With Mother’s Day around the corner, for today’s Teaser Tuesday we’re visiting one of my most conflicted heroes – and his mom.  Here’s Sam at the opening of A Rancher’s Pride:

The minute Sam Robertson saw his mother’s frozen expression, he knew something terrible had happened.  He hadn’t seen that look on Sharleen’s face since the night his daddy died.

He tossed his Stetson onto the hook by the kitchen door and crossed the room to where she sat by the round pine table.  The mouthwatering smell of beef and vegetables came from a bubbling pot of stew on the stove.  He was home later than normal, but the table wasn’t yet set for their supper.  “Mom?  What is it?  What’s wrong?”

She shook her head for a second, as if she couldn’t speak.  Lines crinkled the skin around her blue eyes.  She looked about ten years older than when he’d left for the north pasture early that morning.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Sam…”  She cleared her throat and started again.  “Ronnie was here.”

“Ronnie?”  He frowned.  He hadn’t seen his ex-wife in five years.  If things had worked the way he wanted, he’d have never heard her name again.  “What did she want after all this time?  Just stopping by to say hello?”

“She said she’s settling down again.  With another man.”

“That’s what has you upset?  You should know better.”  Sam laughed shortly.  “And we should both pity the poor guy.  So, what did she do, drop off an invitation to the wedding?”

“No.”  Sharleen brushed her fingertips across the hair near her temple.

A nervous gesture he hadn’t seen, either, since the months right after his daddy’s death.  Whatever the news, she didn’t know how to cope with telling him.  How bad could it be?  He’d written his ex out of his life a long time ago.  She couldn’t do anything to affect him.

He sank into the chair beside hers.  “Come on.  Just let me have it.  What did she want?”

Sharleen took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  Finally, she said, “She dropped something off, but not an invitation.  She brought a little girl with her.  Four years old.  Ronnie left her here.  She said she’s your daughter.”

~~~

From the back cover of A Rancher’s Pride

His Whole World Is In Her Hands

Sam Robertson’s life just changed. In one short day, he found out that he’s a daddy; that his beautiful little girl, Becky, is deaf; and that her aunt, sign language teacher Kayla Ward, intends to fight him for custody.

There are plenty of reasons Sam shouldn’t fall for Kayla. A city girl like her has no place on his ranch, particularly when she’s his ex-wife’s gorgeous sister. But thanks to the judge’s orders, Sam’s spending a lot of time with Kayla, trying to give Becky the stable home she’s never known.

Despite their ongoing custody battle, Sam and Kayla’s love for Becky brings them closer than they ever expected, and Sam knows that no matter who wins in court, he could still lose—Kayla or his daughter.

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All my best,

Barbara