Redemption Ranch (Love Inspired) - Softcover

Harris, Leann

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0373877366 ISBN 13: 9780373877362

Verlag: Love Inspired, 2012

Inhaltsangabe

A former foster kid and army soldier, Tyler Lynch doesn't trust easily. In fact, the shy mutt who never leaves his side is his sole confidant. Tyler knows what it's like to be a child in need, so he goes to work at an equine therapy ranch.

He's instantly surprised by the way lovely volunteer Beth McClure seems to understand scared children—and stubborn cowboys. Beth's tenderness even wins his dog's trust. But when Tyler faces his greatest fear, it'll take Beth's love—and one brave boy—to open the most guarded of hearts.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Leann grew up in the Rocky Mountains but married a Texan, who loved those moutains. So cowboys, horses, ranches and rodeo are familiar  themes to her. She taught deaf high school students math and science. She loves gardening and flower arranging.  She is a cancer survivor and counts everyday precious. Leann is the mother of two children and one grandbaby and two granddogs.

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

"Oh, Charming, what's wrong with me?" Beth McClure ran her hands down the gelding's broad back. His warm coat and steady heartbeat calmed her.

Twenty minutes ago her brother and his wife, her best friend and former college roommate, had announced there would be a new McClure come spring. Friends and family gathered at the ranch cheered the news.

Beth was glad for them, really.

And sad.

It was selfish of her, but the news stabbed her in the heart, making her realize how alone she was. Oh, sure, she had family, friends, but there was not a prospect of a boyfriend in sight. In some ways she was content to be alone, but her heart still ached.

Charming raised his head and stepped back, knocking Beth into the back wall of the stall. She stumbled, her skirt tangling in her legs, and she twisted her ankle. Wearing heels out in the stables wasn't smart, but she wasn't worrying about that when she escaped.

"Charming, what's wrong with you?" She pushed the horse away as she searched for her shoe. Charming danced again, bumping her a second time. She fell against the side of the stall, losing her other shoe.

"Stop." She glanced over her shoulder to see what was making the horse so nervous. She spotted the black dog sitting outside the open stall door.

"Oh, sorry, guy." Beth patted Charming on his back hip to quiet him. The black dog sat quietly, watching her. Beth recognized him. He belonged to the newest employee of Second Chance Ranch, Tyler Lynch. He was an Iraqi War veteran like her brother Zach. Tyler's dog, Dogger, was known as a cautious critter who didn't offer his friendship lightly, much like his owner. In the month Tyler had been at the equine therapy ranch, she'd never known his dog to allow anyone to pet him, and she only had a nodding acquaintance with the dog's owner.

Tyler would politely nod his head or keep up his end of a conversation, but he'd subtly let a person know there was a wall between him and the world. Beth knew that "look." Zach had worn the exact same expression when he came home from his tour of service.

Intrigued, Beth moved to the front of the stall. "Hey, guy, how are you?"

The dog cocked his head. He had the look of a mutt, short dark hair, mid-size, sleek and with white stockings on his back feet. He had a half-moon scar on the back of his head.

"Are you declaring a truce?" she asked, inching forward.

Charming stretched his neck down toward the dog. Beth reached under the horse's neck and patted the other side. "What do you think, big guy? You think he wants to make friends?" She whispered the question out of the side of her mouth.

The horse raised his head and nodded.

Beth's hand fell to her side. "You want me to pet you?" she asked, directing her question to the dog.

Dogger looked from Charming to Beth as if considering the question.

Beth laughed. She stepped out of the stall and held out her hand. The dog moved toward her and sniffed. He sat, waiting for her to oblige him.

Beth squatted and stroked the dog's head. He accepted her affection. She'd tried to make friends with the dog a couple of times before, but he'd refused her overtures.

"You're a mighty cagey boy. Did you decide to watch and wait to make sure I was worthy of your trust?"

The dog closed his eyes, enjoying the petting.

"Well, I be—"

Beth jerked at the sound of Tyler's voice, losing her balance. She sprawled onto the floor, her skirt drifting gracefully around her knees.

"Sorry." The corner of Tyler's mouth twitched, making that hands-off look he normally wore melt away. Her stomach dipped.

It was nothing but embarrassment, she told herself as she looked up from the floor into his handsome face. "You startled me."

He offered his hand.

There was no dignified way to get to her feet. She accepted his hand and he pulled her to her feet. Beth dusted off hay from the backside of her skirt. The laugh trying to escape her chest erupted. "You must think I'm a klutz."

"No," he said, his eyes twinkling.

At the change in his countenance, Beth's mouth nearly fell open. Gone was his usual tired, weary expression, replaced with the look of a young, gorgeous man. Tyler Lynch had a headful of wavy brown locks, deep brown eyes that missed nothing and a scar on the right side of his mouth. She'd also noticed he had some scars on his left hand and forearm.

"What are you doing out here instead of inside at the party?" he asked.

The party she'd escaped. "I could ask the same thing of you."

"Which means you're avoiding answering my question?"

Aw, he was sharp, noticing her dodge, but she didn't want to admit even to herself, let alone this man, why she'd escaped the party.

"I thought Charming here needed a heads-up to be extra gentle around Sophie, with her condition and all."

His brow arched. "And what was his answer?"

"He's been bobbing his head, agreeing with me. Besides, he's also making friends with your dog, which surprised both of us."

Dogger looked from her to Tyler as if trying to understand what was happening.

Tyler studied his dog. "Dogger doesn't easily make friends."

She ignored her embarrassment. "I know. I've tried to befriend him before, but he's been very wary around me. What he normally does is give me the eye, turn around and walk off." The words could've applied to Tyler himself. She glanced at him.

Tyler didn't flinch, and Beth breathed a sigh of relief. Instead, he squatted down and ruffled the dog's ears. "Dogger's a survivor and cautious in all he does. Streets of Baghdad do that to a soul."

Looking down at Tyler's brown, wavy hair, Beth had a feeling that Dogger wasn't the only one Tyler was talking about. "Well, I'm glad he's feeling at home enough to invite me to pet him."

Tyler stood and looked at her stocking feet.

"When Dogger sat down in front of Charming, the horse danced a bit, and I wasn't looking and lost my shoes." She ended her explanation in a whisper.

He leaned in to hear the last. Her eyes locked with his and her stomach did a jig. Tyler Lynch was one of the few men she'd known who could see eye to eye with her oldest brother, Ethan, who stood six-foot-three.

Dogger stood and walked closer to Charming, breaking the intimate moment between them. Dogger didn't move while Charming inspected him. Beth knew the two animals were taking stock of each other, much like the man standing next to her. Charming lifted his head and nodded. The dog had passed the test.

Beth stroked Charming's side. "Dogger's on a roll today. Two friends."

The dog glanced over his shoulder as if to say, c'mon, human owner, join me.

Tyler didn't move. Dogger sent him another look.

Beth laughed. "I don't think he's going to give up until you do."

"Okay, okay," Tyler said, holding up his hands. He walked to Charming and rubbed the horse's nose. "I feel kinda funny having the dog introduce us."

Grinning at Tyler's surrender, Beth added, "Sometimes animals have better sense than humans."

Tyler's brow shot up.

She didn't mean it as an insult and wanted to apologize, but decided the best way to correct the situation was to plow on. "How long have you had Dogger?"

His face closed down and his gaze dropped to his hand on Charming's neck. He stroked the gelding's black coat.

Had she gone too far? The man had been as stand-offish as his dog until today and now he was opening up.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean—"

"I found Dogger under the fender of a car used in a roadside bomb outside of...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Love Inspired
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2012
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0373877366
• ISBN 13: 9780373877362
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 224
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar