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Lone Star Father
Marin Thomas
SUDDENLY A SINGLE DADReid Hardell never imagined he’d become a single dad or that he’d ever return to his family’s ranch in Stampede, Texas. But for his newfound daughter’s sake, Reid is coming home, hoping his estranged brothers can help him master fatherhood. Life in Stampede has an unexpected perk—reconnecting with gorgeous Scarlett Johnson. Until Reid discovers she’s the new social worker on his custody case.In working with Reid and his daughter, Scarlett finds a connection she thought was impossible. She wants more than anything to be part of their family, but a relationship could jeopardize their case and her job. How can she turn away from having everything she’s ever wanted—even if it’s the right thing to do?
SUDDENLY A SINGLE DAD
Reid Hardell never imagined he’d become a single dad or that he’d ever return to his family’s ranch in Stampede, Texas. But for his newfound daughter’s sake, Reid is coming home, hoping his estranged brothers can help him master fatherhood. Life in Stampede has an unexpected perk—reconnecting with gorgeous Scarlett Johnson. Until Reid discovers she’s the new social worker on his custody case.
In working with Reid and his daughter, Scarlett finds a connection she thought was impossible. She wants more than anything to be part of their family, but a relationship could jeopardize their case and her job. How can she turn away from having everything she’s ever wanted—even if it’s the right thing to do?
MARIN THOMAS grew up in the Midwest, then attended college at the U of A in Tucson, Arizona, where she earned a BA in radio-TV and played basketball for the Lady Wildcats. Following graduation, she married her college sweetheart in the historic Little Chapel of the West in Las Vegas, Nevada. Recent empty-nesters, Marin and her husband now live in Texas, where cattle is king, cowboys are plentiful and pickups rule the road. Visit her on the web at marinthomas.com (https://www.marinthomas.com/).
Also By Marin Thomas (#u1ea5f248-7f43-5850-befc-2f2b4c9a8458)
The Cowboys of Stampede, Texas
The Cowboy’s Accidental Baby
Twins for the Texas Rancher
Cowboys of the Rio Grande
A Cowboy’s Redemption
The Surgeon’s Christmas Baby
A Cowboy’s Claim
The Cash Brothers
The Cowboy Next Door
Twins Under the Christmas Tree
Her Secret Cowboy
The Cowboy’s Destiny
True Blue Cowboy
A Cowboy of Her Own
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Lone Star Father
Marin Thomas
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-08475-8
LONE STAR FATHER
© 2018 Brenda Smith-Beagley
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” Reid said.
“What?”
“Coming back to Stampede.”
Scarlett’s heart sank. The last thing she’d meant to do was discourage Reid from staying in town, especially when he hadn’t been home in over a decade. “You can’t leave.” She winced at the eager note in her voice. “Being with family will play in your favor when the social worker decides whether or not you should be given permanent custody of Jessie.”
“Got any other reasons why I shouldn’t leave?”
She shook her head. “That’s it, why?”
His mouth curved into a smile. “I thought maybe you’d want to judge for yourself if my kissing has improved.”
“Well, there is that, too.” Scarlett smiled.
His blue eyes darkened. “I really like you, Scarlett.”
Reid’s declaration wasn’t all that swoon-worthy but for a woman who dealt with the ugly side of life on a daily basis, it was a beacon of sunshine filled with hope and possibilities.
Dear Reader (#u1ea5f248-7f43-5850-befc-2f2b4c9a8458),
I’m so excited to share Reid Hardell’s story with you! If you’ve read the previous two books in my Cowboys of Stampede, Texas series (The Cowboy’s Accidental Baby and Twins for the Texas Rancher) then you know that Reid is the black sheep of the Hardell family and he made a conscious choice years ago to keep his distance.
I’ve always been fascinated by family secrets—we all have them. In Lone Star Father Reid Hardell is heading home to Paradise Ranch because he’s looking for help raising a daughter he never knew existed until recently. He knows the homecoming won’t be the stuff of fairy tales, but the last thing he expects to find waiting for him at the ranch is another family secret and a woman who quickly becomes more than just his daughter’s social worker.
It’s Scarlett Johnson’s intention to help Reid and Jessie bond, but her heart keeps getting in the way of her job. As Reid and Scarlett consider what’s best for everyone concerned, they discover the only real way forward is together—as a family.
I invite you to check out all of my books at marinthomas.com where you can also sign up for my newsletter and find links to connect with me on social media.
Happy reading,
Marin
For Cristina and Tom—dedicated social workers who spend their days and sometimes nights helping at-risk children and teenagers.
And for Marin—a clinical psychologist who spends countless hours helping veterans and individuals suffering from PTSD and trauma-related disorders.
The world would be better off with more people like you.
