The Heart of a Cowboy

The Heart of a Cowboy
Trish Milburn

An Unforgettable Homecoming… Capable, handsome Rancher Garrett Brody always seemed like the perfect candidate for settling down… but somehow the right woman never came along. Until beautiful, mysterious vet Natalie Todd arrives in his home town of Blue Falls.Natalie left town years ago, but now she’s back she can’t deny that the place still feels like home. She only returned to fulfil her father’s dying wish, and never expected it to lead her to romance… but now it has, can Natalie trust Garrett with the secret that’s always stood between her and true love?

‘You’re not watching the meteors,’ Garrett said.

‘Huh?’ she asked as she glanced over at him.

He pointed toward the sky, and that was when she realized she must have been staring out into the darkness of the surrounding range land. ‘Guess I’m more tired than I thought.’

‘You sure that’s it?’

She fixed her gaze on her cast, cursing it and how it prevented her from making a hasty exit from her current situation.

‘Yeah.’ She knew her answer sounded weak and not entirely truthful, but it was the best she could muster. Sitting so close to Garrett made it hard for her to think.

Garrett slid off the tailgate. ‘I’ll take you back in.’

She reached out and grabbed his arm. ‘No, it’s okay. We can wait until it’s over.’

He captured and held her gaze. ‘You said you’re tired.’

She fought the burning need to lower her gaze to that amazing chest of his. ‘I’ll sleep later. This meteor shower doesn’t come around very often.’

He stared at her in a way that made her feel as if he was picking through the layers of her brain. And then she watched as his eyes lowered for a moment to her lips. How she wished she could lean forward, invite him to do more than just look.

The Heart of

a Cowboy

Trish Milburn

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

TRISH MILBURN writes contemporary romance for the Mills & Boon

Cherish™ line and paranormal romance for the Mills & Boon

Nocturne™ series. She’s a two-time Golden Heart Award winner, a fan of walks in the woods and road trips, and a big geek girl, including being a dedicated Whovian and Browncoat. And from her earliest memories, she’s been a fan of Westerns, be they historical or contemporary. There’s nothing quite like a cowboy hero.

To everyone who has ever found the courage to face adversity head-on or to accept a happy ending when it came your way. Sometimes accepting the latter is every bit as hard as accepting the former.

Contents

Cover (#u0c4ccf13-c95f-5d59-af18-40e91417c2bb)

Introduction (#u1560d14c-9341-5aba-89b6-636c211e1c5f)

Title Page (#u000544f8-7543-5552-9893-5707c3b16d7c)

About the Author (#u7c21667d-fa86-5f1e-adf6-16182177db50)

Dedication (#u18f5e577-4a1d-58a3-9c69-48be66f78ac5)

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#u40f6a817-cc1d-5613-9691-0f7aea5d8477)

The new colt marshaled his strength and pushed up onto his long, spindly legs for the first time, drawing a smile from Natalie Todd. She watched as the little guy steadied himself on legs spread wide then as his dam groomed him. A couple of wobbly steps brought the newborn close enough to his mother to nurse. No matter how many horses Natalie helped into the world, the wonder never faded.

“Hard to believe they were in distress only an hour ago,” Jacob Hartwell said as he came to stand beside her.

“Maybe Mama here just wanted some female company.”

Jacob laughed a little. “Maybe. She certainly doesn’t have a lot around here.”

Steven Hartwell, patriarch of the Hartwell ranching family, was a widower, and his two sons, Steven Jr. and Jacob, were still single. Even though Jacob flirted with her a little every time she came out to the ranch, she knew it was harmless and not at all serious.