Carolyne Aarsen - Wrangling The Cowboy's Heart

Love Under the Big Sky

Back home in Montana, free spirit Jodie McCauley plans to stay at her late father’s ranch for just two months. Then she’ll sell the Rocking M and head off on her next adventure. But first she’ll have to take her beloved horses from wild to sellable. That means asking the boy she once loved for help. Finn Hicks is now a deputy sheriff and a horse trainer. Working so closely with Jodie, his feelings are suddenly resurfacing. But Finn remembers her as a wild child, not the family-oriented woman he’s looking for. A second chance seems impossible, but is there still hope for the rugged cowboy and his first love?

He glanced over at her just as she looked at him.

Jodie wore her hair loose today, and it flowed over her narrow shoulders like melted chocolate. She gave him a wry smile, and for a moment he saw Keith McCauley looking back at him.

“You look just like your father,” he said.

You’re up on a mountain with a girl you’re growing attracted to and that’s what you come up with?

He gave himself a mental forehead smack.

“Thanks. I think,” she said, pushing her hair away from her face.

Unbidden came the memory of the moment in the corral the other day. Part of him wanted to give in to the attraction he knew was growing between them, but that would be foolish. She was leaving, and in spite of that, she wasn’t the right person for him.

Or so you keep saying.

He tried to banish the voice. Tried to be the practical guy he had always strived to be. He didn’t want to end up on the wrong side of a broken heart again.

CAROLYNE AARSEN and her husband, Richard, live on a small ranch in northern Alberta, where they have raised four children and numerous foster children and are still raising cattle. Carolyne crafts her stories in an office with a large west-facing window, through which she can watch the changing seasons while struggling to make her words obey. Visit her website at carolyneaarsen.com.

Wrangling the

Cowboy’s Heart

Carolyne Aarsen

www.millsandboon.co.uk

You are my hiding place;

You will protect me from trouble

and surround me with songs of deliverance.

—Psalms 32:7

To Linda Ford, who helped me

every step of the way with this book.

Could not have done it without you, girlfriend!

And to Melissa, my editor, who helped

give this story shape and substance.

Both of you are proof that books

are never written in solitude and that

good partnerships make for good stories.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Love Under the Big Sky Back home in Montana, free spirit Jodie McCauley plans to stay at her late father’s ranch for just two months. Then she’ll sell the Rocking M and head off on her next adventure. But first she’ll have to take her beloved horses from wild to sellable. That means asking the boy she once loved for help. Finn Hicks is now a deputy sheriff and a horse trainer. Working so closely with Jodie, his feelings are suddenly resurfacing. But Finn remembers her as a wild child, not the family-oriented woman he’s looking for. A second chance seems impossible, but is there still hope for the rugged cowboy and his first love?

Introduction He glanced over at her just as she looked at him. Jodie wore her hair loose today, and it flowed over her narrow shoulders like melted chocolate. She gave him a wry smile, and for a moment he saw Keith McCauley looking back at him. “You look just like your father,” he said. You’re up on a mountain with a girl you’re growing attracted to and that’s what you come up with? He gave himself a mental forehead smack. “Thanks. I think,” she said, pushing her hair away from her face. Unbidden came the memory of the moment in the corral the other day. Part of him wanted to give in to the attraction he knew was growing between them, but that would be foolish. She was leaving, and in spite of that, she wasn’t the right person for him. Or so you keep saying. He tried to banish the voice. Tried to be the practical guy he had always strived to be. He didn’t want to end up on the wrong side of a broken heart again.

About the Author CAROLYNE AARSEN and her husband, Richard, live on a small ranch in northern Alberta, where they have raised four children and numerous foster children and are still raising cattle. Carolyne crafts her stories in an office with a large west-facing window, through which she can watch the changing seasons while struggling to make her words obey. Visit her website at carolyneaarsen.com .

Title Page Wrangling the Cowboy’s Heart Carolyne Aarsen www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. —Psalms 32:7

Dedication To Linda Ford, who helped me every step of the way with this book. Could not have done it without you, girlfriend! And to Melissa, my editor, who helped give this story shape and substance. Both of you are proof that books are never written in solitude and that good partnerships make for good stories.

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

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Seriously? Two speeders in half an hour? Was there some unknown crisis people were outrunning?

Deputy Finn Hicks was not in the mood to deal with this. In two hours he was supposed to be delivering the eulogy at his old friend and mentor’s funeral. He had one more call, then he hoped to head home, shower and get to the church on time.

But he couldn’t let this go. The little blue car blew past him at least twenty miles per hour faster than the posted speed.

Finn pulled in a deep sigh, flicked on the flashers of his cruiser, spun it around and stepped on the gas to catch up with the vehicle speeding toward town. This shouldn’t take long if the driver cooperated.

Out-of-state license plates. Broken rear taillight, and it wasn’t stopping.

He beeped the siren to get the driver’s attention and then, finally, the car slowed and pulled over onto the shoulder.

Finn did a rapid run-through of the plates and his heart turned over in his chest.

Registered to one Jodie McCauley, twenty-seven years old. Female. Resident of Kansas. Onetime girlfriend of one Finn Hicks. If you could call one summer of romance being a girlfriend.

Jodie had no doubt returned to Saddlebank, Montana, for her father’s funeral. The same funeral he hoped to attend once his shift was done.

All he had heard lately of Jodie’s life had come from his friend Keith. Finn knew Jodie worked as a waitress during the day and played piano in bars at night.

Such a waste of her talent, he had often thought. Jodie had been set to audition for a prestigious music school in Maryland the summer they had dated, ten years ago.

She was also supposed to have gone on another date with him. A date he thought would move things from casual to serious.

She had ditched both appointments and never told him why. The rest of the summer she’d avoided him and hung out with a bad crowd. After that he’d never seen her again.

Until now.

The window rolled down as he came near. Jodie looked up at him through large, dark sunglasses, her mouth pert as always. Thick brown hair flowed over her shoulders, and in her bright red dress and gauzy purple scarf, she looked more as though she was on her way to a party than a funeral.