Rescuing Her Ranch: An Uplifting Inspirational Romance


 
 
 
 “I can pay my own way.”
 Macey folded her hand over Cole’s, crushing the money between his fingers. “No one said you couldn’t. But when someone else wants to do something nice for you, just say thank you.”
 “Thank you.” Heat warmed Cole’s neck.
 Macey looked at him hesitantly. “Aunt Lynetta asked me to check on Lexi. So if you don’t mind me taking a quick peek...”
 Grinning, Cole closed the storm door behind her. He nearly bumped into Macey as he turned around.
 He grabbed her arms as her hands flew to his shoulders. “Whoa. Sorry about that. I didn’t expect you to be so close.”
 He certainly didn’t mind, though.
 Being around Macey for the past couple of weeks ignited feelings he’d snuffed out after his ex-wife had left.
 But they were friends, and that was all they could be.
 The last thing he needed was to fall for the daughter of his uncle’s enemy.
 No matter how well she fit into their lives.
 
 
 Heart, home and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories with those elements comes naturally. Happily married for over thirty years to her real-life hero, she and her husband have two grown sons, and they are embracing their new season of grandparenting. Lisa enjoys quality time with her family, reading good books and being creative with friends. Learn more about her and her writing by visiting www.lisajordanbooks.com.
 Books by Lisa Jordan
 Love Inspired
 Lakeside Reunion
 Lakeside Family
 Lakeside Sweethearts
 Lakeside Redemption
 Lakeside Romance
 Season of Hope
 A Love Redeemed 
 The Father He Deserves
 His Road to Redemption
 Rescuing Her Ranch
 Visit the Author Profile page at LoveInspired.com.
 
 
 RESCUING HER RANCH
 Lisa Jordan
 
 
 
 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he shall direct thy paths.
 —Proverbs 3:5–6
 
 
 For Jeanette and Gabe Walter—you’re NF warriors and such blessings to so many! May your stories bless others and change their lives.
 
 
 Acknowledgments
 Lord, may my words glorify You.
 My family—Patrick, Scott, Mitchell, Sarah and Bridget. I love you forever.
 Thanks to Jeanne Takenaka and Alena Tauriainen for brainstorming, texting and calling when I was feeling overwhelmed by this story. Thanks to Dana R. Lynn and Christy Miller for being wonderful sounding boards. Thanks to my Novel Academy morning sprint crew for daily prayers and encouragement as I wrote this story.
 Thanks to Jeanette Walter, Jen Tezbir, Dalyn Weller and Jeanne Takenaka for your willingness to answer my research questions. Any mistakes are mine.
 Thanks to Cynthia Ruchti, my inspiring agent, and Melissa Endlich, my exceptional editor, for continually encouraging and inspiring me to grow as a writer. So thankful you’re on my team. And to the Love Inspired team who works hard to bring my books to print.
 
 
 Contents
 Chapter One
 Chapter Two
 Chapter Three
 Chapter Four
 Chapter Five
 Chapter Six
 Chapter Seven
 Chapter Eight
 Chapter Nine
 Chapter Ten
 Chapter Eleven
 Chapter Twelve
 Chapter Thirteen
 Chapter Fourteen
 Epilogue
 Dear Reader
 Excerpt from Her Amish Adversary by Vannetta Chapman
 
 
 Chapter One
 Macey was back where she started.
 But this time, instead of standing on Cole Crawford’s porch with tears streaking her makeup while blasting him for the humiliation he caused her, she was offering her help.
 Only because Everly, her baby sister, had begged her.
 Otherwise, she’d still be ignoring Cole like she’d been doing for the past decade.
 With her career—and quite possibly her reputation—ruined, Macey returned home. Disgrace drove her out of Denver where she’d been a nanny for the Crane family for the past six years—since graduating college with her degree in early childhood education.
 Maybe she should’ve waited until morning to leave the city instead of driving through the mountains, going thirty miles an hour while the blizzard howled and swirled around her.
 But she couldn’t stay a minute longer. Her broken heart pined for the security of home where no one could take advantage of her.
 With her car loaded down with nearly everything she owned and nowhere else to go, failure and shame chased her all the way back to Stone River, the cattle ranch nestled in the valley of the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado that had been in her family for three generations.
 Now, with an icy wind sliding down her back, Macey scuffed her boots on the snow-covered welcome mat. She glanced over her shoulder and nearly sprinted back to her still-warm car parked in front of Cole’s stone-face condo.
 But she couldn’t do that. She’d given her word.
 If she wasn’t jobless and slightly desperate at the moment, she wouldn’t have given in to Everly’s pleading.
 Tightening the hold on her tote bag, she drew in a steadying breath, released it slowly, then pressed the doorbell.
 The oak door trimmed in white opened, and Macey forced her jaws to stay closed.
 The tall, lanky kid with braces from her childhood had grown into a broad-shouldered man who filled the doorway with his presence. Worn jeans did little to disguise his muscular legs. His hoodie stretched over his broad shoulders as he held a little girl with blond curls in his arms. His square jaw sported a darkened shadow that couldn’t conceal the dimple in his left cheek. His dirty-blond hair had darkened to a rich brown. About the only thing unchanged were his eyes. They were still as blue as the Colorado sky.
 “Cole?”
 A smile stretched across his face, revealing even white teeth. He stepped back and opened the door wider. “Macey Stone. Hey. Come in.”
 She moved into the foyer, and he closed the door behind her. The heated interior warmed her cold cheeks as she breathed in the scent of freshly brewed coffee in the air.
 He shifted the little girl, who had the same blue eyes as her daddy, to his other arm. “I have to admit,