A Match Made In Texas
To escape a scandal in England, Violet Brookfield is sent to her brother’s ranch in Texas. Soon she discovers that the vibrant new world and rugged trail boss Raleigh Masterson are perfect material for the Western she’s writing. And when her time is up, she’ll return to the nobleman she left behind.
Violet is the most elegant female ever to set foot in Simpson Creek, and Raleigh is sure she’ll never stay. He has no business falling for the beautiful aristocrat. But soon Violet makes a place for herself in the Hill Country—and in his heart. Now if only he can convince her that she belongs there forever….
“I’ve never met a writer before.” He let his admiration show in his voice.
Violet turned back to him, surprised. “You’re
the first person who’s ever called me a writer, Raleigh Masterson. Even Gerald doesn’t—” She stopped suddenly, as if she’d said too much.
“Who’s Gerald?” he asked.
“Gerald is the man I’m in love with. He’s the Earl of Lullington.” She spoke so softly that he had to strain to hear, but when he made sense of her words, his heart sank. Of course she’d found someone to love, someone who was titled and wealthy, as she was. He’d been a fool to think otherwise.
“I’m surprised you could leave him for so long,” he said.
“I didn’t have a choice. My brother thinks if he separates us for a time, I’ll forget about Gerald. But I won’t, of course.”
There was an uncertain look in her eyes, as if she couldn’t speak with confidence about her beau’s feelings for her.
“I’m sure no man in his right mind could forget about you, Miss Violet.”
LAURIE KINGERY
makes her home in central Ohio, where she is a “Texan-in-exile.” Formerly writing as Laurie Grant for the Harlequin Historical line and other publishers, she is the author of eighteen previous books and the 1994 winner of a Readers’ Choice Award in the Short Historical category. She has also been nominated for Best First Medieval and Career Achievement in Western Historical Romance by RT Book Reviews. When not writing her historicals, she loves to travel, read, participate on Facebook and Shoutlife and write her blog on
Hill Country Cattleman
Laurie Kingery
Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
so easily doth beset us, And let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
—Hebrews 12:1
To my “adopted sisters”
Carole Tyson and “Tudie” Metzer.
Thanks for being part of my family!
And as always, to Tom.
Contents
Chapter One
Simpson Creek, Texas—July 7, 1868
“Simpson Creek!” the driver called out as the coach rolled onto the bridge over the creek that had given the town its name.
“Thank goodness,” grumbled Violet’s brother Edward, Viscount Greyshaw, rubbing his back and glancing resentfully at the top of the coach after the driver hit yet another rut. He grabbed for the overhead strap to steady himself. “He does that on purpose,” he muttered, then added, for the hundredth time, “I don’t know why Nick chose to live so far from the coast. Barbaric place, Texas. Too big by half.”
Normally, her elder brother was the kindest of men, but the two of them had been on the road for several days now, first on the stage line that ran from Indianola, on the Gulf coast, to Austin. They’d had to cool their heels in the Texas capital for several days until Friday, when the stage to Lampasas ran again. Once in Lampasas, however, they had learned
