The Rancher's Reunion

The Rancher's Reunion
Tina Radcliffe

Will Sullivan's reason for refusing marriage is his biggest secret.To Will, it's part of his legacy, like the family's ranch. But then the woman he has secretly loved since childhood returns home after two years. Abandoned as a child the way he was, Annie Harris understands him. But she doesn't know the real reason keeping him a bachelor.A missionary nurse, Annie is planning to leave soon. Especially when a senseless scandal involving her threatens the ranch - and Will's future. But can he trust in rekindled love to see that Annie just might be his future?

“What are you running from?” Barely a whisper, Will’s question floated to her.

Silence stretched between them.

Annie tipped her head back against the seat. Running? The man thought he had all the answers. This time he was much too close to the truth. “Will,” she pleaded.

“Okay, you’re right. Now isn’t the time.” He let out a breath. “I’m sorry.”

“I’ll say you are,” she said, taking a light tone again. “One sorry Sullivan.”

“Hey, I’m trying to apologize here.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me. Keep shooting straight. I count on that from you. Give me a few days. Let me rest, clear my mind and sharpen my wits, then we can have this conversation. Deal?”

“Always have to have the last word.”

She opened her mouth to protest, then clamped her lips shut.

Will laughed.

The sound warmed her like a quilt as her gaze found the May moon.

TINA RADCLIFFE

has been dreaming and scribbling for years. Originally from western New York State, she left home for a tour of duty with the Army Security Agency stationed in Augsburg, Germany, and ended up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While living in Tulsa she spent ten years as a Certified Oncology R.N. A former library cataloguer, she now works for a large mail-order pharmacy. Tina currently resides in the foothills of Colorado where she writes heartwarming romance.

The Rancher’s Reunion

Tina Radcliffe

Take thereof no thought for the morrow:

for the morrow shall take thought of the things of itself.

—Matthew 6:34

To my husband, Tom, my sister Anne, my parents, Joseph and Teresa Russo, and to Tim, Mike, David and Amy—thank you all for understanding this writing thing of mine (or pretending to!).

I love you.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to my editor Melissa Endlich, for helping me to become a better writer, and for the wonderful opportunity to be part of the Steeple Hill family.

To Meredith Bernstein, thank you for your patience.

A final thank-you to my writing friends for their support and encouragement: The Seekers (www.seekerville.blogspot.com), Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane (and the OKRWA Chapter), and my longtime writing bud, Rogenna Brewer.

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

Epilogue

Letter to Reader

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

“You look awful.” Will Sullivan shoved his hands into the back pockets of his Wranglers and continued his intense scrutiny.

“Well, you haven’t changed a bit,” Annie Harris said with a laugh. Leave it to Will to cut to the chase.