Montana Heat

by Nia Aria

  Montana Heat

  Colton Creek Ranch - Book 1

  Nia Aria

  Copyright © 2021 by Nia Aria

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  About This Book

  Ashlynn recently graduated from culinary school and is desperate for a change as she’s outgrown her sleepy little town. She stumbles upon an ad for a chef’s position at a working cattle ranch in Montana and thinks it could be the ticket to launching her career. Despite being young and inexperienced at life on her own, Ashlynn is determined to take on the challenge and applies. When he finally arrives at Colton Creek, she discovers more than just state of the art cooking appliances. Can Ashlynn take on a job in a new town and keep the fires from raging out of control in his kitchen?

  * * *

  Ridge Colton has given up on trying to find a woman and is instead dedicating his life to his family’s ranch, Colton Creek. He spends his days tending to their cattle and his nights alone, giving in to the notion that love probably isn’t in the cards for him. Ridge comes home from a cattle drive one evening only to discover Ashlynn in his kitchen, and he instantly thinks her being there is a prank orchestrated by his brothers. Once Ridge discovers the truth, he decides he’ll do whatever it takes to make Ashlynn stay, and he wants to sample much more than just her tasty dishes.

  * * *

  Fate brings these two together, and their instant, scorching attraction to each other is strong enough to light the pages on fire.

  * * *

  Warning – This book is extra spicy. Have fire extinguisher at the ready.

  * * *

  Colton Creek Ranch –

  Gauge and Jasmine’s Story

  Acknowledgments

  This book is dedicated to all my friends and family.

  * * *

  Even though my children are too young to read this, they allowed me the time needed to follow my dream. I love you 3,000.

  * * *

  Bruce, thank you for taking care of me when I needed it the most.

  * * *

  Mom and dad, I love you. All those years of reading and yelling for Silvio to get out of my room finally paid off.

  * * *

  To my ride or die, Star, it’s hard to believe this all started with The Raven and the Rose, eh?

  * * *

  Lastly, to my editor and amazing author, @authorcelestejones, thank you for all the homework!

  * * *

  © Nia Aria 2020

  Contents

  1. Ashlynn

  2. Ashlynn

  3. Ridge

  4. Ashlynn

  5. Ridge

  6. Ridge

  7. Ashlynn

  8. Ridge

  9. Ashlynn

  10. Ridge

  11. Ridge

  12. Ashlynn

  13. Ridge

  14. Ashlynn

  15. Ridge

  16. Ashlynn

  17. Ridge

  18. Ashlynn

  19. Ashlynn

  20. Ridge

  21. Ridge

  22. Ashlynn

  23. Ridge

  24. Ashlynn

  25. Ashlynn

  26. Ridge

  27. Ashlynn

  Epilogue - Nine months later

  Epilogue Two - Five years later

  Preview Montana Blaze

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  One

  Ashlynn

  Fucking hot. That's how I feel as the scorching Montana sun beats down on the back of my thighs while looking under the hood of my car. I'm pretty sure I'm flashing the world my goods in these shorts, but I don't need to worry about that right now because there isn't a soul to be found for miles. I have been bent over my engine for hours trying to figure out why steam is billowing out.

  C'mon Ashlynn, you can do this. Just think.

  I am stranded on the side of the road attempting to recall all the things my father had taught me about what to do if I ever had car trouble. Too bad I was barely sixteen years old at the time we had that discussion and was probably texting my friends while he was talking away. Despite numerous attempts to call for a tow, I am now trapped in the middle of freaking nowhere without a single bar of reception.

  Maybe I shouldn't have bought the cheapest piece of crap phone they had.

  I am on a tight budget hence the knock-off iPhone and now seemingly unreliable ride. It's far from a sleek new vehicle, but she is my first car and I love her.

  I am now leaning on said late model Toyota Camry. My dad had helped me purchase it when I received my driver's license. I was so excited to take off on what would be our first big road trip. I even made a kickass playlist for our maiden voyage. Although the paint was a little faded in spots, she has been running like a champ, that is until today.

  I look down at my phone once more praying to the cell tower gods that I could get at least one measly bar, but nothing. I am pretty sure I remember losing service just outside of Grass Range, Montana.

  I am supposed to be at Colton Creek Ranch by five this evening and it is almost that time now. I had spoken with and emailed Norma Ray numerous times over the last week. Hopefully, she knows that I'm not the kind of person who would just flake. I'd committed to interviewing for a full-time position at the ranch she has worked at for decades, and the odds of my making it as promised are looking pretty bleak. I cannot afford to screw up this opportunity. Landing a sous-chef position straight out of culinary school was rare, an offer for a lead chef's position was a freaking unicorn.

  Maybe she'll send someone to look for me.

