WAITING...TO FALL IN LOVE

Stepping onto her estranged father’s Colorado ranch, Brooke Harper hopes to find the missing piece of the puzzle that’s left a hole in her heart—her long-lost sister. But the Bucking Q Ranch is deserted...except for the tall and rugged cowboy, Trent Landry, who is taking care of the place while the owners are away. She’s determined to wait until the family she’s never met returns home...

And Trent will keep an eye on the mysterious Brooke until he finds out if she is telling the truth about finding her sister. Spending time alone with her, watching her take to ranch life as if she’s a natural, he realizes she is definitely not a threat—except maybe to his heart.

Always an early riser, Brooke was up and dressed by seven.

After finding Trent’s note from under her door, telling her to come to the Quinns’ kitchen for breakfast, she realized she was anxious to see him again. Of course, it was only to find out if he’d heard from Rory. Maybe the family was coming home today. Maybe she’d be meeting them in a few hours.

She drove the short distance up the driveway to the house and parked her car. She hated imposing on Trent Landry again, but he was her only connection to the Quinns.

“Come in,” the familiar voice called.

Once inside, she immediately smelled bacon cooking and her stomach growled in anticipation.

Standing at the stove, Trent was dressed in faded jeans and a snug black T-shirt. Oh, boy. The man was handsome, maybe not in a traditional way, but definitely in a rugged cowboy way. If you liked the cowboy type.

He tossed her a half smile. “Good morning.”

Her insides fluttered. “Morning.”

“Coffee’s on the counter.” He nodded toward the large coffeemaker.

“Oh, thank you.” Maybe the caffeine would bring her to her senses.

Dear Reader,

I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about my new home with Mills & Boon American Romance. There’s nothing I love more that writing my Western stories, and Colorado is one of my favorite places, along with Texas, Montana and Wyoming.

This new Western series, Rocky Mountain Twins, is close to my heart since twin sisters Brooke and Laurel’s mother, Coralee, suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.

In the first story, Count on a Cowboy, Brooke discovers she has a twin sister, Laurel, who’s been raised by their father, Rory Quinn. Brooke goes to search for her in the small town of Hidden Springs, Colorado. Her mother’s wish is to see the daughter she gave away.

When Brooke arrives at the Bucking Q Ranch, she meets handsome neighbor Trent Landry, and discovers her sister has gone to Denver. He convinces her to stay and makes her feel at home. Brooke can’t help but wonder if her father and her sister will be as welcoming and include her in their family.

This story is all about finding that place to belong. I hope you enjoy it.

Count on

a Cowboy

Patricia Thayer

www.millsandboon.co.uk

PATRICIA THAYER was born and raised in Muncie, Indiana, the second in a family of eight children. She attended Ball State University before heading west, where she has called Southern California home for many years. There she’s been a member of the Orange County Chapter of RWA. It’s a sisterhood like no other.

When not working on a story, she might be found traveling the United States and Europe, taking in the scenery and doing story research while enjoying time with her husband, Steve. Together, they have three grown sons and four grandsons and one granddaughter, whom Patricia calls her own true-life heroes.

I’ve been blessed with a large, wonderful family and many good friends who’ve stood by me and cheered me on. You’ve given me your love and acceptance freely, and I hope to return the favor.

And to all those families and caretakers who live with Alzheimer’s disease. Bless you.

And always, Steve.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

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

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Brooke Harper drove along winding Interstate 70 that bordered the powerful Colorado River. It seemed as if the road was carved out of granite. Through the driver’s-side window, she saw miles of lush green hillsides dotted with the rust-and-golden shades of the aspen trees that bordered the magnificent Rocky Mountains.

The scene took her breath away. Hidden Springs, Colorado, was so different from the southern Nevada landscape she’d been used to. And soon she’d be going back there. This was a short visit, so she didn’t need to get used to anything. Once she was finished with her business, she’d be on her way back to Las Vegas.

Brooke slowed her seven-year-old compact, but not her heart rate, as she approached the turnoff that led to her destination. Following the GPS’s directions, she took a side road, then after a few miles, another turn onto a gravel lane. She drove even slower through the grove of trees and was about to turn around when she came to a clearing, and the voice on the GPS announced, “You’ve reached your destination.”

Just then she saw a large metal archway that read The Bucking Q Ranch.

Her heart began to race even faster. She was here. All she had to do now was put her foot on the gas pedal, drive up to the house and ask Rory Quinn about his daughter... Laurel Quinn.

Her sister.

Brooke felt her nerves take over and her grip tightened on the steering wheel. After all these years being told her father was dead...then to have her mother confess that there was a twin sister. Or was this just one of Coralee Harper’s confused memories? Her mother had had more of those moments the past year with the progression of her disease.

Still riddled with guilt, Brooke knew she’d had no choice, after her mother kept wandering off, but to put her into a nursing home two months ago for her early-onset Alzheimer’s.

Pushing aside thoughts of Coralee, Brooke exhaled a long breath. She wasn’t here to meet her long-lost father, only to bring back her sister, Laurel Quinn, to see their mother. She was hoping to find out if Coralee’s ramblings were true.

She continued down the wide gravel road lined with pine and aspen trees that opened into a clearing where several large structures came into view: a glossy white barn and five outbuildings. A long split-rail fence ran beside a pasture housing several beautiful horses. The fence also lined the yard around a magnificent stone-and-cedar two-story house.

Brooke parked the car and climbed out, waiting for someone to come out, but the place looked deserted. She started up the lengthy drive and noticed decorative ribbons draped over the fence, each post tied with flowers. She reached the house where baskets of flowers lined the large porch.

She knew she could be interrupting something, but that didn’t stop her. She went around the house to the back and froze, seeing rows of white chairs with a white runner down the middle, leading to a floral archway. On one of the chairs, she found a program detailing for Laurel Quinn and Jack Aldrich’s nuptials. Great. She was crashing her sister’s wedding.

* * *

TRENT LANDRY RACED his truck to the Bucking Q. A lot of good it had done him to go chasing into town after Aldrich. The creep was long gone, and so was their money. He took the corner off the highway too fast and kicked gravel up behind him, but he didn’t slow down. He needed to stop Rory and Laurel from going after the runaway groom.

“Dammit!” Trent’s fist hit the wheel. He knew that something wasn’t right about the guy. “I should have listened to my gut.” A dozen years in Special Forces and he’d let a two-bit hustler run off with their money.

His cell phone rang and he pushed the button on the wheel to answer Rory’s call. “Rory, what’s going on?”

“We’re on our way to Denver. Laurel’s hell-bent on finding Jack so he can explain his disappearance. I could barely talk her into letting us go along.”

He was afraid of this. “Not a good idea, Rory. Aldrich has already broken the law. He’s not going to let anyone take him into custody.”

“I know,” Rory said, his voice an angry whisper. “But I’m the one who hired this jerk. I gave him access to my daughter. Hell, he asked me for her hand in marriage. Dammit, I need to protect Laurel now.”

Trent ran his hand over his jaw. “Okay, but you better be back in forty-eight hours, or I’m coming for you.”

“Deal.” There was a long pause. “I’m sorry about this mess, Trent, and what it’s done to our partnership. I hate to ask any more, but could you let the wedding guests know...?”

“Sure, I can handle it. We’ll talk later.”

Trent disconnected the call.

He would do anything to protect the Quinns. Years ago, his father, Wade Landry, and Rory Quinn had ridden the rodeo circuit together. After the two retired, they settled here to raise their families and cattle. Then suddenly one day their tranquility had ended, and it had all gone bad for the Landrys...

Trent quickly shook away the dark memories. He had to deal with today. He pulled up to the Quinns’ home and saw the car with Nevada plates. Who was the out-of-state guest?

“Time to find out.”

Placing his Stetson on his head, he climbed out and glanced toward the deserted barn. The men had left early to repair a stretch of downed fence, so they could get back in time to get cleaned up for the wedding. Trent thought to his own rented tux, hanging in the back of his truck. Now he had to tell everyone the ceremony wasn’t going to happen.

Trent cursed and started off around the back of the house. He was immediately greeted by rows of empty white chairs. A long white runner spanned the middle aisle, dotted with rose petals, and ending at a huge flower-covered archway where the bride and groom were to exchange vows. The real star of the show was the incredible view of the north-facing mountain range sprinkled with the fiery colors of the aspen’s fall leaves mixed with evergreen ponderosa pines. A perfect setting for a late afternoon wedding. That was if you were into believing in happily-ever-after.

