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Chapter 122: In a Fishbowl
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Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 123: A Real Date
Chapter 123: A Real DateBreathless, Hunter stilled over Poppy, buried to the hilt as his climax thundered through his body. When he opened his eyes, firelight reflected on her face as she smiled up at him. "God, you're beautiful," he murmured, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. Carefully, he disengaged himself and rolled onto his side, gathering her to himself."With a little more practice, we might be pretty good at that," Poppy quipped, laughing softly.Hunter had to laugh, too. "I'm willing to make the sacrifice. We really should aim for excellence."He closed his eyes and savored the feeling of her in his arms. A week ago, he hadn't even considered being perilously close to being in love with anyone. And a week from now, hell, just a few days from now, she'd be gone. His eyes popped open. Poppy rested against his shoulder and sighed softly. The thought of her going back to New York, of having no idea when, or if, he'd see her again, was almost intolerable.
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 124: Sun Valley
Chapter 124: Sun ValleyThey drove away from Mountain View and returned to the main highway, driving into town ten minutes later. Poppy leaned forward, looking all around as she took in the sights of the laid-back resort town. Beyond a stretch of kitschy little mountain-village shops and restaurants, Hunter pulled up in front of a sleek modern-looking building made of stone, dark steel, and glass. Immediately a valet approached them, opening Poppy's door."Hello! Welcome to The Summit."Hunter smiled as he opened his own door. "Thank you. We're checking in.""Very good, sir. I'll see to it your bags are taken to your room.""That would be great, thank you." He came around and reached out to Poppy. "We're here."She took his hand and slid out of the truck. Eyes wide, she gazed up at the five-story building. "It's beautiful."Hunter nodded. "There's been a building on this spot for over a century. It was a bar for a long time. About fifteen years ago, they knocked down the
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 125: What Panties?
Chapter 125: What Panties?The sun was slowly descending behind the mountains, and the vintage-style streetlamps were just beginning to blink on as Poppy and Hunter made their way back to the hotel. They changed and headed to an upscale steak place on the next block. Over filet mignon and candlelight, they chatted quietly about their visit with Hunter's grandfather and about their time in town. After dinner, they returned to the hotel and found a corner table in the lounge. A local band was playing 80s and 90s acoustic covers, and Hunter ordered a Jim Beam neat while Poppy was thrilled to find her favorite Marlborough sauvignon blanc. As they listened to the music and sipped their drinks, the pair exchanged heated glances. Poppy lightly strummed her fingers across the back of Hunter's hand as the band launched into a Bryan Adams ballad.Hunter leaned toward her, his breath tickling her ear and igniting goosebumps all over her body. "Are you ready to head upstairs?"The flutte
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 126: Surprise Gift
Chapter 126: Surprise Gift"Home again," Hunter sighed as he pressed the controller to open the gate to McFall Ranch. Following a leisurely breakfast in bed courtesy of room service, they'd packed their bags and headed away from the hustle and bustle of Ketchum. The two-hour drive back to McFall had been quiet and uneventful.Poppy smiled at him from the passenger seat. "It was a nice trip, though. I had a wonderful time." "I'm glad. It was nice to get away," he agreed. "I suppose I should do it more often, but I can't see doing it by myself.""I'll just have to come to visit you so you can take a day off." Hunter's eyes sparkled as he lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss there. "I guess you'll just have to."Back at the house, they carried their belongings inside. Upstairs, Hunter changed into a pair of worn work jeans and a faded chambray shirt. "I want to check in with Rolly and the boys, but I don't plan on being too long. Maybe we'll do grilled chicken for
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 127: Unpleasant Business
Chapter 127: Unpleasant BusinessWhen Hunter caught up with Rolly and the others, they had just rescued a calf that had gotten stuck in the muck at the edge of the river. A quick check confirmed that the wayward little bovine was none the worse for the wear and he was sent scurrying back to his mother who'd observed incident from a concerned distance. Rolly assured Hunter that they had everything under control, so Hunter decided to head toward the fenceline near the gate. On the way back from Ketchum, he'd noticed three posts not far from the gate that were in need of attention.With Cheyenne nibbling grass nearby, Hunter inspected a loose fence post, wiggling it to assess how bad it might be. A light honk from the highway drew his attention, and he looked up to see Bill Albright, the local sheriff, in his official SUV. Hunter raised a hand in a wave, and the other man waved back as he turned through the open gate and into the drive."Hey'ya, Bill," Hunter called as he strode tow
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 128: Livid
Chapter 128: LividBy the time he reached the barn, he was livid. He stopped Cheyenne short and jumped down, leading the horse into the barn. He didn't expect to see Poppy by the calving pen watching the twin calves that had arrived overnight. When she saw him, she smiled happily. "Are they just the cutest things ever? I've already named them. This one is--"He dropped Cheyenne's reins and reached her in three angry strides. "What the fuck is this?" he spat, whipping the papers at her.Awkwardly, she caught them, frowning as she did. "What's wrong? What do you mean?" She unfolded the document and tilted her head, squinting at the print. "Eminent domain?" She looked up at Hunter. "Where did this come from?"He folded his arms. "You tell me. The sheriff just brought me this little Valentine." He stalked over to a stack of feed bags and kicked them angrily."I don't understand," Poppy murmured, "this is crazy." She flipped through the pages."Slade & Howell never meant
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 129: Hunter, Please
Chapter 129: Hunter, PleaseWith shaky hands, Poppy zipped her suitcase. Her tears had abated, but she felt numb, as if she'd been doused with ice water. She distractedly scanned the bedroom one last time but realized she had no idea whether she'd managed to get everything. Her mind was still on Hunter, on the rage she'd seen on his face and heard in his voice.This is a misunderstanding. Of course, it looks like I knew about the eminent domain filing, but once he calms down a minute, he'll realize that I was just as in the dark about it as he was. He'll see reason. I'm sure of it.She slid the strap of her purse over her shoulder and pulled the rolling suitcase behind her as she left the bedroom and went downstairs. All was quiet in the house as she made her way out the front door. Hunter was standing in the middle of the drive, his back to the house. Rolly and the two ranch hands had returned to the barn and were watching Hunter curiously.As Poppy made her way toward her r
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 130: Devastated
Chapter 130: DevastatedHunter greeted Sunday morning nursing a hell of a hangover. After Poppy had left the previous afternoon, he'd turned around to find Rolly and the boys with more questions than he felt like answering. He'd shut them down with a glare and returned to the ranch house which was quiet as a tomb.He hadn't intended to drink what was left in the half-full bottle of Jim Beam. Or had it been half-empty? That was a damn stupid argument, if you asked him. Any way you sliced it, he'd drained that bottle dry, all the while replaying the last week in his mind.What in the hell had possessed him to imagine that a city lawyer could come out to west butt-crack Idaho and fall in love with a cowboy like himself? Or better yet, that he could fall in love with her? Now, in his kitchen, he fired up the coffee maker and attempted to keep his head from blowing apart. His thoughts returned to Poppy. He'd allowed himself to think she might be his second chance at love. But sh
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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
