Montana Born and Bred
Page 1
Table of Contents
Copyright
Other Works by Hildie McQueen
Dedication
Montana Born
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Montana Bred
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
About the Clinic in the Gambia
Note from the Author
Montana Born & Bred
Hildie McQueen
Pink Door Publishing
Contents
Copyright
Other Works by Hildie McQueen
Dedication
Montana Born
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Montana Bred
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
About the Clinic in the Gambia
Note from the Author
Pink Door Publishing
Cover Artist: Wicked Smart Design
Editor: Scott Moreland
Copyright Hildie McQueen 2017
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without written permission. This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to your retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
Created with Vellum
Other Works by Hildie McQueen
(In reading order)
Contemporary Western Romance
Montana Bachelor
Montana Boss
Montana Beau
Montana Born
Montana Bred
Fords of Nashville
Even Heroes Cry
The Last Hero
Standalone
Her Hero
Her Lawman
Cowboy in Paradise
This story is dedicated to a wonderful bunch of crazy friends, who are there for each other through thick and thin.
Janet, Elle, Stacia, Jennifer, Sharon, Margie, Deana, Lori and Sandy.
I Love you gals!!!
Montana Born
Montana Born
One
Sullivan Cole ignored the woman’s pointed look. Although alluring, hair askew after making love, he wouldn’t allow her to guilt him into spending more time together.
Her pout more annoying than sexy, she patted the bed. “Come back to bed Sully. Bet I can change your mind about spending the weekend together.”
“I have a business meeting out of town. I can’t stay any longer.” He bent over the bed and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I had a great time.”
“Is that all it was? Does this mean you’re about to pull the famous Sullivan Cole fuck and disappear?”
It was hard not to show frustration, but somehow he restrained the urge to snap at her. “I told you from the beginning. No strings, just sex and a good time. You agreed.”
“Fine. Whatever.” She crossed her arms looking anything but fine. “Hope your business meeting goes well...if that’s really what you’re doing.”
He didn’t owe her an explanation. Although she’d agreed to a casual hook up, it was obviously time for him to move on. “Yeah. I’ll see you around.” Pulling on his shirt and not bothering to button it up, he left the bedroom and walked straight out the front door of her ostentatiously decorated house.
The sound of the car’s engine soothed his annoyance just enough and Sully was able to drive away without leaving any rubber in his wake.
That a woman changed her mind was not surprising. The signs were all there. Invitations to gatherings with friends and even hinting at holidays with her parents. It wasn’t that he was against a monogamous relationship, more that it was not the time and he’d not met the right woman yet.
If that special one didn’t show up, it didn’t bother him much. Hell life on his own was nice. Except for the constant badgering from his mother to get married and have kids. Kids...yep, that was the main reason he even considered getting married. He wanted children.
Sully let out a huff aggravated at where his thoughts had wandered. Growing up, a true cowboy listens to his elder’s advice, treats his horse well and no matter what, respects a woman. All other things that come after fall naturally into place.
At least that’s the way Sully was raised. Although he’d been honest from the start with his latest lover, it did not excuse leaving her upset. He pushed the call button on the cell phone.
Her voice was hopeful. “Sully?”
“I want to repeat to you I had a nice time. You’re a great woman. Just understand I’m not the man for you. I’m not ready for any relationship right now.”
“Okay.”
“Friends?”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
A smile curved his lips. Women were interesting and delightful creatures. He hooked a sharp left onto the highway and headed toward his late uncle’s land in Alder Gulch.
There were few vehicles on the open road so it took a bit over an hour to arrive at the gates marking the property. He got out and opened the gates and drove through to a familiar spot.
At the top of a hill, he pulled his Jeep to a stop and got out. The expanse of Cole land stretched as far as he could see. It was beautiful.
He took out his cell and called his father.
“Hey Dad. I’ve changed my mind about a hundred times. Not sure what to do. What do you think about the offer from that corporation about this land?”
His father was straight to the point. “Do what feels right. If you sell the land, I trust it’s for a good reason. Otherwise, it’s not worth giving up a piece of our heritage.”
