Kindle Edition
Amazon
Cheryl Wright Author
Category:
Romance
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN-10: 1978026064
Type: Fiction
Pages: 96
Copyright: November 7, 2017
ISBN-13: 9781978026063
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
A dark secret has Grace Black leaving a successful bull riding career to visit her best friend at River Valley, Montana.
Jordon Callahan is a veterinarian who lives for his work. After being dumped on his wedding day, he vows never to let a woman get close enough to hurt him again.
A dark secret has Grace Black leaving a successful bull riding career to visit her best friend at River Valley, Montana.Jordon Callahan is a veterinarian who lives for his work. After being dumped on his wedding day, he vows never to let a woman get close enough to hurt him again. Can they overcome Grace’s secret and his sense of betrayal to find happiness together?
Excerpt
It had been a long night.
Jordon Callahan had been called to a help deliver a foal. Normally it would be a simple task, and the ranch owner would handle it himself.
But the foal was a breach, and that complicated things.
At one stage it looked like they might lose the foal, or the mare, or both. He was determined it wouldn’t happen on his watch. As she lay on the hay in her stall, the mare kicked frantically, tossing her head from side to side, making strained noises.
He’d managed to keep her calm early on, but as the hours rolled on, and it got into the early hours of the morning, Jordon knew he was going to have to intervene.
He rolled up his sleeves, donned his long rubber gloves and reached inside the mare, feeling for the foal’s legs. She heaved and kicked at his intrusion, but he finally found the tiny legs, and tugged with all his might.
He slowly but surely pulled the foal out of its mother, then gently laid him on the hay. With the rancher and his wife looking on, they all watched and waited for him to get to his feet. But he didn’t.
Jordon grabbed a towel and began to rub the foal vigorously, hoping to get it moving. He stood the foal, watching for it to support itself.
They all breathed a sigh of relief when the young foal gingerly stood alone. His exhausted mother nudged him with her head, and began to lick him clean from where she lay on the hay.
He sat with mother and foal for the next hour, to ensure the foal was out of danger, sipping coffee offered by the rancher’s wife. He’d need it to drive home safely.
“Thanks Jordon,” the rancher said as he was leaving. “I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t intervened.” He shook Jordon’s hand vigorously, ensuring the vet understood how truly grateful he was.
* * *
Grace Black had no idea what she was going to do.
Out in the middle of nowhere, pulling a horse trailer behind her – complete with horse – and now she was stuck in a ditch.
She was doing perfectly fine until she took that last turn. She must have closed her eyes only momentarily, but it was enough to send her off the road.
She should have stayed in the motel she passed a few hours back, but didn’t want to leave her horse alone outside. Besides, she was determined to reach her destination by early morning.
She hadn’t seen her best friend Missy Callahan for many months, long before Missy’s wedding. She was so bummed she couldn’t go to the wedding, but she was on the circuit, and needed to stay the course until it finished for the season. Missy was sad, but totally understood.
Now the grueling season had ended, Grace decided to surprise her friend. She packed up some clothes, loaded her horse Spirit into the horse trailer, and headed for River Valley Montana.
But now here she was. Truck in the ditch, trailer balancing precariously, and no cell reception.
She was so exhausted after the long hours of driving that she couldn’t think straight.
She straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath.
First things first. Get Spirit out of that trailer in case it rolled. That would be heartbreaking, to say the least.
As she reached for the reins, she heard a sound. Not just any sound, but an engine. She breathed a sigh of relief and then began to shake.
Hopefully this motorist could help her out of her predicament. As he rounded the corner he slowed and looked her way. He stared at her truck down in the ditch. Then came to a sudden stop.
“You alright?” He looked as tired as she felt.
She stared him down. Did he really ask her that?
“Sorry, of course you’re not alright. Your truck is down a ditch.” He rubbed his fingers across his stubbled chin, and brushed his straggly blonde hair out of his eyes. “I’ve been up all night,” he offered. “Obviously not thinking straight.” He smiled at her, and his whole appearance changed.
She held tight onto Spirit’s reins in case he was startled by this stranger. “Thanks, I could really do with some help,” she said, walking toward the stranger, her horse trailing behind her.
He extended his hand to her. “Jordon Callahan, local vet,” he said. She savored his big warm hand. Felt safer with him around. She was beginning to get spooked out here alone in the wilderness.
She shook herself. “Callahan? Any relationship to Missy Callahan?” she asked, flabbergasted at this total and utter coincidence.
He chuckled, his eyes opened wide now. “Brother in law. Missy is married to my brother.” He then looked wary. “How do you know Missy?”
She was taken aback. Suddenly he was giving her the inquisition? She held tighter onto Spirit’s reins, wondering if she was doing the right thing telling this stranger anything.
Of course you are! He’s Rory’s brother. She shook herself again.
“Missy and I are friends,” she said. “We worked together at the rodeo.” She rubbed her hands down her jeans clad legs. “For a long time,” she added, as though that explained everything.
He stepped toward her slowly, then leaned down to Spirit’s legs. “Making sure he’s okay,” Jordon told her quietly. “In case he was injured in the accident.”
Her heart softened. Jordon was kind. He was being kind to her, and to her beautiful Chestnut. She was sure everything would be alright.
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