by Debra Kayn
Her sisters jumped up and formed a circle around her and Jack. The good news gave everyone an excuse to shed some tears, hug one another and celebrate for a change.
She kissed Margot’s cheek. “What ’bout the guy you were seein’? When are we gonna meet him and put him through the McDougal girls’ test?”
“I’m not sure. We’re taking it slow. I need to concentrate on a few things…” She glanced at her dad. “You’ll like him, Daddy.”
Stuart nodded. “Good.” He coughed. “My girls.” He laid his hand on his chest. “Want you happy.”
Jack wandered off the porch and left Chantilly and her sisters to share a private moment with their dad. The news of their engagement was something he knew made Stuart happy. He understood the boss’s need to see his daughters content and settled in life.
He strolled out toward section A and leaned against the fence. His world sure turned upside down the moment he answered the ad in the Farmer’s Ag newspaper for a foreman’s job. If he’d known he would fall in love with the boss’s daughter, be adopted into the McDougal family and rearrange his life to settle down on another man’s ranch, he would have thought he’d sipped too much Jack from the bottle.
He chuckled. Today he felt like the richest man on earth. She’s gonna be my wife.
“Hey, cowboy.”
Jack turned. “Hey yourself, darlin’.”
He opened his arms and gathered her to him. Her eyes were swollen and red, but she wore the smile that made him want to give her everything possible.
“Didja get your dad settled in the house?”
“Yeah.” She placed her palm on his chest. “He’s fading so fast. It ain’t fair.”
“That it ain’t.” He stroked her back. “He was sure happy when I asked for your hand in marriage.”
“I can’t believe you never mentioned that to me.” She stretched on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss. “Thank you. I know my dad appreciated you doing that and involving him. I do too.”
Jack sighed. “Getting cold out. Wouldn’t be surprised if we got some frost overnight.”
“Mm.” She leaned her head back. “I’m looking forward to keeping warm with you this winter, Jack Grady.” Her nose wrinkled and a smile broke out over her face. “In fact, seeing as how I own the ranch now, I might be looking for a foreman to help around the place. You know anybody interested in working long hours beside a headstrong woman who likes to call the shots?”
He tilted his head back and laughed. She punched his arm. Chuckling, he picked her up and twirled her in the air. “Oh, I’m interested all right. Forever and always.”
***
Watch for more installments of the Sisters of
McDougal Ranch series, coming soon!
Author’s Note
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive motor neuron disease. More than five thousand people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year, cutting across race, gender and socioeconomic status. ALS usually strikes people between the ages of 40 and 70, and the life expectancy is 2–5 years. Currently, there is no cure for ALS.
As someone who has watched relatives fight, suffer and deal with the devastating outcome of ALS, my hopes and prayers are that someday scientists will find a cure.
For more information on ALS, visit www.alsa.org
About the Author
Multi-published romance author Debra Kayn lives in the beautiful Coastal Mountains of Oregon on a hobby farm. Her love of animals includes dogs, chickens, goats, rabbits, turkeys, geese, and yes…pigs. The peacefulness of a flowing creek across her property provides an excellent spot to read a book on a summer day, go swimming, and catch the ever-elusive fish using a pink sparkly fishing pole. Meeting her husband on a blind date in her teens made her a true believer in love and romance, and she can promise you that all her books will have a happily-ever-after.
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ISBN: 978-1-4268-9170-0
Copyright © 2011 by Debra Norvald
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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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