Mail Order Bride: Widow Wants To Help The Cowboy Widower In Arizona

By Beth Overton

A widow who lost her child as well travels to a cattle rancher cowboy in Arizona and is anxious to learn all about his business, if the weather and some other conditions will let her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beth Overton
• Release date: Feb 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310306648

Beth Overton

Beth Overton lives in Northern California with her husband and three cats. Besides writing romances, she loves to read everything she can get her hands on, as well as cooking up gourmet delights for her entire family.

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Mail Order Bride: Widow Wants To Help The Cowboy Widower In Arizona

By

Beth Overton

Copyright 2016 Quietly Blessed & Loved Press

Synopsis: A widow who lost her child as well travels to a cattle rancher cowboy in Arizona and is anxious to learn all about his business, if the weather and some other conditions will let her.

Luke’s eyes were half shut and he almost slid out of the saddle but caught himself. He chuckled and shook his head vigorously to knock the sleep out of him. He figured that’s what happens when you have to get up almost in the middle of the night to fix a broken fence so the cattle don’t get out. It was just light enough not to need a lantern. He would be at the damaged area in only ten minutes.

On his right side, John, his young ranch hand was riding straight up in his saddle, not looking the least bit tired. Luke consoled his pride by telling himself that it was John’s job to stay up most of the night making sure everything was okay with the cattle. They were expensive and Luke was depending on a big monetary gain at the auction house this season. His meat was going to be prime. He could tell.

The cows looked strong and healthy and were giving birth to calves in droves. His herd had doubled in only a few years.

That’s precisely what had led to the broken fence. He had new calves that were rambunctious and kept trying to kick and jump at the fence posts. Their hooves had beat against the fence so many times in that section, it had weakened and they broke through.

John had already gone out in search of and brought back the two calves that had gone through the fence. They were corralled in a different area. Luke tried to keep himself awake by thinking about the exciting days to come, when a new woman would be in his life.

You doin’ all right, Luke? John asked him, his voice slightly higher than most of the boys his age.

Luke looked at him and grinned wide.

Yes, I’m not used to being up this early in the morning. I’ve got about three hours before I’m supposed to be up.

Sorry, boss.

John ran one long-fingered hand through dark locks of wavy hair.

It’s okay, I appreciate you letting me know about the fence.

I would have fixed it myself but I didn’t know where the tools are and there’s a part of it that…

…is broken so you don’t really know what to do about it. Yes, I remember when you told me earlier, John. Really, it’s okay. We will be done in no time at all.

John’s slender pale face reddened slightly. He was obviously ashamed that he hadn’t been able to fix the fence himself. Luke figured that’s what it was anyway. If it was something else, he couldn’t imagine what it could be.

Where’s Charlie? John asked.

Luke shook his head.

Didn’t want his help this morning. We can handle this.

He wants to help out.

Luke nodded.

I know.

When they reached the broken section, Luke saw immediately why John had needed his help. Both the fence posts on the side had collapsed toward the middle. The two horizontal posts had broken in the middle and were now jammed tightly into the ground. He surveyed the situation and formed a plan in his mind to get it fixed.

Unfortunately, what he had said to John earlier had been wrong. It wasn’t likely they would be done with this repair job quickly. John knew