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Chapter 146: You've Got Yourself a Mountain
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2022-10-20 14:18:05Related chapters
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 147: Alone
Chapter 147: AloneBy mid-September, Poppy still had no good news on the job front. She'd been on another couple of interviews but hadn't landed a new position. Strangely, at least to her, she didn't feel panicked. Not yet, anyway. She was earning enough at the coffee shop that by being very frugal, she didn't have to dip into her savings. She sighed heavily. She'd need to live on savings once the baby came and she was out of commission for a while. As for what she'd do for childcare, she had no clue.She'd finally worked up the nerve to tell her parents about the baby. After an interminable moment of shocked silence, to their credit, they'd been extremely supportive. Again, her father had mentioned the idea of coming back to Tennessee and living with them until she found a job. But Poppy knew she was too independent to rely on her parents.Her mother was already making plans to come to New York shortly before her due date. Poppy figured she'd need help at that time anyway,
Last Updated : 2022-10-20Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 148: Meeting In Town
Chapter 148: Meeting In TownHunter closed his eyes against the torrents of scalding water streaming from his rain shower head. It had been a long day herding the cattle on the mountain, and he'd made it longer by refusing to stay at the cabin. He'd given the privilege to Rolly, who normally bedded down where the younger hands did, in the bunkhouse. Instead, Hunter had stubbornly chosen to make the long ride back down to the house. His excuse had been that he had a meeting in town, which was technically true. But he was reasonably certain Rolly knew better.Memories of Poppy in the mountain cabin were too strong, too painful. Not that coming back home was any better. There in the shower, when he closed his eyes he could see the soft curves of her gorgeous body, could feel her taut nipples against his own flesh, could recall how it was to press her against that tile wall with hot water streaming over both of them as he took her again and again.His cock hardened with the memory
Last Updated : 2022-10-20Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 149: Starla
Chapter 149: StarlaNot ready to head back to the ranch, Hunter drove the quarter mile from the diner to the North Star. He felt a twinge of nerves as he did. The last time he'd been there, he'd been with her. Up to now, being in a noisy, crowded bar was something he just didn't think he could stomach. For now, though, he craved human contact, craved to be where other people were, even if he didn't particularly feel like speaking to them, just some noise to drown out the desolate silence of his soul.The parking lot in front of the North Star was reasonably full for 8:00 on a Wednesday night, which Hunter took as a good sign. Several of the folks from the meeting had also come for a drink. Maybe he could just slip in and find a quiet place at the end of the bar where he could have a quick drink and not garner unwanted attention.As he approached the door, he heard Bon Jovi singing about bad medicine. Again, that boded well. He wanted to be a fly on the wall and forget about th
Last Updated : 2022-10-20Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 150: Realization
Chapter 150: Realization Later that night, Hunter sat on his front porch and stared out at the darkness. He'd considered heading to his office but remembered the cabin model and thought better of it. Out on the porch, the evening was cool, even for early fall, but he didn't feel the chill. Of course, he might chalk that up to the bourbon he'd downed since he'd gotten home. But the truth was, since Starla's revelation, he'd felt mostly numb. He'd had it wrong. Had it wrong the whole time. Poppy had been telling the truth. If he'd taken the time to listen to her, let her explain… But of course, he hadn't. He'd just assumed, completely flown off the handle, and made her leave.As he had a thousand times since that awful day, he wondered what she was doing at that exact moment. Before tonight, he'd frowned to himself and chased the thought away like an unwanted stray. But now, he allowed himself to go down that path. Was she looking up at the sky and thinking about him?He s
Last Updated : 2022-10-20Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 151: Wisdom From Rolly
Chapter 151: Wisdom From RollyHunter watched as the young man headed down the trail. He figured he should go help them, maybe spell Hoyt and give him a chance to get some more sleep. But he was drawn to the cabin.Maybe it was a sense of wanting to punish himself, some masochistic urge to beat himself up over the way he'd treated Poppy, the way he'd just assumed that she'd played him. But whatever it was, he was helpless to stop himself from going up the front steps and entering the cabin.Rolly's pack was neatly stowed in the corner, but beyond that, there was precious little to differentiate the cabin from the way it had been that stormy night. As he stood in the doorway, in his mind's eye he saw Poppy, her red hair soaked from the rain, dressed in that ratty old flannel shirt as she wrapped him in a dry blanket. He'd been cold that night, soaked to the skin, as close to hypothermia as he'd ever been. And she'd used her body to warm his. Standing there now on the chilled aut
Last Updated : 2022-10-20Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 152: A Plan
Chapter 152: A PlanIt might have been early in the day for a shot of bourbon, but Hunter slugged one back nevertheless. The miniature mountain cabin sat perched in the center of his desk. Having just come from the real one, he was again amazed at the similarities. It wasn't possible Poppy had had it made custom, was it?He shook his head. During his ride back down the mountain, a plan had begun to form in his mind. First things first, there was something he needed to do. He picked up his office phone and dialed Bill Albright's cell."Hunter, how's the new head of the McFall Economic Development Council?" the sheriff laughed.Hunter rolled his eyes. He'd forgotten about that fiasco."Hey, Bill, how are you?""Doing fine, just fine. What can I do for you?"Hunter hesitated for a moment. "I'm about to ask you to do something that might kind of skirt the law a little."Silence greeted Hunter on the other end."Bill?""What are we talking about here?" Albright asked cautiously."I
Last Updated : 2022-10-20Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 153: Heading to New York
Chapter 153: Heading to New YorkAfter he left Mountain Vista, Hunter headed back the way he'd come, pulling off at the Airport Inn on 4th Avenue. The hotel was a plain but serviceable place to stay, its main appeal being that it was located less than a mile from the airport. Hunter's first flight left at 6:00 the following morning, which was why he'd decided to stay in town overnight. Well, that and he'd wanted to take the opportunity to see his grandfather. As he carried his small duffel bag into the spartan but clean king room, he was once again grateful for how lucid his grandfather had been. The visit had gone immensely better than he'd expected. Now if only things went as well when he saw Poppy. He'd considered calling her, telling her he was on his way, but he'd decided against it. The things he needed to say to her, she deserved to hear in person.He spent another restless night and was up before his alarm sounded. He showered, shaved and trimmed his facial hair, an
Last Updated : 2022-10-20Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 154: Surprises of All Kinds
Chapter 154: Surprises of All KindsA cool gust chilled Poppy as she headed back to the apartment. Shifting a mesh shopping bag over her left shoulder, she closed the flowy beige cardigan more tightly around herself. Her shift at Cuppa Joe's had seemed long today, and she was tired. The thought of resting her feet on her coffee table and watching something mindless on television was tremendously appealing.Necessity had required a stop by the market on her way home from work. Since her departure from Slade & Howell, she'd put herself on a strict budget. The bunch of sunflowers in her bag alongside a few grocery items was an extravagant treat.She crossed at the corner with a dozen other pedestrians, each preoccupied with his or her own thoughts. In her own mind, she pictured the steps of her first-floor walk-up. "Thank God it's the first floor," she muttered to herself.Halfway down the block, she gazed up toward her brownstone apartment building and saw a familiar figure standi
Last Updated : 2022-10-20
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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
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Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 215: Florida
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Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 212: Nightmare
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