Rocky Mountain Cowboy

by Tina Radcliffe

  “So basically you turned me away to save yourself?”

  Joe sighed. “Yeah, when you put it that way, it does sound pretty sorry.”

  “If you hadn’t dumped that truck, I would have been out of here. Long gone. We’re both so pigheaded and afraid, that we’re missing out on what’s right in front of us.”

  She walked up to him, getting smack-dab in the middle of his personal space.

  “Do you love me, Joe Gallagher?”

  He took a deep breath. “I keep telling myself that you don’t fall in love with someone in three weeks. But my heart says that you do if you’ve been in love with her all your life.”

  Her eyes widened.

  Joe neatly wrapped his arms around her. His left arm was gently around her waist, capturing her close, and his prosthesis rested on her hip, assuring her he would never let her fall.

  Becca put her hand up to gently touch his cheek.

  “I also need you to have faith in yourself, Joe. Otherwise you’ll never have faith in us.”

  He closed his eyes and then opened them. She was still there, as beautiful as ever. She met his gaze, unwavering.

  “I’m sorry, Becca. I’m sorry. I do believe in us. I was afraid.”

  She smiled, and her hand caressed his face.

  Joe tipped his hat back with a finger, and the Stetson rolled off his head onto the floor. Didn’t matter. Cowboys couldn’t kiss properly with their hats on. Everyone knew that.

  “Careful with your foot. Don’t fall,” she murmured.

  “I got this covered.”

  His head lowered inch by inch until his lips rested on hers. Becca’s hat fell to the ground as he closed his eyes and kissed the love of his life over and over again.

  “Oh, Joe,” she murmured. Looking slightly dazed, she held on to his biceps. “What are we going to do now?”

  “Becca, do you love me?”

  “I love you, Joe Gallagher.”

  “Seems pretty simple to me. Let me show you something.” He pulled the ring box out of a pocket of his Levi’s and handed it to her.

  “What is this?”

  “It’s the ring I bought for you twelve years ago.”

  Her eyes welled with moisture, and she licked her lips. “I’ve wasted so much time. I’ve made so many wrong decisions.”

  “Stop that. This is all about us. We’re right where we’re supposed to be, right now.”

  Becca opened the box and stared at the marquis-cut diamond. She released a small gasp. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Not real big.”

  “I said it’s beautiful. The prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.” She looked up at him. “What did you plan to do with this ring?”

  He swallowed. “There is only one thing I ever wanted to do with this ring. Becca, will you marry me?”

  “Yes,” she breathed softly.

  Joe’s own breath caught, his chest swelling with happiness when he saw the love in her eyes.

  Becca held out her hand and he slipped the diamond on her finger.

  “What do you think? Should I exchange it?”

  Becca splayed her fingers against his heart and examined the ring on her hand.

  “Never.” She smiled. “It’s perfect.”

  Joe reached down and lifted her fingers using his prosthetic hand. He kissed each of them tenderly.

  “I love you, Joe.”

  He sighed. “I love you, too, Becca. Forever.”

  Epilogue

  Joe slid off Blackie and plucked a stalk of sweet grass from the ground and bit into it. First signs of spring. Clover and orchard grass were starting to come up in the pasture, as well. Raising his face to the sky, he inhaled.

  Yes. Rain was on the way. That was okay. Better than snow. The long winter had finally passed. Now it was the time of renewal and rebirth for the land.

  Behind him a horse whinnied. Gil and Wishbone barked a vigorous note of welcome, turning in eager circles. Joe turned, as well. Where was Mushy? He whistled, and the new pup came running from under a bush, with his black-and-white tail dancing as he ran.

  Joe looked up in time to see a horse and rider approach.

  Becca. His wife.

  “How’s the Gallagher Ranch foreman today?” Joe asked.

  “Good.” She glanced at the sky. “It’s going to rain.” Becca shuddered.

  “What’s the matter?” he asked?”

  “I smell manure, and it’s about to make me gag.”

  “I guess your smeller is working.”

  “In spades.”

  He gazed up at her, realizing once again what a blessed man he was. “I thought you were in town.”

  “I was. Oh, and that tractor part won’t be in for another week. I stopped by to check for you.”

  “That’s not good. How am I supposed to till your garden without the tractor?”

  “It will wait another week. It’s not like we don’t have plenty to do around here.”

  “You’re right,” he agreed. “And we did promise the church they could have their Easter sunrise service out here on the ranch this year. Getting ready for that will keep us running.”

  Joe cocked his head. He was missing something here, and he wasn’t sure what. Then it hit him. “Didn’t you have a doctor’s appointment?”

  “I did.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “More than okay.” A smile lit up her face.

  “What could be more than okay?”

  “We’re having a baby.”

  Joe nearly swallowed the blade of grass in his mouth. “A baby?” He almost choked.

