Sadie accepts even though she can’t really cook but this is the perfect answer to her needs right now…and how hard can it be anyway?
These two might be down-on-love but love hasn’t given up on them and the Matchmaking Posse of Mule Hollow has just gotten them in their sights...
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CHASE
New Horizon Ranch: Mule Hollow Book 3
Being a bridesmaid at her best friend’s wedding in the sleepy town of Mule Hollow Texas is the perfect place for Amber Rivers to lay low to avoid a stalker hot on her heels back in Houston. She loves her job and her city life and isn’t looking to stay long in the country-but she’s blindsided by her attraction to the self-assured rancher, Chase Hartley...
Chase agrees to watch over socialite Amber while his partner heads off on his honeymoon but despite the high voltage sparks lighting up between them he has no intention of getting any closer to Amber than necessary to keep her safe. But he soon realizes there’s a whole lot more to Amber than he first assumed and keeping his distance is becoming harder with every passing moment they’re together.
An outside threat plus a little friendly tampering from the meddling Matchmakin’ Posse of Mule Hollow puts this couple on high alert as they try not to fall in love.
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TY
New Horizon Ranch: Mule Hollow Book 4
Coming Soon!
Best friends forever…happily ever that is…Christmas wedding bells will be ringing if the Matchmakin’ Posse of Mule Hollow can get this stubborn cowboy and cowgirl together under the mistletoe for the most anticipated kiss of the holiday.
Will Ty Calder, mild mannered partner in the New Horizon Ranch, get his secret Christmas wish and heal his lonesome heart this season? Find out in Book 4 of the New Horizon Ranch/Mule Hollow series.
Horse trainer Ty Calder did the right thing four years ago and sent his best friend, Mia Shaw off with a hug and best wishes in her quest for her rodeo dreams to come true. But now she’s back for the Christmas holiday and he’s not sure he can send her off again without revealing his true feelings…
Mia is back in Mule Hollow healing up from an injury that could end her run for the championship. But, lately her heart’s not been completely committed to her rodeo dreams and Ty has her thinking he might just be the reason.
Suddenly, tensions are running high between Mia and Ty…sparks are flying and have been spotted by the Matchmakin’ Posse. Now these two are dodging mistletoe, matchmakers and the kiss they’re both fighting to avoid and longing for.
But Ty can’t believe Mia is ready to give up on her dreams when she’s so close…he knows it means more to her than most people realize. No matter how much he wants a life with Mia he refuses to stand in the way of her dreams even if it means losing her forever…
It may take his four partners at the New Horizon Ranch and the town of Mule Hollow to get these two believing Christmas is especially the time that love can conquer all.
This is going to be one Christmas these two will remember forever…
DALTON
New Horizon Ranch: Mule Hollow Book 5
Coming Soon!
Dalton Borne is a cowboy who keeps his past closed up inside. He’s watched his partners at the New Horizon Ranch find love and he’s happy for them and even envious. But his past prevents him from believing he deserves a future that includes a love of his own. But then one stormy night he rescues a very pregnant Rae Anne Tyson from floodwaters and ends up delivering her baby on the side of the road. Suddenly Dalton’s life is turned upside down and no matter what he believes he does or doesn’t deserve—he can’t walk away from helping Rae Anne.
Don’t miss book 5 in the New Horizon Ranch series…Dalton Borne is one Texas cowboy you’ll never forget.
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Excerpt from
RAFE
New Horizon Ranch: Mule Hollow Book 2
Chapter One
A human sized, fluffy, pink-tailed bunny on the side of the road was the last thing Rafe Masterson expected to see on his way to his brother’s engagement party.
He squinted through the sun’s rays, “Surely not—,” he said, driving closer. But, yup, that was definitely the furry, white rump of a bunny bent over the backend of the trunk of the broke down sports car…the critter had a flat tire.
Rafe pressed the brake as the cotton tail wiggled then the bunny popped to a standing position—no bunny head attached. Instead, sun-kissed red hair splayed down the furry back almost touching the cotton tail. Rafe stomped harder on the brake just as bunny-woman propped one oversized rabbit’s foot on the bumper of the car and yanked hard on the spare tire—instantly it popped free sending bunny-woman and the tire she was clutching stumbling backwards like a drunk on Saturday night.
She tripped over her feet and fell forward on top of the tire, her bunny tail flopping in the breeze just as Rafe barreled from his truck and raced to help. All the while thinking his brother Cliff and his ranch partner’s weren’t going to believe his reason for being late to Cliff’s engagement party dinner.
He skidded to a halt just as the redhead rolled off the tire onto her back, bunny feet pointing to the sky by a good eighteen inches. They were huge.
“Are you okay?” He gaped at the massive feet and then the gigantic white belly that sloped to the prettiest—maddest bunny he’d ever seen.
“Oh sure,” she grunted, magnificent green eyes flashing brilliant as a neon sign. “I’m just peachy wonderful.” She struggled to sit up, a scowling.
