by Mandy Morgan
Safe Haven Stables
BBW Western Romance
(Curves and Cowboys #2)
Mandy Morgan
Copyright © 2019 by Mandy Morgan. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.
This publication contains sexually explicit material. All characters are 18 years or older and all sex is consensual.
Table of Contents
Summary
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Epilogue
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About the Author
Summary
A short, sweet, and steamy romance that’s packed with curves, cowboys, insta-love, and Happily Ever After...
Hannah
I was on the run from my abusive ex-boyfriend when I first laid eyes on Chance Carter.
His rugged good looks, cowboy charms, and kind eyes capture me in an instant.
I know I should be cautious of men. But when Chance offers me the guest room at his horse rescue, Safe Haven Stables, I take a leap of faith.
After all, the bad times are behind me, right?
Chance
I've dedicated my life to helping horses in need. And when I first saw Hannah Miller, all I had on my mind was picking up some feed for my newest rescue.
But now that I've seen the curvy beauty, I'm drawn to her like a moth to a flame, and she's all I can think about.
After hearing how alone and afraid she is of being found by her ex, I instantly open my home and my heart to her.
And I plan to make it my new life's mission to protect and cherish her, no matter what...
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Prologue
Hannah
When I heard the crash in the kitchen, my heart sank and I prepared myself for the worst. Todd had been in a mood the past few days, which usually meant bad news for me.
“Get in here, you useless cow!”
I cringed and felt myself begin to tear up, but I followed my boyfriend’s command. My history with Todd dictated that things would be worse if he had to come to me.
Carnage greeted me in the kitchen. There were broken dishes all over the counters and floor. My back ached just looking at the mess I knew I would be made to clean up.
“I told you what would happen the next time you burned our dinner, didn’t I?” Todd’s face was bright red with anger. “All you have to do around here is make the meals and warm my bed with your big ass. And you can’t even do that right, can you?”
I’d burned the pot roast because I’d been busy with the laundry he’d insisted I finish right then. But I knew he wasn’t looking an excuse or even a response, so I just stood there with my head down and tried to let his heated words wash over me.
He was in the middle of telling me what a horrible girlfriend I was and how he should throw me out into the streets of Atlanta to see how I faired when I saw Fred lying on the floor in a puddle of water and smashed glass.
My heart broke at the sight of the dead goldfish. He was the only companionship I’d had since I’d moved in with Todd, and something snapped inside of me when I saw him.
Todd had told me I was a damn fool for getting the fish in the first place, but he’d said he would allow it, as long as I took care of it.
And that’s exactly what I’d done. I’d named that goldfish after my childhood dog and I’d loved him just as dearly. He was the reason I got out of bed on many mornings.
It was one thing for Todd to be cruel and beat me up with his words and hands. But seeing that his rage extended to destroying innocent living things broke me completely.
What would he do if we ever had any children? I knew a pet fish wasn’t the same as a baby, but Todd had shown me all I needed to know about what little respect he had for life.
I waited until Todd was done ranting at me and had gone in the living room to watch the evening news. I cleaned up the kitchen and took care of poor little Fred’s body.
As I watched my goldfish flush away, I made my plans. I couldn’t live like this anymore. I had to get out. And it had to be tonight…
Chapter One
Hannah
I felt like a criminal as I slipped out of the dark condo and into the even darker hallway. I didn’t like having to sneak around like this. But what other choice did I have?
Looking both ways to make sure there weren’t any neighbors with insomnia lurking about, I adjusted the strap of my duffle bag and took a deep breath.
It had taken me quite a while to make this decision and it wasn’t one I took lightly. I’d agreed to move in with Todd because I thought we were going to get married, after all.
Of course, as soon as I was living in his ritzy downtown condo, everything had changed. Todd became controlling and abusive almost as soon as I’d unpacked.
Living with his yelling, threats, and manipulation for the last two years had almost broken me. But I’d finally woken up that evening and knew I had to get out.
That’s why I was sneaking down the hallway with just some clothing, my toiletries, and the most important items from my purse stuffed into a single tote bag. I knew I’d have to travel light to stay ahead of Todd.
There was no way he’d just let me go without a fight. He would consider it a matter of pride and principle. Not because he loved me or even really wanted to be with me. I was a possession to him – a toy he didn’t want but couldn’t stand to allow anyone else to have.
I was almost to the elevator when I heard the creaking of a door and froze in my tracks. Every hair on my body stood on end as I held my breath and waited to see if Todd was already on my trail.
“Going on a trip, dear?”
Mrs. Thompson from down the hall was shuffling toward me with Fifi, her French Poodle, wearing her ratty old bathrobe and a smile.
Shit! Why is she out here at two o’clock in the morning?