After ending the call, Sully leaned back on the hood of his dark green Jeep allowing the serenity of the surrounding landscape to engulf him. Too many years had passed since he’d stayed for an extended period in Alder Gulch, Montana. The last time he’d visited, it had been just for a couple days to help his uncle with the sale of horses. The
next time he visited, it was for Henry Cole’s funeral.
This afternoon however, there wasn’t much to do but wait for the representatives of the company offering to buy the land to arrive. The quietness allow for time to absorb the surroundings, give the land the opportunity to speak to him.
Time stood still on Cole lands it seemed. The natural beauty of the property never faded, but remained enthralling, picture perfect even. In over a hundred and fifty years, that his family owned the vast acreage little had changed. His uncle had been proud of that fact. Sully wondered if perhaps, change was inevitable.
The century-old cabins remained on the property. The remnants of stables and fencing survived as enduring reminders of generations of Coles who’d always lived on the land and a testament to good workmanship.
In the distance just past a large pond, there was a newer structure. It was his uncle’s log cabin, a stark contrast to the older dwellings. The home blended well with the surroundings, two stories tall with a beautiful rustic yet modern interior.
His uncle, a wealthy rancher had ensured the property remained maintained while at the same time the beauty of the land untouched.
Many a summer as a child he and his siblings had returned there along with cousins for family gatherings or to spend time with his aunt and uncle who doted on children.
As they’d grown into adulthood, and their uncle became too old to keep up with the upkeep of so many acres, a company had been hired to maintain the grounds near the older man’s cabin and to see after the horses.
Through the years, the rest of the Coles spread all over Montana and Wyoming and continued on with their lives, rarely returning to Alder Gulch.
The only ones who returned to Alder Gulch on a regular basis were his younger brother Bennett, their cousin Regina and he.
To be fair, they were the only single ones and could afford the time better than the married ones, who were preoccupied with children, spouses and jobs.
Just a few months earlier, Regina, who’s only daughter left for college, moved into a house on the property to keep an eye on their uncle.
Therefore, it was not a surprise to anyone when upon his uncle’s death Henry Cole bequeathed the land to the trio.
With a deep breath, Sully looked up to the clear blue sky in hopes of an answer to the reason he waited. A buyer offered them a ridiculously large amount of money for the land. Although none of them had plans to live on the land permanently he, his brother and cousin Regina had discussed the possibility, while at the same time agreeing it seemed wrong to let it go.
Sully’s brother and cousin decided to leave the ultimate decision to him. As if he had a clue what was best.
“What am I going to do?” he said out loud still keeping his eyes skyward.
The sound of the wind rustling leaves in the nearby trees was the only reply to his question.
Sullivan kicked at a rock. “Yeah, I don’t blame you for not helping me out right now,” he muttered figuring God had better things to do at the moment.
There were too many changes at once. His uncle’s death, the offer and on top of that, he was in the middle of purchasing a small company to bring under his own larger ranching supply Corporation.
It weighed heavy on him, this turn of events forcing him to make decisions that would affect the surrounding property and future generations of Coles.
A workaholic by nature, he enjoyed a simple lifestyle of occasional dates, motorcycle rides when not at the office. His mind went back to the woman he’d spent the night with. Although beautiful and a businesswoman, he’d wondered if after a few dates, he’d feel more than attraction. Being honest with himself, he knew it would not develop to more from the beginning.
If and when he settled, it would be with a woman chosen carefully. At thirty-five Sully had plenty of time to work out his personal life while carving a successful career in the ranching industry. He huffed, not sure why his mind had once again wandered into the annoying territory of women.
A truck came into view. The silver Ford F250 easily traversed the bumps of the unpaved road to where he waited. At once tension returned to his neck and shoulders and Sully let out a long breath. The corporate types would have to be great salesmen to convince him to sell the land. Although he was pretty sure his mind was made up not to sell, since his brother had arranged the meeting, Sully decided to go along with it.
A sense of calm enveloped him, it was almost as if everything became clearer, the air fresher. He took a deep breath and glanced up at the sky.
Whatever was about to happen could change his life.
For whatever reason at the moment, he didn't consider the thought odd. His mind was pretty much made up and the answer to the people who’d just arrived set in his mind.
The land would not be sold.
However, he'd still give them time to spill whatever dribble they'd prepared. It was only fair.
