Sheriff Jake McCall is about to break the law. To find a bone marrow donor for his ailing baby girl, he'll hack into WITSEC to track down Maggie Gallagher—the only person who could be a genetic match. Yet by doing so, he is jeopardizing not only his badge, but Maggie's life, as well. Expecting to have to force Maggie against her will, Jake is unprepared for her willingness to help—and for the desire and hunger she arouses in him. Still, those forbidden feelings could make Jake reckless, and losing focus now isn't an option. With time running out and a killer on their heels, Jake has to keep Maggie alive—and give his daughter a Christmas miracle.About the AuthorUSA Today bestselling author, Delores Fossen, has sold over 50 novels with millions of copies of her books in print worldwide. She's received the Booksellers' Best Award for romantic suspense, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award and was a finalist for the prestigious Rita ®. In addition, she's had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines. You can contact the author through her webpage at www.dfossen.com. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.Sheriff Jake McCall knew what he was about to do could put a woman in grave danger. Maybe even get her killed. He wasn't certain he could live with that, but he sure as hell couldn't live with the alternative, either.Risking Maggie Gallagher's life, and his, was the only choice he had.He pushed the stallion hard, its hooves chopping into the frozen ground. The icy wind whipped at him and burned his eyes and hands. But he rode harder. Away from the ranch house and away from what was waiting for him there.It didn't help.Jake had known that when he saddled up, but he couldn't face what was inside. Not yet. Though delaying it didn't change the fact that he'd have to do things he had sworn he'd never do.Like see Maggie again.He hated her more than he wanted her. Far more. And he hated himself for still wanting her after what had happened. That settled like a deadweight in Jake's gut, and he figured that particular feeling wasn't going to get better anytime soon.Cursing, Jake pushed that thought aside and rode the half mile to the creek, not stopping, not slowing until he got to the ice-scabbed water's edge. He reined in the stallion, put his thumb to the brim of his Stetson to ease it back a bit, and he sat there, his forearm on the saddle horn.He stared out at the glassy black surface of the creek and at the cottonwood trees, all veiny and bare. In the thin white moonlight he glanced down at the silver star badge pinned to his denim shirt pocket and felt a pain of a different kind. The badge meant something to him. Always had. It was his anchor. His cause.Him.Yeah, that was a sappy cliche that he'd never admit aloud. Not here in rural Texas where the only acceptable feelings for a real man to show were anger, appreciation for good-looking women and love for animals and small children.But it was true.People didn't call him Boy Scout for nothing.The stallion snorted, its breath mixing with the air and creating a milky haze around them. He looked back at Jake with a judgmental dark eye and snorted again.It was too butt-freezing cold to be out on this December night trying to ride off his troubles. But he'd wanted one last look at the place, just in case he never saw it again.Jake gathered the reins, maneuvered the stallion around and headed back. No gallop this time. He kept the stallion's gait easy and slow, but each step still took him home.There were twinkling lights around the windows. A holly wreath on the door. A plastic Santa and his sleigh perched on the roof. It still didn't feel like Christmastime even though it was only three days away.Jake spotted his brother, Royce, on the porch that ran across the entire front of the ranch house. Royce was on the top step, his lanky jeans-clad legs stretched out in front of him while he took a long drag on a cigarette.Since Royce had quit smoking some four years ago, it was a reminder to Jake that he wasn't the only one in for a bad night. Royce flicked the cigarette into what was left of their sister's petunia bed. She'd complain about that come spring when she found it.By then, all of their lives here would have changed.One way or another."Dad's waiting on you." Royce got up from the step, the Christmas lights flickering off the silver deputy's badge he had clipped to his rawhide belt. "You okay?" Royce asked."No." Jake figured a lie would just stick in his throat so he didn't even try it.His brother stopped a moment as if considering that, and then he made a sound that could have meant anything before he strolled inside.Jake dismounted and led the stallion to the barn. He mumbled an apology for the hard ride while he took off the saddle and gave the horse a quick brush down. He hurried now, dreading the delay more than he dreaded the conversation that was about to take place, and Jake made his way back to the house.The moment he opened the door, he spotted them in the great room that sprawled out in front of him.Family.His brother, Royce. His sister, Nell. His father, Chet.Royce had already taken the chair near the fireplace where a stack of mesquite logs were crackling and spitting. Chet was in his leather recliner that was positioned like a throne, the toes of his black snakeskin boots aimed at the ceiling. Jake spared him a glance before he went to the room across the hall. It'd once been a guest room, but these days it was more of a home-hospital for his daughter.Sunny Lynn McCall.She owned every bit of Jake's heart.Jake didn't go in. He watched from the doorway as the visiting nurse, Betsy Becker, gave his daughter another injection. His little girl barely moved, didn't even open her eyes, despite the needle being jammed into her hip.That nearly brought Jake to his knees.Three years old was way too young to be immune to pain. Too young to die. It was up to him now to make sure that didn't happen.Betsy took off her surgical mask, came out of the room and dodged Jake's gaze. "I'm sorry. I'll be back in the morning." She gave him a pat on the arm.Betsy didn't linger, didn't speak to the others. She was a fixture now, appearing at the ranch every morning and leaving every night. She grabbed her things and let herself out. Jake had no doubts that come seven in the morning Betsy would be back to shove more needles into his baby.Sometimes life just plain sucked, but it was easier to take a kick in the teeth when he was on the receiving end of the pain. Watching Sunny suffer like this was a special form of hell that he wouldn't wish on anyone.Well, maybe there was someone.He pulled in a long breath, went into the adjoining bathroom so he could scrub up and put on a surgical mask. He wasn't sick, but they couldn't take any chances with Sunny.When Jake walked to her bed, Sunny didn't wake up and probably wouldn't, because lately she was more tired than not. He leaned down, kissed both cheeks, ran his fingers through her dark hair. He lingered a bit despite hearing Chet impatiently clear his throat.The room was as cheerful as Jake had been able to make it. The floor-to-ceiling Christmas tree in the corner was decorated with lights and angel ornaments that Sunny had picked out from an online catalog. Her stuffed animals and dolls were nearby. Coloring books, too."You gonna make us wait all night?" Chet snarled.Chet always sounded as if he was picking a fight. Except when he talked to Sunny. Jake's baby girl had wrapped her grandpa around her pinkie and vice versa. And that was the reason that Jake could still love his dad.Of course, Jake didn't like him much, but that wasn't likely to change.Jake gave Sunny another kiss, gently squeezed her hand and took off his mask so he could face his family."I'll stay with Sunny while you talk," Nell whispered. His sister didn't know what was up, but Jake knew she would always step in to take care of her niece.He was counting heavily on that."Well?" Chet, again. Another snarl. "Did you find her?'"Jake waited until Nell had closed the door to Sunny's room before he answered Chet's questions. "I found her. More or less."Royce knew where this was going, and that was no doubt why he cursed and probably wished he had another smoke or two. "She's in the Witness Security Program.""She's where?" Chet snapped."WITSEC, witness security," Jake supplied, though Chet had no doubt heard him the first time. The man was sixty-four, but there was nothing wrong with his hearing. Or his mind. "She was placed in the program after, well, just after," Jake settled for saying.Chet cursed. "The marshals won't tell you where she is." It wasn't a question, and it was followed by more cursing.Royce took up the explanation since he'd been at the sheriff's office when Jake had gotten the news. "We sent a request all the way up to the head of WITSEC, but our request was denied."Chet got to his feet and started to pace. "If I could get my hands around her neck—""She probably doesn't know Sunny's sick," Jake interrupted. "And we don't know if it'll be worth it to even find her."That was the hardest part of all. This could all be for nothing."I don't know how much the Justice Department is telling her because—" Jake had to pause and breathe "—it could be dangerous if anyone found out her new identity and her location.""Damn right it's dangerous," Chet snapped. "It's dangerous for Sunny, too. And if she can help, then I don't care about compromising her identity. Hell, I don't care if somebody guns her down like—"Thankfully, Chet had the good sense to stop. Jake already had enough bad things to deal with tonight without the memories of his late wife's murder. Of course, the memories of Anna were there.Always.Even though she'd been dead and buried for over two and a half years now, since Sunny was just a baby."Are we just going to keep calling her she and her?" Royce asked. He huffed, but Jake didn't know if he was just riled about the situation or the pronoun use. "Because she's got a name, you know?""Yeah, and it's a name not welcome here," Chet insisted.His father wasn't the forgive-and-forget sort.Neither was Jake in this situation.But Sunny needed her. And that meant Jake needed her, too."Maggie Gallagher," Jake said aloud. It was the first time that name had crossed his lips in two years, eight months and five days.Maggie, his former sister-in-law. Or would that be his late wife's sister? Or how about the woman who'd gotten Anna killed? Yeah, that was the label that fit her best.Maybe Chet had the right idea about not saying her name....