“Just taking some things out to the car,” I said, trying to sound as normal as I could. “Have a nice night!”
I didn’t want to be stuck in the elevator with her and forced to answer more questions, so I gave Mrs. Thompson a forced smile and hurried toward the building’s stairwell.
Silently praying that she wouldn’t say anything to Todd about seeing me in the hallway, I rushed down the concrete steps and emerged in an alley at the back of the condos.
I was briefly shocked into inaction when I felt the cool night air on my skin. It hit me that I was all alone at the age of twenty-three with no idea what the future held for me.
Todd had wanted me all to himself, so I didn’t have a job or a car, and he’d given me an “allowance” to make sure he was the only one that had full control of the money going in and out of the household.
I’d managed to save up some of that cash and my plan was to buy a ticket for the first bus leaving Atlanta and get as far away as I could. I didn’t really care where I went, as long as I got away from Todd.
I knew making a fresh start wouldn’t be easy – I didn’t have any family members or friends to count on. And there was just enough money in my bag to get me to a new city.
<
br /> I had no idea where I was going, what I was going to do when I got there, or what kind of people I’d run into along the way.
But anywhere, anything, and anyone was better than what I had right now. So, I took a deep breath, made my way out to street, and started looking for a cab.
Chance
“This one’s a special case for sure, Chance.” Doc Harlow shook his head as he looked at the abandoned horse he’d come to Safe Haven Stables to examine. “He may never walk right again, let alone be able to be ridden.”
I ran my hand along the big gelding’s neck. He was still trembling with fear from his last interaction with humans. It was my job to make sure he never had to feel fear or pain again.
“Well, he’ll always have a home here,” I said as I reached out to shake the vet’s hand. “I appreciate your help, as always, Doc.”
“You’re very welcome, as always,” Doc Harlow said with a smile. “You know I’ll do anything I can to help you keep this rescue up and running. Folks around here are proud of you, son.”
Hearing that meant a lot to me and I told the vet as much as I walked him out into the barnyard and toward his truck. I’d always had a soft spot for taking care of those that couldn’t do so for themselves.
After seeing Doc off, I called out to my stable hand to get the new gelding settled in as best he could. “Just put him out in one of the big pens with some hay for now, Jose. I’m gonna head into town and get him some special feed to try and get more weight on him.”
I watched the young man leading the old horse out to pasture before making my way to my pickup. I’d woken up to find him tied to one of my fence posts this morning, left there by someone who was done with him and just didn’t care anymore.
“I’ll never understand assholes like that,” I mumbled to myself as my truck roared to life and I pointed it toward the feed store. At least it was a beautiful day and I knew the old gelding would be able to live out his life in peace at my place.
After pulling my truck into a spot at the front of Mary’s Feed and Seed, I headed in and made my way up to the counter and spoke to Mary herself.
She’d been running this place for longer than I’d been alive and I knew she’d have what I needed to keep my herd happy and healthy.
“That should do it,” I said as I tossed the last of my purchases on the counter. “Just put it on my account, please and thank you, Mary.”
The older woman brushed a piece of hair out of her eyes and gave me the kind, grandmotherly smile she was famous for around these parts. “You got it, Chance. Now, get back to taking care of those sweet horses of yours!”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said with a smile of my own and a tip of my hat. “See you next time, Mary.”
I hefted the bags of feed onto my shoulder and headed out to the parking lot. I’d just finished up loading them into the bed of my truck when I saw movement out of the corner of my eye.
Glancing over at the bus depot, I saw something that took my breath away. There was a young woman standing out front, all by her lonesome, a big duffle bag at her feet.
It was her delightfully curvy frame and wavy blonde hair that caught my attention at first. But it was her big blue eyes that convinced me to drop what I was doing and head over.
Those eyes were brimming with fear and confusion, and even though I didn’t know her name yet, those baby blues had me hooked.
I was ready to do whatever I could to help her – not to mention put my fist through the face of whoever had made her look so sad.
So, I adjusted my hat, checked to make sure I was as presentable looking as possible, and made my way over to the most beautiful damsel in distress I’d ever laid eyes on.
Chapter Two
Hannah
My night had been long and sleepless. I’d wanted to get as far away from Todd as I could, so I’d boarded a bus heading to Texas, even though it meant twelve hours on the road and just about wiped out my available cash.
I hadn’t been too picky about where I ended up, but now that I was here in some tiny town just over the state line, I didn’t know what to do next.
I’d been too afraid and excited to sleep on the bus, so I was exhausted, and all I knew was that I was someplace called Haven.
That name has to be a good sign, right? I thought to myself as I looked around the bus depot parking lot, hoping to find an inexpensive place to get some rest, but not seeing much nearby other than a feed store.
