Texas Cinderella Re-issue

Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here. At the end of the month Harlequin will be releasing one of my older titles, Texas Cinderella, as part of a 2-in-1 special edition bundled with Regina Scott’s Would Be Wilderness Wife. It’s always fun to see an older work being given new life. Texas Cinderella was the 8th book in my Texas Grooms series (all can be read as stand alone books).

It was a fun story to write, not only because I really fell in love with the characters, both primary and secondary, but also because I added just a small touch of mystery/suspense to this one, something I rarely have the opportunity to do.

One of my favorite things to write in any romance story is the first time the hero and heroine meet. So today I thought I’d share an excerpt from that part of this book. It’s a bit lengthy but I wanted to give you both the heroine and hero’s perspective. And I will be giving away at least one copy, the winner(s) to be selected from those who leave comments.

Cassie dug the apple slices from her pocket as the two livery horses came trotting over to see what she’d brought them today.

“Here you go Duchess,” she crooned, holding out her hand and let the black mare lip two slices from her palm.

She laughed as a mahogany-colored mare tried to push Duchess aside. “Mind your manners Scarlett, I have some for you too.”

She gave Scarlett her treat. “I’ve had some excitement today, both good and bad,” she confided as she stroked Scarlett’s muzzle. “The good news is I’m moving forward with my bakery business.”

Cassie shifted to give Duchess her share of attention. “The bad news is Pa wants me to go back to the farm and take care of him and my brothers.” She breathed a sigh. “I don’t want to do that, so now I need to find me a husband.”

She gave both horses a final pat then crossed her arms on the top rail. “I sure wish you two could speak. I bet you’d give me some good insights. The way a man treats his animals is a good measure of his character.”

“Are you talking to the horses?”

Cassie turned to see a freckle-faced boy of six or seven eyeing her curiously.

“Of course. They’re friends of mine.” She smiled and straightened. “I don’t think we’ve met before, have we?”

The boy shook his head. “We just got to town. I’m Noah.”

“Glad to meet you Noah. I’m Cassie.”

“My Uncle Riley likes to talk to horses too.”

“Sounds like a smart man.” She held out her last few apple slices. “Would you like to feed them?”

The boy smiled, showcasing a missing front tooth, and took the slices. He eagerly stepped on the second-from-the-bottom fence board so he could lean over the top rail. Fearlessly holding his hand out just as she had, Noah smiled as the black mare took the offering. “What’s her name?” he asked.

“Duchess.” Cassie moved beside him, concerned by his precarious perch. She rubbed the other mare’s neck. “And this is Scarlett.”

She smiled as the boy stroked the mare’s muzzle. “I see you’ve done this before.”

He nodded. “Uncle Riley has a real fine horse. He’s inside talking to the owner about stabling him here.”

At least she now knew the boy wasn’t alone. Cassie patted Scarlett’s muzzle so the animal wouldn’t feel left out, then leaned against the top rail again. “Are you and your folks just visiting or do you plan to settle down here?”

The boy shook his head. “We don’t know anyone here. And I don’t have folks anymore. It’s just me, Pru and Uncle Riley.”

She absorbed the words as well as his matter-of-fact tone. Before she could form a response, though, they were interrupted.

“Noah, what are you doing out here?”

At the sharply uttered question, Noah quickly turned and in the process lost his footing. Cassie moved swiftly to stop his fall and ended up on her backside with Noah on her lap.

“Are you okay?”

She looked up to see a man she didn’t know helping Noah stand. But the concerned look on his face was focused on her.

“I’m a bit dusty, but otherwise fine,” she said with a rueful smile.

He stooped down, studying her as if he didn’t quite believe her reassurances.

She met his gaze and found herself looking into the deepest, greenest eyes she’d ever seen. The genuine concern and intelligence reflected in his expression made her temporarily forget that she was sitting in the livery yard dirt.

“Can I help you up?”

She blinked, coming back to herself, and quickly nodded. “Yes, thank you.” Hoping there was no visible sign of the warmth she felt climbing in her cheeks, Cassie held out her hand.