  There is so much riding on this new venture in my life. I can't go back home and throw in the towel. I need to prove to myself that I am capable of living life elsewhere without the help of my family. It's almost as if I've outgrown the sleepy little town of Payson. I believe that fate landed my eyes on the ad for the chef's position at the ranch that day, I could feel it in my soul. Norma Ray and I had clicked on another level, she seemed so excited and hopeful that I'd connect with the Coltons just as she had all those years ago. Norma Ray even shared a few stories with me about life on the ranch and the Coltons seem like such a loving family.

  I'd scored this interview fresh out of culinary school and I so desperately want this to work out. This is my first crack at independence, and it is looking as though I am going to fail miserably. I stare down the desolate fields full of tumbleweeds and hope that someone, and not a serial killer, will drive by on this all but deserted highway and help me.

  Two

  Ashlynn

  I had left my little town of Payson, Arizona which is a smallish city just outside of Sedona, bright and early yesterday morning. Dad, Grandma, and I hugged and cried as I got in my car to head off on what would be my very first adventure. My grandmother had hoped that I might stay on and continue to work at her diner, but I craved something different and felt I was destined for so much more. She is the one who told me to follow my dream of becoming a chef and despite wishing I’d stay; she supported my decision to leave wholeheartedly.

  One day I was looking at a job network site that had all kinds of openings for different levels of chefs all over the country. It was there I found the ad that captured my attention.

  Lead Chef Wanted. Large cattle ranch in Valentine, MT in need of a full-time chef. You will need to cook hearty breakfasts, lunches, and dinners four to five days a week for 20-30 ranch hands Monday through Friday. Great pay and benefits with on-site housing included. Please send a current resume to include cooking experience fo
r large groups. We will contact you if we'd like to have you come out for a week to see if it's a good fit.

  Fast forward a week later and I had set out on my adventure to Valentine, MT. I left the crappy little motel that I had stayed the night at just outside of Ogden, UT at six a.m. thinking I'd have plenty of time to make it to the ranch by five p.m. as promised. I recall looking at my GPS and I was about an hour from the ranch when my car gave out on me.

  It is now nearing dusk and I am starting to worry. I can try to walk to the ranch, but it would probably take me an entire day to get there. Should I bring my stuff with me or leave it behind? The last thing I need is some lowlife stealing my four-hundred-dollar Wusthof knife set that my grandmother and father had surprised me with at graduation. I'm certain they had both saved up for months. I also had packed all my clothes and personal items in case I did land the job, that way I didn't have to go back or have to deal with trying to ship everything.

  Just as I am about to leave all the items behind and hoof it to the ranch, I see an old truck approaching in the distance. I place my hands above my eyes as I protect them from the fading sunlight so I can get a better look at who is heading my way. The truck gets closer and then slows to a stop alongside my car. An older gentleman leans over the center console and rolls down the passenger window of the rusted Ford.

  "Looks like yer engine overheated there, young lady," he says with a slow drawl and a friendly toothless grin.

  "Yes, I'm not sure what happened. All of a sudden, the temperature gauge started rising and I had to pull over. She was running well until now," I reply. "I tried calling for help but I don't have any reception," I continue.

  "Ya must be a city gal." He chuckles "You won't get any service out here, although you might be lucky to find a few spots that'll work in Valentine," he replies.

  "That's where I am headed," I exclaim

  "Names Beauford, but nobody ever called me that but my mama, I go by Beau. What are you doing heading to Valentine?" Beau asks as he spits into what appears to be a can of Coke.

  "Nice to meet you, Beau, I'm Ashlynn. I'm on my way to an interview, well I was. I had plans to meet Norma Ray at five this evening at Colton Creek Ranch. I applied for the chef's position," I tell him.

  "Norma Ray is retiring? No way in hell that woman is going to leave that ranch and ride off into the sunset. She's raised them Colton boys since they were in diapers," Beau informs me as he pulls a bandana from his back pocket and wipes his forehead.

  "I tell ya what, my Maddi would skin my hide if I left you out here to fend for yourself. Well, that and this here is bear country. Not safe for a little whisp like yourself to be out here alone. My Maddi and I live about eleven miles out past the Colton Ranch. I'd be happy to take ya,".

  I quickly weigh my options out in my mind. Stay here and potentially be eaten by a wild animal or take my chances with this seemingly sweet old man who appears to love his Maddi.

  "I would love a ride” I quickly reply, happy for the help. "Let me get my things out of my car,".

  Thank you, sweet baby Jesus. I just might make it to this interview after all.

  I head to my car to grab my things, and as I pull out my bags, one of my favorite photos falls from my visor and lands on my seat. It's a picture of me, Dad, and Grandma at my graduation from culinary school. I had asked one of my classmates to snap a photo of us. They were my inspiration to pursue culinary school and my biggest fans. I know I wouldn't have made it this far in life without them and I see this as a sign that they are still cheering for me. I take the photo and place it in my purse. As I turn from my car, I see Beau ambling out of the old truck and I notice his limp.

