Shoulda Been A Cowboy

Charlotte Douglas

B and B owner Caroline Tuttle has dreamed of moving out west and marrying a cowboy ever since she saw her first horse. But with her recent inheritance of Blackberry Farm, Caroline's future seems bleak…until she meets her sexy, secretive tenant, Ethan Garrison, and a young orphan who breaks down both their defenses.Now all the plans that Caroline made–and thought she wanted–take a backseat to the warmth of the little girl's smile and Ethan's supportive embrace. And before long, the notion of leaving South Carolina doesn't seem quite so appealing….

“Memories are precious, especially when they’re all you have left.”

His face was partially hidden in shadow, but the raw pain in his voice kept his words from sounding like platitudes. Caroline had no doubt that Ethan had experienced his own losses.

She stood, intending to remove herself from the temptation of trying to learn more about him. “If you’re hungry later, feel free to raid the kitchen.”

He pushed to his feet and towered beside her, the tall, dark silhouette of her afternoon dream. “Thanks for your hospitality.”

He looked terrific, smelled even better, and Caroline struggled not to lean into him, to feel the warmth of his embrace again, the soft brush of his breath against her ear, the beat of his heart beneath her cheek.

Had she lost her mind?

She attributed her uncharacteristic impulses to grief.

“Sleep well,” she said, turned quickly and made her escape before she did something foolish, like standing on tiptoe to kiss him good-night.

Dear Reader,

In the words of an ancient Chinese saying, we live in interesting times. Due to tumultuous world events, we appreciate more than ever security, solace, acceptance and love as bulwarks against the troubles of the day. In my series A PLACE TO CALL HOME I’ve created a small town in upstate South Carolina, where love and acceptance, along with only the occasional mayhem, abound. For the residents of Pleasant Valley, friends are family, and family is everything.

In Shoulda Been a Cowboy, book four of the series, Pleasant Valley native Caroline Tuttle dreams of escaping the quiet little town and starting a new and adventurous life out west. But a surprise inheritance and the appearance of Ethan Garrison, a handsome Baltimore firefighter, throw a kink into her plans. Will Caroline find the cowboy of her dreams?

I hope you’ll enjoy Caroline’s story and also meeting Hannah, a young orphan, whose arrival in the valley has an impact on several lives.

Happy reading!

Charlotte Douglas

Shoulda Been a Cowboy

Charlotte Douglas

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The major passions of Charlotte Douglas’s life are her husband—her high school sweetheart to whom she’s been married for over four decades—and writing compelling stories. A national bestselling author, she enjoys filling her books with love of home and family, special places and happy endings. With their two cairn terriers, she and her husband live most of the year on Florida’s central west coast, but spend the warmer months at their North Carolina mountaintop retreat.

No matter what time of year, readers can reach her at charlottedouglas1@juno.com (mailto:charlottedouglas1@juno.com). She’s always delighted to hear from them.

Books by Charlotte Douglas

MILLS & BOON AMERICAN ROMANCE

591—IT’S ABOUT TIME

623—BRINGING UP BABY

868—MONTANA MAIL-ORDER WIFE* (#litres_trial_promo)

961—SURPRISE INHERITANCE

999—DR. WONDERFUL

1027—VERDICT: DADDY

1038—ALMOST HEAVEN† (#litres_trial_promo)

1049—ONE GOOD MAN† (#litres_trial_promo)

1061—SPRING IN THE VALLEY† (#litres_trial_promo)

Contents

Chapter One (#uf7609652-327d-541d-8688-3f090910791a)

Chapter Two (#u95e13600-f19c-544f-af22-bbc3301ca56f)

Chapter Three (#ud73ade5d-24d7-5722-9c72-24773ff55eba)

Chapter Four (#uc520c5e5-758c-5be5-9812-58e45663bc9c)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter