The Lonesome Rancher / Finding Happily-Ever-After: The Lonesome Rancher. Marie Ferrarella

       The Lonesome Rancher

      Patricia Thayer

       Finding Happily-Ever-After

      Marie Ferrarella

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      The Lonesome Rancher

      Patricia Thayer

      Dear Reader,

      This is my second book in THE QUILT SHOP IN KERRY SPRINGS series, and I hope you are enjoying the citizens of the small Texas town as much as I do writing about them.

      In The Lonesome Cowboy I’m back out at the ranch with the Merrick family. Besides their being a Texas ranching dynasty, there’s been a Merrick in the US Congress for the past three generations. Yet my hero, Sloan Merrick, the adopted son of Clay and Louisa, has no desire to leave the ranch.

      My heroine, Jade Hamilton, comes to the ranch in hopes of finding her biological father. Not for the fame or fortune that comes with the Merrick name, but to learn where she comes from. And, of course, what we all want: love. Just to feel a sense of belonging.

      Jade tries to tell herself that once she meets her father, Clay Merrick, she can walk away. What she doesn’t realise is how much the family will come to mean to her—especially Sloan. If he learns the truth, will she lose him too?

      Coming from such a large family, I know how lucky I am to have so many who love and care about me. I can’t imagine what it’s like when you learn you’re not who you think you are.

      Of course I’ll give Sloan and Jade their happy ending, but their journey will be an interesting one. Hope you enjoy the ride.

       Patricia Thayer

      About the Author

      Originally born and raised in Muncie, Indiana, PATRICIA THAYER is the second of eight children. She attended Ball State University, and soon afterwards headed West. Over the years she’s made frequent visits back to the Midwest, trying to keep up with her growing family.

      Patricia has called Orange County, California, home for many years. She not only enjoys the warm climate, but also the company and support of other published authors in the local writers’ organisation. For the past eighteen years she has had the unwavering support and encouragement of her critique group. It’s a sisterhood like no other.

      When she’s not working on a story, you might find her travelling the United States and Europe, taking in the scenery and doing story research while thoroughly enjoying herself, accompanied by Steve, her husband for over thirty-five years. Together they have three grown sons and four grandsons. As she calls them, her own true-life heroes. On rare days off from writing, you might catch her at Disneyland, spoiling those grandkids rotten! She also volunteers for the Grandparent Autism Network.

      Patricia has written for over twenty years, and has authored over thirty-six books. She has been nominated for both the National Readers’ Choice Award and the prestigious RITA^®. her book Nothing Short of a Miracle won a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice award.

      A long-time member of Romance Writers of America, she has served as President and held many other board positions for her local chapter in Orange County. She’s a firm believer in giving back.

      Check her website at www.patriciathayer.com for upcoming books.

      To my mother. You’re my hero.

      PROLOGUE

       BREAKING NEWS

      SENATOR CLAYTON MERRICK rushed home to Texas to be at his wife’s bedside after she suffered a stroke. A family spokesperson reports that Louisa Merrick is resting comfortably.

      Will this serious medical crisis mean this is the last term for the U.S. senator? More importantly, how does this affect the upcoming vote on the pending energy bill … and the Merrick political dynasty?

      CHAPTER ONE

      JADE HAMILTON was totally lost, in more ways than she could count.

      She pulled to the curb and parked her compact car on Main Street in Kerry Springs, Texas. The traffic was nearly nonexistent. Well, what did she expect? The population was under twenty thousand. Talk about your small town. Of course she knew that when she’d done her research on the area.

      She blew out a breath. This was one of those crossroad moments … her friend, fellow nurse, Carrie Bradley, had always talked about. Either she needed to get directions to the job interview, or forget this crazy idea and turn around and head back to Dallas.

      Then she’d never learn the truth. She had to know the truth.

      Sadness crept over her, thinking about the past few months. Jade hated the resentment she felt for the woman who’d raised her, yet they’d kept so many secrets. Now Renee Hamilton was gone and she couldn’t tell Jade anything. Anything about the information Jade had found in the safe-deposit box that would change her life forever.

      It was time she find out the entire truth. For her own satisfaction she needed answers. First, she had to find River’s End Ranch.

      With renewed determination, she climbed out of the car and looked along the street to see a hardware store, a drugstore and ice cream store. Then a storefront with a display of handmade quilts caught her eye. The name Blind Stitch Quilt Shop was embossed across the glass window. She smiled, remembering her childhood and the hours she’d spent learning how to stitch with her mother.

      Jade walked to the entrance, opened the door as a bell rang overhead. Inside the cool air mingled with the chatter of several women gathered around a cutting table. The salesclerk seemed to be busy so, having plenty of time before her appointment, Jade took the opportunity to look around the quaint shop. Several beautiful quilts adorned the high walls, underneath were stacks of pattern books and displays of scissors, needles and other notices. She strolled through the bolts of colorful fabric into a connecting room where another group of ladies were gathered around a table. She was surprised to see there was a man who was the center of attention.

      Jade enjoyed a leisurely gaze over the handsome guy. He held his Stetson in his hand so she could see his inky-black hair and dark, deep-set eyes. She recognized more than a hint of Hispanic heritage in his strong jawline.

      He was dressed in a starched cream-colored Western shirt, and new-looking pair of jeans, but he had on boots that were well-worn. She glanced down at his hands, and could see blunt-cut nails, also the callused fingers. He was definitely a working cowboy.

      In a quilt shop?

      “He’s pretty easy on the eyes, huh?”

      Jade swung around and found a pretty blonde about her age, smiling at her.

      “I’m sorry,” Jade admitted. “It’s rude to stare.”

      “It’s hard not to,” the woman said. “There are some good-looking men around Kerry Springs. I can say that since I’ve recently married the most handsome one, Evan Rafferty. Hi, I’m Jenny Rafferty.”

      “Jade Hamilton,” she said, smiling.

      “Welcome, Jade, to the Blind Stitch. What can I do for you? Sign you up for my quilting class, or …” She grinned, and then said, “Maybe introduce you to that good-looking cowboy.”

      Jade shook her head. She couldn’t get distracted from her goal. “Oh, no. I’m sorry, but I only came in to get directions.”

      “So are you looking for a place to live?”

      Jade found herself relaxing a little.