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Chapter 1: RUN!
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Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 2: Ducking the Cougar
Chapter 2: Ducking the CougarCole Caldwell mentally rolled his eyes for what felt like the fiftieth time that morning. Meredith Wagner was a cougar in the classic sense, with her platinum blonde hair and her designer nose. And designer breasts, he imagined. Not that he imagined her as a habit. She was a good fifteen years older than he; he'd just turned twenty-seven the month before. Even so, she was in great shape. It was a wonder what you could do with a personal trainer and a plastic surgeon on speed dial."Now Cole, you must allow me to take you to lunch before you head back to the country," Meredith purred.He shook his head. "I told you, Mrs. Wagner, I'd prefer to get Dahlia back to my place before dark, give her a chance to get used to my barn and the surroundings.""Call me Meredith," she insisted, placing a well-manicured and diamond-bedecked hand on his arm. "We've been over that. But seriously, you have to eat something. You might as well do so at Layton's expens
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 3: That Day
Chapter 3: That DayWaves of relief washed over Jenny as the trailer began moving. She'd heard the cowboy return, pausing to speak to the horse in a warm, deep tone. "Alright, Dahlia, let's head on home."Now, out on the highway, the motion settled into the monotonous rhythm of the segmented concrete slabs that made up the road they on which traveled. The trailer was open at the end, and a vent was open near the front to provide ventilation for the horse. Which made it cold for Jenny, bare legs and all, so she hunkered inside the huge black hoodie, leaning against the side of the trailer.For the first time that day, she felt her body begin to relax, and she reluctantly drifted off to sleep. The nightmare she'd known awaited her was not far behind.She's on her way home from school. In Chelsea's car, they have it all worked out. They'll both tell their parents they're spending the night with each other. Neither girl's folks ever think to check up on them. Because truthfully,
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 4: A Stowaway
Chapter 4: A StowawayCole felt a familiar sense of relief settle over him as he locked the gate behind the horse trailer and climbed back into the cab of the truck. Arriving home at the ranch where he'd grown up, locking out the world at large, always gave him a feeling of peace.It was home. He couldn't have put it more simply than that. It was where he'd spent his entire life, with the exception of the time he'd spent in the Marines. Following a year in Afghanistan, he'd worked out the remainder of his enlistment in Bridgeport, where he'd trained horses and soldiers for combat missions. He'd been thrilled to be back in the saddle, and the fact that home was a short couple of hours away had been the cherry on top.When his enlistment had ended, he'd returned to the ranch and built his reputation as an in-demand horse trainer. Happy that Cole was back in the fold, his parents had sold some stocks and retired to Santa Fe, leaving him in charge of the ranch. His older sister Beth
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 5: Jenny
Chapter 5: JennyIn the kitchen of the white two-story farmhouse, Cole watched as the woman silently scanned the room. When he'd parked the truck in front of the house, she'd made no attempt to get out. He'd come around and opened her door, but still, she'd hesitated, her good eye darting all around the area. Finally, she'd slid down and followed him up the steps and across the covered porch to the door, which he'd opened, letting her into the house. Blue, his three-year-old blue tick coonhound greeting them excitedly at the door, whining and wagging his tail. Cole watched the woman stiffen and the dog sniffed her curiously. "He's a love," he said quickly. "Aren't you, Blue?"The woman tentatively offered the back of her hand which the dog immediately licked. Her expression lightened a bit, and she squatted down to pet Blue.In the quiet of the house, he took a deep breath. "Can you tell me who hurt you?"Startled, she turned to him, her battered face at odds with the brigh
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 6: Assessing the Damage
Chapter 6: Assessing the DamagePeering into the bathroom mirror, Jenny was shocked at what she saw. Her face was a mess, her left eye swollen and purple, and her long red hair was tangled and unruly. She hadn't been to a salon in the two years she'd been Victor's captive. Once shoulder length, her hair now reached nearly down to her behind. She considered the dress and cringed. It was from the limited closet of items Victor had provided, and his tastes in women's fashion left a lot to be desired. Day to day, she alternated between a couple worn pairs of jeans that grew increasingly loose as she lost weight, matching them with a half-dozen old t-shirts. Unless Victor sent for her, in which case he usually specified which slinky dress he wanted her to wear. She supposed he imagined her as a gift to be wrapped and presented, either to himself or to those individuals with whom he wanted to curry favor. She looked at the stack of clothes Cole had given her, touching them lightly
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 7: You Are Safe Here
Chapter 7: You Are Safe HereTentatively, Jenny descended the stairs and followed her nose to the kitchen. After her quick shower, she'd towel-dried her newly shorn locks as much as possible. She'd pulled on the grey sweatpants and cinched the waist as tightly as she could, tying off the drawstring in a huge bow to keep it from dragging the floor. Elastic cuffs rested at her ankles while the long legs spilled over, creating grey fleece harem-style pants. The red plaid flannel shirt had swallowed her whole, with the tail hanging nearly to her knees. She'd ended up unbuttoning the bottom few buttons and tying the shirttails in a square knot around her waist, rolling the sleeves over and over until her hands were free. She thought her favorite part of the ensemble, though, were the grey wool socks. For the first time all day, she felt warm.The dog had been waiting for her outside the bathroom door, and he padded down the stairs behind her. As she entered the kitchen, Cole's bac
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 8: Hot Dinner and a Bed
Chapter 8: Hot Dinner and a BedAt the round kitchen table, Cole ladled steaming stew into the blue bowl in front of her, and then into his own bowl. He offered her a plate of cornbread, and she took a wedge. "Anyway, it's not fancy, but it's filling." He grinned at her and scooped up an enormous spoonful of stew. Closing her eyes, Jenny leaned forward over her bowl and breathed in deeply. The stew smelled divine. Her normal dinner was a cold sandwich. When someone remembered. If Slater was in charge, he usually brought an Italian sub, or at least the portion he hadn't eaten. She'd gotten to the point that the scent of salami turned her stomach. Breathing in again, her mouth actually watered at the rich aroma of beef and vegetables. When she opened her eyes, Cole was watching her carefully. "Try it. It's not bad. I'm a halfway decent cook."She picked up her spoon, dipped it into the stew, and took a bite. Oh, my God, this is the best thing I've ever tasted. She felt
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 9: Now What?
