THEY ONCE EXCHANGED THEIR WEDDING VOWS. NOW HE VOWS TO KEEP HER ALIVE.
Shed been his wife for barely a day and now FBI agent Tuck Thunder Horse was responsible for identifying her body. So he was more than shocked when Julia Anderson turned up very much aliveand on the run. Julia confessed to witnessing a murder and now needs Tuck to help her stay aliveand protect the baby he hadnt known shed had.
Julia and Tucks marriage might not have lasted, but there was no time for recriminations with a killer on their trail. As Tuck struggles to put their painful past behind them, he cant help but find himself overwhelmed by his love for his little daughterand his still-burning passion for Julia. Unable to trust anyone but each other, they know working together is the only way to safeguard their child. Could their one-day marriage turn into a lifelong adventure?
Ill keep an eye outyou feed your daughter. Unless youre afraid of a baby?
Im not afraid of my daughter. Tuck gathered Lily into his arms and held out his hand for the bottle. What do I do?
Stick it in her mouth. She knows what to do next. All you have to do is hold her.
As he cradled his daughter, a surge of love filled every corner of his soul. Tucks heart swelled, so he could barely breathe. Shes beautiful. Hed never experienced anything as painfully wonderful as holding his own child in his arms. Thank you for having her.
Im sorry, Tuck. I should have told you about Lily. You had a right to know your daughter. And she had a right to know her father.
Tuck could barely speak. Even with killers waiting for them, he was afraid to ruin this perfect moment.
Thunder Horse Heritage
Elle James
www.millsandboon.co.uk
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A Golden Heart Award winner for Best Paranormal Romance in 2004, Elle James started writing when her sister issued a Y2K challenge to write a romance novel. She managed a full-time job, raised three wonderful children and she and her husband even tried their hands at ranching exotic birds (ostriches, emus and rheas) in the Texas Hill Country. Ask her, and shell tell you what its like to go toe-to-toe with an angry 350-pound bird! After leaving her successful career in information technology management, Elle is now pursuing her writing full-time. She loves building exciting stories about heroes, heroines, romance and passion. Elle loves to hear from fans. You can contact her at ellejames@earthlink.net or visit her website at www.ellejames.com .
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CAST OF CHARACTERS
Tuck Thunder HorseLakota Indian, North Dakota rancher and FBI special agent assigned close to home at the Bismarck, North Dakota, branch office. He didnt believe in love at first sight until it happened to him a year before. Now he doesnt believe in love at all.
Julia AndersonA schoolteacher who left Tuck on the night of their wedding, who seeks his help to protect her and her daughter.
Lily AndersonJulias four-month-old baby girl.
Jillian AndersonJulias sister and FBI special agent, who found trouble while visiting Julia.
Ray MullinsFBI supervisory special agent and Jillian Andersons boss at regional headquarters in Minneapolis.
Dante Thunder HorseTucks brother, and a helicopter pilot for the North Dakota branch of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Pierce Thunder HorseTucks older brother and fellow FBI special agent now assigned to the Bismarck office.
Walter PickettNational Indian Gambling Commission representative in charge of overseeing the Running Buffalo Casino at Fort Yates.
Timothy WilksCasino manager of the Running Buffalo Casino in Fort Yates, North Dakota.
Josh BehlingTucks friend and partner at the Bismarck FBI branch office.
Contents
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 One
Tuck Thunder Horse stared at his phone, debating leaving it off as his plane taxied to the gate in Bismarck, North Dakota. Off duty for the moment, with nothing on his docket but a rest and recuperate order to close out his latest FBI assignment, the idea was tempting. And after endless debriefing sessions followed by seven hours in transit from Quantico, Virginia, all he really wanted was to find a bed to fall into.
His sense of responsibility wouldnt let him ignore duty. He switched the phone on and groaned as it immediately started beeping. He had no fewer than five messages and three texts. What could be so all-fired important? His supervisor knew he was on his way back to North Dakota, and his family didnt expect him until later that night. His heartbeat kicked up a notch. Had something happened on the ranch?
Two of the three text messages read Listen to your voice mail and were from a buddy of his, Josh Behling, assigned with him to the FBIs Bismarck satellite office. He and Josh went back to initial FBI training at Quantico. Their training days and a few missions that had tested their strength and mettle had forged a friendship that had lasted through the years. He looked forward to seeing his friend.