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Chapter 91
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2023-10-11 22:27:57Related chapters
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 92
NOAHNoah trudged into the main house and toed off his boots just as his brother, Aaron, pulled up and parked his pickup. All of the Harding brothers knew to leave the space closest to the door for Aaron so he could carry his son, Levi, inside. Days started early on the ranch, and Levi was a sound sleeper for a three-year-old. No one saw a reason to wake the kid at five in the morning.Dixie panted, wagging her tail and bouncing from side to side.“Hey, girl.” Noah squatted to scratch the dog’s head. The border collie was a trained wrangler, and she sure helped out when it came to moving the herds.Stepping from the light-blue dusk into the meeting room of his parents’ house, Noah hung his walnut-colored cowboy hat on the rack by the door. It was more of a dining hall, but they always discussed chores and family topics during meals when they were all together. The first floor of what they all called the main house was made up of one cavernous meeting room on one side with wooden walls
Last Updated : 2023-10-13The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 93
NOAHThe next week, Noah balanced two to-go cups of coffee on his arm as he unlocked the door to Blackwater Restoration. It was early, but he’d bet his last paycheck that Camille was already in her office.The bell chimed above the door as he entered, and Camille peeked her head out of the office doorway before he’d taken five steps.“Morning,” she greeted him. “You’re here early.”Noah’s heartbeat fluttered in his chest. He’d never get used to her beauty. It knocked him on his rear end every time he saw her. Her dark hair hung in waves over her shoulder, and her straight nose slanted down toward her thin lips.“Morning, sunshine.”Camille met him by the register, and he extended one of the cups to her. She lit up with a smile that filled her whole face. The mounds of her cheeks lifted, and her eyes almost squinted with the expression.“And that’s how I know you’re special.”He wasn’t sure where this was going, but he was more than happy to follow. “How?”“You make me smile before I’v
Last Updated : 2023-10-14The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 94
Camille peeked at the clock on the wall in her office and wondered if it was too early to mosey on over to the ranch. Noah said the whole family had supper together at six thirty in the evening, so this technically wasn’t a date. Still, it didn’t hurt anyone when she imagined that it was a date. It was a few minutes till five now, but she could take her time and familiarize herself with the area. He’d given her the address before he left the store around three in the afternoon.She pulled out of the parking lot at Blackwater Restoration and followed the robotic directions from her 4Runner’s built-in navigation system. She smiled every time she anticipated a turn before the voice told her where to go.When she saw the rusted sign that said “Blackwater Ranch” at the end of a dirt road, she sat up straighter in her seat. The dash clock told her she was twenty minutes early, and she wasn’t sure if Noah and his family were ready for her yet.Camille parked her car near the entrance to a bi
Last Updated : 2023-10-15The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 95
NOAHIf calm reserve hadn’t been Noah’s default, he wasn’t sure he could’ve kept it together while eating supper beside Camille tonight. The casual scene was all too special to him to act as if nothing monumental was happening. Did she know how long he’d dreamed of spending evenings like this with her?When they all finished eating, Aaron and Levi said their good-byes. The little guy had to get a bath and tucked into bed early. Noah watched Camille hug the toddler and whisper good night. Even though she put on a tough exterior, she’d always had a heart of gold.Camille offered to help clean up after the meal, but Noah’s mom shooed her away.“Go on. You and Noah take the night off.”Asher looked around as if he didn’t understand what was going on. “Why do they get out of kitchen duty?” Supper was the one meal the brothers were expected to help clean up.“Because she’s a guest. One day you’ll realize there are many perks to bringin’ a woman home.” Their mother stared Asher down as if sh
Last Updated : 2023-10-16The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 96
That night, Camille tossed and turned. Unable to fall into a restful sleep, she dreamed about Colorado. The scenery and the memories kept flooding her mind.Their high school graduating class would be taking a trip to Boulder, Colorado in late summer, but Nathan had refused to allow Camille to go. Her studies were too important, and she needed to be focused and ready for college. She would start college in Portland in less than a month.Camille wanted to go to the resort with her classmates so much that it invaded every moment of her thoughts, but knowing Noah wasn’t going either made it more tolerable. Though, she suspected he wasn’t going because she wasn’t going.Flashes of pleas and angry words with Nathan crowded her mind. Hurt and anger lingered in her heart, but the dream only revealed a glimpse of the altercation.Then Noah was there asking her if she wanted to go anyway. They could drive to Boulder for the weekend. He knew some friends who said there was at least one spot in
Last Updated : 2023-10-17The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 97
NOAHNoah usually liked working with Aaron. His steadfast brother was more interested in staying the course and getting the work finished. He needed to get back to the main house where their mom watched Levi while whey worked. Aaron wasn’t one to chat about the weather or complain about the slow calving season. He kept his head down and finished the work.Today, Aaron kept cutting glances his way. To be fair, it might have had something to do with the force Noah had chucked the bales as they loaded the hay pens.“Anything you wanna get off your chest?” Aaron finally asked.Noah jumped from the bed of the truck and removed his gloves before cutting the ties on a square bale. “It’s Camille.”“I figured as much, but I don’t have anything for you when it comes to women.” Aaron had been raising his son alone since his ex left two and a half years ago without looking back. She hadn’t been one to be tied down to a ranch.“What’s the holdup?” Aaron asked. “Things seem to be goin’ okay. Just g