A Texas lawman must face his past and bring a serial killer to justice DEA agent Cord Granger knows evidence doesn't lie. And he knows the serial killer in custody—his biological father—is the Moonlight Strangler. With news of a similar attack, Cord takes the victim, rancher Karina Southerland, into his protective custody. Marred by the Strangler's hallmark slash across her cheek, Karina is sure Cord's father is innocent. The real killer is still out there—and he's coming to finish what he started. At least they can agree that their smoldering attraction is real. Now, if there's any hope for a future, Cord must solve this murderous puzzle. Before the Moonlight Strangler strikes again.

"I'm the dead man who's going to save your life, darlin'!" He faked his death for good reason, but CIA operative Gage Ryland has a better reason to come back from the grave. Though they had a bitter breakup years ago, Gage wants to save his ex-wife - his very pregnant ex-wife - Lynette Herrington from a vengeful hit man. Obviously the baby proves she's gotten over Gage. Or has she? While on the run, Gage feels the attraction between them heating up and yet he knows he must undo a decade of hurt and separation before she'll put her trust in them again. But complicating his emotions is Lynette's pregnancy...and how, as she claims, her unborn child could be his.

aka For Justice and Love Sheriff Carley Matheson had her hands full: A sixteen-year-old unsolved murder and a strong hunch that the killer had resurfaced and struck again. As if things couldn't get any worse, the Texas Rangers had sent Sloan McKinney--the one man she'd always tried to keep at a distance-- to spearhead the investigation. Now the only way to keep the citizens of Justice, Texas, safe--and solve two connected crimes--was to join forces. But someone resented Carley and Sloan digging up the past, and before long two of Texas's finest found themselves caught in the crosshairs of a murderer.