Rafe dropped to one knee and grabbed hold of her fuzzy arm assisting her in her effort. “I hate to break it to you, but you don’t look too peachy wonderful to me. You look, hotter than a firecracker and a good bit uncomfortable.” “I’ll fix your tire-”
“Thanks, but no thanks,” she snapped. “Contrary to what it looks like I can fix my own tire. I thank you for stopping but I don’t need a man to fix my flat,” she said and added under her breath, “or anything else.”
“Shew, you are miffed about something.” He tugged her to her feet without asking if she needed his help.
“Thanks,” she said then stalked away.
He watched her walk away, her feet—thick and long made splatting sounds on the pavement as she clomped toward her car. “Hey, hold up,” he called, striding to catch her.
She didn’t answer instead she started digging around inside the trunk, that pink bunny tail flopping sassily with every movement.
Whew, she was mad at someone and he’d put money on that someone being a man. “I really don’t mind.” He gave her his best grin and placed one hand on the rim of the trunk. “It would be a pity for you to get your fur all messed up,” he drawled and shot her a smile. “And I hate to mention it, but those feet are probably going to get in your way.”
A funny expression on her face, she looked down at her feet—almost as if she’d forgotten about them. Which was understandable since her belly was so big she couldn’t actually see her feet. How had she driven the car this far?
She bent forward to see more than her toes. “They roll up—”
“Hand it over, Flossy. In Texas when we see a lady or a bunny in distress we stop and help.” Rafe reached for the tire tool and her eyes flashed as his hand wrapped around it. She tugged and held on. He gave her a stern look. “I’m not gonna stand here and watch you pass out changing that tire-or attempting to change it. From the looks of your cheeks you won’t last long.”
“I don’t need you,” she said.
“Yes, you do.” Rafe was known for getting a job done, and he was in serious fault of getting lost in her green eyes and forgetting about everything. “If it helps calm your nerves or anything I’m Rafe Masterson. I’m part owner of New Horizon Ranch and I’m well known in Mule Hollow and the surrounding county. You can trust me.”
“O-kay,” she sighed, looking wea
ry with her pink cheeks and damp skin. “I concede to the cowboy.” She let go of the jack. “And thank you.”
He grinned. He couldn’t help it as he tipped his hat. “A very smart move. And may I ask your name?”
“Sadie. Sadie Archer”
“Nice to meet you, Sadie.” He turned and set to work not wanting her to grab hold of the jack again. His mind was racing with questions about Sadie the bunny but he focused on getting the car jacked up. She moved over to the tire and rolled it his direction. The fact that she was a large white bunny was still making him want to chuckle but his curiosity had blown all out of proportion about why in the world she was in the funny getup.
“Are you sure you have time to do this?” she asked, rolling it to a stop. “You look like you’re all dressed up for a date or something?”
Wondering about her he’d completely forgotten about Maggie and Cliffs’ engagement party. “I’m heading to my brother’s engagement party. But it’ll be fine. I’ll call him and let him know I’m running a little late.”
She bit her lip and pushed her crimson bangs off her moist forehead.
The sun sizzled here in the middle of Texas at four even on a mid-September afternoon and he didn’t know how long she’d been out in it before he arrived.
“That suit has to be smothering you. Can’t you take it off?”
“Um, no. I can’t.” She plucked at a piece of lifeless white belly fur. “Believe me, if I could I would. But I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine. You look like you’re going to fall over any moment from overheating.” He was already damp and he was only wearing a starched western dress shirt and jeans, no fur. Her cheeks were rapidly turning hot pink.
“I said I was fine.”
“Yeah, right.” He could look at her and tell that wasn’t so. Working fast he had the flat tire off and the spare in place within a few minutes. The last thing he needed was for her to pass out on him from heat exhaustion. “Done.” He let the jack down. “Now, jump inside the car and get some air going, cool those pretty cheeks off.”
Looking less perky than she had when he first arrived she didn’t bother to protest. Instead, she trudged over and sank into her seat, that hairy suit had to be getting heavier by the minute in this heat. In a moment he heard the AC blowing full blast. He should have had her sitting in there the whole time he realized or in his truck. But then as stubborn as she seemed he knew she probably wouldn’t have gotten out of the heat while a complete stranger did work for her.
He dusted off his hands, his job was done and he had a party to get to but he didn’t feel comfortable leaving her yet. He rested an arm on the top of the door and stared down at her. “Do you need help?”
“You already helped enou-”
“No, I mean are you in trouble?” he asked, gently. “Something doesn’t seem right about this situation.” And he wasn’t one to beat around the bush. He’d been through a lot in his life and …something about her reminded him of the way his mother used to look. Back when he was a kid and home life was hell. Literally. With a no-count father she’d protected over and over again, he and his twin brother, Cliff, had been forced to endure a home-life that still haunted him in many ways.
He did not take a woman in trouble lightly.
Sadie rubbed her hand on her furry thigh then raised hesitant eyes to his. “I’m fine. Do you know if anyone is hiring in Mule Hollow? I could use a job.”
Rafe’s stomach dipped—his palms dampened looking into those eyes. “Me. I mean our ranch is looking for help.”
She studied him, sparks flashing in her eyes. “Seriously, or are you just saying that?”
