Family
Trust
Romance
Love
Homecoming
Friends to Lovers
Secret Baby
Small Town Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Second Chance Romance
Marriage of Convenience
Second Chance at Love
Hurt/comfort
Protective Male Lead
Single Parent
Secrets
Authorship
Home
Second Chances
Ranch Life
About this ebook
Can anyone heal this rugged rancher’s broken heart?
Volunteer firefighter Jake McGregor can’t believe it when he arrives to the scene of a burning house, and finds out that someone in his small town has committed arson. When he looks into the frightened eyes of Faith Walker, he can’t imagine who would want to hurt her or her son, so why was the fire intentionally lit?
Faith has only been back in town a week, and already she’s wishing she’d never returned. Until handsome cowboy Jake rescues her and invites her to stay at his ranch, her old home town has been nothing short of unwelcoming. When she was sent away years ago, as a teenager and pregnant, she had hoped to never come back. Her dad turned his back on her, and she'd learned to fend for herself – the hard way.
Jake doesn’t particularly want a woman in his life, but he can’t turn Faith away. He’s been a bachelor since his fiancée died in a car crash five years before, and that’s how he wants to stay. Even if staying away from Faith starts to feel like the hardest task he’s ever endured...
Soraya Lane
Writing romance for Harlequin Mills & Boon is truly a dream come true for Soraya. An avid book reader and writer since her childhood, Soraya describes becoming a published author as “the best job in the world”. Soraya lives with her own real life hero and son on a small farm in New Zealand, surrounded by animals and with an office overlooking a field where their horses graze. Visit Soraya at www.sorayalane.com
Read more from Soraya Lane
His Unexpected Baby Bombshell Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Navy SEAL's Promise Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
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Reviews for Rescued by the Rancher
7 ratings1 review
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Two people with their own losses who find each other during an fire that leads them to get to know each other and eventually to their HEA.
Book preview
Rescued by the Rancher - Soraya Lane
RESCUED BY THE RANCHER
SORAYA LANE
RESCUED BY THE RANCHER
SORAYA LANE
Copyright © Soraya Lane 2013
Edited by Laura Bradford of Bradford Literary Agency
Cover by Mixing Ink Design
Smashwords edition
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form is forbidden without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this book.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Soraya is represented by Bradford Literary Agency.
To contact Soraya, visit her website www.sorayalane.com, on twitter @Soraya_Lane or email her: soraya.lane@yahoo.com
Also by Soraya Lane
The Montana series:
Montana Reunion
Montana Homecoming
Montana Christmas
Montana Legacy (coming soon!)
Other titles:
Voyage of the Heart
The Billionaire in Disguise
Her Soldier Protector
The Returning Hero
Patchwork Family in the Outback
Rescued by the Rancher
The Soldier’s Sweetheart
Mission: Soldier to Daddy
The Navy SEAL’s Promise
The Navy SEAL’s Bride
Back in the Soldier’s Arms
Rodeo Daddy
The Army Ranger’s Return
Soldier on Her Doorstep
Note From Soraya
Once again, I need to say a huge thank you to Laura Bradford, my agent and self publishing partner, for the enormous amount of work she puts into so many of my books. Laura, your advice and editing is second to none! I also want to say thank you to my super supportive family – my mom, dad, husband and gorgeous young son. Writing can be a very solitary business, and I’m so fortunate to be surrounded by people who willingly support my career as an author.
I hope you enjoy reading RESCUED BY THE RANCHER as much as I enjoyed writing it. For more information on my upcoming or past releases, I’d love you to visit my website.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Preview – Montana Reunion
CHAPTER ONE
JAKE McGregor stretched, eyes still shut against the dark, and reached for his phone. He only left it beside his bed for one reason, and the ring tone told him it was urgent.
Yeah?
He was exhausted. An entire day of working horses, and now a call-out in the middle of the night. Great.
We need you, Jake. Fire in town.
Jake threw the sheets off and glanced at the clock. See you at the station as soon as I can.
He hung up without saying goodbye and quickly pulled on his jeans, not caring that they were dirty and crumpled from being on the floor, then tugged a t-shirt on. The longer it took him to get into town, the less likely it was that the fire would be out before sun up. He reached for his sweater and paused to give his dog a rub on the head.
Won’t be long, buddy. Sit tight.
He left the dog on the bed and ran out the door.
Part of him hated being a volunteer fire fighter – knowing that the scene could be grisly – but the other part of him wanted to make a difference, whatever the stakes.
After Rachel had died, he’d realized how important the fire crew was. And with only a small team in town, they needed volunteers when something major happened. Which was why his heart was hammering just thinking about what he might see tonight. He wasn’t often called out, and when he was it was usually for something pretty bad.
Jake gunned the engine into life and planted his foot on the accelerator. He had to get into town. And fast.
Faith Walker was determined not to cry. She kept her chin up and held her son closer to her. If Thomas’ wobbly lip was anything to go by he was about to start sobbing, and the last thing he needed was to see her upset, too.
She couldn’t believe they’d even made it out in time. The thirsty red flames were licking their way around the house, sending dark clouds of smoke billowing up into the air. A small crowd had gathered but no one was coming over to offer support – the curious onlookers seemed more interested in gossiping than helping out a stranger.
Only she wasn’t technically a stranger around here.
How are you feeling now?
Faith looked up as a paramedic stood in front of her. She took the blanket he held out, grateful to be able to wrap her son in it.
We’re okay, I guess.
He smiled and gave her a squeeze on the shoulder. We’re all just pleased you got out in time.
Faith smiled, but it wasn’t easy. He might be happy she’d gotten out, but whoever had started the blaze had made their intentions clear.
Mind if I take the little guy to check him over?
She hesitated, not wanting to let him leave her side. I’ll come, too.
The paramedic gave her an understanding smile. You might want to talk to the investigator alone. I promise I’ll look after him.
Thomas gave her a terrified stare
You’ll be fine, honey. I’ll be with you before you know it,
she told him.
He reluctantly walked off, clinging to the hand of the paramedic like he was never going to let it go.
Faith watched him shuffle away. Her son was so precious to her, all she had now, and the thought that they could have perished in there…
Tears pricked her eyes all over again, but she refused to let them fall. It wasn’t even worth thinking about.
She dropped to the pavement and put her head down between her knees. Her brain felt like it was going to explode, her hands were shaking and she thought she might be sick.
When she’d moved back here, Faith had known there could be some old hostilities, but she hadn’t expected this.
Excuse me, ma’am.
Faith squeezed her eyes shut tight. She didn’t want to look up. The pounding had subsided slightly and she didn’t want to give it another excuse to come back.
Are you okay?
The deep voice made her eyes pop open. She saw a pair of heavy boots and dark trousers.
Faith sat up, slowly.
Ah, yeah. I’m okay,
she said.
The man frowned, dark eyebrows drawn together as he watched her. Faith stared back. He had dark eyes too, so dark they looked almost black. His hair was damp, messy around his ears, and she wondered if he was hot from working or wet from the hose.
He wasn’t wearing the official fire fighter uniform like the first guys who’d arrived had been, but he’d obviously been working on the house and he had a helmet tucked under his arm.
She looked back down at