"We will, definitely." Ryder nodded at Liam. "I'd like to introduce someone to you all, first, though."
Zane immediately crouched in front of Liam. "Who do you have with you today?"
"I'm Liam Eaton. My grandpa and I live with Ryder and Zoey."
Zoey's heart turned over, and she looked over at Ryder, who didn't correct the youth's description of their living arrangement.
Zane glanced up at them, then nodded in complete acceptance. "That's great. I'm Zane. I'm Ryder's brother. This is my son Toby, and my niece Emily. They said they know you."
Liam nodded. "Yeah. We're in the same class."
Emily cocked her head. "Do you want to come see my baby horse? Toby and I were going to go see her."
Liam's face lit up. "Yeah."
"We'll catch up," Ryder said. "Why don't you guys go on ahead?"
"Okay." Emily and Toby freed themselves from Zane, and then the three of them took off across the yard toward the barn, shouting and laughing.
Zoey watched them go, her heart so full of joy at the way Liam had been seamlessly welcomed into the family. "Should we be worried about them?"
"Nah. Dane's at the barn. He'll watch them." Zane stood up and pulled Zoey into a belated hug. "So good to see you again, Zoey. You look great."
She grinned and hugged him back. "I feel great."
Zane pulled back and eyed her, and then looked at Ryder, then he broke into a grin. "Well, damn, bro. You finally won her over, did you?"
Ryder grinned. "Yeah. I think so." He put his arm around Zoey's shoulders and pulled her close. "I asked her to marry me."
Zane's grin widened. "Did you let him down easy, Zoey? Or just trample his heart ruthlessly?"
She smiled. "I decided to keep him." She held up her hand and let the sleeve slide down her wrist, showing the ring. "He's kept it for eight years. How could I say no?"
"You can't." Zane's grin widened. "No woman in her right mind would turn down a Stockton man—"
"Oh my God!" Lissa ran up and grabbed her hand. "You were right, Taylor!" she shouted. "It's an engagement ring!"
Zoey's cheeks heated up, but before she could panic, they were swarmed by men she'd last seen a decade ago, their amazing women, some she knew, and some she didn't. But when she saw Jaimi's huge smile, she knew it was going to be okay.
Her sister-in-law pushed through the crowd, and pulled her into her arms, hugging her fiercely. "I'm so glad, Zoey. Ryder's been waiting for you for so long. You guys will be so happy."
She hugged Jaimi back just as tightly. "I know we will." And she did. No matter what happened with Dane, they'd find a way.
Ryder was watching Zoey and Jaimi hug when Chase walked up and pulled him into a hug. "Way to go, little brother."
Ryder grinned and hugged him back. "Thanks for all your advice. I'm not sure I would have made it here without it."
Chase shrugged. "You would've. You guys are meant for each other."
"I thought I'd lost her for a long time." Even now, he still felt the urge to go grab her and hold on tight, afraid he'd lose her again. "She said she'd marry me only if we live in Rogue Valley."
Chase seemed to go still, holding his breath. "And you agreed?"
"I did." One by one, Chase had been pulling each Stockton back to Rogue Valley, back to the family that they'd once had. "You finally got me back, too."
"Well, shit." Chase punched him lightly in the shoulder, clearly pleased. "There's plenty of space on the ranch to build."
Ryder grinned. "Thanks. I'll check with Zoey." But he had a feeling he knew what her answer would be. Every Stockton who'd gotten married had built on the ranch, a ranch that now housed a program for kids, a state-of-the-art equine surgery facility for Steen's wife, Taylor, training facilities, and soon a bakery. And it had kids, and family, and picnics, and everything else she deserved. "Only three of us left to get back here."
Chase nodded. "Logan and Quintin will cave."
"And Caleb?"
"Still can't find him. No one can."
Regret flickered through Ryder. Was Caleb even still alive? He had to be. If his own brother was dead, surely they would know, right? "Zoey came home, and so will he. The call of this place is too strong."
"Yeah." Chase folded his arms as they watched Zoey being escorted away, surrounded by the women. "It is." He nodded suddenly. "You need to talk to him."