  "Got this here hitch in my giddyup from my ranching days. My Maddi made me retire after that sumbitch Toledo threw me and I shattered my hip. That was the end of that," says Beau as he tosses my duffle bags in the back of his rusted pickup. “I’m sure one of the Colton boys will have a ranch hand come pick up your car tomorrow and take it to the local mechanic. No need to worry yer pretty little head,"

  I'm not sure who or what Toledo is, but I hope like hell we don't cross paths with him. I've had enough roadblocks on this trip, no need to add hip shattering to the list. I climb into the old truck and silently pray that being nearly three hours late will not cause me to lose this chance of a lifetime.

  Three

  Ridge

  "I put an ad online to find a full-time chef," my younger brother nonchalantly informs me as we are going over happenings at the ranch.

  "You did what!" I shout as Gauge opens his fool mouth and tells me what he had already done. "Why in the hell would you go and do a thing like that? We don't need another cook around here," I tell him as I cross my arms on my wide chest and prepare for another standoff with him. Gauge is notorious for not discussing things with the family before pulling the trigger.

  "Ridge, have you seen how tired Norma Ray has been these last few months? She's seventy-three years old for Christ's sake! Do you want to work her into the grave?" He stands to his full height from the chair and asks me, his fists balled at his sides as if he’s pissed enough to take a swing at me.

  I flinch at that last remark. "Of course I don't want to do that, you idiot. You could have at least talked to me about this first before you just went and did it," I say, confident in my position that there was always the chance that we might not have needed a new chef.

  "When should I have talked to you about it, Ridge? You've been gone the last three weeks moving that herd of cattle to the south pasture. I still don't get why you had to go with the hands on that last run anyway," he tells me, insinuating that I don't know what I'm doing.

  "Which is exactly why I am in charge of moving the herds on this 200,000-acre ranch, Gauge! You just don't get it. Those hands make one rookie mistake on a cattle drive and it could be the end of 'em and I couldn't live with that guilt. I don't question your fucking job, don't question mine,” I shout angrily as I pound my fist on the massive farm table, the same one that has been in our kitchen for well over thirty years.

  "Fine, take care of this on your own. If anything happens to Norma Ray, it's on you. Good luck," Gauge yells as he tosses one of the chairs to the side in anger. "I'm going home to my dog, at least he appreciates what I do for him. Oh, and good luck feeding the ranch hands tomorrow. Norma Ray has a doctor’s appointment and won’t be back until lunch. I have a Cattlemen’s meeting and fly out late tonight,” he hollers back as he storms out of the house slamming the heavy door behind him, the noise echoing loudly in the foyer.

  I head upstairs to my bedroom, glad to finally be home from moving that herd over to the new pasture these last few weeks. The river works ok to wash the day's dust and dirt off, but there is nothing like taking a hot shower after coming home from a cattle drive.

  I make my way to my shower with its five spray heads and think about just how I am going to broach this issue with Norma Ray. She's been like a second mother to us since we were in diapers. She loves to remind us about how she used to chase us all around the house trying to get us to settle down for supper.

  Norma Ray is a wonderful cook, but Gauge is right, she's getting up there in age and deserves the help. I was three years old when she first started working with our family, Gauge was two and Gunner was an infant. Dad saw how hard farm life was on mom with three kids in tow, so he hired Norma Ray to take over the cooking for the ranch hands. I'll talk with Gauge tomorrow and let him know I agree with bringing on an additional chef. I probably could have handled that situation a little differently but hearing that news when I first walked in from being gone so long rubbed me the wrong way. Now I’m wondering just how the fuck I’m going to feed twenty-seven hungry ranch hands tomorrow.

  Four

  Ashlynn

  Beau drives me to the ranch as promised. He takes a right through a beautiful pair of iron gates and I couldn't be more impressed with the entrance. Colton Creek Ranch is proudly displayed above the magnificent arch.


  "You sure this is the right place?" I cautiously ask Beau.

  "Yep, this here ranch has been Colton land for nearly one hundred years. Two of the Colton boys have homes up on the other side of that hill. Ridge lives up at the main house since his folks moved to Billings a few years ago. Norma Ray has a cabin on the property but it's a few miles down the road from the main house," he replies.

  Inside I'm mad at myself for being so late even though it technically wasn't my fault. I look down at my phone and see that it was nearly eight p.m.

  What a great first impression.

  "I'll drop you off here at the main house," Beau says.

  "That would be wonderful, thank you,"

  After we make our way along a tree-lined road, we pull up to the biggest log cabin I have ever seen in my entire life. It boasts a wide wraparound porch with beautiful rocking chairs that look like they had to be handmade and a huge timberline roof with stunning exposed beams. There is also a stunning rock-lined chimney and what appears to be a six-car garage complete with RV storage.