  “Well, if you want to get technical, we’re having two babies.”

  This time he did choke.

  Becca slid from her mare and came over to slap him on the back. “Are you okay?”

  “When were you going to tell me about two babies?”

  “I was thinking up all sorts of ways to surprise you. But then you asked.” She shrugged. “I have a hard time keeping secrets.”

  “Twins?”

  “You can blame your mother for that one. They run in your family, not mine.”

  “When?” he sputtered.

  “You know these things take nine months. There’s only ten or twenty days difference in the gestation period between my babies and your cows. Your cattle and I may be giving birth right around the same time.”

  “You don’t say?” Joe stood there stunned for a moment, then he swiftly moved to cover her lips with his own.

  “Mmm, that was nice,” Becca murmured.

  “I love you, Becca. Have I said that enough lately?”

  “I love you, too, and you can never say it enough.” She paused. “I’m thinking it’s going to be boys.”

  “What? Did the doctor tell you that?”

  “No. I’ve just got this gut feeling. The doctor said they can confirm in a few weeks.” Becca punctuated the words with another quick kiss. “What do you think about Joseph and Jackson?”

  Joe laughed. “What if it’s girls? My sisters are twins.”

  “I’m telling you. It’s boys.”

  “You’re not even going to consider girls?”

  “I like baby girls as much as the next momma, but my babies are little boys.”

  “I’m thinking it might be time to take that parcel of land that Hollis Elliott has been begging me for and finally build my big house.”

  “So he was right?”

  “Who?”

  “Hollis. He told me you’d never sell that land. You were bluffing me.”

  “Apparently so. I’d do anything to keep you here at Gallagher Ranch. You should know that by now.”

  She shook her head.<
br />
  “I may need to hire a new foreman, as well. Too bad, I was nearly finished breaking in the new one. And I really like her.”

  “Not so fast. I’m not retiring for quite some time. Eight more months, to be exact.”

  “How long can you keep riding a horse?”

  “The doctor said that as long as I feel safe, he’d approve walking my horse until my third month.”

  “Not really?”

  “Yes. However, after some prayer, I’ve decided that I’m really making decisions for the three of us. Joseph Jr., Jackson and me. So today will be my last ride until after the babies are born. You can buy me a new all-terrain vehicle instead of a horse.”

  He rubbed a hand over his face and grabbed a water bottle from his saddlebag.

  “Joe, are you all right?”

  “Not really. I’m still pretty much flabbergasted. How’d I get so blessed?”

  “By keeping your eyes on Him.”

  “Do you think Casey will be okay with this?”

  “Are you kidding? More than okay. She’s been green-eyed ever since Amy told her Dan and Beth are having a baby.”

  “Wow, our boys and Dan’s son will grow up together.”

  “The Gallagher tradition marches on.” Becca sighed. “Thank you, Joe.”

  “For what? Aside from the obvious, I think it’s pretty clear I didn’t do much, yet I’ve never been so happy. Why, when I go to town I can hardly get anything accomplished for people asking me why I’m smiling.”

  Becca laughed. “You’ve done plenty. You gave me a second chance in Paradise.” She reached up and put her arms around his neck and whispered against his mouth. “Thank you, cowboy.”

  * * * * *

  If you loved this story,

  pick up these heartwarming books

  from beloved author Tina Radcliffe:

  THE RANCHER’S REUNION

  OKLAHOMA REUNION

  MENDING THE DOCTOR’S HEART

  STRANDED WITH THE RANCHER

  SAFE IN THE FIREMAN’S ARMS

  ROCKY MOUNTAIN REUNION

  Available now from Love Inspired!

  Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE COWBOY’S TEXAS FAMILY by Margaret Daley

  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,

  Thank you for coming along with me on another journey to Paradise, Colorado. Paradise is a fictional town set in the vicinity of Del Norte, Colorado, west of Denver.

  I have to admit that I fell a little bit in love with Joe Gallagher when he appeared in his brother Dan Gallagher’s book, Stranded in Paradise. I knew then that he had a story to tell, and that he deserved a very special heroine. Rebecca is that woman.

  Rebecca and Joe learn, as we must, that looking forward when the events of our past are painful, and even tragic, is never easy. This story holds the familiar threads of forgiveness. Forgiving ourselves, and others. When we are obedient to forgive, eventually the past becomes simply a story that is told, and somehow the Lord enables us to move forward unencumbered by those things that would hold us prisoner. He also provides a future that unfolds in wonderful ways we never could have imagined. Thank You, Lord!

  Drop me a line and let me know what you think about this story. I can be reached at tina@tinaradcliffe.com.

  Thank you so much.

  Tina Radcliffe

  Join Harlequin My Rewards & Instantly earn a FREE ebook of your choice.

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

  Turn your points into FREE BOOKS.

  Don’t miss out. Reward the book lover in you!

