C.J. Carmichael - Colton - Rodeo Cowboy

A Change Of Hart

After years of tearing up the rodeo circuit—and shirking his family duties—Colton Hart shouldn’t be surprised that his return to Thunder Ranch has been a bit thorny. His plan to put the Harts’ prize stallion, Midnight, back into dangerous rodeo competition doesn’t help.

Colt’s stirring up trouble off the ranch as well, especially in Leah Stockton’s heart. Recently divorced, Leah is determined to make a new life for her two kids. The last thing she needs is a man who acts like a child himself.

And Leah doesn’t even know about the biggest mistake of Colt’s life. When his shameful secret is revealed, she’ll never look at him the same again. But Colt also realizes it’s past time he acts like the man Leah deserves…whether she wants him or not.

Leah touched Colt’s arm, under the guise of checking out the soft chambray fabric of his shirt

But really it was the rock-hard muscles of the man who was wearing the shirt that impressed her.

Colt sandwiched her hand with his. “That feels nice. Your hand on my arm.”

She had to admit it did. More than just nice. Colt was different than she remembered and not just in appearance. Maybe she wasn’t the only one who had gone through some hard times and matured these past few years.

“Leah—I just want to be real clear on one point. You’re not married anymore, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Good. I’ve never kissed a married woman before, and I was hoping this wasn’t going to be the exception.”

Dear Reader,

If I could wish one thing for you as you read this book it would be that you get swept away. Swept away by Colt Hart, the rodeo cowboy who’s been carrying a secret so long that the weight of it is crushing his heart. Swept away by Leah Stockton—a single mom doing her best in trying circumstances, who doesn’t need the complication of falling for another cowboy wedded to the road. Or even swept away by Midnight, the stallion the Hart family acquired in a heated bidding war in book one of the series, who may not be worth all the money they paid for him, after all. As the author, I have been enthralled by all of it—the whole world of the Harts of the Rodeo series.

This book was such a pleasure to write, and I want to thank Senior Editor Kathleen Scheibling for creating the Hart family and for setting the story in the most perfect ranching town possible: Roundup, Montana. Thanks also to my editor, Johanna Raisanen, for believing in me and inviting me to contribute to this series. And mega thanks to the other talented authors who also contributed stories. It was so much fun building the world of the Hart family with Cathy McDavid, Roz Denny Fox, Shelley Galloway, Marin Thomas and Linda Warren.

Maybe when you’ve finished this story you’d like to know more about how I developed the characters for this book. If so, please visit my website— www.cjcarmichael.com—where I’ll be posting bonus information about Colt and Leah, as well as contests to win copies from my backlist. You can also keep the dialogue alive by visiting my Facebook page or following me on Twitter. I’d love to hear your feedback about this story.

And finally, don’t forget that the Hart family saga continues next month with Roz Denny Fox’s Duke: Deputy Cowboy.

Happy reading!

C.J. Carmichael

www.cjcarmichael.com

Colton: Rodeo Cowboy

C.J. Carmichael

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hard to imagine a more glamorous life than being an accountant, isn’t it? Still, C.J. Carmichael gave up the thrills of income tax forms and double-entry bookkeeping when she sold her first book in 1998. She has now written more than twenty-eight novels for Harlequin Books, and invites you to learn more about her books, see photos of her hiking exploits and enter her surprise contests at www.cjcarmichael.com.

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For Natalie and Caroline with love

Thanks to

The mastermind behind the Hart family series: Senior Editor Kathleen Scheibling;

My own amazing editor, Johanna Raisanen;

And the creative and talented Cathy McDavid, Roz Denny Fox, Shelley Galloway, Marin Thomas and Linda Warren.

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

Epilogue

Excerpt

Chapter One

Clouds were rolling over the hot afternoon sun as an exhausted Colton Hart pulled up to Thunder Ranch in his brand-new Dodge Ram truck with his weathered 22-foot Airstream in tow. A big party was going on at the Hart ranch house this evening, and Colt was late. Not just a few minutes late, but hours. And it wasn’t just any party, but a wedding celebration.

His older brother, Ace, had married local ranching girl Flynn McKinley that afternoon. They were madly in love and already expecting a baby. Well on their way to having a perfect life. Something Colt—despite all the rodeo buckles he kept winning—would never have.

He should have cut out early from the rodeo in Central Point and been here. He knew that. The five thousand dollars he’d won simply wasn’t worth the price—though he did need that money in his checking account before the first of the month. No running from that cold, hard fact.

Of course the hour delay due to construction on I-90 hadn’t helped.

Colt parked the new truck in the lot his mother had given him, about three hundred feet west of the homestead property. He didn’t bother unhooking the trailer or reconnecting the water and power. No time.

Inside his trailer, he tossed his dead cell phone on the counter, then added his latest buckle to the collection in his bottom bureau drawer. He’d been gone so much lately the calendar taped to the mirror was still on March. He tore off a couple sheets, then pulled the truck keys from his pocket.

Early that spring he’d won the use of the fully loaded 2012 Dodge Ram for an entire year. He’d never driven, let alone owned, a brand-new vehicle before. The luxury was in danger of becoming addicting. He just might have to buy out the lease at the end of this year—if he could afford to.

He took a few steps to the kitchen, where he ducked his head over the sink and splashed water from a plastic jug over his unshaven face. God, but he’d love a shower. Instead, he made due with a change of clothes, clean Wranglers from his closet and his trademark red chambray shirt.

Colt put on his hat, then stepped out of his trailer into the muggy heat, the heel of his boot sinking into the pine-needle-packed earth. The air was rich with the scent of growing things, tinged with the hickory flavor of his mom’s famous barbecue beef. Clouds continued to gather and from the far-off distance, he heard the muffled sound of thunder. It had been a wet spring, now it looked like more rain was coming. Hopefully the storm would hold out a little longer. A path led through the Engelmann spruce toward the main house and he followed the well-trod route, ribs complaining with each breath, muscles everywhere sore and achy.