Her Colorado Cowboy

by Mindy Obenhaus

Moments later, with Geoffrey at her side, Lily exited into the large granite lobby and blew out a breath. Thank You, Lord. Not only had He vindicated her, He seemed to be paving the way for her and her children to live the life they’d been praying for.

  She faced her attorney. “Thank you for everything, Geoffrey. I appreciate—”

  “Lily.”

  Her pulse raced. It couldn’t be.

  She turned to find Noah standing behind her with his cowboy hat in hand. He wore a pair of dark-wash jeans, ostrich boots and a slate blue polo shirt that highlighted his dark eyes every bit as much as his bulging biceps.

  She swallowed hard. “What are you— How did you know I was here?”

  “Carly said you’d gone back to Denver. The news report said you were due in court today.” He shrugged. “I took my chances, because I couldn’t let you go through this alone.”

  Her mind still reeling, she said, “That—that’s sweet.” She rubbed her temple. “Noah, this is my attorney, Geoffrey Forester. Geoffrey, Noah Stephens.”

  While they shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, Lily tried to gather her thoughts.

  Geoffrey touched her elbow. “I’ll leave you two alone.”

  She nodded. “Thank you, Geoffrey.”

  “Are you okay?” Noah watched her as Geoffrey strode away. “You don’t look so good.”

  “Yes, I’m fine. Just a little overwhelmed.” Could this day possibly get any crazier?

  “Here, let’s sit down.” He gestured to a wooden bench along the wall. “How’d it go in there?”

  She lifted a shoulder. “It was over before it began.” She told him all that had transpired and that the case had been dismissed.

  “That’s excellent news.”

  “Yes, it is.” She dared to meet his gorgeous dark gaze. “What are you doing here? I mean, if you’re feeling guilty about the other night, it’s okay, I get it. You didn’t have to come all the way to Denver.”

  “I did feel guilty, but not for the reasons you might think.”

  She cocked her head, daring to hope as she waited for him to continue.

  “I love you, Lily. Of that I couldn’t be more certain.”

  Tears of joy pricked the backs of her eyes.

  “But I wasn’t free to tell you until I’d let go of the past.”

  Finding her voice, she said, “Your steadfast love for Jaycee is one of the things I admire most about you.”

  “I never thought I’d love again, Lily. Until I met you.” He took hold of her hand. “You are my future. You, Colton and Piper.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a velvet box and dropped to one knee. “Please say that you’ll marry me.”

  Oh, boy, things had just gotten crazier.

  “I’m willing to forgo the rodeo school and live in Denver until the children graduate from high school. I just want to be with you.”

  She touched a hand to his cheek. “The fact that you’d postpone your dream makes me love you all the more.”

  He smiled up at her.

  “But the kids and I have already decided that we want to make Ouray our home.” She shrugged. “I’ll have to tie up some loose ends here, but, Lord willing, we’ll be there in time for the kids to start school.”

  “Well, I know of a nice little cabin, just outside Ouray. You and the kids are more than welcome to stay there.”

  The joy in her heart spilled into a smile. “I’d like that, but we should discuss this marriage thing with the kids before I give you an answer.” Her cheeks heated. “Although I’m pretty sure I know what they’re going to say.”

  “In that case...” Standing, he tugged her to her feet, gazing down at her as though she was the most special person in the world.

  She pressed a hand against his chest. “I love you, Noah.”

  “I love you, too. With all of my heart.” As he smiled down at her, she pushed up on the toes of her pumps and kissed him without reservation. This was the man she’d longed for. And even though she’d given up on her dream of true love, God had fulfilled it, bigger and better than she ever could have imagined.

  * * *

  “Here’s to Noah and a successful grand opening.” Dad lifted his cup of lemonade.

  “Hear, hear,” echoed the rest of the family lining the deck on the Saturday evening of Labor Day weekend.

  Noah wrapped an arm around Lily’s shoulders and pulled her close. “None of this would have been possible without this woman by my side.” He peered down at her, making her heart flutter. Hard to believe that in just a little over a month, she would be his wife. She could hardly wait.

  Wade had not contested her petition for full custody of the children, though she had agreed to grant him visitation. He’d also decided to pull out of the race for state senate. Given all that had transpired in his personal life over the past few weeks, his polling numbers had dropped significantly. Lily prayed he might use this time to reevaluate his life and his choices and turn over a new leaf.

  “Lily,” Noah continued, “you took a grand opening that would have been mediocre at best and turned it into an event I never would have thought possible.”

  “Yeah,” said Colton. “We might even be on TV.” Thanks to a couple of reporters who’d shown up, referring to the grand opening as a not-to-be-missed event.

  “Hey, great job with the calf roping out there, Colton.” Jude patted him on the back.

  Lily was so proud. The kid had ridden his heart out and hit the mark on his first try.

  “I still can’t believe how many people came.” Andrew shook his head. “It was standing room only in there.”