Feeling the warm late September sun, Trent rolled his sleeves on his Western shirt. Time to get to work. He paused when something caught his eye. A woman walking toward him.

Great, an early wedding guest. He took a second glance and something looked familiar about her. She came up the aisle in long easy strides. Dark trousers covered her long slender legs and a cream-colored silky blouse showed off gentle curves. Her chin-length hair was a silky, golden blond with some rich highlights. When she reached him a tentative smile turned up the corners of her full mouth, causing more of a reaction than he wanted to admit.

He swallowed and asked, “May I help you with something?”

“I hope so. I’m looking for Laurel Quinn,” she said.

“Well, you just missed her. She’s not here.”

Brooke tried not to react to the man’s abruptness. She considered going into town and returning another day. Too late. She straightened her shoulders. “Then could you tell me where I can find Rory Quinn?”

He folded his large arms over his wide chest, and he spread his stance as if to look intimidating. It was working.

“And who are you?”

She refused to back away, not after it had taken her so long to get here. “Brooke Harper.” She arched an eyebrow. “Are you related to the Quinns?”

He shook his head. “I’m Trent Landry, a family friend and business partner. And again, why do you want to see Rory?”

She glanced away from the man’s dark gaze. She’d dealt with a lot of businessmen in her job, but this guy was good at intimidation. Either he was military or law enforcement. But she could handle it. “I believe that is between Mr. Quinn and myself.”

“Well, you can believe whatever you want, but both Rory and Laurel Quinn will be away for a few days. So why don’t you return then?” He tried to read her eyes. “Or you can tell me what this is about and when I talk with Rory, I can relay your message.”

Brooke didn’t have a lot of time or choices. So she’d either wait until the Quinns returned home, or she’d have to take more time off work. But how much did she want to tell this man? Definitely nothing about her connection to Rory Quinn.

“Laurel Quinn is my...half sister.”

* * *

HOW CAN LAUREL have a sister?

“Is that so?”

Trent watched Brooke Harper’s hands shake, but she managed to extract papers from her oversize purse and give them to him.

His gaze didn’t waver from those intriguing green eyes until he opened the folded sheets, then finally glanced over a birth certificate, stating that Coralee Harper gave birth to a female child on the twelfth day of December, 1988.

Trent looked at the other paper, a custody agreement, giving Rory Quinn full custody of his daughter Laurel Kathryn Harper. These weren’t the originals, but he couldn’t discount them, either. If true, that meant Diane Quinn wasn’t Laurel’s biological mother?

Damn, this was above his pay grade.

He studied the pretty blonde, looking for a resemblance. Her large eyes were deep green in color, her fair skin was flawless and her full mouth... He halted the survey, realizing he needed to stop getting distracted by her. Brooke Harper’s news could destroy the Quinn family.

He needed to get ahold of Rory. “Excuse me. I need to make a call.” He walked out of earshot and punched in the familiar number. He glanced at the white tent that had been constructed in the predawn hours to house the guests for the Quinn-Aldrich wedding reception.

Then came sunrise and there was no sign of the groom. When Laurel couldn’t get ahold of Jack by phone, Trent had gone out to the general contractor’s temporary residence, the small trailer at the building site. He’d found it completely empty. Obviously, Jack had cleared out sometime during the night.

Now, four hours before the ceremony the groom had disappeared; also all their money for the construction of the cabins was gone with him. If that wasn’t enough, this woman had shown up and claimed to be Laurel’s sister.

Rory’s phone rang and rang, and finally went to voice mail. “Please leave a message...”

“Rory, this is Trent.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I need you to call me, right away. Something has come up here, and no, it’s nothing to do with finding Aldrich.”

Just as Trent disconnected the call, he turned to see a truck, painted with the sign All Occasions Catering on its side, pull into the drive. Great, something else he had to deal with. And the troubles didn’t stop, he thought, remembering the fifty-plus wedding guests arriving soon.

Around the barn appeared the ranch truck, and four ranch hands piled out. He needed help. Trent punched the ranch foreman’s phone number.

“Hey, Trent what’s up?” Chet answered.

“Hi, Chet. Has Rory called you today?”

“No, he hasn’t. Why?”

“There’s been a change of plans. Wedding’s been called off.”

“What?”

Trent didn’t want to go into details now. “Yeah, and the family has gone out of town. Rory asked me to handle things here. So could you send Ollie and Larry out to the gate and head off the guests? Have them explain that the wedding has been called off, and make sure they thank everyone for coming. But no more info.”

“That won’t be difficult since I don’t know any more,” Chet said, digging for more news.

“I’ll fill you in later,” Trent promised.

That seemed to satisfy him. “Okay, as soon as they get cleaned up, I’ll send them down.”

“Thank you, I know Rory appreciates the help.”

“He’s a good man,” Chet added. “Do you need anything else?”

“Yeah, a few men to help take the chairs and tables back to the rental place?”

“Sure. Let me get the flatbed and we’ll be up in a few.”

“Thanks, Chet.”

Trent hung up and quickly went to handle his next problem, the caterer. Even bigger trouble was when he found Miss Harper talking to the man in the white uniform. He headed over to find out what she was saying to him.

Trent knew the catering owner, Bill Cummings, from town. “Hey, Bill.” Trent shook the older man’s hand.

“Hi, Trent.” Bill grinned. “I hear from lovely Miss Harper here that there’s been a change of plans.”

Just what had she told him? He sent her a glaring look, and got a sweet smile in return. Feeling a sudden jolt of awareness, he turned back to Bill. “Yes, the wedding has been called off.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Bill frowned. “But there’s no refunds, I told that to Rory when he paid the deposit.”

“I’m sure they understood that when they hired you.” He silently cursed Aldrich again for causing all this trouble. Not that he cared, but this news would be all over town once Bill’s wife, Bess, learned of the cancellation. Nothing he could do about that.

Bill looked sympathetic about the situation. “So what do you want me to do with all this food?” He motioned to the truck.

“Donate it.” Brooke Harper stepped forward.

“I worked for a large hotel and when we have leftover food from our events, we take it to a shelter or soup kitchen.”

“Do I take it all? And what about the cake? It’s three tiers with the bride and groom...”

“Donate everything.” Trent didn’t have time or energy to think of a place. “Bill, you decide where it goes.”

He glanced toward the barn to see Larry and Ollie getting into the truck and heading out to the gate to greet the guests and send them home.

Bill snapped his fingers. “St. Theresa’s Catholic Church has a shelter.” He looked at Trent as he pulled out his phone. “Do you think that will be all right with Rory and Diane? I mean, I know they go to the Methodist Church on Grant Street.”

“I think when it’s a charitable act, it doesn’t matter,” Trent told him. “And since Rory instructed me to handle things, I vote for St. Theresa’s. I really appreciate you doing this for the family.”

With a nod, Bill walked back to the truck, holding the phone against his ear.

Trent took Miss Harper by the arm and guided her aside. “I wasn’t able to get ahold of Rory yet, but I left a message for him to call me back. Why don’t you give me your cell number and I’ll call you when I hear from him?”

She hesitated, her gaze searching his. “I think I’ll hang around for a little while...just in case he calls...soon. Besides, it looks like you could use some help here.”

Before Trent could argue the point, she walked toward the men and began directing them to specific jobs: folding and stacking the tables and chairs, then loading them on the truck. Since he didn’t want to deal with more questions, he didn’t stop her.

Over the next hour, the crew of men managed to get everything loaded onto the flatbed. Chet jumped behind the wheel and drove off toward town and the rental company.

That was fairly easy. Trent grabbed a bottle of water that had been retrieved from the kitchen and took a long drink. He looked around and found Brooke Harper standing at the floral archway. He grabbed another bottle. Determined to tell her it was time to leave, he walked to her, but paused, catching her biting her full lower lip, a frown creasing her high forehead.

She seemed to have sensed his presence, turning with a smile. “This is so beautiful. It’s a shame to waste all these lovely flowers.”

He handed her the cold water bottle. “What do you suggest we do with them—ship them off to a hospital?

“They’d probably appreciate them.”

She took a drink and Trent watched her slender neck bend back, exposing the smooth skin.

He quickly turned away to the white arch intertwined with greenery and colorful flowers. He inhaled the soft scent and didn’t know if it was the blooms or the woman. “Okay, I’ll have one of the men take care of the delivery. I don’t want Laurel to have any reminders of today.”

