Ruth Herne - His Montana Sweetheart

Catching His Heart

Olivia Franklin suspected coming home to Jasper Gulch would mean eventually running into her first love, Jack McGuire. But she’s adamant that she not repeat the mistakes that led to her broken heart. Yet from the moment she lays eyes on her former sweetheart, her resistance begins to crumble. The tall, handsome rancher made his choice all those years ago. He’d gone from the baseball diamond to a high-rise office and finally back home to the Double M—all without her. And no amount of centennial nostalgia can change the past. But the future is another story, and the pretty historian is about to get a lesson in romance from the lonesome cowboy she will never forget!

Big Sky Centennial: A small town rich in history…and love.

Batter up!

The Jasper Gulch Centennial Committee

Invites You to Join In

Some Old-Fashioned Fun

as We Welcome Back Our Hometown Heroes for

an Old Timers’ Baseball Game…

Montana Style!

There’s nothing like baseball in Montana.

Is it the fresh mountain air? The cowboy mentality?

No one knows for certain. But it’s no wonder the

Jasper Gulch Old Timers have captured our hearts!

And no two hearts could be more entwined than

Livvie Franklin’s and Jack McGuire’s. Though it’s been eight years since these former high school sweethearts have laid eyes on each other, something tells us Livvie

has never gotten over her Jasper Gulch all-star.

Can the centennial celebration help them turn back time? Join us in the bleachers as we root them on!

* * *

Big Sky Centennial:

A small town rich in history…and love.

RUTH LOGAN HERNE

Born into poverty, Ruth puts great stock in one of her favorite Ben Franklinisms: “Having been poor is no shame. Being ashamed of it is.” With God-given appreciation for the amazing opportunities abounding in our land, Ruth finds simple gifts in the everyday blessings of smudge-faced small children, bright flowers, freshly baked goods, good friends, family, puppies and higher education. She believes a good woman should never fear dirt, snakes or spiders, all of which like to infest her aged farmhouse, necessitating a good pair of tongs for extracting the snakes, a flat-bottomed shoe for the spiders, and for the dirt…

Simply put, she’s learned that some things aren’t worth fretting about! If you laugh in the face of dust and love to talk about God, men, romance, great shoes and wonderful food, feel free to contact Ruth through her website, www.ruthloganherne.com.

His Montana Sweetheart

Ruth Logan Herne

www.millsandboon.co.uk

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall

I know even as also I am known.

— 1 Corinthians 13:12

To my beloved father-in-law, Floyd “Sonny” Blodgett, a gentle man of few words and a loving heart. Dad suffered through the years of Alzheimer’s slow decline with his family surrounding him. Dad, your example of handling whatever came your way has passed on through multiple generations. God truly blessed us with your kind, quiet presence. May you rest in the peace and light of God’s eternal love.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Catching His Heart Olivia Franklin suspected coming home to Jasper Gulch would mean eventually running into her first love, Jack McGuire. But she’s adamant that she not repeat the mistakes that led to her broken heart. Yet from the moment she lays eyes on her former sweetheart, her resistance begins to crumble. The tall, handsome rancher made his choice all those years ago. He’d gone from the baseball diamond to a high-rise office and finally back home to the Double M—all without her. And no amount of centennial nostalgia can change the past. But the future is another story, and the pretty historian is about to get a lesson in romance from the lonesome cowboy she will never forget! Big Sky Centennial: A small town rich in history…and love.

Introduction Batter up! The Jasper Gulch Centennial Committee Invites You to Join In Some Old-Fashioned Fun as We Welcome Back Our Hometown Heroes for an Old Timers’ Baseball Game… Montana Style! There’s nothing like baseball in Montana. Is it the fresh mountain air? The cowboy mentality? No one knows for certain. But it’s no wonder the Jasper Gulch Old Timers have captured our hearts! And no two hearts could be more entwined than Livvie Franklin’s and Jack McGuire’s. Though it’s been eight years since these former high school sweethearts have laid eyes on each other, something tells us Livvie has never gotten over her Jasper Gulch all-star. Can the centennial celebration help them turn back time? Join us in the bleachers as we root them on! * * * Big Sky Centennial: A small town rich in history…and love.

About the Author RUTH LOGAN HERNE Born into poverty, Ruth puts great stock in one of her favorite Ben Franklinisms: “Having been poor is no shame. Being ashamed of it is.” With God-given appreciation for the amazing opportunities abounding in our land, Ruth finds simple gifts in the everyday blessings of smudge-faced small children, bright flowers, freshly baked goods, good friends, family, puppies and higher education. She believes a good woman should never fear dirt, snakes or spiders, all of which like to infest her aged farmhouse, necessitating a good pair of tongs for extracting the snakes, a flat-bottomed shoe for the spiders, and for the dirt… Simply put, she’s learned that some things aren’t worth fretting about! If you laugh in the face of dust and love to talk about God, men, romance, great shoes and wonderful food, feel free to contact Ruth through her website, www.ruthloganherne.com .

Title Page His Montana Sweetheart Ruth Logan Herne www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. — 1 Corinthians 13:12

Dedication To my beloved father-in-law, Floyd “Sonny” Blodgett, a gentle man of few words and a loving heart. Dad suffered through the years of Alzheimer’s slow decline with his family surrounding him. Dad, your example of handling whatever came your way has passed on through multiple generations. God truly blessed us with your kind, quiet presence. May you rest in the peace and light of God’s eternal love.

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

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Of all the town meetings, in all the world...

The altered line from Casablanca knotted Livvie Franklin’s heart.

Jack. Here. Now.

She drew a breath that stuck square in her throat.

Tall. Still lanky, but with a shoulder breadth that made folks take notice, and from the appreciative glances of the single women in the room—and a couple of older mothers, too—she wasn’t the only one who had noticed.

Green eyes. Brown hair, shaggy, in need of a cut, but she understood the rigors of ranching, and Jack had lost his mother a few years before. Now he and his dad had house chores on top of everything else in their short Big Sky growing season.

She knew she’d run into him sooner or later. In a town the size of Jasper Gulch no one stayed hidden forever.

But she’d dismissed the possibility at a council meeting about the Old-timers’ Baseball Game. Jack had shied away from all things baseball since he blew his arm out over eight years before. He decided then to shrug off ball-playing and his girl—her—as anathema.