  “Lily and I calculated somewhere in the neighborhood of four to five hun...dred—” Seemingly perplexed, Carly laid a hand on her husband’s arm. “I think my water just broke.”

  “What does that mean?” Colton’s face contorted.

  Clint moved toward his daughter-in-law. “It means these two had better get going, because they’re about to have a baby.”

  “What do I do? Do we have enough time to make it to the hospital? Are you in pain?” Andrew’s rapid-fire questions were accompanied by a look of terror. Understandable, Lily supposed. Since Megan wasn’t his biological daughter, he’d never experienced the whole childbirth thing before.

  “I’m fine,” Carly assured him. “Though I don’t know for how much longer, so yes, we should probably go to the hospital.”

  Andrew looked at his father.

  “Well, don’t just stand there gaping, boy. You heard the woman.” Clint pointed toward their vehicle. “Get her to the hospital.”

  Megan hugged her mother. “I can’t wait. My first campout and I’m going to be a big sister. All in the same night.”

  With Andrew and Carly on their way, Lily helped Lacie clean up the paper plates and plasticware from dinner, while Clint and Hillary gathered the kids for their big campout—which the two had planned a week or so ago and that probably signaled the next step in their relationship, considering Hillary’s granddaughters, Cassidy and Emma, were among the campers. Daniel had helped them set up tents near the river earlier today and get the firepit ready. All they had to do now was show up.

  Returning to the deck, Lily joined her fiancé while Lacie stood in front of her husband to watch the group.

  “Just look at them,” said Lacie. “They’re going to have so much fun.”

  Matt wrapped his arms around his wife’s waist. “I just hope we don’t get a phone call in the middle of the night to come and pick her up because she misses us.”

  Noah placed his mouth beside Lily’s ear, sending shivers down her spine. “Care to take a ride with me?”

  “Mmm...a sunset ride sounds delightful.” Not to mention romantic.

  After seeing the children off, they headed to the stable for Duke and Checkers.

  “I can’t wai
t until Honey is strong enough to be ridden.” She climbed into her saddle. “Not that you’re not a good horse, Checkers.” She patted the animal’s neck. “Where do you want to go?” She eyed her intended. “The cabin?”

  Since returning to Ouray, she and the kids had been living in Noah’s cabin. Something that was much more practical, considering they spent most of their time at the ranch. That was, when the kids weren’t in school.

  Of course, their new rural life had presented a few adventures. Such as the morning they woke up to find a coyote in the front yard. She’d had to convince Piper that it was not a dog and she could not play with it. Fortunately, it ran away.

  “Actually, I have someplace else in mind.” The spark in his dark eyes had her curious.

  “You lead then.” Holding on to the reins, she followed him the short distance through the pasture, beyond the barn, admiring the way he looked in the saddle.

  “I’ve been thinking about your idea of summer camps.”

  “Really?” This was the first time he’d mentioned it.

  “We’re still talking a ways down the road, but what if we had at least one that was dedicated to kids struggling with grief or loss?”

  “That’s always been a part of your dream.” And she’d seen the positive effect horses had on Colton.

  “I know something like that would involve counselors and such, but I think I’d like to explore the possibility.” He smiled as they came into a small wooded area that had a natural clearing in its midst. “And speaking of possibilities.” He looked her way. “What would you think about building a home here?” He eased off Duke before coming to help her down.

  “Building? What about the cabin?”

  “Lily, I love that cabin. But we both know that it’s way too small for all of us. It’s barely big enough for you and the kids. Once I move in, we’ll be on top of each other. Not to mention as the kids get older.”

  “I suppose things are a little tight.” And while she didn’t want anything near as large as the monstrosity she’d shared with her ex-husband, a little extra space never hurt.

  “It’s closer to the stable and the rodeo school. And if you look through here—” he tugged her a few feet over and turned her just so “—we’d have a spectacular view.”

  Though the sunlight was dwindling, she could still make out the unmistakable silhouette. “Ouray. Mount Hayden’s peak, anyway.”

  “That’s it.” He stepped away, gesturing. “We could do a big porch that wraps around the entire house.”

  “Could we have a log home?”

  “If you like. One story or two?”

  “Hmm... I suppose a two-story home would afford us a better view.” She pointed toward town.

  “Or just a two-story wall of windows on the front.”

  “Ooh, now that would be a view. And we’d need at least four bedrooms.”

  “For a guest room?”

  She slowly lifted her gaze to his. “Or a nursery.” She hadn’t broached the subject of more children before, but she knew Noah would be an amazing father. Besides, she’d always hoped for more kids.

  His Adam’s apple bobbed as he blinked several times.

  She reached for his hand. “How would you feel about that?”

  “I...” He blew out a breath. “I’m not going to lie. It kind of scares me.”

  “Then we don’t—”

  “But I also think a baby—” Taking a step closer, he cupped her cheek, weaving his fingers into her hair. “Our baby—” he grinned “—would be pretty exciting, too.”

  She smiled up at the man who would soon be her husband. “Then let’s pray about it and see what God has in store.”

