“Well, goodbye, son.”
“Goodbye, Pa.”
Hoss pulled the reins and turned his horse. They took a few strides before he yanked the mount to a halt and twisted around in his saddle toward Branch.
“Son?”
“Yeah, Pa?”
“I, um, y’all take care now.”
“Sure Pa, we will.” Branch paused significantly. “You too, sir.”
A beaming smile spread across Hoss Garrett’s visage as he kicked his horse into a run. Just how many years had it been since the boy had called him “sir?”
Long after his father had disappeared from sight, Branch stood staring at the horizon. Quietly, Katie slipped her hand into his. He heaved a sigh, gave her fingers a squeeze, then turned to her and asked, “You going fishing with us, Sprite?”
“I don’t think so,” she said. “I’ve a bit of wash and some baking to do.”
Branch angled his head toward an elm tree, where a mourning dove cooed her melancholy song. “Ah, Kate, I want you with us. You work too hard, you can take the morning off.”
A slow smile spread across her face, and she shook her head. “This isn’t something I need to do, it’s something I want to do.”
Branch folded his arms and gave her a measuring look. “Laundry? You do laundry on Monday. This is Wednesday.”
Her expression was as innocent as an angel’s, an imitation of the one he so often used. “A lady can’t wash her red things with her white things, now, can she?”
“Red things?” Branch repeated in his slow molasses drawl. He grinned. “And baking, too?”
Katie stood on her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “What’s your pleasure, sir? Blackberry or peach?”
“Hell, Sprite, I’m working’ up quite an appetite. Make ‘em both.”
Don't miss any of New York Times bestselling author Geralyn Dawson's romances now available in digital format!
Historical Romances
THE TEXAN'S BRIDE
CAPTURE THE NIGHT
THE SCOUNDREL'S BRIDE (Originally published as TEMPTING MORALITY.)
THE WEDDING RANSOM
THE KISSING STARS
THE BAD LUCK WEDDING DRESS, Bad Luck Wedding series #1
THE BAD LUCK WEDDING CAKE, Bad Luck Wedding series #2
SIMMER ALL NIGHT, Bad Luck Wedding series #3, Bad Luck Abroad trilogy #1
SIZZLE ALL DAY, Bad Luck Wedding series #4, Bad Luck Abroad trilogy #2
THE BAD LUCK WEDDING NIGHT, Bad Luck Wedding series #5, Bad Luck Abroad trilogy #3
HER BODYGUARD, Bad Luck Wedding series #6, Bad Luck Brides trilogy #1
HER SCOUNDREL, Bad Luck Wedding series #7, Bad Luck Brides trilogy #2
HER OUTLAW, Bad Luck Wedding series #8, Bad Luck Brides trilogy #3
Contemporary Romances
MY BIG OLD TEXAS HEARTACHE
THE LAST BACHELOR IN TEXAS (Originally published as MY LONG TALL TEXAS HEARTTHROB.)
Women's Fiction novel
SEASON OF SISTERS (Originally published as THE PINK MAGNOLIA CLUB.)
Contemporary Romances written as Emily March
ANGEL'S REST
HUMMINGBIRD LAKE
HEARTACHE FALLS
LOVER'S LEAP
NIGHTINGALE WAY (September 2012)
About the Author
Geralyn Dawson is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty-five novels written in a variety of sub-genres including historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and women's fiction. She is a three-time Finalist for Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA award and a recipient of Romantic Times magazine's Career Achievement Award. Her novel THE WEDDING RANSOM was named one of Romance Writers of America's Top Ten Favorite Novels of the Year. The Detroit Free Press named her THE WEDDING RAFFLE as one of the best romances of the year.
Geralyn is currently writing romantic women's fiction for Ballantine Books under the pseudonym Emily March. The first three novels of Emily March's Eternity Springs series, ANGEL'S REST, HUMMINGBIRD LAKE, and HEARTACHE FALLS each earned coveted starred reviews from Publishers Weekly magazine. The fourth book of the series, LOVER'S LEAP is a January 2012 release with NIGHTINGALE WAY to follow in Fall 2012.
Geralyn invites you to visit her website at www.emilymarch.com and register for her e-newsletter, which includes contests, news about her upcoming releases, and other fun stuff.
You can follow her on Twitter at both @geralyndawson and @emilymarchbooks. Geralyn is also active on her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/emilymarchbooks and she hopes you'll "like" the page and join the discussion there.
Contents
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
About the Author
The Texan's Bride Page 36