Ryder followed his glance and saw Dane walking their way. He was moving fast, his arms stiff and his fists bunched as he scanned the crowd. "Shit. I need to get to him before he reaches Zoey."
He broke into a jog, reaching Dane just as he neared the edge of the lawn. "Dane."
The sheriff stopped and spun toward him. "You're engaged?"
Damn. News traveled fast. "Yeah."
"You didn't check with me first?"
"No, because you're being a complete ass about the whole thing." He took a breath, reining in his emotions. He needed Dane to understand. To believe in him, in them. Zoey needed it, and he needed it. "I love the hell out of her, Dane. She's my world, and despite what you might think, I'm good for her. I'm the only one for her. She loves me, and we're keeping each other."
Dane's scowl deepened. "And Boston?"
"It's not what she wants, Dane. I told her I'd go with her wherever she wanted, but she said she'd marry me only if I was willing to live in town."
Surprise flickered across Dane's face. "Really? She said that?"
"Yes. She wants to be here, Dane. She wants family, both mine and hers." He gestured at the gathering. "This place gave Jaimi a family. We gave you a family. She wants the same thing, Dane. If it's good enough for you, Jaimi, and your kids, why wouldn't it be good enough for her?"
Jaimi walked up then, sliding her hand into Dane's. "I keep telling him that," she said softly, leaning her head on Dane's shoulder. "None of us are trapped here. We want to be here, and I can't think of a more beautiful place to be than this town, with all of you."
Dane tangled his fingers with his wife's. "She's my little sister—"
"And she needs a family just as much as you do," Ryder said. "I'm her choice. The Stocktons are her choice." He met his gaze. "And you're her choice. She needs her brother to love her."
Dane scowled. "I do love her."
"She thought we both didn't love her when we sent her away to Harvard." His voice softened. "She needs you, Dane, just as she needs me. You can't stop us from being together, so get on board. Please." He hesitated. "Hate me if you want, Dane, but don't make her suffer for it."
Pain flickered across Dane's face. "I don't hate you."
"I know, you just think I'm not good enough for her. But you're wrong. I am." He gestured toward the melee surrounding Zoey. "Look at her," he said softly. "She's happy again. The spark is back."
Dane glanced at the gathering, and Ryder saw the moment his gaze found Zoey. She threw back her head and laughed, and the sound of her laughter carried across the grass, filling Ryder's heart with joy. "Do you hear that?" he asked.
Her brother nodded. "I didn't think I'd ever hear that again," he said softly. "She…she looks happy. Genuinely happy."
Zoey glanced their way, and the smile vanished when she saw them together. She said something to Lissa, and then hurried their way.
"This is your chance," Ryder said. "This is your chance to make it right with the only sister you have."
Jaimi squeezed his hand. "You wanted to make her happy, Dane. That was your goal. To give her the life that would fill her soul. You did it. Look at her. You did it."
Dane glanced at his wife, then at Ryder, and then at Zoey as she came to a stop in front of them. "Dane," she said. "I love him."
Ryder's heart turned over at her claiming of him. "I love you, ZoeyBear."
Her gaze flicked to him, and she smiled, a smile so full of love and warmth that he knew he'd dream of it for the rest of his life.
He walked over and put his arm over her shoulders, pulling her against him. "We're togethe
r, Dane. And it's right."
For a long moment, no one else spoke, until Dane finally reached out and touched her cheek. "The spark is back," he said softly. "My little sister is back. God, it's been forever. After Mom and Dad died, I thought I'd never see you sparkle again."
Tears filled her eyes as she nodded. "I was so lost for so long. But not anymore. I know what I want. Ryder. The Stocktons. The Harts." She met his gaze. "And you, Dane. You're the only brother I have. Please let me back in. Please."
Dane suddenly let out his breath. "I'm so fucking sorry, Zoey. I fucked it all up. I tried. I wanted to do right by you, and I fucked it up."
Tears trickled down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, too. I'm sorry I never came home to meet Jaimi, or go to your wedding or any of it."
