www.millsandboon.co.uk

      PATRICIA THAYER

      has been writing for sixteen years and has published over twenty books with Silhouette. Her books have been nominated for the National Readers’ Choice Award, Virginia Romance Writers of America’s Holt Medallion, Orange Rose Contest and a prestigious RITA^® Award. In 1997, Nothing Short of a Miracle won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Special Edition.

      Thanks to the understanding men in her life—her husband of thirty-plus years, Steve, and her three grown sons and two grandsons—Pat has been able to fulfill her dream of writing romance. Another dream is to own a cabin in Colorado, where she can spend her days writing and her evenings with her favorite hero, Steve. She loves to hear from readers. You can write to her at P.O. Box 6251, Anaheim, CA 92816-0251, or check her Web site at www.patriciathayer.com for upcoming books.

      To Daralynn.

      You are a wonderful wife to my son, and mother to my grandsons, Harrison and Connor. Even when things get tough, you take them in stride with your unwavering strength and determination…and always with love.

      Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Epilogue

      Chapter One

      The Arizona territory, June 6, 1904

      Today, my beautiful bride, Rebecca, and I found the perfect home site, a lush valley surrounded by majestic mountains. This is where it will all begin….

      Jacob’s Journal

      From the top of his jet-black Stetson, to his oversize belt buckle, right down to his scuffed Tony Lama boots, he was all cowboy.

      Emily Hunter should know because she’d been around them all her life, the real and the phony. And, oh yes, he was definitely of the real variety.

      She leaned against the café counter and boldly eyed the man who filled the doorway. He had broad shoulders covered by a sand-colored Western shirt, washed-out jeans encased his narrow hips and long muscular legs. She raised her gaze to his chiseled face and deep-set eyes, and hoped he would come closer so she could see their color.

      The stranger gave her a quick nod in greeting and suddenly her heartbeat sped up. Before she could reciprocate, he turned away as a little girl appeared at his side. She had a tousled mass of brunette ringlets that circled her round face. Her eyes mirrored her father’s including the long black lashes.

      The man took his daughter’s hand as they made their way to the counter. He effortlessly lifted the tiny girl onto a seat. She seemed to be about four years old and was as cute as could be. Of course, just look at her father. And look she did as he pulled off his hat, revealing thick, nearly black hair and dark-as-midnight eyes. He straddled the stool and rested his large forearms on the counter.

      Emily quickly halted the direction of her thoughts. The man was married with a child, for heaven’s sake. She went off to fill two water glasses, reminding herself she was here to work. After she graduated college she’d thought her days as a waitress were over. Then a good family friend, Sam Price, owner of the fifties-style diner, Good Time Café, needed someone to fill in when his regular waitress called in sick. She had a few days to kill until things were set up at the Double H, so why not?

      With her best smile, Emily set the water in front of her customers. “Good morning,” she said as she handed the man a breakfast menu. “What can I get for you?” She met the stranger’s dark gaze and found breathing difficult.

      Darn if he didn’t look even better close up.

      “I’ll have coffee to start.”

      She turned and took the pot off the warmer. After she placed a mug of the hot brew in front of the man, she looked at the child. She was wearing a faded pink cotton T-shirt that was wrinkled and too big. So her dad wasn’t a fashion expert. “And what will you have to drink, milk or juice?” she asked the little girl.

      “Bring her milk,” the man said, then glanced at the child. “Sophie, what do you want to eat?”

      The tiny girl looked up with dark eyes that seemed too large for her face, then silently shrugged her shoulders. Emily decided the shy youngster needed a little coaxing.

      “Sophie. That’s a pretty name,” she began. “I’m Emily. It sure is nice to meet you. You must be what…about four years old?” The girl nodded. “You know when I was about your age my daddy used to bring me here. My favorite thing was Sam’s blueberry pancakes.” She leaned closer to the child and whispered. “You want to try some?”

      When there wasn’t any answer, the stranger said, “My niece is a little shy with strangers.”

      Reece McKellen didn’t expect Sophie to answer the waitress. She hadn’t said more than a few dozen words to him since she’d come to live with him nearly a month ago. Not that he blamed her. She’d been through far too much for a child. If it were possible he wanted to erase all the bad from her short life. Right now, it was going to be a full time job trying to reassure the child that he wouldn’t abandon her like everyone else in her short life.

      “You can bring us both the blueberry pancakes and two glasses of milk.”

      “Good choice,” the waitress said and tossed him another smile.

      Reece watched the pretty brunette walk off and felt a stir of awareness. She had large blue eyes and a full wide mouth that would tempt any man. Her fitted uniform outlined a shapely body and her long trim legs got his blood pumping. He shifted on his stool. A month ago he wouldn’t hesitate to give someone like Emily his full attention, but his once solitary life had changed drastically in a matter of weeks.

      Now, he had the responsibility of his niece. Somehow he had to figure out how to take care of a child and fulfill his commitment on this new job.

      Already the social worker assigned to his niece’s case wasn’t happy that he had taken Sophie out of state and on location for the next few months. But what else could he do? He needed