Brooke turned her head. Her green eyes flashed him a look that reminded him a lot of Laurel. “I’m sorry. She must be devastated.”

Trent shrugged. “Probably, but I didn’t get a chance to talk to her. She took off to Denver to find him. Her parents went with her. That’s why Rory isn’t here.”

“Then I showed up and added to your troubles.”

He didn’t disagree. “This isn’t the best time to announce to Laurel that she has a sister and a biological mother—who gave her up.”

* * *

BROOKE WORKED HARD not to look away from Trent Landry. His cowboy hat might have shaded his eyes, but she felt the heat from the rich coffee color. He seemed to be able to reach deep inside her and pull out more than she wanted him to know. But her news wasn’t for him, it was for Rory and Laurel.

“And that’s why Coralee wants to see her. To explain why she had to give her up.”

The tall, muscular man’s dark gaze sent her a glaring look. “By signing away her rights, she made a promise not to contact Laurel.” He folded his arms over his chest. “That’s what full custody means. And now she’s breaking it, by pushing herself into her daughter’s life.”

“She has a good reason.”

“What, guilt, because she gave her away?”

Brooke had trouble staying calm, but she knew she had to focus on her mother’s wish. “I’m sure that Rory will understand why Coralee wants to see Laurel this one time.”

He frowned. “Why, is she dying?”

Brooke’s chest tightened with emotion. “Something like that. Coralee has early-onset Alzheimer’s.”

Chapter Two

“Look, Mr. Landry,” Brooke began, still having trouble reading the man. “I didn’t come here to argue with you. I made a promise to my mother.”

“It’s Trent,” he insisted.

She nodded, trying to rein in her frustration. “Trent. Please call me Brooke.”

He smiled and she quickly lost her train of thought.

“Okay, Brooke. Why don’t we go inside and sit down? I think we’ve earned a break.”

Brooke let him escort her up the back steps and through a large mudroom that had a front-loading washer and dryer. On the other wall was a long row of hooks that held a collection of cowboy hats. That was where Trent placed his hat, then motioned her into the next space.

She paused in the doorway and her gaze searched the farm-style kitchen, including a brick fireplace. Lining the walls were white cabinets with black metal hinges and knobs decorating the fronts. Dark-stained butcher-block counters held small appliances, but left plenty of room for making meals or baking cookies. Oh, my, the room was as big as her entire apartment.

Suddenly she was second-guessing her decision to come here. But for months, Coralee had begged her, cried about her other daughter, Laurel. The baby she gave away. What if Rory Quinn didn’t care and he threw her off the property?

Brooke stiffened, feeling Trent’s hand against her spine.

“Let’s sit over here.”

He directed her to an oval table in front of a picture window overlooking the pasture of grazing cattle.

She just realized she didn’t know much about this family. Only what was on the website for Bucking Q Cattle Company. “How many Quinns live here?”

“There’s just the three of them. Rory, Diane, his wife, and the one daughter, Laurel.”

Just one daughter that he knows about, she thought, looking out at the incredible mountains through the glass. “It must have been fun to grow up on a ranch.” She turned around to see Trent’s curious look.

“Yeah, it is, but there’s a lot of work, too.” He went to the refrigerator and took out a pitcher of iced tea. “Looks like Bill left some food here, too.”

Brooke wasn’t surprised. “I hope you don’t mind, but I also asked him to leave some of the food in the bunkhouse for the men.”

He stopped pouring the tea and stared at her.

Was he upset?

“I mean, they’ve worked hard today. It’s nice that they can have a good meal tonight. Chet talked very highly of Laurel.”

“They all think highly of Laurel, and yeah, the men were all invited to the wedding.”

“That’s nice.”

“You won’t find nicer people than Rory and Diane.”

She hoped she got a chance to find that out. “You’ve known them for a long time.”

He nodded. “Years ago, my dad, Wade, and Rory rode the rodeo circuit together. Then when they retired, Rory bought the Bucking Q and Dad came a few years later and bought the ranch next door, the Lucky Bar L. So you can say Rory’s known me since I was born.”

“If they’d been friends all these years, I bet your dad would know about Coralee.”

A distant look appeared on Trent’s face. “He might, but he died almost two years ago.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, hating that she was bringing up sad memories.

He nodded. “So am I. Since I’m only four years older than Laurel, I can’t remember something like that. When my folks settled here, Rory was married and had baby Laurel.”

“I guess I’m just going to have to get answers from Mr. Quinn.”

Trent brought the glasses to the table, then turned the chair around and straddled it. He took a long drink. “I never asked where you’re from.”

“Nevada. Las Vegas.”

“Are you older or younger than Laurel?”

Brooke froze a second. “Younger.” That wasn’t a lie.

He studied her closely, then asked, “What do you do in Las Vegas?”

“Right now, I’m a card dealer, but I just graduated college and I’m hoping to hear soon about a hotel-management position. That’s the reason I can’t stay long. It a great opportunity, especially with the added expense of my mother’s long-term care...”

Trent arched an eyebrow. “Are you thinking about asking for help from the Quinns?”

She reared back. “Of course not. Believe me, Mr. Landry, I know very well that Rory Quinn doesn’t owe my mother a thing.”

She started to stand, but Trent placed his hand on her arm to prevent her leaving.

“I apologize,” he said. “I’m protective of my friends, and today had to be the worst day to show up here.”

“I don’t doubt that, and I’m sorry for all your troubles. But I’m here now,” she countered. “And if Mr. Quinn calls you, you can let him handle it.”

“It’s Rory. Everyone calls him Rory.”

An ache touched deep in her chest. She would have liked to call the man Dad, but her mother had taken that choice away from both of them.

* * *

TWO HOURS LATER, Trent had finished canceling the rest of the wedding services, wishing he could cancel all the curious phone calls from guests, too. He finally turned off the ringer on the house phone, but watched to see if Rory called. Everything else he let go to the answering machine.

When Brooke went into the bathroom, Trent punched in Rory’s number again. He listened to the ringing until it went to voice mail.

“Rory, it’s Trent again. Please call me as soon as you can.” He ended the call as Brooke walked back into the kitchen.

“Did you call Rory again?”

“Yeah, but he’s still not answering,” he told her.

“Are you worried about him?”

Trent shook his head, but he was concerned. What if they’d found Aldrich? The man on the run could be dangerous. “Not the way you think. Rory’s easygoing, but Laurel can get pretty hot when she’s crossed. I wouldn’t want to be Jack Aldrich if she catches up to him. Which I hope she doesn’t since he’s broken the law and might not care how he gets away.”

“Broke the law?”

“Jack didn’t just run out on his wedding, he stole from us. He cleared all the money out of our escrow account.”

She gasped. “Oh, no. He worked for you?”

“The man was the general contractor hired to build several rental cabins for us. Laurel got involved with him. Jack fed her a bunch of romantic rubbish and the next thing we knew, the whirlwind romance turned into a quick wedding—” he checked his watch “—that should have taken place about an hour ago. The one good thing is that the wedding didn’t happen.”

Trent stood and walked to the window. He’d already said more than he intended, but soon the news would be all over town. He sighed and looked out, seeing the last of the sun going behind the mountains. Time was running out on what to do about Brooke Harper.

He turned around and she looked up at him with those wide eyes, as if she expected him to tell her something bad.

“Where are you staying in town?”

She looked up at him. “I don’t have a place yet. I drove straight here. Can you recommend a hotel?”

He’d seen her old car and knew she probably didn’t have much money to waste. Even knowing Brooke’s news could change the Quinn family forever he couldn’t send her away. Besides, he wanted her to stay close, especially because of the possibility she was Laurel’s sister.

“I know of a place,” he said. “That is, if you don’t mind the sparse furnishings.”

She wrinkled that cute nose. “How sparse?”

“Oh, the place has a nice bed and a table and chairs, but no cable or HBO.”

“I can afford a little more than basic.”

“But they’re ten miles away in town. I can promise you this place is clean—in fact, it’s brand-new. We just finished our first hunting cabin. I can get you some towels and sheets and a coffeepot, but that’s about all.”

“You mean stay here at the ranch?”

With his nod, she hesitated. “How do you think the Quinns will feel about that?”

“If you’ve been honest about why you’re here, there shouldn’t be any problem.”

A sudden look came over her face and he caught a slight resemblance to Laurel. Or had he just talked himself into seeing something?

“As long as it has electricity, the place sounds perfect to me,” she told him. “How much?”

“No charge for the first night. Then when Rory gets back, hopefully tomorrow, he’ll make a decision about lengthening your visit.”

Brooke’s gaze darted from his. “I’m not planning on staying that long. I only wanted to see Laurel.”

“I’d rather you talk with Rory first, especially since as far as I know, Laurel hasn’t been told anything.”

“All right, I promise not to say anything until I talk to Rory.” She smiled. “And thank you for letting me stay here.”

He sighed. “Now that’s settled, let’s eat some of the wedding supper. Seems someone should enjoy it.”

He went to the refrigerator and took out containers of chicken breasts and scalloped potatoes. There were rolls and sides of green beans and asparagus.

He was suddenly hungry, realizing he hadn’t eaten since breakfast. What about Brooke? When was her last meal? His gaze scanned her slender frame. She’d worked hard, too.

Yet, he got the feeling she was leaving a lot out of the story about Coralee. Or was it her nervousness from finally meeting her half sister? And if true, how would Laurel take this? She and Diane had always been close. Would this news change that?

He knew his way around the Quinns’ kitchen, having grown up here over the years The place had been like a second home for him and his brother, Chris. So much had changed since those days. His brother was gone, his parents had divorced and his father had passed away. And he’d finally come back home to exorcise the ghosts. That was still a work in progress.

He took down two plates from the cupboard and filled them with food, then put one in the microwave. Ten minutes later he was seated across from Brooke.

“This is delicious,” she told him.

“I agree. Bill and Bess are the best cooks in town. They also own a diner, the B&B Café, off Main Street. If you’re around long enough, you should stop by.”

He cut his chicken and ate a piece. “It’s just down-home cooking, but good. I’ve eaten enough MREs over the years to appreciate the real stuff.”

She stopped eating. “You were in the military?”

Nodding, he swallowed. “Over a dozen years in the army, Special Forces.”

“Were you deployed?”

A sudden sadness came over him as memories flashed in his head. “Three times. When my father passed away, I decided it was time to opt out so I came back and took over running the ranch.” He owed Wade Landry that much.

He looked at her to discover her watching him. Those emerald eyes were dark with emotion. “I’m glad you made it back home.” She swallowed and said in a raspy whisper, “Thank you for your service.”

When he’d been in uniform, he’d heard the words many times, but he felt her sincerity. He nodded, then looked down at his plate. His food was cold, and so was his appetite. “I guess I’m not as hungry as I thought.”

She fought a yawn. “You piled a lot of food on our plates. Maybe I can save mine for later. Is there a microwave in the cabin?”

“Yeah. I’ll wrap it up for you to take it.” He stood and picked up her plate, found the foil and busied himself putting her food together.

This woman was getting to him, and that couldn’t happen. He didn’t know her at all, and that meant she was off-limits.

So keep your hormones in check. Your first and only job is to protect the Quinns.

From his experience, trouble came in all kinds of packages, especially tall, slender blondes with big emerald-green eyes that could turn a man inside out.

He glanced over his shoulder. Not going to happen.

* * *

THIRTY MINUTES LATER, Trent pulled his truck in front of the recently completed log cabin. He climbed out and turned on a flashlight to find his way to the front door. He inhaled the scent of fresh-cut wood.

Maybe bringing Brooke here was a bad idea. She would be out here all by herself. Not that he should have to worry about her, but he did. After unlocking the door, he swung it open, reached inside for the switch and flipped on the lights. The small porch was illuminated and he waited for Brooke as she parked her compact next to his vehicle. She got out and reached into the backseat for a duffel bag, then walked to him.

“This is nice,” she remarked looking around.

“I know it still looks like a construction site, but in a few months with all the trees around it will be peaceful.”

“And isolated.” Just then off in the distance a coyote howled. She tensed.

“You’re used to a city that never sleeps, so of course this seems cut off from everything, but really it’s not that far from the ranch house. By road it takes longer.” He pointed over the rise. “In the morning if you head that way over the rise, you’ll see the house about a hundred and fifty yards away.”

“Okay.”

Taking the bag from her, he pushed open the door to show her the three-room cabin. He turned on another light in the small kitchen that overlooked the living space. There was a dark leather sofa pushed up against the wall, a table and two chairs on the other side. A large area rug covered the floors.

“This is lovely,” she said as she headed to the doorway that led to a bedroom that had a queen bed and a set of bunk beds against the other wall. Then she looked into the bath with a spacious tiled shower stall, a long counter with double sinks and a toilet.

“You say this is a hunting cabin?”

“Hunting and fishing.” He nodded behind him. “We’ve also started construction on a large building for meetings, and social gatherings.”

“Oh, that will be nice.” She smiled. “It’s surprising what people will pay to get away from life’s distractions.”

“You should know all about that, working in Las Vegas.”

She walked out to the common area. “Yes, during college I interned with a hotel that had me train with the concierge that booked special packages for corporations.”

“Sounds like you enjoy your work.”

She nodded. “Yes, I do. My degree is in hotel management.”

“My partnership with the Quinns is a small operation, and that’s how we want it. Less stress. Now that’s exactly what we have right now. Stress.” He shook his head. “Shows you can’t trust everyone. If you need anything, just call my cell.” They copied each other’s numbers. “Guess that’s it. I’ll be staying in the cabin next door so I can be here quickly. Good night.”

He walked out, climbed in his truck and drove off. Then she saw him stop just a few yards down the road. A few seconds later a light went on and she could see the outline of the cabin. Okay, she wasn’t alone. A warm feeling spread through her: she wasn’t used to being watched over.

* * *

TWO HOURS LATER, Brooke tugged at the multicolored quilt over her and leaned back against the queen-size bed’s carved headboard.

The silence was deafening. Not even a television for white noise, or a computer to get up and Google something.

She sat up. What was she doing here? She had a great opportunity for a job at a large chain hotel. She needed to be in Las Vegas. She couldn’t let this opportunity slip through her fingers. Not when she could get a better paying job to help with her mother. So much of Coralee’s special care wasn’t covered by her insurance.

The heck with it. Brooke finally got out of bed, but wrapped the quilt around her pajama-clad body to ward off the chill. She walked into the main room and turned on the wall heater, then sat down on the sofa. Only a soft light from the kitchen area illuminated the space.

She released a long breath, and looked around. This place was so different from her one-bedroom apartment in the shoddy part of town. Once she got her new job, she hoped she could afford to move. And if she could get her mother on better insurance that would help with some of the extra expenses.

Over her lifetime, Brooke had accepted Coralee’s faults and weaknesses—men being at the top of the list. So why would she walk away from a man like rodeo star Rory Quinn? Maybe he didn’t want Coralee. At the very least, wouldn’t he have paid child support for his children? And why did her mother tell Rory about only one baby?

Tears welled in her eyes as Brooke thought back to the years of struggle while Coralee tried to make it as a singer. She could even remember all her mother’s promises.

“All I need, sweetie, is that one big break, then we’ll have a nice home, and you can have all the toys and party dresses a little girl could want.”

There was never a big break, only more jobs in sleazy clubs, more drinking and men moving into their apartment to cover Coralee’s disappointment. Brooke shivered. Some of the men were frightening and others were abusive. And then there were the ones who’d stolen everything from them.

Years of overindulgence with alcohol and cigarettes, until Coralee’s voice and looks were gone. She could only find work as a waitress in a diner.

That job had ended last year when her fifty-two-year-old mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Then six months ago in January, Brooke found she couldn’t leave her alone any longer. Not when she began to wander off from the apartment, left water running in the bathtub, and took things from the store without paying.

She had no choice but to move Coralee into assisted-care living. She found a small group home that would take Alzheimer’s patients. Brooke was also lucky that she could work there to offset some of the cost of the care.

Brooke wiped the tears from her cheeks. She didn’t have the money for live-in help. The only chance she had to make their lives better had been to finish college. Even with the possibility of her new job, it was still going to be rough going.

So the trip here had taken a lot of her meager savings, and every minute Brooke stayed in Colorado meant she wasn’t working. The family living here didn’t have that problem. Laurel Quinn had no idea what it was like to be Coralee’s daughter.

Chapter Three

At 4:00 a.m. the next morning, Trent swung his legs over the side of the single cot. He’d gotten soft the past two years. In the army, he’d been able to sleep anywhere. Now, sleep eluded him.

Rubbing a hand over his face, he stood and walked to the window. He might as well get up.

The night was cool, but he welcomed the chill against his skin. A certain blonde had caused him more than an inconvenience since her arrival not even twenty-four hours ago.

