PETTICOAT RANCH

Barbour Publishing -- February 2007

Sophie Edwards knows a thing or two about survival. During the Civil War, she ran her Texas ranch single-handedly and managed to raise four daughters. And when her husband was murdered and the ranch stolen from her, she kept her family hidden and alive.  

Clay McCellen grew up in the West and has seen few women and even fewer girls. When the search for his long lost brother leads him instead to Sophie and her girls, Clay decides the only noble thing to do it marry her to protect her and provide for her children. What he doesn't realize is that Texas cowgirls don't require much looking after. Clay’s noble plans starts going wrong as his houseful of females are by turns crying or giggle until they drive him half crazy. 

Meanwhile, the gang of desperados who killed Sophie’s first husband learn she—the sole witness to his murder—is still in Texas. The McClellen clan is hard at work protecting themselves, except Sophie and Clay aren’t working together. Clay thinks Sophie is a fragile damsel in distress and tries to handle everything so she won’t worry her pretty little head about it. Sophie assumes all men are as incompetent as her first husband and she sets out to booby-trap the ranch and catch the bad guys herself. 

Sophie is trying to be a submissive wife. Clay is trying to take care of his family. This headstrong couple must learn to work together to create the life God has planned.