Slowing to a crawl, the truck finally stopped a few feet from his own vehicle. A slender man in a tailored navy blue suit and red power tie emerged from the driver’s side. He rounded the truck and opened the passenger seat to a woman. Both wore sunglasses reminding Sully of movie secret service types.
He blew out a breath and held back the urge to shake his head at the showmanship. In worn jeans and a plaid shirt, he could easily buy the company they worked for out from under the suits now walking toward him. They’d probably rented the truck, as their Prius would not make it over the bumps in the landscape.
Smile plastered on his face, the man lifted his right hand in greeting. He couldn’t have looked more out of his element than a dog in a cat show.
The woman, however, caught his attention. She wore a pale blue pantsuit and low heels. Her long, blonde hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and she carried a pair of binoculars in one hand and a portfolio of sorts in the other. With the composure of someone who rarely lost at anything, her head moved side to side as she took in the landscape.
“Mr. Cole,” said the approaching man, holding out his hand. “Gary Burch of Burch and Tyler.”
The woman came to a stop beside her partner. “Good morning, Mr. Cole, I’m Elle Tyler.” He took her hand in his, noting the sparkle of a pink rhinestone bracelet peeking from her long sleeve. Interesting.
“Call me Sully.” He lifted his sunglasses to meet the reflection in theirs. “Should we get down to business?”
Elle was taken aback first by the breathtaking beauty of the Cole lands as the sun burned the late early morning mist off showcasing the hills and valleys covered in tall grasses and gathering of trees. And secondly, the just as beautiful view of Sullivan Cole’s unusual eye color. She’d never seen a blue shade like his. They had to be contacts. No one had turquoise eyes. Not that she knew of anyway.
“Miss Tyler?”
Crap, he had been talking and here she was drooling over the color of the man’s eyes. “Yes,” she replied, hoping it was the correct answer.
When he made his way to the passenger side of the Jeep, she realized he planned to drive her and Gary around.
She followed and climbed into the front passenger seat. Leaving Gary to take the back seat, which she knew he hated.
Prone to carsickness, he always demanded on driving when they went anywhere.
To be fair, Gary was a good business partner, although at times a bit over the top. Nevertheless, the man was persistent. He rarely gave up on business deals, which made him the perfect balance to her “stand back and allow potential customers time to think things through” approach.
Sully drove slowly for a few minutes, purposely allowing them to look around at their leisure. With Regina Cole’s permission, they'd been there several times already to scope it out. He had to know that. However, whatever the purpose of this tour was, she’d wait and see what he’d say.
Gary, of course, could not remain silent. “Mr. Cole...err, Sully, Elle and I have been out here several times with your cousin Regina’s permission, of course. Have to say
, the beauty of this property impresses me. Although there is plenty of land out here in these parts, none compare to yours.” Her partner launched into the practiced speech they'd written with her interjecting information every so often.
The silence of the man in the seat next to her was intriguing. Relaxing back into the seat, she lowered her sunglasses to get a better look at a field of blue flowers.
Following her line of vision, Sully stopped and looked through the windshield. “My relatives, dating back to 1820s are buried there.” He paused before continuing. “Not sure why the blue flowers always bloom here, but they have for over a hundred years. There are references about them in old journals.”
He removed his sunglasses and slid them into his front chest pocket. His gaze was fixed on the tombstones. “I came out here yesterday on horseback just to be sure I was making the right decision. I have not agreed with the sale of this property since the beginning. I am not sure why my cousin and brother arranged for a meeting. I can’t sell this land to you. I'll buy my brother and my cousin out before I allow it to be ruined.”
“With all due respect,” Gary blurted, “we’re talking about a lot of money. Ten million. A development of the size we’re talking about is monumental. It has never been done.” Unfortunately, Gary’s voice had reached the high pitch of desperation, so Elle cut in.
“Sully, I understand your attachment to your land. I don’t foresee a problem working around this portion. I can assure you that your ancestor’s remains won’t be disturbed.”
His astonishing eyes met hers. “No you can’t. Once the deal is signed, there is little you can assure me of, Miss Tyler.”
Unable to keep eye contact, she looked to the field. There had to be a way around it. Unfortunately, the property project had to include this portion, as it was located almost in dead center of the planned development.