Cowboy Sanctuary
Elle James
www.millsandboon.co.uk
MILLS & BOON
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This book is dedicated to my fellow authors in the
BODYGUARDS UNLIMITED, DENVER, CO series who helped provide inspiration and the glue to stick this project together. And to the amazing editors, Sean Mackiewicz and Allison Lyons, who dreamed up the story line and who invited me to be a part of the project, thank you.
Special thanks and acknowledgment
are given to Elle James for her contribution to the
BODYGUARDS UNLIMITED, DENVER, CO miniseries.
Contents
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Epilogue
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Cameron MorganThe black sheep of the Morgan family and bodyguard for Prescott Personal Securities returns to his home to convince his family and their feuding neighbors they are in danger.
Jennie WardOnce in love with Cameron despite their two families differences, she refused to leave her father and the ranch when Cameron left ten years ago. How can she protect her heart from the danger of falling in love again?
Evangeline PrescottThe owner of Prescott Personal Securities who assigns Cameron to help the ranch owners.
Tom MorganOwner of the Bar M Ranch and Camerons stubborn father. Will he ever forgive his son for loving the enemys daughter?
Logan MorganCamerons moody brother. Why is he still so angry at Cameron?
Brad CarterHired hand on the Morgan ranch. Is he there to only help himself?
Hank WardOwner of the Flying W and Jennies father. Will the attempts on his life leave Jennie to run the ranch on her own?
Vance FranklinJennies husband who died eight years ago.
Doug SweeneyHank Wards longtime ranch hand.
Stan KellerThe Flying W ranch foreman and Hank Wards old friend.
Rudy TolerThe youngest ranch hand on the Flying W.
Prologue
Jennie Ward fought to stay in the saddle as Lady bucked beneath her like a green filly on her first ride. What was wrong with her? The eight-year-old mare hadnt behaved like this since she saw that six-foot diamond-back rattlesnake two years ago.
No matter how accomplished a rider, Jennie knew she wouldnt last long at the rate Lady was jerking her around. She had to get off or be thrown off.
Clutching the saddle horn for balance, she decided that on the count of three, shed jump. OnetwoJennie kicked her feet free of the stirrupsthree! As Lady hit the ground in a bone-jarring, stiff-legged bounce, Jennie shoved against the saddle, launching herself into the air and as far away from the frantic horse as she could manage.
She landed on her hands and knees, rocks gouging her kneecaps, tearing through her denim jeans. Her head banged against the ground, and her vision blurred for a split second. She couldnt pass out. Not here. Not with a thousand-pound quarter horse thrashing around her. She tucked her arms and legs close to her body and rolled to the side to avoid the horses hooves. As soon as she was clear, she scrambled to her feet and scurried behind a tree.
Lady tossed around for another minute before she halted in the middle of the field, flanks lathered and quivering.
When Jennie approached, the horses eyes rolled and she backed away, whinnying a warning.
Jennie cast a quick glance around at the ground. She couldnt see a snake, varmint or anything resembling one. Whats wrong with you, girl? She eased forward, speaking in a soft crooning voice, holding her hand out for the mare to sniff. When she stood close enough, she snagged the reins and patted the mares neck. Its okay. Shhhhh. I wont hurt you, baby.
The dusky black mare danced in a semicircle straining against the hold Jennie had on the reins. After the horse quieted, Jennie eased alongside her and ran her hand down the horses legs, searching for signs of injury.
The horses legs appeared to be fine. When Jennie bent to lift the back left leg to examine Ladys hoof, something warm and wet dripped across her temple. Reaching up, she brushed the moisture from her face with her hand. She glanced down at her fingers where bright red liquid stood out against the light gray of her work gloves.
Blood? Had she cut her head when she fell? She yanked the gloves from her hands, reached up to where shed hit her head and found a small lump the size of a quarter against her hairline. When she brought her hand down, there was no blood.
Then she looked at the horse. Blood soaked the multicolored saddle blanket and dripped to the ground below. Holy smokes, Lady. What the hell happened?
Jennie led the horse to the nearest tree, tied her up, giving her very little slack from her head to the tree. Skimming her fingers along the horses neck, she worked her hands over to the saddle, the source of the horses obvious pain.
What was causing the bleeding? Lady had been fine when shed saddled up less than fifteen minutes earlier.
She laid the stirrup gently over the top of the saddle, talking to the horse the entire time. With one hand she loosened the cinch strap and pulled it free. Using as much care as she could muster, Jennie eased the saddle from the horses back, lifting it straight up and off. Lady leaned hard against the reins, swinging her backside away from Jennie and the saddle.
The sheepskin lining on the underside of the saddle was soaked in blood as was the blanket still on the horses back.
When Jennie lifted the blanket, Lady whimpered, her ears laid back and her withers twitched. Jutting out of the middle of a bloody patch was the metal corner of a razor blade.
Oh my God. No wonder Lady tried to throw her. The entire time shed been riding, the razor dug deeper into the horses flesh. Ladys back was clean when shed tossed the blanket over her in the barn.
Jennie raised the blanket and found a cut in the middle where the razor had sliced through. An inspection of the saddle revealed another cut buried in the sheepskin underside.