April Arrington - Home on the Ranch--Tennessee Homecoming

For the kids sake...

After the sudden death of his best friends, Landon Eason is the obvious choice to become guardian to their three kids. So hes shocked when the kids aunt, Katie Richards, is named primary guardianshes practically a stranger to them! Its best for everyone if Katie relinquishes custody and heads back to California.

Yet as Katie struggles to bond with the kids, Landon takes pity on her and invites Katie to stay with them at his ranch. Impulsive and headstrong, Katie hasnt changed since high schooland shes exactly what they all need, Landon included. Hes let Katie into his home and his heart, but can Landon convince her that she and the kids belong in Elk Valley, Tennessee, with him?

I dont think I can do this.

He stared at her mouth, wanting to part her lips with his. To taste her again. Do what?

Be a good aunt or a good mom. Her chin trembled. Matthews right. I dont know the first thing about him, Emma or Sophia. I dont have a clue how to reach them.

This was his chance. The moment hed been hoping for when hed invited her to stay with them, and it had come much sooner than hed expected. All he had to do was agree, reassure her the kids were better off with him, then shed leave next week.

But that would also leave the kids with one less dependable adult in their lives. Another loss of someone who loved them.

Landon wished he could remain silent, watch Katie fail at being a good parent and not feel guilty. Only, it wasnt about what he wantedit was about Matthew, Emma and Sophia.

Instead of using your head, he whispered, use your heart.

Dear Reader,

At some point during our childhood, were asked: What do you want to be when you grow up? Some people know exactly what they want out of life and have a bold, confident answer to that question.

Katie Richards isnt one of those people.

Coming home has never been easy for Katie. Shes always stood out in the small mountain town of Elk Valleyand not in a good way. Shes headstrong, impulsive and unsure of what she wants out of life. And shes just lost the person she loves most in the world: her sister.

Landon Eason knows exactly who he is: mature, responsible and the kind of man you can count on for anything. Which is why its no surprise to him that his childhood friend, Katies sister, named him guardian of her three children. Only, he hadnt counted on Katie being designated as primary guardian, and hes terrified of losing three children hes grown to love as his own.

In Tennessee Homecoming, Katie discovers what she really wants out of life and Landon is left with a difficult decision to make. Because helping Katie find happiness may cost him his own.

As always, thank you for reading.

April

Home on the Ranch:

Tennessee Homecoming

April Arrington

April Arrington grew up in a small Southern town and developed a love for movies and books at an early age. Emotionally moving stories have always held a special place in her heart. April enjoys collecting pottery and soaking up the Georgia sun on her front porch.

Books by April Arrington

Home on the Ranch: Tennessee Bull Rider

Harlequin Western Romance

Elk Valley, Tennessee

A Home with the Rancher

Men of Raintree Ranch

Twins for the Bull Rider

The Ranchers Wife

The Bull Riders Cowgirl

The Ranchers Miracle Baby

Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.

Dedicated to Johanna Raisanen. The best teachers have a skilled eye, great advice and a good sense of humor. Ive learned so much from you. Thank you for being such an awesome editor and helping me grow as a writer!

Contents

L andon Eason always found a sound, logical answer to every question, but this particularly painful answer eluded him.

Why? A shaky feminine voice pitched higher at his back. Why leave them to her? Why not me? Im their grandm

A choked sob then silence followed.

Landon stared out the bay window of Patricia Richardss stately home, a burning sensation heating his chest and pricking his eyes. Blinking hard, he focused on the two children sitting outside on the wide porch swing. Matthew, ten, stared down at his dark dress shoes as they dragged across the floor with each slow movement of the swing. His five-year-old sister, Emma, leaned against him, tears rolling down her cheeks, soaking the lacy collar of her black dress.

Any other day the two of them would be tearing across the sprawling green fields, splashing in nearby mountain streams and soaking up the Tennessee sun. It was a perfect day in Elk Valley for playwarm air, blue sky, strong budding trees to climbbut Matthew and Emma werent interested.

They had good reason not to be.

Im their grandmother, Patricia continued firmly. I was the one who held Jennifers hand each time she gave birth. I was the first one to see them, to hear them cry. And youve always been there for Frank and these kids, Landonalways. How could they do it? How could they name you second to Katie? How could they just cut us out of their lives and hand them over to her?

How? Throat tight, Landon gentled his grip on the small bundle in his arms and faced Patricia. Hell, he didnt know how Frank and Jennifer had made the decision regarding guardianship of their three children. Or why. All he knew was the wrinkled papers trembling in Patricias clenched fist had the power to take away three kids hed grown to love as his own over the years, their cute faces and familiar voices the only tangible reminders left of his two best friends.

I can count on one hand the number of occasions Katie has spent time with them, Patricia continued, and she doesnt know the first thing about being a parent. Not to mention she never follows through with anything. She left here to pursue a singing career but pitched that after less than a year to take up bartending. Then it was landscaping, and now shes in marketingfor however long that will last. Shes not dependable enough to be trusted with children. Mascara streaked her powdered cheeks. Patricia shook her head, a gray curl slipping from her elegant topknot as she looked toward Emma and Matthew. Shes unfit.

Shes also your daughter. Landon bit his tongue and looked away. Why Patricia held such disdain for Katie still confused and shocked him. Yes, Katie had been levelheaded Jennifers opposite in her teenaged years and probably gave stiff-upper-lip Patricia hell. And no, Katie wasnt equipped to be any kids guardian. But did that justify Patricia damn near disowning her?

Maybe Patricias resentment was rooted in the fact that Katie rarely returned to her hometown of Elk Valleyor, perhaps, it was the way shed gone about leaving.

He remembered the day Katie left. While Jennifer had graduated as valedictorian of her and Landons class, Katie, eighteen, five years younger than Jennifer and ten times more outspoken, had scrambled onto the football field at the last second, last to be seated, last to receive her diploma and last in academic achievements. The moment after shed tossed her graduation cap in the air, Katie had jogged to the parking lot, hopped in a car stuffed with bulging suitcases and peeled out of Elk Valley. Her cars sporadic skid marks clung to the cracked pavement in the parking lot throughout the ten years since shed left.

If Landon drove to that parking lot today, the muscle memory in his hands and feet would know exactly where to turn his trucks steering wheel and press the brake to catch a glimpse of their faded outline.