The Cowboy Next Door & Jenna's Cowboy Hero: The Cowboy Next Door / Jenna's Cowboy Hero

The Cowboy Next Door & Jenna's Cowboy Hero: The Cowboy Next Door / Jenna's Cowboy Hero
Brenda Minton

Two beloved novels of family, love and cowboys by bestselling author Brenda MintonThe Cowboy Next DoorJay Blackhorse is determined not to be won over by city girl Lacey Gould and her niece. Still, they clearly need his help. Lacey's clueless about caring for the infant her sister abandoned. Jay has a talent for stopping the baby's tears. But when a dark secret from Lacey's past blows into town, will Jay's help be enough?Jenna's Cowboy HeroFormer football player Adam Mackenzie hopes to fix up a camp for underprivileged kids. But the city slicker doesn't know horse tack from a touchdown. The pretty rancher next door seems to be the answer to his prayers. Army vet Jenna wants only to raise her twin boys and run her ranch–not fall in love. But can the gorgeous and kind Adam make her open her heart to love?

Two beloved novels of family, love and cowboys by bestselling author Brenda Minton

The Cowboy Next Door

Jay Blackhorse is determined not to be won over by city girl Lacey Gould and her niece. Still, they clearly need his help. Lacey’s clueless about caring for the infant her sister abandoned. Jay has a talent for stopping the baby’s tears. But when a dark secret from Lacey’s past blows into town, will Jay’s help be enough?

Jenna’s Cowboy Hero

Former football player Adam Mackenzie hopes to fix up a camp for underprivileged kids. But the city slicker doesn’t know horse tack from a touchdown. The pretty rancher next door seems to be the answer to his prayers. Army vet Jenna wants only to raise her twin boys and run her ranch-not fall in love. But can the gorgeous and kind Adam make her open her heart to love?

Praise for Brenda Minton and her novels

“Minton’s characters are well crafted.”

—RT Book Reviews

“This wonderful romance has good characters and a great story.”

—RT Book Reviews on The Cowboy Next Door

“[A] heartwarming story.”

—RT Book Reviews on Jenna’s Cowboy Hero

“This easy, sensitive story…is quite touching. Don’t miss [it].”

—RT Book Reviews on His Little Cowgirl

“A lovely story of faith, trust and taking one day at a time.”

—RT Book Reviews on A Cowboy’s Heart

Brenda Minton lives in the Ozarks with her husband, children, cats, dogs and strays. She is a pastor’s wife, Sunday-school teacher, coffee addict and sleep deprived. Not in that order. Her dream to be an author for Harlequin started somewhere in the pages of a romance novel about a young American woman stranded in a Spanish castle. Her dreams came true, and twenty-something books later, she is an author hoping to inspire young girls to dream.

Books by Brenda Minton

Love Inspired

Martin’s Crossing

A Rancher for Christmas

Cooper Creek

Christmas Gifts “Her Christmas Cowboy” The Cowboy’s Holiday BlessingThe Bull Rider’s BabyThe Rancher’s Secret WifeThe Cowboy’s Healing WaysThe Cowboy LawmanThe Cowboy’s Christmas CourtshipThe Cowboy’s Reunited FamilySingle Dad Cowboy

Visit the Author Profile page

at Harlequin.com (http://harlequin.com) for more titles.

The Cowboy Next Door & Jenna’s Cowboy Hero

Brenda Minton

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

CONTENTS

THE COWBOY NEXT DOOR (#ulink_c2724a82-4a40-550f-9892-8fb951ffaea3)

JENNA’S COWBOY HERO (#litres_trial_promo)

The Cowboy Next Door

Brenda Minton

Truly my soul silently waits for God;

From Him comes my salvation.

—Psalms 62:1

This book is dedicated to my mom,

Rosetta (Kasiah) Cousins

(May 1937–November 1980).

She taught me to dream and she encouraged me to use my imagination. She put up with baby birds and mice in the house, numerous wild kittens, possums, ponies, goats and puppies. And to my dad, Don Cousins, who is still excited by every accomplishment. You taught me the value of hard work, even when I didn’t appreciate it. I love you. And to the memory of Patsy Grayson, encourager, friend, blessing.

Chapter One

“Lacey, when are you going to go out with me?” Bobby Fynn hollered from across the dining room of the Hash-It-Out Diner.

“Maybe next week,” Lacey called back as she refilled an empty coffee cup, smiling at her customer, an older woman with curly black hair and a sweet smile.

“Come on, Lacey, you can’t keep turning me down.”

Lacey smiled and shook her head, because Bobby wasn’t serious, and she wasn’t interested.

“Ignore him,” Marci, the hostess, whispered as Lacey walked past.

Lacey shot her friend a smile. “He doesn’t bother me. I’ll be back in a minute. I need to get a pitcher of water.”

She hurried to the waitress station, set the glass coffeepot on the warming tray, and grabbed the pitcher of ice water. The cowbell over the door clanged, announcing the arrival of another customer. She hustled around the corner, pretending her feet weren’t blistered and her back wasn’t aching from the double shifts she’d worked for the last week.