Julie Benson - The Rancher and the Vet

Cowboy, Come Home

Leaving his Colorado hometown was the second hardest thing Reed Montgomery ever did—the first was breaking up with Avery McAlister, his high school sweetheart. Now his Western roots are calling the citified CEO back to his family ranch to be surrogate dad to his niece, Jess. Of course, he can’t help being pulled back into Avery’s world.

Keeping her financially strapped animal shelter open is Avery’s first priority—her second turns out to be helping Reed with his parenting skills. They may be bonding, but her former flame still has some serious explaining to do about the secret that drove him away.

The ghosts of the past and a rekindled desire bring Reed and Avery ever closer together. But will Reed embrace his future…as a cowboy, a father and as the man for Avery?

“Do you wonder what it would be like between us now?”

He sure as hell did, ever since she’d walked out of Colt’s barn. That image had kept Reed awake more than one night since he’d returned.

“No.” Her expressive eyes and her breathy voice contradicted her statement.

“I do.” His lips pressed against the tender skin behind her ear, and he felt her shiver. How long had it been since he’d felt a real connection with a woman?

Not since he’d left Avery.

Her head rested on his shoulder, and her warmth seeped into him. Need overrode what little common sense he possessed. His lips traced a path down her neck, while his hand caressed her lower back, encouraging her even closer. Her gaze locked with his, and he couldn’t resist her. He lowered his mouth to hers and gently covered her lips, searching and testing.

Being with her like this felt right—like coming home.

Dear Reader,

For Avery’s story, I turned to an event from real life. My best friend Lori, executive director of The Hinsdale Humane Society, mentioned that the shelter owns their building, but the city of Hinsdale owns the land. While this has worked wonderfully for them since 1953, what if the situation suddenly changed? In The Rancher and the Vet, what if Avery’s shelter thought they owned the land, but discovered they didn’t when the owner’s heirs decide to sell the property? Suddenly the shelter needs to raise a huge sum of money. Then to throw Avery further off balance I had her first love, Reed Montgomery, waltz back into town.

I’d come up with a tortured situation for Avery, and then I turned to Reed. I made him responsible for the well-being of a teenager—a teenage girl, no less! Being the only female in a household of five, I’ve learned men and women see the world differently. While that definitely makes life fun, it also causes problems, as Reed discovers with his niece. I hope you enjoy Avery and Reed’s adventures.

Blessings, and remember—adopt, don’t shop!

Julie

P.S. I love hearing from readers. Contact me at www.juliebenson.net.

The Rancher and the Vet

Julie Benson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

An avid daydreamer since childhood, Julie always loved creating stories. After graduating from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in sociology, she worked as a case manager before having her children: three boys. Many years later she started pursuing a writing career to challenge her mind and save her sanity. Now she writes full-time in Dallas, where she lives with her husband, their sons, two lovable black dogs, two guinea pigs, a turtle and a fish. When she finds a little quiet time, which isn’t often, she enjoys making jewelry and reading a good book.

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For Lori Halligan

Some friends are silver. Some are gold.

You’re twenty-four karat. Thanks for always being there for me.

And to Lori Goddard

Just for being you.

Special thanks to the staff and volunteers of

The Hinsdale Humane Society for putting up with me being underfoot and answering all my questions. (Pam and Mary Alex, thanks for the laughs during lunch!) For all of you, it’s clear your work isn’t a job, it’s a calling.

Thanks also to John Milano, one of the wonderful regulars at Starbucks at Custer and Renner in Richardson, for answering my legal questions and helping out when I was at my wit’s end.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Excerpt

Chapter One

“I’m being deployed to Afghanistan. I need you to come to Estes Park and take care of Jess.”

Reed Montgomery straightened in his black leather desk chair with the lumbar support, his cell phone clutched in his now-sweaty hand as he processed what his older brother had said.

Colt was being deployed to Afghanistan. Soldiers went there and never returned.

Then the remainder of his brother’s words sank in. I need you to come to Estes Park and take care of Jess.

He loved his niece, but the thought of being responsible for a child left Reed shaking. He didn’t want children. The pressure. The fear of screwing up and damaging the kid for life. To top it off, taking care of any kid would be hard enough, but a teenage girl? That could send the strongest bachelor screaming into the night.

“Tell me I heard you wrong.”

“I need you to watch Jess.”

His brother had lost his mind.

Once Reed’s brain kicked back into gear and his panic receded, he remembered his niece still had one set of grandparents. “I thought the plan was for Lynn’s parents to stay with her.”

“That was the idea, but when I called them I learned Joanne broke her hip last month and needed surgery.”

“And they’re just telling you now?”

“We don’t talk much since Lynn died. They blame me for her death.”

Almost a year ago, after fifteen years of marriage, Colt’s wife had said she was sick of ranch life and had run off with her lover, only to die in a head-on collision a month later. Colt had picked up the pieces of his life, and explained as best he could to Jess that she hadn’t been responsible for her mom leaving.

Lynn’s death had also meant that Colt had to revise his family-care plan in case he was deployed.

“You weren’t driving the car. Her lover was.”

“They think if I’d been a better husband, she wouldn’t have left. In their opinion I should’ve spent more time at home and less time with the reserves. Blaming me is easier than accepting the truth.”

An only child, Lynn had grown up catered to—spoiled rotten, actually. Colt’s wife had been high-maintenance, self-centered and had believed her husband’s life should revolve around her.

“Is Joanne doing well enough that Jess could go live with them in Florida?” In addition to being unqualified for the job, Reed thought, his life and business were here in San Francisco. How could he up and leave for Colorado?

“She said she should be eventually, but there’s another problem. Their retirement community only lets children stay for a week. Last night Herb brought up the subject at a town hall meeting, and everyone went crazy. The Association of Homeowners thinks if it makes an exception for Jess, within a month they’ll be overrun with kids.”