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Chapter 178: Reasons Why
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Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 179: Dinner Invitation
Chapter 179: Dinner InvitationA few hours later, Anna stood in the center of the riding ring and tried not to laugh. As was customary, the beginning riding class had decided on a play to perform for the parents at the end of the first week of the session. And the majority had voted for the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. Except the children had decided that they could have six billy goats. And that Angus should be the troll."Because he's the tallest," Ariel had reasoned.Now the group put their new riding skills into practice by moving their horses around in the ring as they pretended to ride over a bridge and exchange verbal barbs with Angus's overly dramatic troll, much to their giddy delight.By the time the riding session was over, the students were beyond excited about the presentation they'd give in a few days' time. As the children ran off to join their families, Anna took Rocket's reins and led him out of the ring. Angus followed with Clementine.Anna started to
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 180: An Old Friend
Chapter 180: An Old FriendFriday came, and lunch was abuzz with excitement. The children were beyond thrilled that their performance would follow the noon meal. Mrs. Graves had worked with them to create billy goat costumes, and they'd even come up with a baggy pair of overalls and a plastic Viking helmet with horns to complete the troll outfit Angus would wear.As soon as the beginning riders finished eating, they hurried off to join Anna at the barn. By the time Angus arrived, she had already set up some barrels toward the west end of the riding ring just across the rail from the low bleachers where their audience would sit, and she'd laid boards across the barrels to form the railings of the troll's bridge. Further down the ring and closer to the barn, the horses stood saddled and waiting. As the children clambered to enter the ring, their parents made their way to the bleachers.Anna gathered the group of riders, by now bedecked in their makeshift costumes. "Okay, everybody
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 181: Red Flags
Chapter 181: Red Flags"Hey, Mom? I'm popping out early." Anna approached her mother as the older woman surveyed the dining room."Are you feeling okay, hon?" Teresa fixed Anna with concerned grey eyes so much like her own."Yeah, I just…" Anna hesitated. "I told Bruce I'd have dinner with him in town."At that moment, Simone walked by with baskets of dinner rolls in each hand. "You have a date?"Anna blushed as she glanced at Bruce, who stood talking with her father across the room. "It's not a date. We're just catching up. He's off to Idaho tomorrow.""I was hoping you'd go out with Mr. Tall, Redhaired, and Gorgeous." Simone sounded disappointed."Oh, for Pete's sake!" Anna hissed. "I'm not going out with anybody. I'm just having dinner with an old friend."Simone raised an eyebrow. "Out. You're having dinner out."Teresa hooted with laughter. "Go on, hon. Lord knows you could use a night off."Throwing a final glare toward Simone, who laughed too, Anna turned and head
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 182: Total Miscommunication
Chapter 182: Total MiscommunicationWhen he fired up the engine, a profanity-laced hip-hop song blared from the car's sound system, startling Anna nearly out of her seat."Sorry about that," he laughed as he turned down the volume. "It was a hella boring ride out here from the airport. I had to do something to keep myself awake."As they drove down the highway toward town, Bruce described some of the fires his crew had recently been assigned to fight. Anna listened, laughing when it was appropriate, and trying to push away the image of Sawyer surrounded by flames.When they drove down the main street of Crystal Springs, they passed Jack's Bar & Grill. Anna watched it whiz by and turned to Bruce. "That was probably our best bet for dinner. The White Mountain Diner closes early, even on Saturday. And The Mine Shaft is a pit. You wouldn't want to go there."Bruce nodded. "I thought we might eat later," he said as he pulled into the parking lot of the Mountain View Motor Lodge. H
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 183: Angus to the Rescue
Chapter 183: Angus to the RescueIn his cabin, Angus's empty stomach complained loudly as he leaned over the table and shifted a pair of notecards he'd just switched moments earlier. Rubbing the back of his neck with his right hand, he straightened up and walked out onto his front porch. The night air was crisp and all was quiet as a million stars twinkled overhead. He inhaled the scent of pine and felt a sense of peace settle over him.During dinnertime, he'd been on a conference call with his art director, location manager, and director of photography as they worked to untangle a complication with the place they'd chosen to be the backdrop of the film. More than once, Angus found himself wishing they could shoot the movie here at Sweetwater Ranch. But they had already committed to a property just outside Aspen, Colorado, and after a couple of hours, they'd landed on a solution that everyone could live with. Now he just hoped his bank account could live with it.But he'd missed
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 184: Impromptu Dinner Date
Chapter 184: Impromptu Dinner DateTogether, they walked to the truck where Angus opened the passenger door for her. Gritting her teeth, Anna managed to make it into her seat without groaning in pain. As she watched him walk around to the driver's side, she sighed with relief at being off her feet again.Angus climbed in, buckled his seatbelt, and started the truck. Checking to make sure no one was coming, he made a u-turn and headed back down the street. Country music played softly as Angus drove past the sign that pointed to Eagleton, a town roughly twice the size of Crystal Springs. Anna glanced at his profile illuminated by the dashboard lights."Um, thanks, by the way," she said. "For coming to get me, I mean. And for remembering the boots.""I'm happy tae do it." He briefly looked at her before turning his eyes back to the road in front of them. "I'm guessing there's a reason ye called me rather than yer brothers. Or yer parents."Anna crossed her arms again and said n
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 185: Getting Personal
Chapter 185: Getting PersonalBemused, Anna suppressed a smile as she clicked her glass to his. Feeling vaguely guilty for drinking beer while he sipped seltzer, she nevertheless chugged down about half of it, willing the alcohol to do its thing and help her forget about the last couple of hours."Thirsty, are ye?" Angus asked, his eyes sparkling with something that might have been either amusement or cautious concern.Opting to take the question at face value, Anna nodded. "I ended up walking a lot further than I anticipated tonight."Angus idly stirred his seltzer. "And why is that?"Anna gave her head a sharp shake. "Doesn't matter. So you're from Scotland?"He chuckled at the abrupt change of subject and sipped his drink. "Aye, I'm a weegie, born and bred."She tilted her head incredulously. "A ouija? Like the board game? Contact the spirits of the dearly departed and all that?" She waggled her fingers mystically.He laughed again, genuinely amused, and his blue eyes crin
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 186: A Surprise Realization
Chapter 186: A Surprise RealizationHalf an hour later, with their dishes cleared away, Anna sighed as she sipped another beer and bobbed her head in time to the classic eighties tune that currently blared from the speakers dotting the interior of Good Time Charlie's. Occasionally, her gaze flitted toward the man seated across the table. She had been so determined to avoid Angus, so sure that he would turn out to be a conceited, entitled rich boy. Spending time with him showed her that nothing could be further from the truth. She was just buzzed enough to consider blurting out that observation when the door opened, and a familiar figure walked in. "Ross!" she cried, although over the din of classic hair-metal, Angus was the only one who heard her. His gaze followed hers.Closely following Ross was a nice-looking blond man who stood just a bit taller than Anna's brother's six feet. The two men made their way to a pair of empty stools at the bar, where they flagged down a barten
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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