Brooke Harper made a man take notice, and he noticed all right. Enough that he’d tossed and turned most of the night. She had him trying to recall how long it had been since he’d spent time with a woman, a woman to share a long night with.

He released a long breath, trying to ease the tension in his body. Not that he’d do anything about it with Brooke. She had a connection to Laurel, and there was a strong possibility that they were sisters. Besides, Brooke Harper was the kind who needed a steady guy, who gave her promises—a home and kids.

Sadness washed over him. He’d never be that guy. He was better off alone. Dreams of family had disappeared long ago.

He shook off the memories, and looked out the window. The sky was still dark, but the moon was still aglow and he could see the occupied cabin about fifty yards away. He could also see a light on.

Couldn’t Brooke sleep, either, or was she afraid? His protective instincts kicked in. They were in an isolated area and she didn’t know him from Adam.

He shook his head, thinking about the crazy events of the day: the groom running off, a canceled wedding, then a long-lost sister showing up. And Brooke Harper was determined to meet her sister. Why, after all these years, hadn’t Rory and Diane told Laurel the truth about her birth?

So many questions that needed answers. Something told him that the pretty Miss Harper knew more than she was saying. “You need to call me, Rory. I can’t do anything until you give me some answers. If not for me, then to Laurel.”

Trent walked to the lone chair in the room, grabbed his jeans and pulled them on. Since he was wide awake, he might as well get some work done. Back at his place he could feed the stock. Not that he didn’t have capable men to do chores; he just needed to burn off this energy. He put on his shirt and buttoned it, then pulled on boots. He grabbed his hat off the table and headed toward the door.

Once he finished his work, he’d come back in time to make breakfast for Brooke and maybe learn some more about their pretty visitor. And with any luck Rory would call him.

* * *

ALWAYS AN EARLY RISER, Brooke was up and dressed by 7:00 a.m. in a pair of jeans, a white blouse and a navy pullover sweater. After finding Trent’s note from under her door, telling her to come to the Quinns’ kitchen for breakfast, she realized she was anxious to see him again. Of course, it was only to find out if he’d heard from Rory. Maybe the family was coming home today. Maybe she’d be meeting them in a few hours.

Right now, she would do anything for a cup of coffee. She drove the short distance up the driveway to the house and parked her car. She got out, walked up and knocked on the back door. She hated imposing on Trent Landry again, but he was her only connection to the Quinns.

“Come in,” the familiar voice called.

Once inside, she immediately smelled bacon cooking and her stomach growled in anticipation.

Standing at the stove, Trent was dressed in faded jeans and a fitted Western shirt. Oh, boy. The man was handsome, maybe not in a traditional way, but definitely in a rugged-cowboy way. If you liked the cowboy type.

He tossed her a half smile. “Good morning.”

Her insides fluttered. “Morning.”

“Coffee’s on the counter.” He nodded toward the large coffeemaker.

She walked over. “Thank you.” Maybe the caffeine-laced drink would bring her to her senses.

“What’s your pleasure?” He pointed to the open carton of eggs. “Scrambled, sunny-side up or over easy?”

She filled the mug. “Don’t feel you need to feed me.”

“I’m eating, so you might as well. It could be a long day...waiting for that phone call. After seeing you in action yesterday, I might decide to put you to work.”

She cupped the mug in her hands and inhaled the wonderful aroma. “Okay, I’ll have scrambled, but only one.”

“Good choice. Will you put some bread in the toaster?”

“Of course.” She took a sip, then reached for the loaf of whole wheat on the counter and put in four slices. Then she picked up her mug again and took a sip. “Oh, this tastes so good,” she purred.

Trent looked at her, his eyes narrowed. “Good coffee is important.”

“I agree, and I probably drink far too much. Between work and school, I needed the extra boost.”

She leaned against the counter and watched the large man’s fluid movements as he worked at his tasks. Her gaze went to the worn denim that molded his delicious backside and muscular thighs. A shot of awareness hit her like the caffeine she was drinking. Her attention moved up to his clean-shaven face and strong jaw. His dark hair was trimmed short around the ears and slightly wavy on top.

He glanced at her. “So you’re one of those who hang out in those specialty coffee places.”

She shook her head. “I wish, but my budget can’t afford their prices. I make my own coffee at home, or at work.”

He gave her another odd look.

“What’s the matter? Did I say something wrong?”

“No, just hoping your new job pays enough for you to splurge on an occasional fancy mocha latte.”

She went on to explain. “The job isn’t a sure thing yet. I’m one of four people they’re looking at, but I interned for them last year, and I’m hoping that works in my favor.”

He poured the egg mixture into the sizzling skillet. “What’s the job?”

“The position is for second-shift front desk manager.”

The toast popped up. “Eventually, I want to get into sales and marketing. The Dream Chaser Hotel chain is a good place to get experience.”

Trent dished out the cooked eggs and brought them to the table, then filled two glasses of orange juice while Brooke buttered the toast and stacked the slices on a plate.

He waited until she took a seat then sat down across from her. Not used to eating with someone, let alone a man who showed such manners, she decided she liked it.

Nibbling on a piece of toast, Brooke sat back as Trent dug eagerly into his pile of eggs.

He motioned to her food. “My dad used to say you’ll never grow if you don’t eat.”

“Seems you took him up on that,” she said without thinking. “I...just meant you’re a large man.”

* * *

TRENT MANAGED TO choke down his food as Brooke’s wide-eyed gaze assessed him. Damn, if he didn’t feel the heat rising between them. He swallowed again. “You need muscle for ranching.”

Brooke’s gaze moved to his chest. “I can see how that would help.”

The warmth spread to his groin. “For a lot of years the army kept me on a strict workout regimen. Old habits die hard.”

“So you lift weights.”

“Mainly I lift hay bales and wrestle a few steers.”

“You really do all that work?”

Was Brooke that innocent, or was she playing a game? Either way, she was making it impossible to concentrate...on his meal. “You do if you want to run a successful operation.”

She took a bite of eggs, and his attention went to her mouth. “I thought you were renting out fishing and hunting cabins.”

He picked up a strip of bacon and ate half in one bite. “You can do both. Rory and I raise cattle first, a mama-and-calf operation, but it’s a good idea to have another source of income, especially during the lean years. Besides, I like to hunt and fish.”

“Is this a lean year?”

“It’s not too bad. There’s been enough water and grass for the herd. Why are you so interested?”

With her fair skin he could easily see her blush. “Just curious about my sister growing up here.” She shrugged. “And I’ve lived in Las Vegas all my life. The desert is beautiful, but so different from Colorado.”

“I’m not a fan of the desert. Over the years, I saw far too much of it.” He fought to keep those memories at bay. He pointed to the window. “I prefer the Rocky Mountains in my backyard.”

“So you were born and raised here?”

More questions, he thought. “Until I was fourteen when my parents divorced. I moved to Denver with my mom.”

“I’m sorry.” She offered him a hesitant smile. “At least you got to come back to live here.”

For far too many years he’d lost touch with his dad. He’d regret that forever and that he’d never gotten to see his little brother grow up... “Yeah, I got to come back here.”

Before Brooke could speak again, his cell phone rang. Trent took it out of his pocket. “It’s Rory. I’ll be right back.” He got up from the table as he pressed the talk button and walked out to the mudroom. He needed privacy for what he had to say.

“Rory. What the hell is going on?” he asked.

“Good morning to you, too,” the older man answered.

Trent ran his fingers through his hair. “Sorry, I’ve been worried. Another hour and I’d be in my truck and headed for Denver. Is everyone okay?”

“Yes, we’re fine. And no, we haven’t found Jack. Every place that Laurel knew about turned out to be a dead end.”

“How about letting your friends know you’re all right?”

“I was hoping to have some news to tell you before I called, but no such luck.”

Trent turned around to see Brooke watching him from the other room. “How about that I have some important news for you.”

“Has that creep come back to Hidden Springs?”

“No, Aldrich hasn’t shown up. That would be too easy for us.”

“Yeah, and if you’d gotten ahold of him...all that would be left would be to dispose of the body.” A laugh came over the line. “I know you Special Forces types. Get in and get out before anyone knows what happened.”

“Believe me, I wish I had a chance with this guy, but that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.”

Trent paused, trying to figure out how to phrase his words. “This is a different matter altogether.”

There was a pause, then Rory said, “Just tell me straight out, son.”

“You had a visitor show up yesterday right after you left. A woman named Brooke Harper. She says she’s Laurel’s half sister.”

