Mindy Obenhaus - Their Ranch Reunion

The Rancher Next Door

Single mom Carly Wagner is surprised to learn she’ll have to share ownership of the home she’s inherited with her first love—and first heartbreak—Andrew Stephens. The man who fled their tiny Western town is back and standing in the way of her dreams to expand her B and B. Now a successful businessman, Andrew has eight weeks to buy Carly out. But Carly’s too stubborn to persuade—and too beautiful to ignore. When fire ravages her inn and she and her daughter move in to their shared property, Andrew’s in over his head. Time is running out and Andrew must decide: leave and chase another deal...or stay and chase Carly’s heart.

“What a difference twenty-four hours can make.”

He faced the woman who was now beside him.

“Last night at this time,” Carly explained, “I was slamming the door on you.”

“Oh, that. Well, this hasn’t been what I’d call an average day.”

“Me either. But I appreciate everything you did for us today, Andrew.”

He dared to meet her gaze. “I didn’t do much.”

“You were there for me when I needed you.” She went to him, rose up on her toes and hugged him. “Thank you.” Her words were a whisper on his ear, soft and warm. And he felt his world shift.

Then she turned for the door. “Good night.”

Stunned, he managed to eke out, “Night,” before she disappeaered into the house.

He stood there, waiting to breathe. Carly stirred something in him that he hadn’t felt...well, since they were a couple.

That was not good. Because despite today’s events, there was still the issue of his grandmother’s house. And that was a battle he intended to win.

Dear Reader,

Life is littered with the unexpected. Yet sometimes, those events turn out to be unexpected blessings.

Andrew and Carly were a couple of misguided souls allowing their pasts to dictate their futures. They were content in their lives—they had dreams and aspirations—yet God had so much more in store for them. Things they never imagined.

I love how God works. We’re going along on our merry way, doing our own thing, and then He sends us on a little detour that can change our lives forever.

I hope you enjoyed Andrew and Carly’s story. I love reunion stories, and theirs was one steeped in past hurts, perceived failures and regret. Yet God used those things to draw them together and open their eyes to the truth.

And how about meeting the rest of the Stephens men? Definitely some heroes in the making.

Of course, I was thrilled to take you back to Ouray, albeit in a little different way. While the city of Ouray is nestled in a bowl, surrounded by thirteen-thousand-foot peaks, a short drive north of town and the mountains are pushed back, leaving beautiful rangeland dotted with ranches, all bordered by the majestic San Juan Mountains.

Until next time, I would love to hear from you. You can contact me via my website, mindyobenhaus.com, or you can snail-mail me c/o Love Inspired Books, 195 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007.

See you next time,

Mindy

It took MINDY OBENHAUS forty years to figure out what she wanted to do when she grew up. But once God called her to write, she never looked back. She’s passionate about touching readers with biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. Mindy lives in Texas with her husband and kids. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Find more at mindyobenhaus.com.

Their Ranch Reunion

Mindy Obenhaus

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a

new thing! Now it springs up; do you not

perceive it? I am making a way in the

wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

—Isaiah 43:18–19

For Your glory, Lord.

Acknowledgments

A big thank-you to Captain Glen Vincent,

Village Fire Department, for your twenty-nine

years of service as a firefighter and for

your willingness to share your knowledge.

Thanks to Wendy Jilek at Colorado Kitchen and

Bath Design, Montrose, Colorado, for

your input on the kitchen-design process.

Much appreciation to Catrina at ServePro

of Montrose and Telluride.

And I couldn’t have done any of this without

the love and support of my incredible husband.

Thank you for being my rock.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Acknowledgments

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

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

If she had to look at one more spreadsheet, she’d go batty.

Overdue for a break, Carly Wagner pushed away from her laptop at the oak kitchen table, poured another cup of tea and wandered into the parlor of her Victorian home. The late morning sun filtered through the windows, bathing the somewhat formal though still cozy room in warmth. Taking a sip of her Cream Earl Grey, she glimpsed the photo of her great-grandmother on the mantel and smiled. Granger House was more than just her home. The bed-and-breakfast was a way of life.

She let go a sigh. If only she didn’t have to keep taking in these bookkeeping jobs to help build up her savings. But if she hoped to send her daughter, Megan, to college one day...

She was just about to sit in the powder-blue accent chair when something outside caught her attention. Easing toward the side window, she noticed a vehicle in the driveway next door. She fingered the lace curtain aside and peered through the antique glass pane.

That truck did not belong there.

Her neighbor, Olivia Monroe, Livie to everyone who knew her, had been dead for six months. Since then, no one had set foot in that house without Carly’s knowledge. Until now.

Narrowing her gaze on the ginormous black F-350, curiosity mingled with concern. After all, Livie’s house now belonged to her. Well, maybe not completely, but Lord willing, it would, just as soon as she convinced Livie’s grandson, Andrew, to sell her his half. That is, once she finally mustered the courage to call her old high school boyfriend. Then she would finally be able to act on her dream of expanding Granger House Inn and kiss bookkeeping goodbye.

Allowing the curtain to fall back into place, she paced from the wooden floor to the large Persian rug in the center of the room and back again. What should she do? She hated to bother the police. Not that they had much to do in a quiet town like Ouray, Colorado. Then again, if it was nothing, she’d look like the nosy neighbor who worried over everything.

No, she needed to do a little investigation before calling the cops.

She headed back into the kitchen, depositing her cup on the butcher-block island before grabbing her trusty Louisville Slugger on her way out the back door. The cool air sent a shiver down her spine. At least, that’s what she told herself. Realistically, it was rather mild for the second day of March. Perhaps the sun would help rid them of what remained of their most recent snowfall.

Making herself as small as possible, she crept across the drive and around the back of Livie’s folk Victorian. Banging echoed from inside. Or was it her own heart slamming against her rib cage?