Dylan’s Redemption(110)
Ella Wolf rushes to her family’s abandoned Montana ranch after her twin sister is murdered. She knows she’s next . . . unless she can uncover a secret hidden somewhere at Wolf Ranch. The last thing Ella expects is to be rescued by a rugged rancher with his own agenda. A man who almost makes her forget how dangerous love can be . . .
As an unlikely partnership sparks into something so much more, and a killer closes in, can Ella and Gabe learn to trust one another before it’s too late?
Three Peaks Ranch, Montana
GABE BOWDEN PUT the quarter horse through its paces around the corral, stopping him short to make an abrupt turn, then pulling on the reins to make him back up. All in all, he liked the horse’s attention and readiness to follow commands. His brother Blake trained the animal well. The horse would be a fine addition to his new ranch and a big help with the cattle due to arrive in nine weeks. Gabe couldn’t wait to take over Wolf Ranch. He’d worked his ass off to earn the money to buy the place, and in nine short weeks, the deal closed and he’d have everything he ever dreamed: the huge spread with wide-open meadows, rolling hills, rivers snaking out over the land, grass as far as the eye could see for the cattle. A livelihood he could depend on, and a legacy he’d leave to his kids. If he ever found a woman and had some kids.
After Stacy left him standing at the altar all alone, turning her nose up at his little ranch, the plans he had to build it into something more, and a quiet life as his wife and the mother of his children, it couldn’t be just any woman. He needed to find the right woman. One who wanted the same kind of simple but meaningful ranch life he wanted. Since he bought Wolf Ranch, he had a hell of lot more to offer now than he did when Stacy left him.
If the woman of his dreams was out there, she sure as hell wasn’t in Montana. He’d looked and come up bust.
Finished getting a feel for the horse, he rode over to the rail and stopped next to Blake and dismounted. He ran his hand over the horse’s flank.
“You did a fine job with this one. Where’d you find him?”
“He’s one of Ross’s.”
“Something about that guy puts me off. Don’t get me wrong, his horses have the bloodlines, but I don’t like the way he runs his ranch.”
“Me either, but you asked for the best I could find. Sully is gentle, attentive, a hard worker, and a fast learner. He’ll suit you.”
“Sully? You named him already.”
“I’ve spent the last six weeks training him. I couldn’t keep calling him ‘horse.’” Blake grinned and pat Sully on the white patch on his brown forehead. The horse leaned in and closed his eyes, completely enamored and content with Blake. Gabe had to admit, his brother had a way with horses.
“How do you like it here at Three Peaks Ranch?” Gabe asked.
“I love it.”
Though Blake trained quarter horses for cutting cattle, he was making a name for himself training thoroughbred racehorses.
“The partnership with Bud Tucker working out? It’s been a few years, you ready to get your own place?”
“Naw, I like it here. I’ve found exactly what I wanted and more.”
“I’m glad you’re happy, man.”
“You must be chomping at the bit to get into the Wolf place.”
“I can’t wait.”
“I still can’t see you rambling around that huge house.”
“It’s the stables and pastures I’m more interested in.”
“Please, that house is beyond awesome.”
Yeah, it certainly would appeal to that elusive wife he kept looking for but couldn’t seem to find.
“Did you get it cleaned out like the owner asked?”
“Get this, I’ve dealt solely with Phillip Wolf, but Lela Wolf showed up the other day.”
“What’s she like? Spoiled rich girl?”
“Hell if I know. I only spoke to her for a couple of minutes. I met her in the driveway. She wanted to know what I was doing there. When I told her Phillip requested I put the contents of the house in storage, she told me to leave the place alone and tore out of there. You’d have thought the hounds of hell were after her.”
“So you didn’t pack the house?”
“No, I did. Moving trucks showed up fifteen minutes later.”
Blake frowned. “Why didn’t she want you to touch anything in the house?”
“Beats me.”
“Did you tell her you own the place now?”
“I don’t own it until escrow closes in nine weeks. That’s the deal.”
“Did you tell her that?”
“She didn’t give me a chance. Come to think of it, she thought her uncle sent me to find her.”