Love Inspired January 2014 - Bundle 1 of 2: Her Unexpected Cowboy\His Ideal Match\The Rancher's Secret Son (17 page)

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Authors: Debra Clopton

BOOK: Love Inspired January 2014 - Bundle 1 of 2: Her Unexpected Cowboy\His Ideal Match\The Rancher's Secret Son

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She hardened her heart against what he was saying. She refused to let her guard down. “No, Rowdy. I'm damaged beyond repair in my mind and I can'tâ” A crash downstairs halted her words. Rowdy spun around and started for the stairs just as the nicker of a horse sounded and then hooves pounded on hard ground.

Running to the window, Lucy felt sick when she saw Tony galloping across the pasture like wolves were chasing him.

“Rowdy, it's Tony. He must have heard what I said.”

“Come on.” She raced down the stairs and didn't ask questions as she jumped into his truck. She held on as he backed out of the driveway as if they'd been shot out of a cannon.

“Where will he go?”

Rowdy didn't say anything. He turned into a drive a few yards down the road that led into a pasture of the Sunrise Ranch and drove over the cattle guard and into the pasture that stretched between her house and the ranch. Lucy studied his profile as they bounced over that rutted gravel road. They hadn't gone far when he detoured to another road and spun gravel, fishtailing to make the direction change. He was angry.

Everything about him radiated anger as they charged over the pasture in pursuit of Tony.

All she could think about were the scars on Tony's body. And the pain her words must have caused him.

She started praying. In the distance she glimpsed him, riding low as he and the horse practically flew up one hill and disappeared over the other. In the distance she could see the stable.

“He's going home.”

“Yes. He's going to the stable,” Rowdy said tersely, sounding as though he'd known exactly where Tony would go. “The place he feels safe.”

Lucy snapped her head to stare at Rowdy. His curt words had been matter-of-fact. “How do you know that?”

“When he first came to us, that was where we'd find him when things got too hard for him to handle. He'll go into a stall.”

When they reached the yard, Lucy was shocked to see the boys climbing out of the arena with looks of concern and curiosity on their faces as they headed toward the stable. Tony's horse was standing alone at the entrance, breathing hard. But Tony was nowhere to be seen.

Rowdy bailed out of the truck in an instant and she followed.

“Stop, guys. Let me go in by myself,” he commanded Wes and Joseph, who were almost at the entrance but had stopped when they saw Rowdy.

“He was flying when he rounded the arena and charged through here,” Joseph said.

“Flying,” Wes echoed, spitting a sunflower seed. “What's wrong with him, Rowdy?”

Lucy walked past them without answering. “Let me, Rowdy. I did this. I need to fix it.” Without waiting, she walked into the barn and started down the center of the alley. About halfway down she saw a stall gate slightly ajar. Tugging it open, she stepped inside. Tony was sitting in the cornerâhis knees drawn up and his arms folded over them with his head down.

After all the pain this kid had suffered, she'd just caused him more. It was unbearable to her. Foolish, foolish woman.

Swallowing the lump in her throat and praying for the right wordsâsomething she'd been sorely lacking of lateâshe sank down beside him in the soft hay. “Tony. I'm sorry.”

“It's nothing but the truth,” he said, not looking up. He swiped his face on his shirtsleeve. “I came to tell you that I met a girl.” His words were muffled against his arm.

Normally for a kid of fifteen, this would be no big deal, but Tony didn't talk to girls much. He was shy around them and she knew exactly why, just as most of the fellas did. His burns.

“I think that's wonderful,” she said, but he shook his head. “I know you worry about your scars.”

His head shot up and he glared at her. “I heard what you told Rowdy.”

Shame suffused Lucy.
I'm damaged beyond repair in my mind and I can'tâ
“I was so afraid,” she said, aching inside with regret. “Oh, Tony. It's complicated.”

“Yeah, it's easy to tell me one thing and believe another. You made me believe God would have a woman out there when I grow up. And for her my scars wouldn't matter.”

“Everything she said is true,” Rowdy said, entering the stall. “There will be someone out there who won't care. Who will love you with all their heart.”

He was talking to Tony, but Lucy knew he was also telling her.

“But the key will be whether you love that woman back. Because that's going to be the tough part, Tony. You'll have to love that person, too, because even if she doesn't have physical scars, she'll have warts of some kind. We all do. She'll have messed up. She won't be perfect. But if you love her enough to trust her with your heart and your scars, and to trust what God has done for you, then you have nothing to worry about.”

Tony was looking from Rowdy to Lucy.

“Is that how you feel about Lucy?”

Rowdy gave him a smile that melted her chilled, ashamed heart. He nodded. “I love Lucy, scars and all. Especially with her scars. But the question is, how does she feel about me?”

Tony and Rowdy were both looking at her.

“Don't let your scars stop you, Lucy,” Tony said, trying to give her courage. “Do you love him?”

