A complicated past comes to a quick, present situation when former Texas Ranger Zane Cantrell shows up in Mule Hollow to live and work. He came to see if the only girl he ever loved (and then left to protect her from harm) could still have feelings for him many years later. What he is about to find out is he has a son he never knew about.

Rose Vincent has been living in Mule Hollow with her 14 year old son Max, and making a new life for herself after fleeing a husband who abused her. They are finally making a life for themselves. When she runs into Zane her world is turned upside down. She must now share her secrets with her son and try not to let her heart love again a man who left her when she needed him most. The problem is the whole town, including her son, really wants to get these two together. It is fun to watch, but there is also always a truth to realize in these stories. As the author states in her letter at the end, "I believe we must embrace today and use our past, be it good or be it bad, to make us stronger. If we don't then we aren't helping ourselves and we certainly aren't helping God's purpose for our lives." This wasn't certainly true in "Texas Ranger Dad".

There was humor, heartache, romance and lessons to be learned. I had a good time and also always enjoy reading about the other folks (and animals) in Mule Hollow that I have met from reading the other stories in this series. ( )