"You're here now, and that's all that matters." Jaimi pulled her into a hug. "Welcome home, sis."
While the women hugged, Ryder looked at Dane. "Well?"
Dane's eyes looked a little shinier than usual. "She's really okay, isn't she?"
"Yeah, she is."
He nodded and turned back toward his wife and sister. "Zoey—" His voice broke, and suddenly, he grabbed his sister and pulled her into his arms. She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him back, clinging to him as if they'd never let each other go.
Ryder felt a sudden thickness in his own throat, and he saw Jaimi's eyes were shiny as well. He grinned at her, and she smiled back.
Then Zoey and Dane grabbed them both and pulled them into a four-way hug, the hug that Ryder felt like he'd been waiting a lifetime for. His future wife. His long-lost sister. And his best friend.
Hell, yeah.
Do you want more small-town romance? Check out the quaint Maine town of Birch Crossing, where love always finds a way!
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After a midnight tryst results in a marriage-of-convenience, hearts ignite and chaos ensues when an ex-military specialist and his sister's best friend must make their fake marriage real in a way they never intended.
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Find out more by grabbing your copy of Unintentionally Mine, and fill your heart with this wonderful story of love that was always meant to be.
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Get your copy here!
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"One of the best books of the year! I was absolutely blown away." ~Tapnchica (Amazon Review)
Sneak Peek: Her Rebel Cowboy
A Rogue Cowboy spinoff
“WOW, what a knockout!... packs one heck of an emotional punch…wonderfully endearing." ~Judy L. (Amazon Review)
When a struggling mystery writer's accidental house swap sends her to the ranch of a sexy bull rider with a murderer on his tail, the sassy city girl finds herself in the middle of a high stakes romantic murder mystery where it's her own life and heart at risk.
So, yeah, apparently there was a reason why people read novels instead of actually trying to experience the life they were reading about.
Because fantasies had no place in real life. Ever.
Especially fantasies that involved romantic, soul-enriching excursions to ranch country out west.
Noelle had been dreaming about cowboys and the Wild West since she was a kid, and not a single one of those fantasies included driving her rental car off the road and into a flooded ditch during a thunderstorm. Granted, she'd been driving slowly when she'd hit the brakes to avoid a coyote, and the slide down the embankment had been gentle and danger-free, but that didn't change the fact that her car wasn't getting back on the road by itself. And the part about not having any cell service? Yeah, that hadn't made it into even a single fantasy, and for good reason apparently.
Because it kind of sucked.
Noelle sighed, resting her wrists on the steering wheel as she watched the rain hammer onto her windshield. The din of pounding rain sounded like a herd of cattle stampeding across her metal roof, which, again, wasn't exactly how she'd envisioned her first cattle experience.
She'd been sitting in her car for two hours and six minutes, and not a single car had driven by. Not one. She was on some dirt road, not that far from her destination, and apparently, none of the other residents of Eastern Oregon had any business along this particular stretch of road.
So, yay for finding a place where she wasn't going to be harassed by having to deal with people, right? Go her.
She glanced at the dashboard on her car. Almost seven o'clock. It would be getting dark soon, and she so didn't want to spend the night here. She looked again at her directions. How much farther could the ranch be? She was almost there. She could sit there in the car until someone found her clean-picked skeleton, or she could use her body that she was lucky enough to have, and hike the rest of the distance.
The idea of hiking made energy hum through her, a surprising burst of energy that she hadn't felt in a long time. It made her feel powerful, no longer a victim. Taking action felt so much better than waiting to become roadside carnage. Grinning, she quickly leaned into the back seat, dug through her bags for her hiking boots and her raincoat. Within five minutes, she'd changed her shoes, zipped the ranch house key, her phone, the directions, and her wallet into the inside pocket of the coat, and chowed a granola bar.
Thunder rumbled just as she was reaching for the door handle. She hesitated for a split second, then looked around at the car. Another prison, just like her apartment. Suddenly, she couldn't take another second of it. She had to be outside. She had to be moving. She had to be breathing in fresh air. Now.