  “Good idea.” Lowering his head, he kissed her. Soft and tender...then he abruptly pulled away. “If it’s a girl, we have to name her Joy.”

  She liked that, but—“Okay. Why?”

  The way he stared at her made her feel cherished. Something she’d never felt before. His hands moved to her waist. “Because that’s what you’ve given me, Lily. You, Colton and Piper have taught me to live again. And I’m so glad God brought you into my life.” He pulled her to him. “I love you. Today. Tomorrow. And for the rest of our lives.”

  Once more, he pulled her into his embrace. A place where she was safe. Where she could be herself. And where just Lily was a perfect fit.

  * * *

  Look for the next book in the

  Rocky Mountain Heroes series

  by Mindy Obenhaus,

  available September 2019

  wherever Harlequin Love Inspired

  books and ebooks are sold.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Instant Father by Donna Gartshore.

  Join Harlequin My Rewards today and earn a FREE ebook!

  Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010003

  Dear Reader,

  Sometimes life doesn’t turn out the way we planned. Hearts are broken, dreams shattered...

  Noah and Lily had both loved and lost. Sure, their circumstances were different, but the pain inflicted by those losses was the same. They were left to carve a new path for themselves, apart from the lives they’d once envisioned.

  I hope you enjoyed watching these two fall in love as much as I did. When we first met Noah in Their Ranch Reunion, the first book in my Rocky Mountain Heroes series, I was intrigued. This bigger-than-life former rodeo champ had lost both his wife and unborn child. He was a wounded soul, yet despite his desire to join his wife, he recognized that God still had a purpose for him. A purpose that ultimately brought him and Lily together.

  And I loved Lily. While she had more money than most of us could fathom, she was grounded and real. She loved her children and had a deep desire to impart the same Godly values to them that her grandmother had instilled in her when she was young.

  Two brothers remain in this series. Jude and Daniel. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for them. Whatever it is, we’ll be heading back to Ouray again to take in the beauty and charm of this unique little town.

  In the meantime, I would love to hear from you. You can contact me via my website, mindyobenhaus.com, or you can snail-mail me c/o Love Inspired Books, 195 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007.

  Until next time...

  Mindy

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

  You believe hearts can heal. Love Inspired stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives—always.

  Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired every month!

  Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

  Harlequin.com/newsletters

  Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks

  Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks

  HarlequinBlog.com

  Join Harlequin My Rewards and reward the book lover in you!

  Earn points for every Harlequin print and ebook you buy, wherever and whenever you shop.

  Turn your points into FREE BOOKS of your choice

  OR

  EXCLUSIVE GIFTS from your favorite authors or series.

  Click here to join for FREE

  Or visit us online to register at

  www.HarlequinMyRewards.com

  Harlequin My Rewards is a free program (no fees) without any commitments or obligations.

  Instant Father

  by Donna Gartshore

  Chapter One

  It was Friday in the second week of September, her grade-one students, restless and energetic, had departed for the weekend and Charlotte Connelly was intently focused on her computer screen. But instead of looking at lesson plans, she studied pictures of people engaged
in overseas missionary work. During the community activities on Wednesday night at her church, where Charlotte often assisted with literacy volunteer work, one of the other volunteers had pointed out the opportunity to her and said he thought she would be perfect for it.

  Since then, Charlotte hadn’t been able to focus on anything but the thought of going overseas. There was no doubt she was ready for a change, perhaps even for some adventure. But would she actually dare to do it?

  She had lived in Green Valley, a small community about a forty-minute drive from Regina, Saskatchewan, her entire life. At age twenty-five, she was still single, and she didn’t see that changing anytime soon.

  The volunteers looked happy and fulfilled in a way that she hadn’t felt for a long time. Well, truthfully, not since Anna... But as soon as the thought of her younger sister came into her mind, it was immediately followed by guilt-ridden memories that blamed her for what happened. She knew that her parents counted on her, especially since her mother was unwell these days. Charlotte suspected it was stress, but the headaches and upset stomach were real and debilitating.

  But Charlotte still had the longing in her heart to have a life that brought her true fulfillment...maybe even love. But, despite being a believer and a regular churchgoer, she didn’t feel like she knew what His intentions were for her life. Was this opportunity to do missionary work a nudge toward discovering this?

  A soft clearing of a throat from the classroom doorway startled Charlotte. She quickly regained her composure and turned on her professional smile before seeing who it was. Then her smile wavered for a moment, as something unsettling flowed through her, an odd mix of disturbing and pleasant. A moment later, the sensation was gone and she was left feeling slightly shell-shocked.

  She couldn’t explain why she’d had such a visceral reaction to seeing Paul Belvedere standing in the classroom doorway. He was the uncle and guardian of one of her students, Tyson Francis, and he wasn’t the only parent or guardian to seek her out lately.

  Although, admittedly, she couldn’t recall any other class parents who filled up the doorway with such broad shoulders and whose dark brown eyes were so intense.