The Rancher (21 page)

Authors: Lily Graison

Tags: #historical romance, #cowboy, #western romance, #frontier romance, #historical western romance, #cowboy romance, #pioneer romance, #wild west romance

Everyone was still in the
parlor, expectant looks on their faces. A small shake of Morgan's
head, and Holden heaved a sighed. He hadn't missed it.

He stood in the doorway, the
urge to pace the room strong as shadows started creeping into the
room. He heard Alex, her voice pitched low as she entertained
Elizabeth, Morgan and Abigail's daughter. He glanced to Sarah, a
smile on her face as she played with her infant daughter,
Catherine, Colt watching on as he held Emma.

The tension drained from his
shoulders as he turned his gaze to Tristan and Emmaline. His
brother was lifting his pregnant wife's feet, forcing them onto a
stool, and the scowl Emmaline shot him never reached her eyes.

His entire family had gathered,
all of them clustered together in the parlor and his father lifted
his head when a shrill cry filled the house. James stood, and
looked toward Holden. "Better get on up there, boy. They don't
scream like that for nothing."

Holden turned, fairly raced up
the stairs, and met Abigail as she walked out into the hall. She
was smiling, tears clinging to her lashes and she laid one hand to
his arm before motioning inside the room with a tilt of her head.
"Go on in."

He waited until she left the
hall before looking into the room. Laurel was pale, dark shadows
lay under her eyes like bruises, but the smile on her face couldn't
be missed. She glanced up at him, her smile widening before she
looked at the squirming bundle in her arms.

"Come meet your son,
Holden."

He entered the room, his heart
slamming against his ribcage as he approached the bed. His knees
gave out when he reached it and he sank into the mattress, his gaze
riveted to the pink, wriggling baby. His son. He laughed, reached
over to run his hand lightly atop his head, mussing the dark tufts
of downy curls. "He's perfect." He cleared his throat, dislodging
the lump forming, and looked up. "You're okay?"

Laurel nodded her head. "I've
never felt more alive."

Alex burst into the room, her
eyes wide. "You're not gonna die?"

Laurel laughed. "Not for a very
long time." She held her arm out, motioning Alex closer. "Come say
hello to your brother."

Holden stood, allowing Alex to
join Laurel on the bed and watched his family, huddled in the
blankets of his bed. His brother's and sister-in-laws crowded
outside the door, all their faces lit with smiles.

He caught Laurel's gaze, felt
his heart soar when she whispered, "I love you," and the fear he'd
been secretly holding onto for the last nine months evaporated in
an instant. She was strong, his wife. She wouldn't leave him. She
wouldn’t die. He wouldn't let her even if she tried.

The End

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Coming Soon

His Brother's Wife

A Willow Creek Novel

When

Grace
Kingston

accepts a wedding proposal through a mail-order bride agency
and travels across country to be married, she has no idea her
bridegroom is a fourteen-year-old boy. There’s no way she can
accept his offer but with depleted funds, and winter coming on,
Grace has little choice but to stay. Things go from bad to worse
when she meets Jesse’s older brother, Rafe. The attraction is
immediate. He’s surly, rude and downright pig-headed but he makes
her pulse race with a single glance.

Rafe
Samuels

thought to teach his brother a lesson by making him take
responsibility for his rash behavior but one look at Grace and his
plans go up in smoke. She isn’t the dowdy spinster he imagined and
having her live in his house and not be able to have her is the
worst kind of torment. But putting her out of his mind is
impossible.

As winter
drags on, Grace finds that living with the two brothers is more
burden than pleasure. Jesse still thinks marriage is in the cards,
and Rafe is a devilishly handsome distraction she doesn’t need. She
can’t decide if he hates her or wants to kiss her. How can she
avoid
breaking Jess’s heart when it
becomes clear that the attraction between her and Rafe is
mutual?

His Brother's Wife is a
full-length, stand-alone novel that takes place in Willow
Creek.

About the Author

LILY GRAISON
resides in North Carolina, a stones throw away from the Blue Ridge
Mountains and a few hours from the Outer Banks. First published in
2005, her debut novel won a Reviewers Choice Award.

Writing in the
Western, Contemporary and Paranormal Romance genres, she has penned
over a dozen novels and novellas.

When not writing, Lily can be found at her sewing
machine creating 1800’s Period Dresses or curled up in a chair with
a book in her hand.

For more about Lily Graison,
visit any of the following websites:

Website:
http://lilygraison.com/

Blog:
http://lilygraison.blogspot.com/

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https://twitter.com/#!/LilyGraison

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Newsletter:
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Email
Lily:

[email protected]

If you enjoyed this book, check
out other books by this author:

Western Romance

The Lawman (Willow Creek #1)