So she shoved open the door, stepped into six inches of muddy, raging water, and got out. The wind hit hard, and the rain thundered down, and she realized it was really brutal out. She hesitated, one hand on the door frame, suddenly unsure what to do. What if it was longer than she thought to the ranch? What if she got lost? There was literally no one to come to aid. No cell service. No cars going past. But, there were coyotes, or at least one. They didn't attack people, though, she was pretty sure. Crap. Was she a total fool to get out of the car and start hiking? Or would she be a bigger fool to sit in her car until someone came past?
Probably hiking was the worse choice.
But dammit. She didn't want to sit around anymore. She wanted to move. To live. To feel her body work again.
Screw it.
She was hiking.
With a renewed sense of power, she slammed her door shut and headed up the embankment toward the highway. She made it halfway up the incline, then she felt her boots start to slide. She yelped, and fought for purchase, leaning down to brace her hands on the ground, but as she stood there, her feet slid all the way back down, she lost her grip and landed on her knees, and rode the muddy gravel all the way back down, landing with a sploosh in the muddy river that had trapped her car.
Noelle looked up at the ten-foot embankment of mud and gravel, and suddenly, she started to laugh. Oh, God. This was too insane. Her first day of replenishing her soul, and she was trapped by a hill of shale and mud? Energy rushed through her, a fire that made her entire body feel stronger than it had in years.
She backed up several steps, set her gaze on her goal, and then charged the hill. She made it halfway up again, and then her boots started to slide. She lunged forward, digging her hands into the mud as she fought to scramble up the side. She made it another few feet, sliding backwards almost as often as she made it forward.
Her breath was heaving in her chest, and she fought harder, her feet sliding down almost as fast as she was able to take a step forward. Rain poured over her, running down her neck and under her coat, and mud coated her hands to her wrists. Her jeans were soaked, there was cold mud oozing over the top of her boots, and her hair was glued to her cheeks by the mud and the rain. She was filthy, soaked, exhausted, and hadn't felt so alive in years. Grinning even as her fingernails were scraped by the gravel, she fought against gravity. Inch by inch, she scrambled higher, until she was almost at the top...and then her feet started to go again.
"Crap!" She lunged for the top of the embankment, and
just missed it...and started to slide back down again–
A strong hand suddenly grabbed her wrist, jerking her to a stop mid-slide.
She looked up quickly to find a drenched, muddy cowboy in a long jacket, a dripping cowboy hat, and icy-blue eyes staring down at her, his fingers locked around her arm.
Noelle froze, shocked by the sight of him, by the way her belly leapt, by the sudden heat rushing through her body. Dear God, he was straight out of her teenage fantasies. A hot cowboy coming to her rescue?
No, not hot. Calling him hot was like kind of like calling a wild, fully grown male mountain lion a cute little kitten. It was a supreme injustice to both the lion and the kitten. The man before her was pure, rugged male...the kind of male that made her want to drop everything, sprint over to him, and surrender every aspect of herself to his raw masculinity.
There was something about the way he was standing there with his duster flapping in the heavy wind, his legs braced against the weight of her body, while the rain dripped off his hat that was just so primal. Delicious. Surreal. Hot. Like he was made of testosterone, old West charm, and danger...with just a hint of cocky arrogance curving his mouth so seductively that a shiver went down her spine that had nothing to do with the fact she was soaking wet and closing in on hypothermia (yes, it was fifty degrees, but hypothermia wasn’t choosy, was it?)
She couldn’t quite believe how good it felt to stare at a man and notice how wide his shoulders were beneath his black jacket, or the way his quads bulged beneath his jean-clad thighs as he braced himself, as if his body was made for a life of outdoor roughness. She took a deep breath, wishing that he was close enough for her to catch a scent of him, a heady masculine scent that would make her stomach curl and her belly flutter like it had back when she used to feel alive. But all she could smell was the damp earth, the fresh rain, and the murkiness of the swampy river she'd just waded through…which was just as well. One more assault to her senses would likely send her romantically barren soul into testosterone-induced shock.
A Real Cowboy Always Trusts His Heart Page 20