Chapter 9: Now What?Alone, Cole made his way on foot to the barn. When he'd left Jenny upstairs in her room, Blue had circled once, then curled up beside the bed. Cole figured that was just as well. Jenny seemed to have taken to the dog, and Cole knew his dog well enough to know he'd sensed the girl's brokenness. The sun had long ago set, but his way was lit by the nearly full moon and the glow of the industrial fixture on the front of the barn. Of the twelve stalls, eight were currently occupied, now that Dahlia was here. Four of the horses were Cole's, with another three belonging to clients who'd entrusted them to him for training. Four clients, now, including Dahlia. Meredith popped into his mind and he grimaced, wondering again if the money was worth the trouble. He paused outside the barn to do a little deep breathing, trying to get into the proper headspace for working with the horses. They seemed to be as in tune with his mood as Blue was, and in truth, his afterno
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Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 220: Epilogue
Chapter 220: Epilogue"And the award for best picture of the year goes to…The King of Iron Rise!" Anna's heart momentarily stopped, and the world around her shifted into slow motion. She turned to her left where Angus beamed at her, his azure eyes sparkling, before he pressed a warm kiss to her lips. "We did it, love."Through ears that pounded in rhythm with her pulse, all sound was muffled as she watched him step into the aisle, button his black tuxedo jacket, and make his way up the steps to the stage where a woman in a glittery silver gown stood holding a golden statuette. The woman handed the award to Angus and murmured words of congratulations before stepping back out of the spotlight that illuminated the lone microphone in the center of the stage. As the applause died down, Angus gazed down at the trophy in his hands and shook his head in disbelief. "Och, aye, and it's a hell of a thing," he sighed, and applause broke out again. Anna clapped too as a tear ran down her
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 219: Near Aspen
Chapter 219: Near AspenRight arm resting on the back of the low tan leather couch, Angus glanced over his shoulder and out the window of the Gulfstream 100. Heading west, they were chasing the sunset, and far below, the agricultural land of the plains states spread out like a patchwork quilt in the late afternoon light. Anna's soft sigh drew his attention back inside the cabin of the leased private jet Cooper had procured for Angus's trip to Florida. The pilot had been more than happy to wait at the airport in Orlando. Because either way, Angus would be returning to Colorado.He looked down at Anna, fast asleep with her head resting on a pillow in his lap. When she'd crashed nearly as soon as the jet was in the air, the lone flight attendant had helpfully produced the pillow and a blanket. Since then, Anna hadn't so much as stirred.She must have been done in, he mused, thinking of his own emotional exhaustion over the past weeks since they'd been apart.Angus closed his eyes a
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 218: Unexpected Guest
Chapter 218: Unexpected GuestA week and a half after the beach fiasco, Anna was grateful for a set routine. If she wasn't happy, exactly, at least she felt settled. She'd decided she'd try to fly home to Wyoming for Thanksgiving, and while the holiday was still weeks away, she wanted to touch base with Janine to give her plenty of notice. Being able to cross off the days on her calendar until she went home to visit lifted her spirits somewhat.It was mid-afternoon when she finished leading her final session for the day, so she decided to pop in to have a chat with Janine. On her way into the ranch office, she passed a shiny black SUV parked in front.Maybe Janine has found a big donor, Anna thought hopefully. The ranch can use so many upgrades.She pushed open the door and entered the empty office. Janine wasn't at her desk, but the door that led to the rest of the house was ajar, and Anna heard low voices.She rapped on the doorframe. "Hello? Janine?""Anna?" came Janine's vo
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 217: Fight For Her
Chapter 217: Fight For HerGlancing around the restaurant, Angus released a satisfied sigh. They'd done it. He'd done it. Filming was finished. All around him, the cast and crew celebrated the end of shooting, congratulating one another and laughing together at story after story, some tales old, others new to this project.When he'd asked his assistant Cooper to secure a restaurant for the get-together, the young man had raised an eyebrow, but to his credit, he'd carried out the task professionally and without question. It was costing Angus a pretty penny to rent out the high-end Aspen bistro for the evening but treating everyone to a wrap party was the right thing to do. They'd all worked hard, and most of the cast had done so without pay, agreeing to share in the profits from future ticket sales instead. Something that never failed to produce a pang in his stomach when he thought about it. Because suppose no one wanted to pay to watch his gamble? What then?"A toast to our
