Cowboy Under the Mistletoe: Edge of the Outback Romance, #1

By Suzanne Gilchrist and S E Gilchrist

After three long years, Rachel's ex-boyfriend returns to Sturt's Crossing, to compete in the Christmas Rodeo.

 

Still the practical old-fashioned girl who wants a quiet family life in her home town, she's never succeeded in replacing him in her heart. Perhaps this is the perfect opportunity to sate an itch that never really faded. Then she can forget him and move on with her life.

But Chris has plans of his own; one of which is proving to Rachel he's no longer a footloose cowboy. adrenaline junky cowboy.

 

The other involves a sprig of mistletoe.

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Cowboy under the Mistletoe is a love story about second chances and forgiving the past. If you love reading about small towns and rural communities then you'll love this romance series – similar to books by Barbara Hannay, Bella Andre, Melody Grace, Nora Roberts, Maisey Yates, Sarah Williams, Susanne Bellamy, Annie Seaton, Fiona McArthur, Heidi McLaughlin.
This is the 2nd edition of Cowboy Under the Mistletoe which has been rebranded under the author's new writing name for contemporary, sweet romances, Suzanne Gilchrist, and is now part of the Edge of the Outback romance series. This version contains revised and additional content.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mallee Star Enterprises
• Release date: Dec 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9780648451006

Book preview

Chapter 1

Rachel slipped the bolt and entered the pen of the prize-winning sow of the Sturt’s Crossing Christmas Rodeo and Show. Piglets scattered and tumbled about her feet when she approached the snuffling animal. It sniffed the air, must have caught her scent for the sow lowered her head and returned to nosing amongst the hay on the ground.

You remember me, don’t you girl. Rachel grinned and ran a gentle hand along the animal’s spine.

The pig grunted.

How are you feeling after giving birth to twelve babies? If it were me, I’d be in bed for a month.

Who are you talking to Rach?

The sudden voice made Rachel jump and the sow flinch from her touch. Gosh Rosanne, couldn’t you have called out or something? You almost gave me a heart attack.

Rubbish. Her sister grinned around the top of the straw poking out of a Coke can and sucked nosily.

Should you be guzzling that lolly water in your condition? Rachel straightened from where she’d been checking the sow’s belly and waved a hand towards her sister. Gestational diabetes is no picnic.

Duh. Doc said I was in perfect health when I saw him yesterday.

That doesn’t mean you should slacken off.

Give over, Rach. Rosanne rolled her eyes. The way you nag everyone, you’ll never snag a guy.

Rachel hunched her shoulders and returned to her examination. I’m quite happy with the way my life is, thank you very much. Her thoughts immediately winged to one guy in particular and his twinkling blue eyes. Liar, liar, pants on fire. Apparently time had done little to douse the ache and the 'may-have-beens' whenever she thought of him.

One of us has to be responsible, she added through a clenched jaw. She finished with the pig, gave the animal an affectionate pull on its cute little ears then crossed to her sister’s side.

I’m the eldest so you should take my advice. Rosanne crumpled the empty can in her hand, her rosebud mouth puckered into a childish pout that had garnered her everything she’d ever asked for when they were kids.

Pity it no longer worked on Rosie’s husband. A fact Rachel had recently discovered much to her horror.

What am I going to do?

Goaded, partly from irritation and partly from anxiety, Rachel sniped, Maybe I will. When you grow up and face reality.

Did you get out of the wrong side of bed this morning or what? Rosanne blew out a noisy, dramatic sigh.

Sorry sis. Rachel pressed her fingertips to where a pulse of tension pounded into her temple. You’re right. I’m being a total bitch today. Forgive me?

Of course. She stepped away from the gate so Rachel could walk through. I know something’s been worrying you for days. What is it? Can I help?

The genuine concern in her sister’s voice twisted the guilt Rachel felt for being snarky. She’d spent the past three weeks stewing over the problem that had haunted her day and night with the result here she was taking it out on Rosie.

Should I fess up?

From under her lashes, she eyed her sister while she re-fastened the bolt and ensured the sow and her family were safely behind bars.

If only I knew what to do for the best. I wish there was someone I could talk too.

However, after years of their family looking to her to solve their problems, Rachel felt unable to voice her own concerns. She’d always kept her thoughts and feelings to herself; unlike her sister who had no qualms about gushing forth even to total strangers on everything and anything. Carefree, optimistic and completely impervious to the realities of life, Rosanne appeared to live in a fantasy world where everything and everyone was perfect and rosy. Although lately, Rachel had caught her sister staring into space, a fixed expression marring her pretty features, as if she didn’t like the direction of her thoughts. Or was contemplating a difficult decision.

But perhaps she’d imagined those shadows in Rosie’s normally clear eyes? There certainly was no indication now her sister had anything more serious in her mind other than enjoying the day.

Rachel twitched her shoulders, as a cold shiver flashed down her spine. She was the go-to girl; the practical one, the tough one. The one who saw the world for what it was – challenging and fraught with difficult decisions. She was the one with her life all mapped out in front of her.

Yeah, and look at the mess I’ve made of it so far.

Rosie squinted before tossing the empty can through the air, laughing when the can landed neatly inside a plastic garbage bin. And she scores!

Rachel sighed.

I can never tell her. It would destroy her. Besides, she has, what, two or three weeks to go before her baby is due? With luck I’ll have a solution and our lives will be back to normal.

But why did she have the distinct feeling it wasn’t going to be that simple?

Leading the way out of the shed, she muttered, It’s been a busy week what with the rodeo and the cattle injured in that road train crash last week.

"Oh, yes. I forgot. That