Yolanda Stinson has had her eye on handsome Paxton Barlow ever since they were kids. Though she’s four years younger, she’s always hoped that one day he’d notice her. When the Stinson ranch is attacked and Yolanda’s father, Daniel, is severely injured, Paxton steps in to help—and to protect the Stinson family and holdings.
But Paxton is shocked to realize that Yolanda is all grown up—not the little girl he remembers from their growing-up days. And his beautiful neighbor has the power to make Paxton see red when she looks at another man! A confirmed bachelor, now the youngest Barlow brother is confronted with a decision he never thought he’d have to make.
With more attacks on the Stinson ranch, Paxton vows to get to the bottom of what’s going on—and as the sinister plot unfolds in unimaginable ways, he and Yolanda find themselves in a desperate situation.
But some hard losses bring Paxton and Yolanda together in an unbreakable bond of trust and love. As they fight together to hold on to the legacy Yolanda’s father worked so hard to build, can they also hope to make something of their own? Can Paxton promise Yolanda a future, and be the answer to YOLANDA’S HOPE?
EXCERPT
Yolanda Stinson sat the plates on the table and glanced at
her mother. “How long do you think it will take Daddy to finish in the barn?”
Shirley turned from stirring the green beans in the big
black iron pot on the stove. “I don’t think it’ll take him much longer. That’s
why I want to go ahead and finish up dinner. He’s been up working since dawn
because he intended to go to town. He didn’t take much time to eat breakfast. I
wanted to have everything ready when he comes in because I know he’s going to
be tired and hungry.”
Before Yolanda could answer, the thundering sounds of horses
came through the open kitchen window.
“What in the world could—”
Shirley hadn’t finished her sentence when several shots rang
out.
Yolanda ran to the back door and jerked it open. Her mother
was on her heels.
One of the riders turned his gun toward the house and fired.
The bullet hit the post holding up the porch roof. Before he could get off
another shot, Shirley jerked Yolanda backward and slammed the door shut.
“Mama, what—“
“I don’t know, Yolanda. Shut the window, and I’ll get the
rifle. I don’t know who they are or what they want, but we have to keep them
out of here if we can.”