Last Updated : 2023-10-18The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 98
Camille stepped from the truck and studied the scene around her. The warm June air brushed the skin of her arms in the breeze, and the water was bubbling quietly in the deep blue creek.“I do remember this place. It’s Bluestone Creek.”Noah rounded the truck and halted. “You remembered the name?” Noah asked.“Yeah, sometimes I can associate a name with a person or place. I don’t think there’s a rhyme or reason to the names that I remember.” She shrugged.They made their way to the bank and she dipped to her knees. Raking her fingers through the brisk water, she had the urge to jump in.“Did we swim here?” she asked.“Once, accidentally. The water stays cool.”“But we did?”“We did.”“What else did we do around here?”He moved close and squatted beside her. “Back then, you were interested in anything outdoors. You tried to name the cows, but there were too many. You’d get frustrated when we had to move the herds and you’d lose track of the ones you’d befriended.”She laughed. “What abo
Last Updated : 2023-10-19The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 99
NOAHIt was the second day of his shift with the fire department, and Noah was lounging in the rec room, while the other men in his crew lazily chatted around him. His eyes were drifting closed, but he wasn’t contributing anything groundbreaking to the conversation anyway. He doubted anyone would notice if he fell asleep.Lucas plopped down in the other reclining chair in the sectional sofa and made an exaggerated huff. “Dude, what are you doing?”“What does it look like,” Noah said. “I’m watching the back of my eyelids.”Lucas shoved Noah’s shoulder. “Come on. I need someone to watch Live PD with me. It’s not as fun if I’m the only one in the peanut gallery.”Noah pried his eyes open and sat up. “How do you function on so little sleep?”“I just don’t need that much of a reboot. I’m hardwired for fun.”The call sounded, and everyone in the room groaned. The entire crew was reaching their limit.Lucas stood and stalked to the kitchen area. “I didn’t even get to eat my sandwich.” He thr
Last Updated : 2023-10-20
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The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 117
NOAH Camille glanced over both shoulders as if checking to make sure the coast was clear before extending both hands, palms up, toward Sprite. “Take your pick, pretty lady.” One hand offered an apple and the other a sugar cube. Noah wasn’t sure who liked treat time the most, his girlfriend or the horse. Dixie circled Camille’s legs, begging for attention. He’d just watched from the tailgate as Camille rode Sprite through the pasture by the stable. “Sugar. Always a good choice.” Camille waited for the blue roan to finish the treats before nuzzling noses with the big softie. It’d been a week since Noah was released from the hospital, and he was still getting used to needing help completing small tasks. The bandages were cumbersome and needed to be changed often. Not to mention small things like showering and putting on pants had become a chore. Camille spent every moment she could helping him. He didn’t mind it when she helped, but it was an unspoken truth that any “help” from his b
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 116
“There’s a lot you don’t know about Nathan, but none of it excuses what he did,” Bonnie said. Bonnie went with Camille to her house to change clothes and pack a bag of extras, in case Noah stayed at the hospital overnight. She planned on staying there until he came home. She’d called Anita and rounded up some things she needed too. Now, Camille and her mom were back on the road, and they had a lot to talk about. “Nathan was adopted when he was four years old,” Bonnie began. “He was neglected as a child, and he had a handful of health problems that had never been treated. By the time he was taken from his parents, he was malnourished, dehydrated, and had several broken bones and bruises.” Camille turned away from her mother. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever heard this story before, but her heart told her she hadn’t. “Your grandparents didn’t have any children, but they had been in touch with the local foster care system and were contacted when Nathan was still recovering. They adopted
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 115
Her foot rested heavy on the accelerator as she drove from Cody to Blackwater. Anger and betrayal built within her with every mile that passed beneath her tires. Twisting her hands on the steering wheel, she ached for a distraction. Something to calm the storm of her emotions. How could Nathan do something so horrible? She called Jenny and let the ringing in her car speakers drown out the roiling in her ears. “Hey. What’s up?” “Noah is in the hospital in Cody. A bear attacked him this morning.” “What?” Jenny screamed. “Is he okay?” Camille’s voice shook. “He is now. It looked so bad after it happened, though. It clawed his leg up good.” Rustling sounded on Jenny’s end of the line. “Do I need to come?” “No,” Camille assured her. “He’s doing okay. They stitched him up and he’s conscious now, but he lost a lot of blood. He’ll be in quite a bit of pain while it heals.” “I can’t imagine.” “They were cleaning up a dozen cows that were shot last night when the bear attacked.” Camill
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 114
