Ann Roth - A Rancher's Christmas

A Holiday Change Of Heart

Gina Arnett comes home to Saddlers Prairie to say goodbye to her uncle and sell the family ranch she’s just inherited. Her focus is on getting back to Chicago and her high-powered job. Two things change her plans: a sudden blizzard that causes the town to be snowed in, and Zach Horton—the ranch foreman who tries to convince her to stay.

Gina’s boundless ambition is something Zach understands all too well. He’s kept his past a secret, and to uncover it, she’ll have to reveal her own uncomfortable truths—and her growing feelings for Zach. He’s not the kind of man she dreamed of falling for. But at the Christmas season, all dreams seem possible.…

“You’re important to this ranch,” said Gina.

“My family and I need you here, Zach. You’re not going to quit, are you?”

“I wouldn’t do that. But you should know that I intend to honor my promise to Lucky. I’ll do what I can to change your mind.”

“Try away. It won’t work.”

With her chin up and the confident smile on her mouth, she was irresistible.

“That sounds like a challenge—and I like challenges,” he said, advancing toward her. “Did you mean that?”

“I… Did I mean what?”

“About me trying to convince you.” Her eyes were the prettiest color, green with little flecks of brown and gold. “Did you?”

He brushed the silky lock back from her face and tucked it behind her ear. Her pupils dilated and he knew she felt some of what he did. She touched her lips with the tip of her tongue in what he recognized as a nervous gesture.

“I—”

He laid his finger over her soft lips. “Shh.” Tipping up her chin, he leaned down.

Dear Reader,

This is the fifth (and last) book set in Saddlers Prairie, a fictitious ranching town in Montana prairie country. But don’t worry—I’ll be back soon with new love stories set in a new fictitious town.

Gina Arnett grew up in Saddlers Prairie and left as soon as she graduated from high school. Now she’s back, but not by choice. Her uncle Lucky has left her his ailing ranch, a ranch Gina doesn’t want.

Foreman Zach Horton is a man with a past he keeps buried—and a mission. He promised Gina’s uncle that he would stick around long enough to convince her to keep the ranch.

Neither of them expects to find love, especially with each other. I hope you enjoy their story.

Happy reading!

Ann Roth

I always appreciate hearing from readers. Email me at ann@annroth.net, or write me at P.O. Box 25003, Seattle, WA 98165-1903, or visit my Facebook page. And please visit my website at www.annroth.net, where you can enter the monthly drawing to win a free book! Be sure to visit the Fun Stuff page, where you’ll find my blog and all sorts of fun stuff.

A Rancher’s Christmas

Ann Roth

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ann Roth lives in the greater Seattle area with her husband. After earning an MBA she worked as a banker and corporate trainer. She gave up the corporate life to write, and if they awarded PhDs in writing happily-ever-after stories, she’d surely have one.

Ann loves to hear from readers. You can write her at P.O. Box 25003, Seattle, WA 98165-1903 or email her at ann@annroth.net.

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BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

18 eggs

2 tbsp milk

1 tsp parsley

½ tsp dill weed

¼ tsp pepper

1 can undiluted mushroom soup

3 tbsp sherry

4 tbsp butter

¼ pound sliced mushrooms

¼ cup chopped onion

6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

1½ cup each, shredded and mixed together:

jack cheese and sharp cheddar

Paprika

Grease a 9" x 11" casserole dish.

Beat eggs with milk, parsley, dill weed and pepper, and set aside. In a saucepan, stir soup and sherry until hot and smooth. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Melt the butter in a pan. Add mushrooms and onion and sauté 5 minutes. Add egg mixture and crumbled bacon to the pan and cook until the eggs are softly set. Remove from heat. Spoon half the egg mixture into the casserole. Cover with half the soup mixture, then half the cheese. Repeat. Sprinkle the top layer with paprika. May be refrigerated overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Bake uncovered until hot and bubbly, about 30–35 minutes if unrefrigerated or for an hour if refrigerated.

Let stand 10 minutes, then cut into squares.

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

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Excerpt

Chapter One

Gina was rushing out to get herself another espresso before the upcoming meeting when her office phone rang. Knowing that it might be someone from Grant Industries, she lunged toward her desk before her assistant, Carrie, picked up. “This is Gina Arnett.”

“It’s Uncle Redd.”

Of all times for him to call.

“Hi,” she said. “I know I haven’t phoned you lately, but I’ve been in a real crunch here, working on that holiday promotion for Grant Industries—the big retailer I told you about last time we talked. If they like the results from the campaign I’ve put together, they’ll put me on retainer for them for the next year.”

Plus she’d earn a fat year-end bonus, which she really, really needed.

She checked her watch. Still time to race down to the coffee bar and get that espresso—if she hurried. “We’re rolling out part two of our Holiday Magic campaign tomorrow, and you wouldn’t believe how busy I am right now. Can I call you back tonight?”

“I need to tell you something, Gina,” her uncle said in a solemn tone Gina had rarely heard. “I’m afraid it can’t wait.”

She frowned. “What’s happened?”

Uncle Redd usually cut straight to the chase, and this time was no different. “Sometime during the night, your uncle Lucky had a heart attack. He’s gone.”

“Gone?” She sank onto her desk chair.

“I’m afraid so.” Her uncle cleared his throat. “How soon can you get home?”

It had been almost seven years since she’d visited there. The last time had been for her mother’s funeral. She remembered the long flight from Chicago to Billings and the shorter connecting flight to Miles City, followed by a forty-mile drive to Saddlers Prairie. Getting there would take the better part of a day.

“I’ll need to check with the airlines and get back to you,” she said. “When do you need me there?”

“As soon as possible. Seeing as how Thanksgiving is next week, we decided to hold the funeral right away. We scheduled it for this coming Friday—three days from now.”

Funeral.

The news finally sank in. Uncle Lucky was dead. Their little family just kept shrinking. Gina’s shoulders sagged.

“Do you need help with airfare?” her uncle asked.

“No, Uncle Redd. I’m thirty years old and I make a good living.” Never mind that most of her credit cards were just about maxed out. Nobody needed to know that. “As soon as I book the flight, I’ll call with my arrival information. Or would you rather I rented a car?”