“The hell you say?”

“Strange, but true. Rory, have you ever known a woman by the name of Coralee Harper?”

There was more silence, then Rory finally spoke. “Coralee Harper came to the ranch?”

“No, but her daughter, Brooke Harper, arrived yesterday just hours after you all left.”

Rory cursed.

“So Laurel’s adopted?” Trent already knew the answer, but needed Rory to confirm it.

“Since I’m Laurel’s biological father there was no adoption, I got full custody. It cost me enough money to get Coralee to sign my daughter over to me. And she was never supposed to contact me or Laurel again.”

“Well, Coralee’s other daughter is sitting in your kitchen, waiting to see Laurel.”

“Get her the hell out of there.”

“Hear me out first, Rory,” he said, wondering why he was playing Miss Harper’s advocate. Yet, he found himself calming Rory down and telling him the story about Coralee’s Alzheimer’s and her wanting to see Laurel one last time.

“No way. That woman has caused me enough problems. I’m not sure I even believe this story. It’s more than likely Coralee just wants more money.”

“That’s why you need to tell Laurel, and let her decide if she wants to come home and meet her sister.”

He heard the long sigh, then the curse. “We always meant to tell Laurel, but we kept putting it off. Damn, I knew this would happen...” Rory’s voice wandered off.

“Well, it looks like you don’t have a choice now.”

“Okay, then you tell me just how in the hell do I do it?”

“Like you always tell me, straight-out.”

“I guess you’re right.” Rory released a long breath. “I need to ask you another favor. Trent, could you have that friend of yours, the PI, investigate Coralee? And have him look into Aldrich, too. The police here haven’t been able to help us.”

“Consider it done. I’ll contact Cody Marsh today. So when should I expect you back here?”

“Give us a few days,” Rory said. “You’re right, Diane and I need to explain all this to Laurel. This news—and she’s still dealing with the aftershocks of Aldrich’s betrayal—is going to take some time.”

“So you want me to send Brooke back to Las Vegas?”

“No, I don’t want her to leave until you find out the truth. Do you think you can keep her there a little while longer? If Coralee is running a scam, I swear... Just keep her there.”

“I’ll do my best. But please, Rory, just get back here soon.”

After promising to stay in touch by phone, Trent hung up and walked back into the kitchen. He wasn’t about to apologize for wanting privacy. “Rory asks if you’ll stay a few days until he gets back. So how about I show you around the ranch?”

* * *

BROOKE DIDN’T LIKE how Trent just brushed over the important parts of the phone call. “Wait a minute. What did Rory ask? Does he remember Coralee? Is he going to tell Laurel about being her daughter?”

Trent held up a hand. “Slow down. First of all, yes, he remembers Coralee. And that’s all I’m saying because this is his story to tell you.”

She wasn’t happy. “So I’m just supposed to sit around and wait until Rory Quinn decides to come home.”

“No. You can return to Las Vegas at any time, but Rory did request that you stay here until he returns. He wants to meet you. But first he needs to talk with Laurel and explain things. And as you know, she’s going through a rough time. Although I might think Jack Aldrich is a bastard, Laurel thought she loved him.”

Brooke backed down. “I’m sorry. You’re right, I’m the one asking for a big favor.” She was eager to meet her sister, but it was more than that. Thanks to her mother, she’d been alone all her life. She’d only been able to dream about having a family.

And if telling a white lie got her the opportunity, so be it. She wasn’t leaving Colorado until she had a chance to make a connection, at least with her twin sister.

Chapter Four

An hour later, Brooke sat beside Trent in his truck, bumping along the winding dirt road that led to his ranch.

Grabbing hold of the safety handle to steady herself, she stole a glance across the bench seat to the man who suddenly had become her closest connection to her family. His clean-shaven jaw was set tight and his forehead furrowed in a deep frown, as if he were thinking about something serious. Was he her ally, or was he hoping she’d give up her quest and just leave Colorado?

She faced forward and concentrated on the incredible view. The lush green grass was waving in the warm autumn breeze while the cattle grazed in the pasture with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop. It was like a different world here. A world she knew nothing about until two weeks ago, when she found the secrets hidden in Coralee’s safety deposit box.

Suddenly she had a sister...and a father. And now she was on a ranch in Colorado waiting for her new family to come home.

Panic hit her. What if they wanted nothing to do with her? Didn’t want her in their life? The familiar feeling of rejection caused an overwhelming ache in her chest.

Why should it matter whether Laurel or Rory Quinn accepted her? She’d been used to people turning their backs on her. Her mother was at the top of the list, unless she needed something. Even the men who’d walked in and out of Coralee’s life over the years hated having a kid around.

When she was a child, her mom’s career hadn’t taken off yet, so Coralee had spent money on clothes to look nice for auditions. That meant they had to cut corners on other things like their apartment. So they ended up living in bad neighborhoods with slum apartments. A lot of them had been rent-by-the-week rooms with a kitchenette. Then there’d been the time when one of Coralee’s boyfriends had stolen everything, including their money. She and her mother had had to go and live in shelters for a few weeks.

That had been the day Brooke decided she would never depend on anyone for anything, especially a man. She glanced at Trent. So what did she do? She was relying on a total stranger and letting him take her to his ranch.

She released a slow breath. What was going to happen when the whole truth about her came out?

“You’re going to hurt yourself, thinking so hard.”

Trent’s voice pulled her back to the present.

“Sorry, I’m just worried about my mother,” she lied. “She depends on me.”

Trent glanced at her. “I thought she was in a care facility.”

“She is, but I’m usually there nearly every day. I help her get bathed and dressed. She doesn’t trust anyone else to do it.”

His mesmerizing gaze locked on hers. “You must be pretty close.”

“We’ve never had anyone else.” She looked out the window. The beautiful scenery was distracting, but this man also had a strong pull.

“Your mother never married?”

She shook her head. “She was busy with her career. So it’s always been just us,” she said in a half truthful way. Men never stuck around for long. Had it been that way for Coralee with Rory Quinn? She’d asked her mother, but according to her, the man had been crazy about her.

God, was this a mistake to come here? Would Rory Quinn reject her when he learned that Coralee had lied to him about a second baby?

“Are you okay staying until Rory gets back here?”

She shrugged. “I’m sure there are other card dealers who are willing to take my shifts.”

“And your mother?” he asked.

“I’ll explain it to her. After all, it was Coralee who wanted me to come here.”

“Good. Rory should be home in a couple of days.”

“I probably should have called the Quinns before I drove all this way, but I thought—”

“You thought that Rory might tell you not to come,” he finished for her.

She opened her mouth to deny it, but his words were true. “I’m still not sure what’s going to happen.”

“I’ve known Rory all my life. There isn’t a mean bone in his body. He’s a friend to everyone, and very generous. Besides, this only has to do with Laurel. She’s an adult so it’s her decision whether or not she wants a relationship with her sister.”

Brooke wanted so badly to believe that. How about when they all learned the rest of the truth? Of course, she didn’t expect Rory to immediately love her, but with her mother’s debilitating illness it would be nice to have...someone. She felt the familiar tightness in her chest that reminded her of the years of loneliness.

She turned to Trent. “How well do you know Laurel?”

A smile appeared across his face. “Since they moved here when Laurel was a baby. She was cute, and quite a little chatterbox. Then when I got older, she soon became a pain in the butt, following me around everywhere.” His smiled faded as if he was thinking of something sad. “I moved away at fourteen and didn’t see her much until I came back a few years ago.”

Why did he move away so young? “So she’s always lived here with her parents?”

He nodded. “Except for her years in college. She loves horses too much to leave the ranch permanently. And she’s building a name for herself training quarter horses.”

Trent glanced at Brooke’s profile. He could see a strong resemblance between the two sisters. “That’s the reason Rory wanted to build the cabins, the extra income would help Laurel get her dream of breeding and training her own horses.”

He caught a trace of sadness in Brooke’s green eyes. He doubted she’d lived an idyllic life back in Las Vegas. It couldn’t have been easy for a single mother to raise a daughter alone. He hoped he’d find out more when Cody investigated Coralee. “Has your dream always been to work in the hotel business?” he asked, wanting to learn more.

She shrugged. “You can make a good living at it in Las Vegas, but I would prefer a smaller venue. That way you can give your guests a more personal touch.”

He pulled up to the archway that read Lucky Bar L Ranch. “Be right back.” He climbed out and swung open the metal gate, got back into the truck and drove through, then closed it again.