“No, I’m not,” he said too quickly, suddenly for some unexplainable reason wanting her to accept his help. “To be honest we don’t have any need for a five-foot-four-inch bunny, but we could sure use a…a cook. Can you cook?”
Her gaze turned probing-or was that skeptical. “It’s not my strong point but I can manage.”
Rafe figured she could have told him she burned toast and scorched eggs and he’d have been fine with that. The fact that she was being honest about her ability was a plus.
“Then you’re hired.”
Sadie couldn’t believe what she was considering. Where had the needing a job bit come from in the first place? Probably because the bunny suit was frying her from the inside out and the sun was baking her brain.
That and the fact that she still hadn’t gotten over the fact that she’d found her fiancé kissing one of her best friends four hours ago.
She closed her eyes and tried to settle the turmoil crashing around inside of her. This had been the worst day of her life and she’d just complicated it more by mentioning she needed a job. But that was the weird part-she didn’t need a job…did she? She just needed time. Time to figure out how she’d made such a mess of her life.
She was a strong, independent woman…so how could she have let her relationship with Andrew go this far in the first place?
Because you were tired of waiting while everyone around you got married and had babies.
She sighed, knowing the voice in her heart spoke the truth.
Her stomach churned looking up at Rafe Masterson. Why had she mentioned this to him, a total stranger? She should just drive on. “Does, being the cook on a ranch come with room and board?” Being a cook on this cowboy’s ranch would give her the time she needed to get her thoughts together and figure out what her next move should be.
No one would look for her on a ranch, would they?
She was a city girl, born and bred. And everyone who knew her understood this.
No, they'd look for her anywhere but on a cattle ranch.
“Sure it does." The amazingly handsome cowboy stared down at her, his smoldering gaze dug into her like the tabs on a lie detector machine-and oddly enough Sadie was tempted to spill her very bad and personal day to the man on the spot.
“Then I’ll take the job.” She held out her hand to shake on the deal and he took hers in his larger one, his calloused palm sent a jolt of awareness through her. But in its shocking wake there was also a sense of reassuring strength in his touch. It resonated from his amazing eyes.
"Good,” he said, continuing to hold her hand for a moment. “If you want to follow me to the ranch I'll show you where you'll be working and I’ll introduce you to my other four partners and my brother."
"Sure, that sounds good." What was she doing? The man was chivalrous, good-looking and thoughtful but still, was she really about to accept a job from a total stranger because her life was in the dumps?
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Excerpt from
CHASE
New Horizon Ranch: Mule Hollow Book 3
Chapter One
The cowboy had her attention the moment he rode the golden horse over the hill. The horse galloped at full speed, cutting across the pasture, with the man riding low in the saddle. Man and horse almost one as they charged down the slope then angled along the fence.
Amber Rivers almost ran off the road watching them.
Graceful, masculine...breathtaking.
She had her top down on her convertible and for a moment her car was almost neck and neck with the horse and cowboy. She couldn’t help herself when the cowboy looked over his shoulder at her, she laughed...and pressed the accelerator.
The cowboy grinned and urged his horse faster to keep up. She laughed again feeling invigorated by the exchange. The wind stinging her cheeks made it almost feel as if she were riding a horse beside the cowboy. She slowed almost without realizing it so they continued to run parallel to each other for a few yards. The New Horizon Ranch entrance loomed suddenly down the road. She slowed the car then pulled into the drive. The cowboy had slowed his horse to a trot and she pulled the car to a halt in the lane. She watched him ride toward her.
He wore tan chaps with a deep cranberry colored shirt and a pale straw cowboy hat pulled low over his eyes. What a picture he made with the sun beami
ng bright and seeming to cast a spotlight on the golden horse and its rider.
Amber got out of the car and walked around to the fence as he rode up on the other side. “Hey there,” she said. “That horse had some race in him.”
Sitting straight in the saddle the rugged cowboy’s lips hitched into a proud smile and Amber’s stomach dipped.
“Oh yeah, Nugget can hold his own alright. I think you must have a little NASCAR in you.”
She laughed and cautiously reached out to pet the horse’s forehead. “That’s me, a Richard Petty wanna be.”
That won her a chuckle and an appreciative sweep of his gaze. “I bet you’d hold your own out there. Are you Amber? Sadie’s friend?”
She met his steel gray eyes and for a minute she forgot everything, even that she was here to be maid of honor in her best friend’s wedding. “I am,” she said, after a second. “And you are?”
“Chase Hartley, I’m one of the partners who own the ranch. Sadie’s up at the house. I won’t keep you since I know she’s anxious to see you.”
“Thank you. That horse is a beauty. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a horse that looks so handsome. I love that golden color.”
As if the horse knew he was being talked about he pranced to one side and nodded his head, straining on the bit in its mouth. Chase chuckled. “You’ll give him a big head. He gets told he’s beautiful all the time, but handsome is good for his ego”
“Then I’m glad I could help his ego.” You’re not bad yourself she almost said but reined in her tongue before the words came out. “Is the ranch far?” she asked, deciding it was time to turn this conversation back where it was supposed to be. She wasn’t here to flirt or think about flirting.
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