Her Honor-Bound Cowboy

Her Honor-Bound Cowboy
Linda Ford

Fast Fiction Historical - short romantic stories to take you back in timeCowboy Josh Baxter hadn't bargained for a feisty widow and her newborn baby when he came home to take over his family ranch. After all, he hadn't even known his brother had married. Bound by duty to care for mother and child, Josh has only one solution—marriage.Emily will do anything to hold on to her share of the ranch she loves—except agree to a proposal of convenience. But she can't deny the tender feelings that overcome her when she sees Josh holding her tiny daughter. And she isn't sure she can hold out against the handsome cowboy for long!

Her Honour-Bound Cowboy

Linda Ford

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

Contents

Cover (#uce9aa2f6-60d2-5941-b6df-fc1cddc85f1d)

Title Page (#u069b8b32-c661-5d1a-892e-05de449ef7c7)

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

Endpages (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#u878ec360-ac43-56c1-8380-402ff26e166d)

Josh’s heart thundered in his ears as he stared at the rifle aimed at him. A rifle held by a woman with fierce, blue eyes that pierced him with a don’t-mess-with-me look. A growling dog the size of a wolf stood at her side.

Josh had followed his brother’s directions carefully. This had to be his brother’s home. His too, seeing as they were partners. “Where’s Cody?”

The rifle lowered.

“Who are you?” the woman asked.

Did he imagine the tremor in her voice? Could be she was as frightened as he’d been. “Joshua Baxter. And you?”

“Emily Baxter.”

The name jarred through him.

“Cody was my husband,” she added with a hint of challenge.

“Was?” He didn’t care for the sound of that word.

She nodded. “He died six months ago.”

Silence hung heavy between them as he tried to digest this news. “You might have let me know.”

She shrugged. “Didn’t think I’d ever see you.”

That hurt. “I always meant to come. Cody knew that.” Cody had taken their combined savings and gone to find the land that would become their ranch while Josh had remained behind to continue mining their gold claim until he had enough to buy them a herd of cows.

“A year seems like a long time.”

“We’ve been in touch. But he never mentioned you. Seems mighty strange.” He squinted at her. Was she trying to con him? Well, she’d picked the wrong man to trick. He’d seen most every kind of scam while at the gold camp.

“Lady, I don’t know who you are. Or where my brother is. But I ain’t about to believe he’s married to you. Now maybe you should pack your belongings and move on. Try your shenanigans on someone else.”

A thin wail broke the stunned silence.

She picked a baby from a cradle by the fireplace.

A baby! Was it Cody’s or had she married another man and allowed him to take over the ranch?