He took it in his larger, work-callused one and she had the strangest feeling that she could hold on to that hand forever.

Then he placed his other hand behind her back and with surprisingly little effort he had her on her feet in no time. He stepped away once she was steady and she found herself missing the gentle strength of his touch.

He continued to eye her. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Cassie nodded as she busied herself dusting her skirt. What was wrong with her? It wasn’t often she found herself flustered this way. “Please don’t worry. I’ve taken worse falls tripping over my own feet.” She quickly turned to Noah. “How about you? Are you all right?”

“Yes ma’am. Thanks for catching me.”

She ruffled his hair. “Glad to help.” For the first time she noticed a young girl standing behind the man, chewing her lip. Before she could introduce herself, however, the man spoke up again.

“I’ve told you before not to wander off without telling me.” His tone was stern.

Noah’s expression turned defensive. “I just wanted to get outside. We’ve been cooped up forever.” The boy scuffed the ground with the toe of his shoe. “Besides, I didn’t go far.”

The man didn’t seem the least bit appeased. “That’s no excuse.”

Noah’s shoulders slumped. Then he gave his uncle a hopeful look. “But Pru saw where I was going. And you found me right away.”

Cassie could detect genuine concern behind the man’s scolding. This, of course, must be the Uncle Riley that Noah had mentioned.

She studied the man while trying not to appear nosy. There was something about him that intrigued her. It wasn’t his appearance, though that was appealing enough in a rugged, well-muscled sort of way. No, it was something about his bearing that commanded her attention, an air of self-confidence and strength, balanced with concern for his nephew which added a hint of vulnerability—it all came together in a way she found compelling.

….

***

Riley hurried Pru and Noah along. There were a few things he still had to do this afternoon and the sooner he settled them in at the hotel the better.

He needed to get a telegraph off to Mr. Claypool. He always made a point of letting the Pinkerton detective know where to reach him when he arrived in a new town.

Then he needed to take River for a run. The horse had been cooped up in that train car for much too long and would be ready for some exercise.

Riley’s mind drifted back to Miss Vickers. She was an interesting lady. He’d first thought her a tomboyish adolescent. With her slight build and the way she’d stood so casually at the corral fence laughing with Noah, no wonder he’d gotten the wrong idea.

Rushing to Noah’s aid with such disregard for her own well-being or dignity, then taking her fall with a touch of humor rather than dismay—there weren’t many grown ladies who’d have done such a thing.

It was only when he’d stooped down to check on her that he’d realized his mistake. That engagingly rueful smile had most definitely belonged to a woman, not a child.

It was when their gazes met, though, that he’d found himself thrown off balance. He’d never encountered quite that combination of innocence and humor before, especially mixed as it was with an air of maturity and resolve.

It was such a curious mix he wondered if he’d really seen all of that in one quick glance. Still, the impression had remained with him. Of course her cheery smile and that dimple that kept appearing near the corner of her lip had contributed to that unexpected air that seemed to surround her. It bestowed on her a kind of unconventional attractiveness, even when she sat in the dust with a chagrinned look on her face. He hadn’t been so taken by a woman in quite some time. For just a heartbeat he’d been tempted to linger, to get to know her better.

And that had brought him up short. Because he couldn’t afford to let himself be diverted by such fetching distractions.

Not given what was at stake.

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TEXAS CINDERELLA

 

 

In Search of a Groom 

After a life of drudgery on her family’s farm, Cassie Lynn Vickers relishes her freedom working in town as a paid companion for feisty Mrs. Flanagan. When her father suddenly demands she come home, she has no choice. Unless she can find a husband. If only she could convince handsome town newcomer Riley Walker to marry her… 

Riley is on the run. He’s desperate to keep his niece and nephew safe from his crooked half brother. But a delay in Turnabout, Texas, shows him everything he didn’t know he was missing: home, family—and Cassie Lynn. Can he find a way to become her Prince Charming…and build a real family with the children and his Texas Cinderella?

 

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