Wedding at Cardwell Ranch. B.J. Daniels
JACKSON CARDWELL WON’T STOP UNTIL SHE IS SAFE.
In Montana for his brother’s nuptials, Jackson Cardwell isn’t looking to be anybody’s hero. But the Texas single father knows a beautiful lady in distress when he meets her. Someone’s hell-bent on making Allie Taylor think she’s losing her mind. Jackson’s determined to unmask the perp…and guard the widowed wedding planner and her little girl with his life.
Allie has no idea who wants to harm her and take her daughter away. The truth is even more shocking. For Allie’s past has stalked her to Cardwell Ranch. And not even the sexy cowboy who awakens irresistible passion may be able to save her from a killer with a chilling agenda.
The highly anticipated continuation of the Cardwell Ranch Collection, read by more than 2 MILLION!
“You can’t push me away.”
Jackson lifted her chin with his fingers so she couldn’t avoid his gaze. Their faces were only a few inches apart.
“What if I am crazy?” Allie’s voice broke. “Crazy like a fox?” The first of the fireworks exploded, showering down a glittering red, white and blue light on the meadow below them. The boom echoed in her chest as another exploded to the “oohs” and “ahhs” of the wedding party. She felt scalding tears burn her throat.
Jackson couldn’t bear to see Allie like this. He pulled her to him and, dropping his mouth to hers, kissed her. She leaned into him, letting him draw her even closer as the kiss deepened. Fireworks lit the night, booming in a blaze of glittering light before going dark again.
Desire ignited his blood. He wanted Allie like he’d never wanted anyone or anything before.
Wedding at Cardwell Ranch
B.J. Daniels
New York Times bestselling author B.J. DANIELS wrote her first book after a career as an award-winning newspaper journalist and author of thirty-seven published short stories. That first book, Odd Man Out, received a fourand-a-half-star review from RT Book Reviews and went on to be nominated for Best Intrigue that year. Since then, she has won numerous awards, including a career achievement award for romantic suspense and many nominations and awards for best book.
Daniels lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, and two springer spaniels, Spot and Jem. When she isn’t writing, she snowboards, camps, boats and plays tennis. Daniels is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Kiss of Death and Romance Writers of America.
To contact her, write to B.J. Daniels, PO Box 1173, Malta, MT 59538, USA, or e-mail her at [email protected]. Check out her website, www.bjdaniels.com.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Jackson Cardwell—The Texas cowboy only came to Montana with his son Ford to attend his brother Tag’s wedding, not to get involved with the wedding planner.
Allie Knight Taylor—The widowed wedding planner thought she was losing her mind—until she met the Texas cowboy and lost her heart.
Natalie Taylor—The five-year-old was worried about her mother, Allie. Did she have good reason to worry?
Belinda Andrews—The wedding photographer was Allie’s best friend. Or was she?
Megan Fairchild—Allie’s half sister only wanted what was best for her sister and niece, right?
Nick Taylor—While legally dead, he wasn’t forgotten, since he was still haunting his wife, Allie.
Drew Taylor—He wanted the woman his brother Nick had married. But was he willing to kill to have Allie?
Mildred Taylor—Everyone was afraid of the matriarch of the family and would do anything she asked. But how far would she go?
Sarah Taylor—To her mother’s disgust, she found solace in food and liked her life exactly as it was.
This is dedicated to my readers and my Facebook
friends who shared their “gaslighting” ideas and proved that they think as creepy me.
If you haven’t already, come say hello on my author
Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/BJ-Daniels/127936587217837.
Thanks for stopping by Cardwell Ranch!
Contents
Chapter One
Allison Taylor brushed back a lock of her hair and willed herself not to scream.
“Is something wrong?” her brother-in-law asked from the kitchen doorway, startling her and making her jump.
She dropped the heavy covered pot she’d taken from the pantry a little too hard onto the counter. The lid shifted, but not enough that she could see inside.
“Didn’t mean to scare you,” Drew Taylor said with a laugh as he lounged against the kitchen door frame. “I was cravin’ some of your famous chili, but I think maybe we should go out.”
“I just need a minute. If you could see to Natalie...”
“She’s still asleep. I just checked.” Drew studied her for a long moment. Like his brother,