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Chapter 160: The Afternoon
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Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 161: Interview
Chapter 161: InterviewPoppy perched primly on the edge of a boxy red chair in a sleek, modern lobby. Seven other seats like hers fronted a collection of low white coffee tables. The chairs struck her as odd. They were too large for one person but too small to be sofas or even love seats. They were massively deep, though. She had a distinct feeling that if she sat all the way back, she'd need help getting up. Not exactly the way to make a great first impression. She opened her tablet and scanned her resume for the hundredth time. Her heart fluttered as she worked to remember her talking points. She needed this job if she didn't want to end up blowing through her entire savings in the next few months. But as that thought went through her mind, she glanced around.She didn't want to work here. She hated everything about what this position would entail. She was only considering it because she was desperate. The receptionist who'd asked her to wait had smiled kindly. But oth
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 162: A Talk
Chapter 162: A TalkPoppy watched as he let himself out the door. Blinking in the sudden quiet of the apartment, she slowly turned her gaze to Hunter, who stood by the window. Hands shoved in the pockets of his Wranglers, he looked thoughtful. "How did the interview go?""I didn't do the interview. Why are my parents here?"He shrugged slightly. "I didn't know they were going to come.""Daddy said you called them.""I did," he nodded.She felt her impatience rising. "OMG, Hunter, I feel like if I don't ask exactly the right question, I won't ever figure out what the hell's going on!"He glanced out the window then looked back at her. "I called your folks before I left Idaho."Bewildered, Poppy sank onto a kitchen stool. "Why did you do that?"Hunter moved away from the window, stopping in the center of the room. "Why didn't you do the interview?" His voice was soft, his gaze curious.Poppy shrugged irritably. "I don't know, I just…" She exhaled sharply. "I just couldn't
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 163: The New Generation of McFalls
Chapter 163: The New Generation of McFallsHunter gazed down at Poppy and smiled reassuringly. "You've got this. You're so strong."She shook her head wildly. "No! I can't do it anymore. I'm too tired."And he knew she was. She had to be. She'd been in labor for 16 hours. Again, Hunter wished he could absorb her pain. He pressed a kiss to her damp forehead. Downstairs, he knew, his mother and Poppy's parents waited anxiously for the baby to be born. The last time he'd popped down to the kitchen for something to drink, Rolly had joined them."Okay, Poppy, when the next contraction comes, you're going to push." The midwife's voice was calm and soothing.Poppy gripped Hunter's hand for dear life. "I can't," she squeaked.He knelt beside the huge bathtub and sought her eyes. "You took on a billion-dollar real estate empire and convinced them to give me a mountain for free. You created the perfect plan to bring tourist dollars to McFall without losing the town's identity."
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 164: Sweetwater Ranch
Chapter 164: Sweetwater Ranch VOLUME 3: ANNA'S HEART "He's coming here to the Sweetwater, can you believe it?" Simone chattered. "Angus McGregor, here at our little guest ranch. Who could have imagined it?" Tight black braids framed her deep mocha face, and her dark brown eyes sparkled with excitement.Anna Graves tucked her long dark chestnut hair behind her ears and flicked an annoyed glance at her sister-in-law before she scanned the handful of guests who'd just arrived for a two-week stay at Sweetwater Ranch. Some of them milled around the expanse of the lodge's rustic lobby while others checked in at the front desk with Anna's mother, Teresa.Anna shrugged indifferently. "He's just another guest. He'd better not come here expecting that he's going to be waited on hand and foot, that's all I can say. This is a working cattle ranch. People know that when they sign up.""Yeah," Simone gushed, "but I hear he's getting ready to do a cowboy movie, and he has to brush up on his
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 165: The New Session
Chapter 165: The New SessionIt was after ten o'clock that night when Anna finally made her way back to her own cabin. Dinner had been served in the dining room in the main lodge, and the traditional Welcome Campfire had followed. It gave the guests a chance to get acquainted with each other and with the ranch staff, most of whom were members of the Graves family. Anna's older twin brothers Andy and Ross taught sessions in advanced horsemanship and in working with cattle, respectively. They were also in charge of caring for all the horses in the Sweetwater stable. Andy's wife Simone worked in the kitchen alongside her mother-in-law, Teresa Graves, and she performed many of the housekeeping duties. She and Teresa also took care of reservations and guest relations.Anna also took care of many housekeeping tasks in addition to teaching the beginning riding sessions, which generally meant working with the children who visited the ranch with their families. It was what Anna enjoyed
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 166: So Much For First Impressions
Chapter 166: So Much For First Impressions"A flyer came in the mail today. Founders' Day is a week from Friday."Anna frowned slightly at the brightly colored sheet her mother thrust into her hands. The bulk of the page was a vintage mid-19th century sepia photograph of Main Street in Crystal Springs, overlaid with jaunty graphics declaring the annual Crystal Springs Founders' Day celebration. Back in the late 1860s, the nearby town of Crystal Springs had sprung up practically overnight as a mining boomtown. The coal vein had played out by the middle of the following century, but the small town was proud of its heritage. Each summer, they celebrated what they thought of as Founders' Day with a parade down Main Street followed by a giant picnic and capping off the festivities with a family-friendly dance at the fairgrounds in the nearby town of Eagleton.There was a time when Anna had looked forward to the annual event. Now, she scowled at the announcement."I'd like that put on
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 167: Angus Meets Anna
Chapter 167: Angus Meets AnnaAfter Angus settled his six-foot-five-inch frame into his first-class leather seat at the gate at LAX, he ordered a soda and lime from the cabin's efficient flight attendant. Slouching slightly in his window seat, he lowered the green lenses of his Raybans over his eyes. He scrolled through his phone, more to avoid the curious looks of the other passengers as they boarded than to actually check on anything important. His notifications showed several text messages from Alanna, which he promptly ignored. What she wanted at this point, he couldn't possibly imagine. He'd thought they'd said all there was to say in his kitchen that morning. He tossed back the rest of his drink and sighed, grateful he had Douglas and the rest of his security team in place to handle whatever reticence she might still have when it came to moving out of his house. Lately, she and the house had become a tremendous weight on his shoulders. The time had come to move on. A m
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 168: Painful Past
Chapter 168: Painful Past"Tell me you're not actually going." Anna crossed her arms, her voice incredulous."Why would I not go, Anna? It's my job." Sawyer continued to pack his gear even as Anna willed him to stop."Because we're engaged now. That makes everything different." Her tone was softly pleading.He stopped and looked up at her, his brown eyes unblinking. "I'm not different. I'm still the same smokejumper you met at Reilly's Bar two years ago. You didn't really think that just because we're getting married, I'd suddenly settle down, maybe take a job working for your dad on the ranch, did you?"Flustered, Anna blinked several times. "Well...yes, actually. At least until we decide what we want to do. You know there's that ranch in Florida where they teach riding to special needs kids. It's something I've always wanted to look into."Tucking a spare yellow fire shirt into his heavy-duty duffel bag, he straightened. "You knew who I was, Anna. This is me." He waved
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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