Further up the gravel road the two-story Landry house came into view. It had been freshly painted this past summer. Trent recalled the long hours he’d put in with a brush in his hand up high on a ladder. Come spring, the barn would be next to get a new coat.

He saw Brooke’s interest as she looked around. “This is very nice.”

“It’s a work in progress. My dad was sick a long time and the place had gotten pretty run-down. I’ve been tackling as much as I can while keeping the ranch going.”

She gave him a rare smile and suddenly his heart tripped.

“Your work has been worth it. The house looks lovely.”

He pulled up in front of the barn. Going around the truck, he helped Brooke down from the high cab. His ranch hand, Rick Pierson, walked out to greet them.

“Hey, Trent,” he called. “I didn’t expect you back this morning.” The twenty-two-year-old spoke to him, but his gaze was riveted on Brooke.

Why did that bother Trent? “I needed to check up on you to see if you’re staying out of trouble.”

“That’s no fun.” The part-time college student grinned, showing off those straight white teeth. He pushed his straw cowboy hat back and let his too-long blond hair fall across his forehead. Did the kid ever get a haircut?

“Don’t worry, I’ve done all the chores, and Mike just rode out to check the herd.”

“What about the downed fence by the creek?”

“When Mike gets back we’ll head out to fix it. Unless we’re needed for something else.” He reached out a hand to Brooke. “Hi, I’m Rick Pierson.”

She shook his hand. “Brooke Harper.”

Rick didn’t let go. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. You’re new in town.”

Whoa, slow down, cowboy. “Brooke is here to see Laurel. And I’m capable of showing Miss Harper around wherever she needs to go.”

The young boy faced off with him. “If you say so.”

“I say so,” Trent repeated. “Now, go load the truck up with the new fence posts I got in town the other day.”

The kid’s smile didn’t waver as he tipped his hat. “It was nice to meet you, Brooke. Maybe I’ll see you later.”

She waved as he walked off. “Nice to meet you, too, Rick.”

Trent sighed. “That boy flirts with every girl that gets within fifty feet of him. It surprises me he has time to work.”

“He’s just being friendly.”

“I don’t want Rick to make you feel uncomfortable.”

She shook her head. “I work in a casino. I know when someone is flirting with me. Besides, I think he’s charming.”

Charming. He hadn’t hired Rick to be charming. “You want to come up to the house, or would you like to look around?”

“Do you have horses?”

He nodded. “A few. Come on, I’ll introduce you.” He surprised himself when he grabbed her hand. Although he felt some resistance, she went with him into the barn.

Inside it was cooler, a little darker and smelled of hay and horse manure. Waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dim light, he looked around at the ten stalls. The new wood he’d used to rebuild most of them stood out, but as soon as he painted the rails no one could see the repairs.

He continued to hold her small hand and walked her over to the first stall and the seasoned mare, Cassie. He reached over the railing and the buckskin came to him immediately.

“Hey, girl.” He rubbed her muzzle. “How you doing today?” She bobbed her head and blew out a warm breath. “I brought someone to meet you.”

He glanced at Brooke to see her standing back, looking a little anxious. “Hey, this old girl is as gentle as they come. She would never hurt you. Castle Rock, better known as Cassie, this is Brooke.” He reached for Brooke’s hand and he had her stand on the bottom rung, then instructed her how to pet the horse.

“Oh, she’s so soft,” she said when her fingers came in contact with the horse’s neck.

“She’s just been bathed.”

Cassie nuzzled her nose against Trent’s arm as if to agree. He laughed. “She’s pretty special to me.”

Brooke’s gaze met his. “Looks like she thinks you’re pretty special, too.”

He couldn’t look away from the woman. “Yeah, we’ve been together a long time. My dad got her for me the first summer I came to visit him after my parents divorced. She was only a yearling then.” Why was he telling her all this? He patted the horse’s neck. “We’re both getting up there.”

“It’s nice you still have her.”

He nodded, unable to speak as good and bad memories flooded back. How he’d ride miles on Cassie, trying to outrun the memories of the brother he’d lost. He swallowed. “Yeah, she’s been a good friend. Come on, I’ll introduce you to the others.”

They walked to the next stall and a large chestnut stallion came to the gate. “This is my mount, Red Baron.” He took hold of the halter and held the horse’s head steady. “He’s a lot more spirited than Cassie.”

“And you ride him?” she asked, keeping her distance.

Trying to avoid the horse’s bobbing head, he admitted, “When he lets me. This guy keeps me on my toes.” He rubbed the anxious stallion. “I need to take him out and give him a good run. Later I’ll pasture him so he can run off some of his orneriness. I’d geld him, but first I want to get a few foals sired by him.” He took her hand and walked down the aisle to the last stall and the small black mare with a white blaze on her face. “This is Raven. She’s new to the Lucky Bar L. I’ve only had her a few months, and when she comes in season, I’ll breed her with Red.”

“So you’re in the horse-breeding business.”

“As a rancher, you need horses to run cattle. It’s still the best way to round up the cows.”

“This has to be a lot different than being in charge of soldiers.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Actually sometimes the steers take commands better.”

He saw her smile and his gut tightened. Whoa. This was not the time for him to take notice of a woman. Not this woman, anyway.

* * *

TWENTY MINUTES LATER, in the nineteen-fifties-style kitchen, Brooke sat across the table from Trent eating a ham sandwich and drinking iced tea. She couldn’t stop looking around in amazement.

Although the cabinets where old, they were painted a high glossy white and the tiled counters were a tan with a burgundy trim. A soft yellow covered the walls. The appliances were original, too, but fit in with the decor. This was how she always thought a family kitchen should look.

“I know this room needs to be redone, but right now, it’s on the bottom of my list.”

“Oh, no. This kitchen is amazing as it is. I was just admiring the great condition of everything.”

“You can thank my dad. He was the original recycler, and believed in taking care of things he had. He worked hard at ranching and hated to waste anything.” Trent took a bite of his sandwich. “Since there were so many other repairs on my list, I could only paint the walls and cabinets for now.”

“And you did an excellent job.” She smiled. “With running a ranch and now, the cabins to build, you must be pretty busy.”

“Well, since Aldrich took off with the money, it seems the cabins are on hold until we decide what to do.”

And here she was adding to Rory and Trent’s problems. “Then I show up.”

He paused, his gaze locked on hers. “You have nothing to do with our troubles.”

“No, but I’m adding more, especially for Laurel. Probably the last thing she needs right now is to learn about her...mother.”

Trent took a drink of tea. “Honestly, I don’t know how she’ll react to the news. But you drove all this way to meet Laurel, so sticking around a few days is better than going home without trying to connect, isn’t it?”

She wasn’t sure about that. “Yeah, but look at all the time I’m taking from you. You’re stuck babysitting me until the Quinns get home.”

He leaned back in the chair, and she couldn’t help noticing his muscular chest and those massive shoulders. Did the military do that for him, or the ranch work?

He caught her stare and she quickly glanced away.

“Hey, I’ll take your kind of trouble any day. You rescued me yesterday by helping me pack up all that wedding stuff. You took charge yesterday like a drill sergeant.”

She felt a blush cover her cheeks. “What can I say? I have a knack for getting things done.”

Those dark eyes captured her attention for far too long. She couldn’t let this man get to her. Once he learned the truth about her, he might not like that she’d kept it from him.

He rested his elbows on the table. “Have you ever ridden?”

She swallowed hard. “You mean on a horse?”

He gave her an odd look, but she could tell he was trying not to laugh. “Yes, as far as I’m concerned, it’s the best way to see the countryside.”

“You want to take me riding?”

“You seem surprised. I’m sure your sister will want to show you around, too.”

“To be honest, I’ve never been on or around a horse until today.”

Brooke’s first instinct was to say no, but then she realized she’d never taken time just for herself. And why wouldn’t she want to go riding with this rugged cowboy? “I’ll go, but only if you put me on a gentle horse. You’ve got one named Poky or Snail?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re safe.”

She wanted to believe him, but something deep told her if she wasn’t careful she could get hurt, and in more ways than one.

Chapter Five

Thirty minutes later in the corral, with a borrowed cowboy hat on her head, Brooke sat atop Cassie as Trent adjusted her stirrups. She released a shallow breath to keep calm, but this horse was really big. Looking down, she discovered she was also far from the ground. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.

Trent glanced up at her from under the brim of his cowboy hat. “How does that feel?”

“Okay, I guess.”

