by Olivia Black
The Belt Buckle Ranch Collection, Volume 1
In Jackson, Jackson Murphy is an architect in LA whose entire life is turned upside down when a private investigator informs him that his biological father isn’t the man that raised him. Instead, it's a man named William Rickett, who is very ill and whose last request is to meet Jackson. Dropping everything, Jackson heads to Colorado. Wyatt Thompson is the foreman at the Belt Buckle Ranch. When William passes away, it’s Wyatt’s responsibility to make sure William’s five sons stay at the ranch. His attraction to Jackson is instantaneous, but Wyatt is reluctant to follow his heart when the future is unknown.
In Robbie, Robbie Robertson’s motorcycle repair shop is failing. When a P.I arrives, Robbie realizes he isn’t alone in the world. He has a father living in Colorado that wants to meet him. Cody White has been working at the Belt Buckle Ranch for five years. He meets Robbie, and it doesn’t take long for the two men to jump into a sexual relationship. But when Robbie’s injured working on the ranch, Cody blames himself and pulls back.
In Jared, Jared Carter spends his days working in a coffee shop and his nights on stage playing music. When a private investigator tells him that he has a dad in Colorado, Jared heads to the ranch. But Jared finds out that he’s too late…his dad passed away. Jacob Monroe owns a bar in Colorado. He likes the peace and quiet, but his life is flipped upside down when a gorgeous man walks into his bar. As the two start a relationship, Jacob realizes that Jared is struggling with his past.
Genre: Alternative (M/M, Gay), Contemporary, Western/Cowboys
Length: 89,488 words
THE BELT BUCKLE RANCH COLLECTION,
VOLUME 1
Jackson
Robbie
Jared
Olivia Black
EVERLASTING CLASSIC
MANLOVE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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IMPRINT: Everlasting Classic ManLove
THE BELT BUCKLE RANCH COLLECTION, VOLUME 1
Jackson - Copyright © 2014
Robbie - Copyright © 2014
Jared - Copyright © 2014
Copyright © 2014 by Olivia Black
E-book ISBN: 978-1-63259-988-9
First E-book Publication: May 2014
Jackson
Robbie
Jared
Cover design by Harris Channing
Print cover design by Harris Channing
All art and logo copyright © 2014 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
Dear Readers,
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DEDICATIONS
Jackson
Thank you to all my readers. Your love and support means the world to me. Happy reading!
Robbie
I want to thank Kim Bollinger, for helping me with the medical lingo. You’re always willing and ready to lend a hand. Thanks, lady!
I also want to give a shout-out to Tracey Blake and her sexy cop hubby for helping with the cop dialogue. I’ll be in touch when I’m writing book 4.
I hope all my readers enjoy Robbie and Cody’s story. Happy reading!
Jared
Thank you to all my wonderful readers. You’re the best!
Change is the law of life. And those who look only in the past or present are certain to miss the future.—John F. Kennedy
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedications
Jackson Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Robbie Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Jared Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
About the Author
Belt Buckle Ranch 1
Jackson
Jackson Murphy is an architect living and working in Los Angeles, California. His entire life is turned upside down when a private investigator hands him a manila envelope. Looking through the contents, he soon realizes that his biological father isn’t the man that raised him. Instead, it's a man named William Rickett. W
illiam is very ill and his last request is to meet Jackson. Dropping everything, Jackson packs a bag and heads to Colorado.
Wyatt Thompson is the foreman at the Belt Buckle Ranch. He’s also been a friend to William Rickett, the ranch owner for fifteen years. When the man passes away, it’s his responsibility to make sure William’s five sons stay at the ranch. His attraction to Jackson is instantaneous, but Wyatt is reluctant to follow his heart when the future is unknown.
Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Contemporary, Western/Cowboys
Length: 29,358 words
JACKSON
Belt Buckle Ranch 1
OLIVIA BLACK
Copyright © 2014
Prologue
William Rickett sat behind the large oak desk inside his cozy study and stared out at the land he loved. The Belt Buckle Ranch had been his dream since he was a teenager, and over the course of his life, he’d earned enough money to own it. He had enough money to do almost anything, but it wasn’t enough to save his life. His time on earth was coming to an end.
He could feel it deep down inside his soul. He’d been sick for so long, but refused to see a doctor, refused to get the help he needed. If only he’d done something, he wouldn’t be dying. The cancer had spread, consuming his entire body, and there wasn’t anything the doctors could do.
Swiveling his chair around, William looked down at his last will and testament. He’d been wild and selfish most of his life. So much so that he was never considerate or safe with past lovers. Those women and men couldn’t be called lovers, not really. They were one-night stands that ended with him hightailing it out of town. He’d been a bull rider, traveling from rodeo to rodeo, earning money and discarding people along the way. He’d made a lot of mistakes and now, he couldn’t do a damn thing. It was too late.
If he could go back, there were so many things he would do differently. Picking up the pen, he signed his name on the dotted line and exhaled loudly. The only silver lining—he had a few trusted friends that would help make his plan a success.
A sharp pain started in William’s lower back and he tightened his jaw, trying not to shout in agony. Panting, he tried to breathe through the pain as it started to spread out, up his back and around to his chest. William forced himself to stand. If only he could make it to his bedroom, he’d be fine. He grabbed the edge of the desk, gripping it tightly and praying that the pain would subside.
He let go of the desk, took a step, and fell to the floor. Rolling to his back, William stared up at the ceiling as tears filled his eyes. He’d been alone all his life except random one-nighters, and now he was going to die alone, too. He was consumed with regret. He’d thought about reaching out so many times, but never had.
“Jesus! William!” His right-hand man and foreman, Wyatt Thompson, slid into his office and knelt next to William’s side. “I’ll call an ambulance. Shit!” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket, fumbling with the device.