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 216: Devastated
Chapter 216: DevastatedBeneath the canopy that shaded the production equipment, Angus peered at the digital screen. His actors were in place, and the natural light of the early morning was just about to peak. Nodding with satisfaction, he called out, "Action!"He watched as the scene came to life, an almost exact replica of what he'd envisioned weeks ago in his cabin at Sweetwater Ranch. But even now, the thought of his time in Wyoming was a gut-punch. Shaking off the memory, he focused on what was happening on-camera. It was good, but even so, he had them do a second take before they lost the light.While he was busy working, Angus was able to push off his devastation at having lost Anna and all that he'd imagined for their future. In quiet moments, though, images came rushing back to him.Anna's grey eyes alight with laughter, her cheeks pinkened in an endearing blush, Anna naked in the moonlight, lovingly gazing down at him. Before he'd left the ranch early with a week to
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 215: Florida
Chapter 215: FloridaAlone in her new room, Anna listened again to the voicemail message Angus left. He said the baby wasn't his. She rolled her eyes. Well, of course, he said that. What else would he say? He wanted things to be just the way they'd been before he'd gone to Colorado. Only things hadn't really been the way she'd thought they were at all, had they?A glance at her bedside clock showed that it was 8:30pm. Which meant that at Sweetwater Ranch, it was only 6:30. Dinnertime. She wondered vaguely what they'd have that night. Probably steaks on the grill, she thought with a nagging sense of longing.Here at Horse Heaven, most of the employees lived in their own apartments away from the ranch. Only she and Janine, the owner of the facility, lived on the property, and after the first night, when her new boss had taken her to a local bar-be-que place for dinner, Anna was on her own for meals. She looked across the room at the tiny kitchenette. It was old and outdated
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 214: Angus Returns to Sweetwater Ranch
Chapter 214: Angus Returns to Sweetwater RanchA relaxed half-smile played across Angus's lips as he neared Sweetwater Ranch. He'd headed to Colorado to nail down the details of his film set, but he was coming back with so much more than that. He couldn't stop thinking about the elevated clearing. Perched on the hillside overlooking the valley, he'd defy anyone to find a more beautiful view. On his laptop, he had the initial plans and an artist's rendering of a beautiful, luxurious log home. But with the proceeds from the sale of his Malibu home, he'd be more than able to build anything he could imagine. Anything he and Anna could imagine. In his mind's eye, he didn't see himself living in that idyllic setting alone. The view reminded him of that first day she'd taken him riding, of the view of the ranch from the trail that overlooked the ranch. Everywhere Angus looked, he saw Anna, and he thought of how she'd love the valley and the foothills, and how not far from where he
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 213: Whirlwind
Chapter 213: WhirlwindThe following twenty-four hours were a whirlwind. After accepting the job at the ranch outside Orlando, Anna purchased a one-way ticket to Florida, then began packing what she thought she'd need for an extended stay in the Sunshine State, figuring that the work would be basically the same as she generally did at home. There's simply be a need for fewer coats and jackets.A few hours later, Andy, Simone, the baby, and the elder Graves returned to the ranch in a caravan, with Andy, for once in his life, driving below the speed limit, the better to care for his new family. Anna met them in the lobby. "There's my new nephew!" She stepped closer to Simone, who cradled the infant in her arms. "How ya doing, young Jacob? Welcome to the world."She smiled warmly at Simone. "He's absolutely beautiful.""I know," her sister-in-law sniffed. "I just can't believe he's ours.""Here," Teresa said, "Andy, carry the baby. We'll get all your things. Simone, hon, just
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 212: Nightmare
Chapter 212: NightmareAnna's mind raced. This is Alanna Powell. How did I not recognize her? Thinking back to what Angus had told her about his former fiancée, Anna realized he'd been generous in his description. The woman was a nightmare. "Well, I must. Again, you don't have a reservation. And Angus isn't even here. He left to check on the set for his movie. He won't be back until late tomorrow.""Perfect," the woman beamed. "I'll surprise him when he gets back."Shaking her head, Anna set down her basket on the counter. "I can't let you into his cabin. Besides," she put her hands on her hips, "Angus said that you're his former fiancée. He broke off the engagement months ago.""Well, that's what he would say, isn't it?" the woman snipped. She took a step closer to Anna."I recognize you, you know." Her tone shifted, her words as sharp as daggers. "I saw you with Angus on the news, with all that forest fire nonsense." She leaned toward Anna, her expression shifting f
