Whirlwind Baby
Debra Cowan
Whirlwind, Texas miniseries (book 4)
Harlequin Historical
August 2007
The Whirlwind, Texas miniseries for Harlequin Historical returns with book #4, WHIRLWIND BABY. Set in 1885 Texas, the story features newcomer Emma York and rancher/deputy Jake Ross, whom you met in the previous Whirlwind books. A desperate Emma seeks to protect her infant sister by fleeing to the frontier. After leaving the baby on Jake’s doorstep, she falsely hires on as the child’s caregiver. Widower Jake is smitten with Emma — and she with him — but the skittish fugitive must resist him. Because giving in to her feelings could put them all in danger.
Read an Excerpt from: WHIRLWIND BABY
Jake Ross had buzzed in Emma’s thoughts all day like a pesky insect. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the hard look on his face when he held the orphaned baby that morning at breakfast or because of the quiet way he had studied Emma. As if he knew more than she’d told him. Thankfully she hadn’t seen him again today.
Now it was past midnight and she stood in the kitchen over the stove. Soft amber light from the lone kerosene lamp behind her pooled on the floor. Molly had been fussy since supper and nothing Emma did had helped. She had finally decided the little girl’s stomach hurt and come to the kitchen to make the onion tea her mother had sworn was the best remedy for upset tummies or a mixed-up sleeping schedule.
When the onion-and-water mixture began to boil, Emma turned to take a folded cloth from the long counter to her right. And gasped. Jake Ross stood in the doorway, wrapped in shadows. In the shift of gray light, she could see he was shirtless. His denims were unbuttoned and he held a gun.
“Shhh.” He put a finger to his lips, lamplight slanting across the strong angle of his jaw. “I heard something outside.”
She swallowed hard, nodding to let him know she’d keep quiet.
“I’m going to check. Don’t go anywhere.”
She couldn’t have moved anyway. Her legs felt like water. He walked past her and silently opened the door on the opposite wall that led outside.
Emma’s heart thundered. He’d startled her, but that wasn’t why her pulse spiked. Gracious, the man was … impressive. His shoulders and chest were hard, solid muscle, only a shade lighter than his face and arms. Dark hair on his chest narrowed to a thin line below his navel.
As he went out the door, Emma stared. She couldn’t help it. She’d never seen a man’s bare back. Or bare chest. Or bare anything. One time, she’d seen her stepfather in shirt sleeves, but she’d never laid eyes on a half-naked man. A funny feeling clenched her stomach. Jake looked huge. Intimidating.
After several minutes, the kitchen door opened and he moved back inside. He shook his head as he quietly closed the door. “Someone’s been out there, but they’re long gone. Found footprints, but no other sign.”
Though she cautioned herself not to jump to conclusions, Emma’s shoulders tensed up. There was no reason to think that whoever had been out there had been looking for her, but she couldn’t help it. She was a wanted woman.