Lucy nodded. How could she not after everything he'd just said? “I do love you, Rowdy.”

The words were soft, but they were sure. She held her hand up, and he took it and tugged her to her feet.

“Can you trust me with your heart and your scars? And to love you always?”

She knew she could. “Yes. I already do.”

A to-die-for smile flashed across his face and he pulled her into his armsâa sense of home sweet home swept through her at the ironclad strength that wrapped around her.

“Then you'll marry me?” he asked, looking deep into her eyes.

“Yes. Oh, yes, I will,” she said, and with the words her heart opened wide. Tony scrambled to his feet behind them and raced from the stall.

“They're gettin'
married!
” he shouted gleefully as he went.

Lucy laughed. “He's going to be okay.”

“And so are we,” Rowdy said. “You asked me not to kiss you again. But do you think you could make an exception and I could kiss you this once?”

Oh, how she loved this man. Touching his cheek with her palm, she drew his head toward her. “Would you kiss me forever, please?”

And that was all the encouragement he needed as Rowdy's lips met hers with a sigh. “I thought you'd never ask.”

“Hubba, hubba! That's what I'm talking about,” Wes said, and Lucy and Rowdy jerked apart to find all the boys crammed against the stall railing, peering at them. “Hey, don't stop on our account,” the teen said, holding up a hand. “Come on, fellas, let's give these two lovebirds some space.”

And with that, sixteen smiling faces backed up and followed their leader out of the barn.

“Now, where were we?” Rowdy asked, his eyes twinkling as he slipped an arm beneath her knees and swung her up and into his arms.

Lucy wrapped her arms around his neck. “Right where I've belonged from the first moment I met you,” she said.

“There you go, talking some sense now,” Rowdy chuckled, and kissed her again....

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from BAYOU SWEETHEART by Lenora Worth.

Dear Reader,

I'm so very thrilled that you joined me for
Her Unexpected Cowboy,
book two of my new Cowboys of Sunrise Ranch series! I hope you enjoyed your visit with the McDermotts and all the boys on the ranch and their friends in Dew Drop, Texas.

This book was very special to me because it deals with the scars, both emotional and physical, that Rowdy and Lucy were dealing with in their lives. I believe we all have scars of some kind, and they are challenging to come to terms with sometimes.

I was compelled by Rowdy's challenge to change his life. This is a challenge many face, and their strength, conviction, courage and inspiration to do so inspired me to write this story. I pray that if you have committed your life to the Lord and are looking to make a change, that you trust the Lord, focus on Him and take His lead in your new path. Pray that He will guide your steps and put people in your path who will help and encourage you. Realize, too, that sometimes changing means leaving some friends behind and building new and healthy relationships. Building a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the relationship that matters the most.

I love to hear from readers. You can reach me in any manner of ways! You can find me on Facebook at
facebook.com/debra.clopton.5
, Twitter @debraclopton, and Goodreads, too.

My website is www.
debraclopton.com
. Or if you prefer good old snail mail, you can reach me at Debra Clopton, P.O. Box 1125, Madisonville, Texas 77864.

God bless you in all you do!

Until next time, live, laugh and seek God with all your hearts!

Questions for Discussion

Rowdy had made a life-changing decision when we first met him. Why did he make this decision?
Lucy had lived through not one, but two life-changing experiences when we first met her. What were they?
Lucy and Rowdy met when she literally fell into his arms. Neither one of them was looking for a romance, but they felt the instant attraction that sparked between them. Have you ever had a life-changing opportunity that arrived in God's timing and not yours? How did you handle it?
Lucy was still dealing with the emotional scars left over from her husband's betrayal. The remodeling of her home was cathartic to herâshe found she loved knocking out walls. When you are feeling blue, do you believe physical release can help you better than sitting and worrying?
Tony believed no one would ever love him because of his scars. How did his friends help him? How did he help Lucy?
When Rowdy began to fall in love with Lucy, it was confusing to him because he had vowed not to begin a relationship for a year, as he waited to meet the woman God chose for him. But he was strongly tempted to break his vow. Has something like this ever happened to you in any area of your life? How did you deal with it?
Rowdy was trying to leave his checkered past behind him and live a better life. But it seemed that Lucy saw his imperfections and instantly didn't trust him. Why do you think her view of him mattered almost instantly to Rowdy?
As with Rowdy, when someone commits to changing their life and reforming their lifestyle, is it an easy thing? Sometimes living down your past is the hardest thing of all, but setting goals and seeking friend and family support is a good thing. Who were Rowdy's supporters?
How did Lucy hurt Tony? Tony said it was easy to tell someone else how to accept themselves, but it wasn't so easy to do if it's you who needs to accept the scars. Did Lucy realize she wasn't trusting God like she thought she was?
Did it take courage for Tony, Rowdy and Lucy to all deal with their scars? Do you have the courage you need to deal with your scars?