Contents
Cover (#u58925df4-e86d-5610-94bb-14ceb7f147c0)
Back Cover Text (#u82afa3e2-1067-50d7-9719-f05bbc581bef)
About the Author (#u60d3c6dc-57b8-5179-aa91-ed57e13ef27d)
Booklist (#u933f72bd-fa6e-5605-b08f-22808adeb357)
Title Page (#ue0e26b79-a56e-5e6a-9598-ee8daf18c348)
Copyright (#u462ba792-f4ca-5e9b-acce-533d33a2fc74)
Introduction (#u7a4f05f7-f615-5bb5-8dd5-d6ad05dbc77b)
Dear Reader (#u46104117-cb73-59b0-b41f-2d95fc37dedb)
Dedication (#u28495593-9e87-5d5c-9706-6a8289da04cb)
Chapter One (#uf9e9534c-b789-5d7d-8f0b-7915fc98b63c)
Chapter Two (#uc5a6d493-637b-5660-af99-d53c2f121169)
Chapter Three (#u7b34da7b-a41e-5705-9c5e-7ab26c94fb36)
Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One (#u1ea5f248-7f43-5850-befc-2f2b4c9a8458)
Becoming a father was not something Reid Hardell had ever imagined for himself, especially twelve years after the fact.
The social worker’s voice echoed in his ear. Mr. Hardell, I realize this situation caught you by surprise, but you’re the only family Jessie has left.
Family.
His stomach churned as the word reverberated inside his head.
At half past midnight, he flipped on the blinker and took the exit for Stampede. He could only imagine the looks on the faces of his grandfather and brothers when Reid introduced them to his daughter. He should have warned the family that he was returning home to Texas and why, but he’d barely kept in touch with them since entering the military after high school.
Reid had always felt like an outsider in his family and had never figured out why his father had come down harder on him than his two brothers. His jaw tightened at the memory of the old man shoving him to the ground, then kicking dirt in his face, after Reid had asked for the keys to his truck so he could take a girl to the movies. Later that night his older brother, Logan, had driven off in the pickup with his friends.
When Reid’s enlistment in the marines was up, he hadn’t returned to Paradise Ranch. Instead, he’d chosen to settle in Albuquerque. It hadn’t made sense to go back to a place which held few good memories.
He glanced across the seat at his daughter—the reason Reid was making this trip. Six months had passed since he’d met Jessie in September, but her name still rolled off his tongue like a boulder. He was floundering in his role as her dad and he was looking to his siblings to help him navigate fatherhood.
Any day now Reid’s younger brother, Gunner, was going to become a first-time father and Logan had recently married a single mother with twin boys. Surely they could give him a few pointers on parenting.
Reid’s gaze shifted to the urn propped on the seat next to Jessie. Her mother was making the eight-hour drive with them from El Paso to Stampede, an hour south of San Antonio. He’d suggested spreading the ashes before they’d left Jessie’s foster home, but she hadn’t been ready to say goodbye to her mother. He understood. Sort of.
His father’s sudden death had cheated him out having the last word. A few weeks after Reid left for boot camp, a hit-and-run driver had killed Donny Hardell while he changed a flat tire on the side of the road. Reid remembered the phone call from his grandfather as if it had happened yesterday. First, Reid had been numb with shock, then he’d felt weightless—as if the heavy sensation resting on his chest most of his life had broken apart and vanished. His grandfather hadn’t revealed the funeral arrangements and Reid hadn’t asked. They both knew he wouldn’t be paying his respects to a man who’d treated him with contempt.
His gaze flicked to the rearview mirror, where the corner of the glass displayed the outside temperature—fifty-nine degrees. Typical mid-March weather in the Lone Star State. He set the cruise control and lifted his aching foot from the gas pedal. He should have removed his cowboy boots and put on his athletic shoes earlier in the day, but each time they’d stopped for a break, Reid had been distracted. Twice the dog had bolted from the truck when Jessie opened the door and they’d had to capture him. Then Jessie had asked for a snack from a vending machine that ate her money. And the bathrooms at two of the rest stops had been out of order, requiring a detour.
Soft snoring sounds drifted into his ear and he glanced into the back seat. Fang slept soundly in the dog bed on top of the luggage. The five-year-old shorthaired golden Chihuahua with half its teeth missing had belonged to the Valentines—the elderly foster parents who’d taken Jessie in after Stacy died. According to the couple, Fang and Jessie had a special bond, which Reid had witnessed when the mutt escaped the yard and chased his pickup down the street after they’d driven off earlier in the day. When they’d returned the dog to its owners, Jessie had begun crying and then so did Mrs. Valentine. Finally, Mr. Valentine shoved the mutt into Reid’s arms and said, “He’s Jessie’s now.”
The three of them were an unlikely family, but... Reid lost his thought when the word family reverberated inside his head again. The Hardells had been no more or no less dysfunctional than most families but Reid had decided in the military that he’d never marry or have kids. He didn’t want to be a dad. After the way his father had treated him, he had no idea how to nurture a kid’s mental or emotional well-being.
So much for the promise you made yourself.
Reid gripped the wheel tighter as he drove past his family’s rural property. He had tried to earn his father’s approval by showing an interest in his dad’s hobby—working on car engines. All he’d gotten for his efforts had been a dressing-down. Reid had developed a real aptitude for mechanics and by the age of seventeen he’d fixed engines his father hadn’t been able to get running—still his old man had always found fault with Reid’s work.
After he left the military, he’d landed a job as a mechanic for a trucking company in Duke City and had made a life for himself away from his family. A life that had been turned around when a social worker in El Paso informed him that he might be the biological father of a twelve-year-old girl.
