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Mountain Country Cowboy
Glynna Kaye
Second-Chance DaddyWhen he’s offered a job at Hunter’s Hideaway, single dad Cash Herrera immediately accepts. It means the former bad boy can start over and gain custody of his son, Joey. Still, small-town folk have long memories—especially Cash’s pretty childhood nemesis. Rio Hunter is now a lovely, courageous woman…and Cash’s new boss. Past betrayal makes them both wary, and Rio’s secret promise will soon take her away from Hunter Ridge. Yet working with Cash and teaching Joey about her beloved horses draw her closer to both. Can she create a loving family with the man who’s claiming her future?Hearts of Hunter Ridge: Finding true love in Arizona mountain country
Second-Chance Daddy
When he’s offered a job at Hunter’s Hideaway, single dad Cash Herrera immediately accepts. It means the former bad boy can start over and gain custody of his son, Joey. Still, small-town folk have long memories—especially Cash’s pretty childhood nemesis. Rio Hunter is now a lovely, courageous woman...and Cash’s new boss. Past betrayal makes them both wary, and Rio’s secret promise will soon take her away from Hunter Ridge. Yet working with Cash and teaching Joey about her beloved horses draw her closer to both. Can she create a loving family with the man who’s claiming her future?
“We both want to make this transition work.”
Rio slowly nodded, as if not yet convinced. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt. Maybe we can try it tomorrow, anyway.”
“That’s all I ask.”
Her mouth curved. “Not asking much, are you?”
With a sense of elation that he’d won her over, Cash couldn’t help but share her smile as they openly studied each other, her mind likely teeming with as many questions about their working relationship as filled his. If he guessed right, this spunky lady kept many a man on his toes these days, and not because they were on guard for an ambush as he’d often been in his youth.
Looking down at her, he caught the soft, quick intake of her breath before she abruptly spun away and started down the trail back to the heart of the Hideaway.
“See you at sunrise,” she called over her shoulder with a sassy toss of that ponytail, and he shook his head. This might prove to be a long—and interesting—few months.
Dear Reader (#ubaa52016-73d4-5e85-9f6a-57a7ca39502f),
Thank you for joining me in Arizona mountain country as Cash and Rio journey on a rocky road to a happily ever after!
Cash had struggled through the betrayal of someone he’d loved. Rio, likewise, learned things about herself and the one she’d given her heart to that left her empty. Both are wounded souls. People who, because of past experiences, question their self-worth and are suspicious of the motives of others. They are people who doubt they deserve love and who desperately need to recognize that the love God offers is not “deserved,” not “bargained for,” but a free gift because He loves them unconditionally. Don’t we all need the kind of love only God can give us through his son Jesus Christ?
If, like Rio, you are in a destructive relationship—or know someone who is—seek help or encourage them to seek it. While I don’t have the background, training or connections to personally help you, there are those who do. Churches, campus counselors, law enforcement, community and faith-based shelters. And never forget God loves you!
You can contact me at Love Inspired Books, 195 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007. Or via email at glynna@glynnakaye.com. Please stop by loveinspiredauthors.com (http://www.loveinspiredauthors.com) and Seekerville.blogspot.com (http://Seekerville.blogspot.com)—designated as one of Writer’s Digest magazine’s 101 Best Websites for Writers. We love readers, too!
Glynna Kaye
GLYNNA KAYE treasures memories of growing up in small Midwestern towns—and vacations spent with the Texan side of the family. She traces her love of storytelling to the times a houseful of great-aunts and great-uncles gathered with her grandma to share candid, heartwarming, poignant and often humorous tales of their youth and young adulthood. Glynna now lives in Arizona, where she enjoys gardening, photography and the great outdoors.
Mountain Country Cowboy
Glynna Kaye
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares
the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm
you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
—Jeremiah 29:11
For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith—and this is not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God—not by works,
so that no one can boast.
—Ephesians 2:8–9
To my “Seeker Sisters”
at seekerville.blogspot.com.
Thank you for over a decade of love,
prayers and encouragement.
God did a beautiful thing
when He brought us together.
