Colorado Cabin in the Pines (Peakview series Book 3)
Page 16
And maybe she should carry some more romance novels, ones featuring sexy, rugged cowboys. She laughed to herself. She had never been one for reading romances. She was a realist. Her life had been hard, and men who crossed her path generally were huge disappointments. She didn’t believe in happily ever after. Not since Sophie’s low life father left before his daughter turned one. Nope, the love of her life had been her daughter for fourteen years, and she intended to keep it that way. On the other hand, it was important to Sophie that she share in her new found love of horses, just like they’d shared everything since the child’s birth, so she supposed she could spend a little time with an attractive cowboy to make that happen.
She was so engrossed in her book orders, that she barely heard the front door open a couple hours later.
“Melanie? You here?” Penny Anderson’s cheerful voice called out.
“Here in back. I’ll be right out.”
When she entered the main store, Penny had already taken off her coat and sat down at one of the round reading tables. “What brings you to town on this cold morning?”
“I needed some girl talk. Do you have some coffee?”
“Let me grab you a cup.” She poured one for her friend and freshened her own. It wasn’t as good as Violet’s, but a pot keep her going throughout the morning. Although ten years her junior, Penny had rapidly become her best friend in Peakview.
“How are the wedding plans coming along?”
Penny had recently returned to her home town and fallen back in love with her high school sweetheart, Luke.
“Good, I guess. My mom and June are all over it. We’ve set a date. December 31st. Mark your calendar.”
“I’m so excited for you. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.”
“Actually that’s one of the reasons I stopped by. I was wondering if you would be my maid of honor?”
“Really?” Tears formed in the corner of Melanie’s eyes. “I’m flattered, but don’t you have a friend from high school you’d rather ask?”
“There’s not anyone I’m that close to anymore. You were such a big help when I was trying to figure out how I felt about Luke. I can’t tell you how much it helped. I’d be honored if you would stand up with me.”
“In that case, I accept.” She walked over and hugged her friend.
“So what’s new on the Hank front?”
Melanie had almost forgotten that she’d brought up Hank to her friend. “Funny you should ask.” Penny laughed as she recounted the events of the morning in all their glorious detail.
“So you are going to take him up on his offer of riding lessons, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know. Horses scare me. What if I’m awful at it?”
“It’s easy, you’ll see. I bet you’ll love it. There’s nothing like the feel of the wind in your face on a ride. Of course, I was riding before I learned to walk, but you can learn. I’d teach you myself, but something tells me you’ll have more fun with Hank.” Penny winked. “What’s stopping you? I’m sure he’ll take it nice and slow at first until you get the hang of it.”
Melanie felt her checks warm as her mind immediately turned to other things she wanted Hank to take nice and slow. She hoped Penny hadn’t noticed.
“You’re right. I’m going to do it. But he’s right, I need the proper attire, maybe some cowboy boots and cute new jeans?”
“Now you’re talking about something I can help you with. I’m headed down to Fort Collins tomorrow to start looking at dresses for the wedding. Can you close the store for the day? We can kill two birds with one stone. You can help me with ideas for bridesmaid dresses, and I’ll help you find some killer boots.”
“It’s a deal.” As much as she loved living in Peakview, she had to admit that a day back in civilization sounded fun. The next time Hank saw her in boots, she hoped he’d be more impressed.
Acknowledgements:
I would like to thank all of my fellow author friends who are taking this amazing journey called writing with me. As always, I thank my critique partner, Cassidy Jo Wells, who has spent countless hours reading and rereading my writing and helping to make it better. I’d like to thank my friend L.A. Sartor for so much great advise on the self-publishing world, and for helping me to take my photography and make it into amazing book covers. I thank everyone in the Front Range Christian Fiction Writers group for all of your friendship, advice and encouragement. It is such an inspiration to be surrounded by such talented authors. Thanks Malia Martin for being willing to read critique all of my books, and to everyone else who read all the different versions of this book and gave me feedback. Thanks to my new editor, Susan Spiker, for polishing my work. And thanks to my wonderful daughters for all of your support and encouragement along the way. You both inspire me each and every day.
FROM THE AUTHOR
Dear Readers, I hope you enjoyed reading this story. I was born and raised in Indiana and Ohio. I attended Bowling Green State University and law school at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska. In addition to writing romance, I practice family law in Fort Collins, Colorado. I have three grown children, a son and two daughters, and three granddaughters.
Colorado Cabin in the Pines is the third book in my series of novels centered in the small town of Peakview, Colorado. The fourth book in the series, Colorado Wrangler, will be released in summer 2016. I have published several short stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul books. My latest story can be found in Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Joy of Less.
When not practicing law or writing, I enjoy gardening, long walks with my Shetland Sheepdog, Laddie, and spending time with my children and grandchildren. I enjoy all kinds of sporting events. I am an avid football fan and love to cheer on the Broncos, the CSU Rams, and the Huskers. My passion is working with high school youth - as a youth group leader at my church, a coach of a high school Mock Trial Team, and volunteering with high school Cross Country and Track programs. I’d love to hear from you! Jill
You can reach me at:
Email : jillhaymaker@aol.com
Website and blog at: www.jillhaymaker.com
Twitter @jillLHaymaker or on Instagram at: JillHaymaker
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If you’d like to receive my monthly newsletter, please click the link on my webpage.
Table of 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
Acknowledgements:
FROM THE AUTHOR