A Texas lawman risks his future to protect a woman from his past in USA TODAY bestselling author Delores Fossen's latest Sweetwater Ranch book. The woman fleeing a cold-blooded killer is no stranger to Deputy Colt McKinnon. Fourteen years ago, Elise Nichols was the love of his life. Now she's back in Sweetwater Springs--to be the star witness in an upcoming murder trial that could tear the Texas lawman's family apart. With her explosive revelations certain to rock the town, Elise didn't expect to be welcomed home with open arms. Certainly not by the cowboy with the badge who once meant everything to her. But after being run off the road and shot at, she has no choice but to trust him. Even more dangerous is the desire that's reigniting, making Elise yearn for something she may not live to see.

Her life depends on his protectionHis heart depends on her survivalSheriff Egan McCall hasn't forgiven Jordan Gentry for her role in the death of his fiancée. But when Jordan is attacked, Egan comes to her rescue and discovers a serial killer is targeting recipients of his late fiancée's organs. Then Egan's protective instincts—and long-buried feelings—kick in. Wearing a badge means his priority is stopping a murderer and safeguarding a target. If only he could also ignore the sizzling attraction between them...

The most honorable cowboy in Wrangler's Creek is about to get an offer he can't refuse... Carson Rowley expects Granger Ranch office manager Evie Martin to do any number of things when he breaks the news that her "on again, off again" boyfriend has eloped with a stripper. Cry, maybe. Curse, probably. Kiss him senseless? Nope...didn't predict that. Now that Evie's offering what he secretly craves, there's only one question: Just how bad should a good cowboy be? Evie's nowhere near as heartbroken over her unreliable ex as everyone in Wrangler's Creek expects. Especially once it's clear that her long-simmering crush on Carson is mutual. Carson's not the casual type, and inviting him into her bed means inviting him into her heart. But once he's there, she may never want him to leave...

The Granger siblings thought they'd left their ranching days behind, until fate sends them home to Wrangler's Creek, Texas—and into the passionate arms of those they'd least expect... It's some run of bad luck when Sophie Granger loses her business and gets left at the altar all in one day. Desperate to not appear jilted, Sophie begs Clay McKinnon, Wrangler's Creek's smoking-hot police chief, to pretend they're having an affair. But Clay refuses, leaving Sophie to retreat to the family ranch to lick her wounds. Hoping to leave his disreputable past behind, Clay moved to Wrangler's Creek for a fresh start. But that looks unlikely when Sophie's ex-fiancé shows up married to Clay's impulsive kid sister. Overcome, Sophie resuggests the affair—but this time for real. Clay is hesitant. City-girl Sophie isn't usually his type. But he can't deny the desire she elicits—or his yearning to have her plant her cowboy roots for good.

The McCord Brothers are the most eligible bachelors in Spring Hill, Texas. But these cowboys are about to get wrangled by the love of some very unique women—the kind who can melt hearts and lay it all on the line. Air force captain Riley McCord has come home on medical leave to find one heck of a welcome reception. Every unattached woman in Spring Hill, Texas, wants to nurse him back to health. That includes his childhood friend Claire Davidson—the only person who understands how damaged he really feels. In high school, she chose his best friend over him. According to Riley's rules, that should make her off-limits forever. But when Claire suggests a no-strings fling, he can't refuse. Claire always wanted Riley—but she also craved the safety and stability he couldn't offer. So she chose another path, only to end up crazier about him than ever. She's even convinced herself that this time she won't be devastated when he leaves. Yet once Riley...

The hottest cowboy in Coldwater is about to steal her heart a second time...Too fast, too young—that sums up Ryland Ross's marriage to Nova Carson. Ten years after their divorce, Ryland has his own horse ranch and an uncomplicated life...until the past blows everything up. Risqué photos of Ryland and Nova taken years ago resurface. And while Ryland is willing to help his ex smooth over the situation, he's blindsided by the desire that springs back to life.If her boss's weaselly son makes the photos public, Nova could lose the photography job she loves. But reconnecting with Ryland is a risk. The hot, charming cowboy has always known how to get under her skin...and into her bed. Maybe it's the lure of ex sex. Or maybe it's time to admit that when a cowboy lassos your heart, there's no escape...

For FBI special agent Russ Gentry, Julia Howell is nothing but trouble. First the Texas heiress blunders into his undercover operation to bring down a black-market kidnapping ring. Then she turns his life upside down with a single photograph. Russ's connection with the beautiful baby girl in the photo is instant and absolute...and Julia finds herself falling for this man who stepped up when most would have turned and run. As bullets fly and their passion grows, Julia is convinced this devastatingly handsome protector will play an important role in an innocent baby's future. And in hers.