Mary Connealy
Janet Dean
Debby Giusti
Audra Harders
Ruth Logan Herne
Pam Hillman
Cara Lynn James
Myra Johnson
Sandra Leesmith
Julie Lessman
Tina Radcliffe
Missy Tippens
Contents
Cover (#u1940567d-64dc-593d-884a-8e2f68c16e8b)
Back Cover Text (#u82b7fd61-0212-5e5a-ab6e-02b849d37860)
Introduction (#udd8ec172-734c-5b41-8438-ca12a3fe8139)
Dear Reader (#u45414f60-ddef-501a-933b-b8b6a74cea9f)
About the Author (#u6eadd64a-1618-5754-8a0e-68ae9c5b36ed)
Title Page (#u9c4a9c73-f422-51ec-a93a-7b6b15b52f19)
Bible Verse (#uf6799f52-9139-5269-a592-aa08e22b509d)
Dedication (#ue059879d-30aa-50d8-b035-10c488d9b1f7)
Chapter One (#u7fc76ff6-4219-5674-9065-d0d7b541470e)
Chapter Two (#ucb145326-0a47-5ba0-ae95-f7f2fe1d159d)
Chapter Three (#ubba2a87f-d409-5af6-8f74-a60357cb0f62)
Chapter Four (#u51dbd34b-017c-5df6-a8b0-9c461068bd76)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One (#ubaa52016-73d4-5e85-9f6a-57a7ca39502f)
“Nice try, Grady, but I’m not buying it.”
Riona “Rio” Hunter confidently shook her head as her older brother pulled a weathered suitcase out of her pickup truck and set it in the gravel at her booted feet. She gave him a serenely sweet smile, knowing his idea of welcoming her back to mountain country Arizona after a week’s absence at a spiritual retreat would be to try to get her riled. “Grandma Jo wouldn’t do something like that behind my back.”
And certainly not right when they’d gotten word of a potential opportunity for a much-needed financial boost. Tallington Associates, an events coordinating company, would soon be evaluating the family-run Hunter’s Hideaway that catered to outdoor enthusiasts as a possible recommended site for client gatherings. If all went as hoped, that contractor could be arranging bookings for years to come.
Grady shrugged. “Well, Grandma did do it. Like I said, Cashton Herrera interviewed several days ago, an offer was made and he’ll be back to sign on the dotted line sometime today.”
No way. She stared up at him. Was he telling the truth? Both he and their other brother, Luke, were masters at keeping a straight face when they wanted to. Although Rio had plans to leave the family business later that summer and return to college, Grandma wouldn’t hire someone without consulting her, would she? Rio’s reservation for the out-of-state getaway had been made months ago, and Grandma couldn’t wait one week for her to return?
Narrowing her eyes, she gave Grady a good-humored push. “Liar.”
With a laugh, he reached out to playfully tug on the ponytail draped over her shoulder. “I’m not lying, Rio. It’s a done deal. Ask her. Ask Mom and Dad. Cash arrives today to start as your assistant, then will step into full responsibility when you take off in August.”
He was serious.
Grandma Jo hired a man—who not only had a reputation like that of his father for settling scores with his fists, but had even done jail time for striking a woman—to work with Rio?
“So you’re telling me none of you voiced objections or bothered to call me so I could voice mine?” A pang of betrayal echoed in her heart. Knowing what they did regarding her past—and her intentions for the future—how could they be so insensitive? “You all know how I feel about men who hit.”
They weren’t real men.
Grady frowned, undoubtedly reminded of the distressing events at the conclusion of her freshman year at college. “Cash didn’t try to hide his county jail record on the application form. And you already know Grandma followed up with his references, including a deputy sheriff who’s been mentoring Cash for over three years and who personally doesn’t believe he hit his ex-wife.”
“But a judge and jury did believe it.” With a huff, Rio grabbed the handle of her wheeled suitcase, dragging it toward the porch steps of her parents’ cabin where, at twenty-one, she still resided. But not much longer, God willing.
Grady, swiftly blocking her way, reached down and relieved her of her luggage. “Come on now, calm down. You know Grandma Jo did this because she loves you and wants to give you the opportunity to chase your high-flying dreams.”
He made it sound as if they were a passing fancy with no more substance than a soap bubble. As if she were a cute kitten fruitlessly attempting to pounce on a flitting butterfly and would soon tire and lose interest.
“But why did Grandma have to do interviews while I was out of town? And despite our looking at several promising applications, she picked a man like Cash?” Rio jerked her suitcase away from her brother, suspecting Grandma Jo had her eye on Cash all along and moved swiftly to hire him while her granddaughter was absent.
“He has an impressive background with horses, as well as dude ranch experience. And he aced the interview.”
“But we both know,” she almost growled, “that Grandma has a rescuer complex. She’s big on second chances.”
That’s why she’d hired Cash’s father those many years ago, wasn’t it? And look how that turned out.
Rio abruptly shoved her suitcase back in her brother’s direction. “Here, please take this and my other stuff inside. Tell Mom I won’t be gone long, but I have to talk to Grandma.”
“You’re too late.” He had the nerve to smile. Clearly she’d lost the ally she thought she’d have in Grady.
“We’ll see about that.”
Ignoring his chuckle, she spun on her booted heel and headed for a shortcut through the tall-trunked ponderosa pines leading to the Hideaway’s main complex.