She couldn’t lose him. Not again, and not like this. Camille raked her hands through Noah’s hair while his head lay in her lap. She was trying to be brave. It wouldn’t do either of them any good to break apart right now. Noah needed her to stay alert and strong for him. “I’m glad you’re here.” His words were faint, but she’d heard him. Whatever reason he had for breaking up with her didn’t matter now. A tear slid down her face as she prayed. “Lord, please lay Your hand on Noah. Help us get him to the help he needs in time. Help me to be strong. Help us.” Her words cracked at the end, and she squeezed her eyes closed. “Please, Lord. I don’t want to lose him.” Tears burned her eyes when she opened them. He was lying still—too still. She looked to Lucas. “I think he’s unconscious!” Lucas held the injured leg stationary. “Almost there.” She turned and stretched her neck to see the main house over the next rise. The red-and-white ambulance was parked in front. The paramedics carefu
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 113
NOAH Noah tried to hold his ground, but the bear was running toward him now. He lowered the phone from his ear and yelled, “Micah!” He took two steps backward on instinct. He wasn’t running, but he was pretty sure it was the better option right now. On the third step back, his heel snagged on a fallen branch. He fell backward, arms flailing, and his phone went soaring through the air. “Micah!” Noah couldn’t take his eyes off the advancing predator to see if his brother was coming to help, but he prayed he’d yelled loud enough to be heard over the running tractor. The bear slowed as it approached Noah lying on his back. The fall had knocked the wind out of him, but he wasn’t breathing anyway. The bear’s large paw lifted and swiped down faster than any animal that large should’ve been able to move. Noah cried out once more as the claws sliced across his thigh. “Micah!” A boom filled the air, followed by another, and the bear jerked backward and fell onto its side. Noah could hear
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 112
NOAHNoah drove through the gates at Blackwater Ranch in a daze. His shift at the fire station had started the morning after he’d gone to Camille’s, and it had been a long two days.His shifts were always tiring, but this time he hadn’t been able to sleep or eat like he should to keep his energy up. Losing Camille felt like a constant, nagging hunger. His insides were empty, but he couldn’t get filled.He’d been praying, but no answers had come. Was he supposed to fix this on his own or wait for the Lord to show him how to mend his broken heart?He topped the slight hill before the main house, and a sinking feeling hit him in the chest. There weren’t any trucks parked out front. It was breakfast time. Everyone should’ve been there.Noah hastily parked by the door and ran inside, forgetting to take off his shoes.“Mom. Dad,” Noah hollered into the empty dining room.His mom stepped out of the kitchen and wiped her hands on her apron. “They’re all out,” his mom said in a shaky voice.“W
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 111
NOAHNoah closed Camille’s door behind him, but it didn’t block out her sobs. He couldn’t move his feet to walk away from her just yet. What had he done? He’d made things worse with Nathan tonight, and then… this.Remembering the look on Camille’s face had his gut twisting. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. He’d been given the chance to be happy again, and it had all been taken away too soon.Anger built in his chest as he sat on the small step on her front porch. There was a roaring in his ears, but he could still hear Camille’s wails behind him.He wanted to go back inside and hold her and tell her they would make it through anything together.But he couldn’t do that when it was probably a lie. How could he save his family and keep Camille in his life? It was too much to hope. He’d been allowed to enjoy the best times of his life with her, and the stretches of time in between were just filler.Sitting alone in the dark night outside her door, he hung his head and prayed.
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 110
Camille leaned closer to the screen of her laptop and squinted. “Those might work,” she mumbled to herself. The boots on her screen resembled the ones Noah and his brothers wore around the ranch, but finding the female equivalent had proven to be a challenge. Plus, ordering shoes online was always hit or miss. She ran the heart pendant of her necklace back and forth along the chain as she added the boots to the shopping cart.She’d wised up with the wide-brimmed cowboy hat already, and good boots were a must at this point if she planned to keep working with Noah around the ranch on her days off.A knock sounded at her door, and Camille jumped in her seat, bumping her knees on the desk. “Oww.” So much for assessing the stranger at her door before revealing she was at home.She pushed away from the desk and padded over to the door in her bare feet. Peering through the peephole, she saw Noah standing on her doorstep with his hands in the front pockets of his jeans.Camille fumbled with t
The Millionaire's Bride Chapter 109
NOAHCamille’s parents’ house was a log and brick monstrosity with wooden columns along the front side thicker than Noah had ever seen. Two stories of walls and windows stretched into a double-decker garage on one side. A twenty-foot-tall statue of angels and cherubs sat imposing in the grassy area along the circular drive.He’d put off coming here for long enough, but it was time to talk. If Nathan wasn’t home, he’d just sit in his truck and wait for him.Noah had always felt small when he came here. The size of the place dwarfed anything around it except the mountains. He knew from days past when he would visit Camille that there was a heated pool in the back along with a fire pit, an outdoor grilling area, and a guest house.The old truck door groaned and creaked as it closed behind him, and Noah threw his cowboy hat back into the cab through the open window. There wasn’t any sense in stirring the pot. His boots thudded loudly against the sturdy boards of the porch as he approached
