The Texas Cowboy’s Lady (Texas Heritage Book 2)

The Texas Cowboy’s Lady A Texas Heritage Romance Debra Holt The Texas Cowboy’s Lady Copyright© 2023 Debra Holt Kindle Edition The Tule Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED First Publication by Tule Publishing 2023 Cover design by Lee Hyat Designs No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. ISBN: 978-1-958686-17-1 Keep Up with your Favorite Authors and their New Releases For the latest news from Tule Publishing authors, sign up for our newsletter here or check out our website at TulePublishing.com Stay social! For new release updates, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and reader giveaways: Like us on Follow us on Follow us on See you online! For my readers . . . Here we have the second book in the Texas Heritage Series . . . The Texas Cowboy’s Lady. It is always hard to decide what to write in this note to you. I have poured out so many words over the last few weeks and months on this story. And now I need to say a few more. Sometimes, I make dedications to special people at this time. And sometimes, I tell you why I chose this setting, or this storyline, these characters, etc. In the foreword to my first book in this series, The Texas Cowboy’s Proposal, I explained how concerned I was by the large ranches in Texas with so much heritage and history which were being sold off and broken up by new owners, etc. History was being discarded. For me, that made me angry and sad. So, I chose that basis for the story and gave the characters the backbone to be a new generation to preserve and lead the land into the future. They must reinvent, change with the times and the new struggles. Yet, they also know that preserving their history and their ways that are passed along from generation to generation is also vital to a people’s survival as the future changes. I also had to realize that while the history major in me, the lover and fighter for all things Texas, could easily take over the story, I needed to remember these characters also needed life partners and love wasn’t always an easy road . . . whether in Texas two hundred years ago, or yesterday on the streets of Burkitt, Texas, my fictional ranch community. To that end, I hope you will find the romance here in these pages and cheer on these characters in their search. I will return to the new pages in my laptop, The Texas Cowboy’s Rescue, the third book underway now in this series, and see where these heroes and heroines want the Burkitt story to wind its way next. I hope you cheer these families on and enjoy their stories. Happy Reading! Debra Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Page Author’s Note Prologue 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 Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Epilogue The Texas Heritage series More books by Debra Holt About the Author Prologue The carpet wasn’t as red as she’d thought it would be. Just one observation among many assailing Laurel’s brain as she tried to remember to keep smiling, avoid tripping over her ball gown’s skirt, and keep in the line of sight of the armed guards watching her every move—or rather the couple of million dollars’ worth of emeralds adorning her neck, ears, fingers, you name it. And she couldn’t muddle the name of the French designer who’d created the stunning white gown of heavy satin and lace with the emerald-green trim, bustier top, and corseted waist—yet another reason she was having issues taking a deep breath. Writing the movie was the easy part compared to walking the most famous red carpet in the world. “Smile, step, pose, turn, smile, and repeat. Sort of like a washing machine cycle. Think of it that way and the smile becomes easier. By the way, you look like a pro and an absolute goddess,” came the whisper in her ear from the tall, blonde man in a perfect black tie and tuxedo as they posed for those cameras. “A goddess who might upchuck any moment. Or fall flat on my face if one more person steps on the train of this gown. Don’t go too far away, I beg you.” “You got this, babe. And don’t forget, our top-secret game plan is now in play. CeeCee will be at your table at the dinner at the Governor’s Ball later, right?” “All is going as planned. It’s number thirty-nine on my mental list of things to do to survive this night. Right before the one where you stop being my friend and I promise not to write another word that puts me in this situation again. Much easier to watch this in my pajamas, at home on my sofa, with buttered popcorn and pizza.” “Next year. And I’ll still be the friend who brings along the root beer you prefer over champagne. Now, go be marvelous in the interview they are calling you for this minute. See you later.” * We see you. Wow, what a dress. Are those your own jewels? The text was from Laurel’s sister, Sammi Jo, who, along with her husband, Beaudry, and daughter, Lacy, were home at the family ranch in Texas, watching the evening on television. Laurel smiled as she replied from her seat in the front row, right before the show was to begin. Sorry, no. They are on loan. Too bad if you wanted to borrow them. LOL . . . they would