e-da99b1115875)

CHAPTER ONE (#u15977efa-f807-555e-a822-9ad3d49622e7)

CHAPTER TWO (#u37c3a3e0-91c0-5953-8ef9-efbcc024b412)

CHAPTER THREE (#u04eaffc7-a6a4-5cd5-a645-a10f68cb6fce)

CHAPTER FOUR (#uc159b00d-3c43-5133-9e12-8313e804f1d7)

CHAPTER FIVE (#u723c867a-d759-515f-8209-8a2c5dcf09dd)

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)