“Stand up,” he instructed, then did another adjustment before he handed her the reins. When she held the leather straps in a death grip, his gloved hand covered hers. “Relax. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Oddly, his calming voice made her want to believe him. “Easy for you to say,” she tried to tease and the animal under her shifted. She gasped.

“Whoa there, darlin’,” he crooned to the horse.

“I thought you said she was gentle.”

“Cassie’s just happy she’s getting out of the barn. I’ve been spending a lot of time at the Bucking Q with the cabin construction.”

After a quick pat on the mare’s neck, he walked to a rust-colored gelding named Rango. Taking the reins, he grabbed the horn, jammed his boot into the stirrup, then swung his leg over the horse and sat down in the saddle. He wheeled the horse around and rode him around the pen, and began showing her different commands.

She wasn’t sure she could remember any of them because she was too distracted by the man on the horse. Trent Landry was impressive.

“Just stay close to me,” he said as he rode up to her. “Cassie won’t run off.”

Run off? Brooke swallowed hard and felt the horse shift under her again. She tensed.

“Relax, Brooke. This is supposed to be fun.”

Fun? She couldn’t remember the last time she’d just had fun. She nodded. “If you say so.”

He grinned. “You’re going to do fine.” He covered her hands with his. “Remember, relax your hold.”

She did as he asked.

“That’s better. Come on, let’s go and see some of Colorado up close.” He walked his horse toward the gate.

“Okay, girl,” Brooke began, “It’s time to go.” Cassie didn’t move right away. Instead, the seasoned mare swung her large head around, then finally gave a nod. Brooke couldn’t help smiling as Cassie started off.

After a while Brooke began relax into the rhythm of the animal as the trail wandered through a grove of white birch trees. The sun streamed through the foliage, dotting the landscape with light as they made their way toward the foothills.

Drawing in a breath of the mountain air, she let the scent of pine and damp earth fill her nostrils. She looked toward the pasture to see cattle grazing. Some of the bovines raised their heads as if to say hi, then went back to feeding. There was a cute white-faced calf running around the herd as if trying to get someone to play.

Brooke couldn’t stop looking at the striking scenery, or comparing it to the desert where she’d grown up. Such a contrast. Suddenly she realized she was enjoying herself and got a silly grin on her face. She barely refrained from shouting, “Hey, look at me, I’m riding a horse.”

When the trail widened, Trent dropped back and rode beside her. He smiled. “Like some company?”

She tried not to tense up, but this man looked good on a horse, decked out in his Stetson hat and boots. Who was she kidding? Trent Landry would look good even without the cowboy props.

“Sure,” she managed.

They rode along in silence, then he began pointing out some landmarks. What she really wanted was to ask questions about Laurel, also Rory. Yet she didn’t want to give herself away. If Trent discovered her secret, he might not be so willing to let her stay and meet the man she’d never gotten a chance to call father.

Laurel’s childhood had been so different from hers. Brooke couldn’t help wondering if they could ever find common ground, maybe become friends...even sisters. She felt a rush of emotion, thinking about her lonely years growing up.

“You’re looking pretty serious again,” Trent said.

She blinked, feeling the blush rise to her cheeks. “Sorry, I guess I get a little intense sometimes. It’s hard to turn it off. My job is pretty stressful.”

Trent held the reins loosely in his hand and the horses walked slowly along the grassy trail. The easy rocking in the saddle was soothing. She could get used to this.

“And taking care of your mother can’t be easy, either.”

Brooke quickly came back to reality. “She has her good days.”

“She’s probably happy to have you there with her.”

Was she? Brooke had never been sure how Coralee felt. They’d never had the typical mother-daughter relationship. And now with the disease destroying her mother’s mind, she would never know. “I think she’s worried about seeing Laurel.”

He nodded. “Well, it can’t be easy to give up a child.”

And not tell the father that there were two babies. “No, it probably wasn’t, but I guess Coralee had her reasons. I just didn’t know them.”

Trent gave a sideways glance toward Brooke. He was still trying to figure her out. Why did she call her mother Coralee sometimes? His instincts told him there was something she wasn’t telling him. As much as Rory seemed to distrust Coralee, Trent couldn’t help thinking there might be something else going on.

He stole another glance at the pretty blonde’s profile, seeing more and more of a resemblance to Laurel. Although unlike Laurel, he didn’t feel toward Brooke.

About fifteen minutes later, they came up on a creek, and Cassie quickly veered off the trail, heading in the direction of the water.

“Hey, whoa.” Brooke tugged on the reins and looked back at Trent. “Why isn’t she stopping?”

He followed after them. “It’s okay. Just let her go, she’s thirsty. I think we all could use something to drink.”

Trent could see Brooke put slack in the reins and let the horse take her through the trees to the rocky edge. He was impressed with the way she sat in the saddle. It had taken a little while, but she’d finally let the tension ease and sat back to enjoy the ride. He wished he could say the same of himself. He felt the awareness in full alert whenever he got close to her.

Once beside the creek under a large shade tree, the horses began to drink at the rocky edge. Trent went to Brooke, instructing her how to dismount. She managed to swing her leg over the saddle, but he didn’t think she realized the long distance to the ground, or that her legs wouldn’t hold her up. With her sudden cry, Trent gripped her by the waist.

“I got you,” he told her as he steadied her. “It’s not unusual to feel a little shaky.”

“I didn’t realize my leg muscles would turn to mush. We haven’t been riding that long.”

Trent inhaled her soft scent and his body reacted quickly. “Riding isn’t as easy as it looks, and this is your first time on a horse.”

“So the next time will be easier?” she asked as she looked at him from under her cowboy hat. Her big green eyes looked both leery and hopeful at the same time.

“Maybe after a good long soak in a tub.”

Aw, hell, why did he go and say that? Suddenly he conjured up a picture of her naked, covered in bubbles... He glanced away and helped her to the water’s edge. Once Brooke was seated, he went and checked the horses, then pulled a retractable tin cup from his saddlebag.

“Here, use this.”

She took the small cup. “Thank you.” She dipped it into the cool stream to fill it, then took a drink. “Oh, this is so good.”

Her deep moan caused another reaction he didn’t expect. He pushed his hat back. “No need for bottled water around here.”

She scooped up another cupful and his gaze was riveted on watching her long, slender neck as she swallowed thirstily. He fought to keep from reaching out and wiping the water that trickled down her flushed cheek. Once finished, she quickly ran her hand across her mouth and collected any traces of leftover liquid.

“Guess I was thirstier than I thought,” Brooke said as she removed her hat and brushed her hair away from her face, exposing the dusting of freckles across her nose. She turned toward him and looked serious. “Something wrong? Is there dirt on my face?”

“No.” Quickly he crouched down at the creek’s edge, cupped his hands, and concentrated on drinking the cool water. After his fill, he sat down next to her. Maybe not a good idea. He eyed her long legs encased in those slim-fitting jeans. He was far too aware of this woman, and that wasn’t good for either of them. Maybe he shouldn’t work all the time, just find himself a woman to go out with.

Brooke interrupted his thoughts. “You have a pretty impressive backyard, Mr. Landry. Thank you for sharing it with me today.”

“You’re welcome.” Trent readjusted his hat and stared out at the mountain range as a breeze rustled through the trees. He noticed the leaves were beginning to turn autumn colors, his favorite time of year. “I’ve probably explored about every cave and mesa around this property. My dad wanted to make sure his boys knew how to handle themselves.”

“Boys? You have a brother?”

He cursed under his breath for the slip. “Yeah. My younger brother...Chris.” Even though it had been nearly twenty years, a sharp pain sliced through his chest as if the accident had happened yesterday.

“Does he live around here?”

More pain, he swallowed hard. “No, he died a long time ago.”

He couldn’t look at her, but heard her gasp. “Oh, Trent, I’m so sorry.”

He could only nod as the details of that day flooded back. He shook them away and stood. “We should head back.” He went to retrieve their mounts.

Brooke followed him and placed her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry if I brought up some bad memories.”

He saw the sadness on her face. Although he didn’t deserve it, he wanted to take the comfort she offered. “There are no good memories when a young boy dies.”

Not when his older brother didn’t have the time to watch out for him.

* * *

AFTER RETURNING FROM their ride, Trent took care of the horses, then he spoke with Ricky about the chores for the next day before he drove Brooke back to the Bucking Q. After dropping her off at the cabin, he drove next door, relieved that she hadn’t asked him any more questions about Chris.

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