“No, Wyatt, listen to me.” The man stopped panicking and sat at William’s side, holding his hand. “I need them to come here and to work together. They need to know that I made a lot of mistakes, but never once did I stop thinking about them. The PI—Thomas Creed—said I have five boys. Can you believe that?” He couldn’t remember if he’d told Wyatt about his boys. His memory was fuzzy.
“It’s going to be fine. You’re going to make it and meet them…” Wyatt started, but William interrupted him.
“Promise me that you’ll make them stay and work together. Promise me that you’ll look after them.” Wyatt started shaking his head, looking as if he wanted to deny William’s words, but it was true.
He knew he wasn’t going to live to meet his sons. He wasn’t much of a father and it hurt to admit that. It broke his heart, but that was the price he’d paid by being a bastard most of his youth. When the doctor told him the news, that he only had a couple of months to get his affairs in order, that’s when he’d finally gotten his shit together. The boys had grown into men without ever having met him.
“It’s too late for me, but not for my boys. Tell them that I’m sorry.” More moisture filled his eyes, turning Wyatt into a blurry mess. “Make them stay. Force them to get to know one another. Family…that’s what’s important.” He shook his head. “And I figured it out too late.”
“Don’t say that. You made mistakes, we all have. You’ve been like a father to me and to the other hands around the ranch. They’ll understand. I’ll make them understand.” His voice was firm and William didn’t doubt that his friend would follow through.
“I wish I could’ve seen them.” He tried to smile.
“Tell me about them.” Wyatt held his hand tighter, giving him the support he needed.
“Jackson is living in Los Angeles. He’s working in some architectural firm. Thomas sent me a picture of him in a business suit. Robbie is a mechanic, he works on motorcycles.” William’s lips twitched, remembering the first time he saw a picture of Robbie. The young man looked like a rebel with tattoos running up and down his arms.
“Oliver, he’s a hard one to read. He looked so sad and now I won’t be able to ask him why. Jared is a musician living in Portland.” Breathing became harder and harder and he sent up a silent prayer, hoping he’d be let into heaven.
“And Easton…right? He’s from a small town in Oklahoma? A country boy, just like you.” Wyatt helped him finish and William nodded.
He realized then that he had told Wyatt everything before.
“Just relax. It’s not your time, not yet. You can’t leave this world without seeing your boys,” Wyatt insisted.
“They don’t know about me. When they get here, they’re going to be angry. It’s okay. Just make sure they stay. That’s the most important thing. They need each other,” he choked out, wishing that he could see them.
But honestly he knew they would probably hate him for not being a part of their lives. He’d been blessed, but he hadn’t realized how much until now.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep them here, I promise. I won’t let you down,” Wyatt said, and William knew he could count on his friend.
He tried to breathe, but it became more difficult. Wyatt lifted his head so that he could suck in a mouth full of air. This was the end. A tingle went through his body and goose bumps broke out along his skin.
“It’s okay.” Wyatt cleared his throat and William knew his longtime friend was crying. He could hear it in the man’s voice. He wanted to give him comfort, but it took too much energy to breathe. “I’m here with you. You aren’t alone. You’re loved.” He sniffled and William’s own eyes filled with moisture, tears slipping down his cheeks. “Your boys are coming to the ranch. I’ll take care of them.”
“The will…it’s on my desk. Take care my frie…” He took a deep breathe through his mouth and darkness surrounded him. He heard a sob in the distance and then…nothing.
Chapter 1
Jackson Murphy rushed around his small apartment. He was late, again. Luckily he’d taken a shower the night before or he’d be completely screwed. Flipping the tie around, he moved his fingers around, until finally, he was ready. Jackson grabbed his keys off the counter and his proposal project next to the front door before hurrying out. He locked the door, turned, and almost ran some poor old man down.
“Shit! I’m sorry. Are you okay?” he asked as the older gentleman righted himself.
“Yes, I can see that you’re in a hurry, but are you Mr. Jackson Murphy?” the man asked.
“Uh…I’m late for work, sir. I can’t talk right now.” Jackson turned and jogged down the stairs.
He didn’t want to be rude but he had an appointment with one of the business partners at the architectural firm where he worked, Baxter and Sons. He couldn’t afford to be late. This was his chance to be noticed. If all went well, he would be moved from cubicle hell to a private office.
“This is important.” The man followed him. “It’s about your father!” Those words stopped Jackson
in his tracks.
Turning around, he faced the man. “I don’t understand. I just saw my parents a couple of days ago. Was there an accident?” He started to panic. What happened?
“I’m sorry for the confusion.” The man handed Jackson a thick manila envelope. “The information in there pertains to your biological father.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” he snapped. “You have the wrong guy. My parents live in San Diego, Greg and Martha Murphy. Shit…I’m late.” Jackson tried to leave, he didn’t have time to deal with this crackpot right now, but the man stopped him, grabbing his arm.
“Listen, I’m a private investigator. I didn’t mean…” He rubbed his head, clearly frustrated. “Just look inside the envelope. All the information is there.” With those parting words the man walked away and Jackson was left alone on the sidewalk, feeling as though he’d been hit in the stomach.
Shaking his head, Jackson tucked the envelope under his arm and ran to his car. He started the engine and glanced at the clock. Fuck! He was late, it was official. It was past the meeting time. Throwing everything on the passenger seat, Jackson pulled out of his parking spot and drove downtown.
When he pulled onto the highway, the traffic was moving at a turtle’s pace. Slamming his hand against the steering wheel, he cursed his luck. It seemed that everything was going to go wrong for him today. Gas…break…gas…break. He wanted to yell. As the minutes ticked by, Jackson could only shake his head. His future at Braxton and Sons was looking bleak.