  Register Today & Earn a FREE BOOK*

  *New members who join before Dec. 31, 2016 will receive 2000 points redeemable for eligible titles.

  Click here to register

  Or visit us online to register at

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010001

  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

  The Cowboy’s Texas Family

  by Margaret Daley

  Chapter One

  Nick McGarrett marched into Fletcher Snowden Phillips’s law office in Haven, Texas. It was time the man stepped up and helped a member of his family. Fletcher’s secretary looked up and frowned. As Nick crossed to her desk, he glanced at his mud-splattered jeans and boots. When he’d received a tearful call from Corey Phillips, a ten-year-old second cousin of Fletcher’s, Nick had come straight from replacing a section of a fence on his ranch.

  Nick owed Corey’s older brother, Doug. When they’d gone on their last mission together, Nick had promised his combat buddy that after he left the service he would watch out for Corey until Doug could. At the time Nick had thought it would be only a few months until Doug returned home. His friend was killed in that mission by a sniper. Young Corey looked like Doug, who’d always had Nick’s back when they had gone on assignments together.

  Nick fixed his gaze on Nancy Collins, hoping it would convey his determination. “I need to see Fletcher now.” He’d lost all patience with the man.

  Both of the secretary’s eyebrows rose, and her chin came up a notch. “Do you have an appointment?”

  He peered at the closed door to Fletcher’s inner office—shut tightly like the lawyer’s heart. Although she probably knew the answer, Nick said, “No.”

  “I can schedule one for next week. He’s leaving soon.”

  “That’s okay.” Nick tipped the brim of his brown Stetson and then pivoted and strode into the corridor.

  He planted himself against the wall, reclining back with his arms crossed. He was going to talk to the man one way or another. It was in times like this that Nick wished he had enough money to help Fletcher’s cousin financially. All he could do was be there for the ten-year-old who lived twenty miles away in a small town on the other side of Waco.

  Today Corey had thought his dad was dead. Nick tried to go over to the small, dilapidated house whenever the boy called. If he couldn’t, Nick would call Mrs. Scott, who lived next door, to help. Today he’d been worried he wouldn’t make it in time if something worse had happened to Ned Phillips than drinking too much alcohol. Thankfully the older woman had stayed with Corey, assuring the child that his father would wake up, which he finally did. Truth be told, Corey shouldn’t even be living with his alcoholic father, who left the child practically to raise himself. Nick had been there as a kid and knew how hard that was.

  The door to the office opened, and Fletcher came out.

  Nick pushed himself off the wall and stepped in the man’s path. “We need to talk.”

  “I don’t have time.”

  Fletcher, tall with an imposing paunch, tried to skirt around Nick. He didn’t weigh as much as the lawyer, but his body was muscular from hard work. Fletcher’s idea of exercise was walking to and from his luxury car. Nick blocked his path. “Make time.”

  Fletcher scowled. “Is this about Corey again?”

  “Yes. You’re his closest relative. If you don’t want to take
the boy and raise him, then at least help Ned buy food and clothing.” Nick nearly choked on the first part of the sentence. Fletcher wasn’t good father material either.

  “I’m not giving Ned a cent. All he would do is buy more liquor. I’m a bachelor. I always have been. I wouldn’t know the first thing about raising a child. Check with Family and Protective Services. That’s their job.” Fletcher quickly sidestepped and charged down the hall, leaving Nick fuming.

  As if he hadn’t tried contacting the authorities. The underfunded and overworked Family and Protective Services had more urgent cases to deal with.

  Nick took several deep, calming breaths and then followed Fletcher outside to the parking lot. The wind held a fierce chill even for early January. As the lawyer drove away, Nick hurried his pace and welcomed what warmth still lingered in the cab of his old truck.

  When Nick had first returned to Haven after being in the army, serving overseas in a war zone, Fletcher had said the same thing—that it was the county’s problem, not Fletcher’s.

  Painful memories from the war zone inundated Nick. It had been over a year since he’d returned home to Haven. Too many comrades had died. He didn’t understand why there was so much death and hatred. At first he had prayed, but when he lost one friend while Nick was trying to save his life, he’d stopped talking to God. The Lord obviously wasn’t listening.

  As Nick left Main Street and the small downtown area, he passed Fletcher parking his car in front of his large antebellum home a few miles outside of Haven. The large three-story house overshadowed everyone else’s place nearby. Although he came from a family with a long ranching history, Fletcher didn’t live on more than two acres of land. According to Fletcher, ranching was manual labor and beneath him.

  The sun near the western horizon sent up streaks of yellow, orange and rose through the darkening blue sky. Even though sunset was less than a half hour away, Nick wore his sunglasses to keep the glare from impeding his driving. Through the last burst of brightness, he glimpsed a car coming toward him. The driver maneuvered it to the shoulder of the two-lane highway and then came to a stop.