I was just about to head inside and ask the clerk at the ticket counter for directions to the nearest motel when I heard someone clear their throat next to me.
I jumped a mile, gave a little involuntary squeal of surprise, and clutched my chest. “Oh, sweet baby Lord!”
Standing to one side of me was the sexiest man I’d ever laid eyes on. He looked to be about thirty and was over six feet tall, had dark hair and hazel eyes, and his crisp white t-shirt was bulging with mouth-watering muscles.
With the flash of a dimple, he gave me a smile that was somehow both kind and devilish, like a little boy that had just played a practical joke on a friend.
“I didn’t mean to scare you, miss,” he said in a rumbling voice that just added to his appeal. “But I couldn’t help but notice you seem to be lost.”
This was the first time in a long time that a man had spoken to me with kindness and caring. It was like a cooling balm on a burn and before I could stop myself, I’d burst into tears.
“Hey, now,” he said softly. “There’s no need to cry. I’m here to help, I promise, and you can take that to the bank.”
He didn’t skip a beat as he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. And his panty-melting smile never wavered as he handed it to me.
I didn’t know how it was possible, but there was just something about this total stranger that made me feel more at ease than I ever had around anyone else I’d ever known.
He stood by and waited for me to calm down and wipe my eyes. Even after everything I’d been through with Todd, I wanted so badly to be able to trust people again. But I found myself unable to just accept his kindness.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” I blurted out. “I don’t have money or anything else to give you.”
“Why, that’s more than fine,” he said in a deep drawl as he shrugged his big shoulders. “I don’t want anything more than to be able to help out. It’s what I do, miss.”
He pulled out his wallet and handed me a business card with the silhouette of a horse head and swirling initials spelling out SHS at the top.
“Safe Haven Stables,” I read out loud. “Chance Carter, Head Cowboy and Rescue Director.”
I couldn’t help but give a little laugh at the job title and then I looked at him, lifting one eyebrow in an unspoken question.
“Yep, that’s me,” he said, his smile brightening at my laughter. “We don’t stand much on formality around here.”
“No, it doesn’t seem like it,” I replied quietly, feeling more comfortable in his presence by the second. “It’s very nice to meet you, Chance.”
“Same here. And if you tell me your name, I won’t have to call you ‘miss’ anymore. How about that?”
I laughed again and held out my hand. “I’m Hannah Miller.”
When he took my hand into his work-roughened grasp and shook it, I felt briefly like I might pass out, and I had to close my eyes and take a deep breath to steady myself.
It was as if every nerve ending in my body had caught fire with his touch. And I was more confused than ever. I’d come all this way to get away from a man. I shouldn’t be having a reaction like this to one.
But that didn’t stop my heart from pounding or cool the heat that was building at the very center of me. I’d never been around a real cowboy like Chance and being near him was definitely affecting me.
“Well, Hannah Miller, how’d you like to have a glass of iced tea with me?”
I opened my mouth to politely decline and was shocked by what I
said instead. “I think I’d like that quite a bit…”
Chance
I leaned down and scooped up Hannah’s duffle bag and loaded into the bed of my truck. When I opened the passenger door for her and offered her my hand to help her climb in, her cheeks turned pink and I felt a surge of pleasure at the effect I’d had on her.
I got her settled into her seat and climbed behind the wheel. “My favorite lunch place is down the street and they have the sweetest tea there this side of Heaven. That work for you, little lady?”
Her cheeks burned brighter at that and she just nodded shyly in response as I got my truck pointed in the right direction and turned the radio on, figuring she wouldn’t want to talk too much yet.
We sat and ordered a couple of glasses of iced tea at Clementine’s Café. I tried to get Hannah to have something to eat too, but she just shook her head and mumbled, “No, thank you, this is plenty.”
I didn’t want to push her too hard to share her story with me, so I started telling her about the gelding that had come in that morning.
“Doc seems to think he’ll have trouble walking, but they can surprise you sometimes. All it takes is showing them a little loving kindness and they bounce right back.”
Hannah’s eyes grew wet and her chin began to tremble. I reached across the table and took one of her soft, smooth hands in mine without taking my eyes off hers.
“Why don’t you let it out, Hannah? You just might feel better if you do.”
She took a deep breath and told me about how her parents had died when she was young. Hannah had gone to live with her grandmother in Atlanta and had planned to go to college there and make something of herself.
But then she’d met Todd Blakely and everything had changed. He convinced her that she should let him take care of her and had insisted she move into his condo downtown after just a few months of dating.
“He seemed so nice at first,” Hannah said softly as a single plump tear slid down her cheek. “By the time I knew something was wrong, it was too late. Nana was in a nursing home and I was all alone in the world.”
