Chapter 1
Mid-September, Heart Falls
Despite the cool fall breeze swirling around him, a trickle of moisture slid between Aiden Skye’s shoulder blades. His muscles hummed with a welcome ache after riding hard, and he savoured a deep breath of the fresh, crisp air as he leaned on the saddle horn.
A grin stretched his cheeks.
This place was perfect.
Three ranch dogs raced around his horse’s legs, including Aiden’s retriever, Dixie. All the beasts clearly approved of the land as well. Dust swirled as Aiden’s two older brothers joined him on the ridge.
Thirty-nine-year-old Declan reached over his horse’s neck to offer Aiden a firm handshake. “Other than the one time when you nearly came out of the saddle, you did damn good. As expected.” Declan glanced at Jake, their middle brother. “You, on the other hand…”
Jake made an appropriately rude gesture then laughed. “You’re a mean son of a bitch, Declan. ‘Come for a ride on our new property’, you said. ‘It’ll be good to get back to your roots.’ Five fucking hours later…”
“Not my fault your roots have spent more time planted in a cushy chair than on horseback lately.” Declan leaned back and adjusted his hat, his smile nothing more than the faintest line as usual. “You’ll get back into the swing of things soon enough. Aiden did well.”
“Thanks.” Aiden sat straighter, stretching his neck and shoulders. “Though I need a hot shower after that.”
“Agreed. Plus food,” Jake added, eyeing his brother. “I hope you have this part planned as thoroughly as the show and tell of the land and buildings.”
The oldest of them tilted his head toward the barn. “Let’s get the animals cleaned up. I figured we’d keep it simple this evening. Burgers, then time to meet some locals at the pub. I’ve only been a few times, but Rough Cut seems a decent place.”
Good thing they’d all turned their horses toward the barn already, the dogs happily racing ahead. No way could Aiden have kept his expression blank enough to hide his amusement at returning to the pub.
Declan had done the final leg work in purchasing the animal rescue in Heart Falls, moving early to supervise renovations, but it had been Aiden’s job to find the ranch in the first place.
His research trip three years earlier into the community had not only turned up the perfect location for their project, but he’d also enjoyed an amazing evening dancing and otherwise occupied with another visitor to town. The leggy brunette with pale-blue eyes had been a blast on the dance floor and a wildcat in bed.
Aiden spent the time grooming his horse and putting away tack wearing a wicked grin.
Around him, signs of change were everywhere. Through the nearest window, the building to the north was visible, where renovations were partially complete. Smaller but comfortable private rooms, each with their own bathroom, circled a second-floor kitchen and dining room that faced the Rocky mountains. Floor-to-ceiling windows let light pour into the open working area, and Aiden could already hear their future guests rave about how fabulous the space was for painting.
The artists’ residences were the working cover that held their secret project together.
On the main floor below, half of the building had been divided into three living units for him and his brothers, each with a bedroom, bath, and private living space. The areas were complete in terms of plumbing and framed walls, but the rest of the work remained.
The other side of the main floor held five separate rooms as well as a joint bathhouse. The main reason for all the work. Not too many months from now, men who needed a safe spot to retreat for a while would find refuge here.
Aiden and his brothers finished their chores, put out food for the dogs, then strolled in a companionable silence back to the ranch house.
The place would’ve been bigger than necessary for the older couple they’d purchased the land and animal rescue from, but for their new project, it was just right. Once they were up and running, the extra rooms in the house would be for any women who needed a spot to hide.
On the north side was the primary bedroom and attached bath that would house a full-time live-in cook and housekeeper. To the east were the other three bedrooms, along with two more bathrooms, temporarily filled with Aiden’s and his brothers’ gear.
The rest of the house was equally simple. The tidy kitchen boasted a long trestle table that the previous couple had left because it had been built to fit. The living room held a wood-burning stove and room for two oversized battered and worn couches. The view beyond the windows was breathtaking, though, with the Rocky mountains in the distance and kilometers of open prairie all around them.
It was the perfect place to make a difference. Somewhere to feel utterly safe while a person built up their courage and found new ways to be strong.
They ate a quick supper then headed out. Aiden slid into the front passenger seat of Declan’s truck seconds before Jake could claim it.
“Ass.” Jake said without malice.
“Thank you.” Aiden ducked instinctively away from the slap to his shoulder Jake offered, snorting in amusement. “It’s been too long since we lived together, but it feels as if it was only yesterday.”
“Agreed.” Declan put the truck in gear and headed up the road, the faintest hint of a smile curling the corners of his lips. “I still have nightmares from those days. You’re both so damn needy. Constantly yattering about.”
The cab filled with soft laughter, considering the truth was the other way to the extreme. They might have been needy but getting that truth from any of them would have required torture and thumbscrews.
In the back seat, Jake sprawled easily, gazing out the window and studying the landscape. “It’s good to be back together. It’s definitely what Jeff would’ve wanted.”
“Yup.” Aiden and Declan said it at the same moment, the memory of their stepfather rising hard and fast.
They might have had shitty luck when it came to their biological donor, but the man who had been a father to them when it truly counted had more than made a difference. Aiden had been eight years old when Jeff had come on the scene. When their mother had suddenly passed away less than a year later, Jeff had moved a mountain’s worth of paperwork and fought the bureaucracy to make sure his three boys didn’t end up lost in the foster system.
Pay it forward.
The words were always there, hovering at the edge of Aiden’s thoughts. Would he be able to make the same difference in other’s lives that Jeff had made in his and his brothers?
A hand landed on his shoulder, soft this time, as Jake leaned in close. “We will,” his brother promised.
Damn it. “Didn’t mean to say it out loud.”
“It’s not as if we’re not all thinking it,” Declan said. “That’s why we’re here. That’s why we’re going to do everything we can, come hell or high water.”
Jake hummed his agreement. “Make a difference. Do what’s right. Pay it forward.”
The three of them sat quietly while the phrases their stepfather had offered to three lost young boys echoed in Aiden’s head. Jeff repeated the sentiments from the moment he’d stepped forward to say things had to change because Mama was gone. They were the last words he’d said before he passed.
Jeff had been gone for over fifteen years now, and they’d all had a boatload of life experiences.
Some good, some not so good, including relationship-wise.
Ten years earlier, Jake’s marriage had lasted barely ten months before falling apart. Declan’s beloved wife, Sadie, had died of breast cancer three years ago. Aiden had a few long-term girlfriends over the years, but no one who had been more than casually committed on both sides.
Heart Falls was a fresh start in many ways for them all. A place to set down roots and maybe do the next thing for themselves as well as providing a home base for others.
Aiden blinked as they pulled into a parking space behind the pub. He’d gotten caught up in the memories and hadn’t noticed the distance vanishing.
Still, one thought rang through bright and clear. “Remember how we were trying to figure what to call the animal rescue and retreat house?”
“Because we can’t keep calling it the Heart Falls Animal Rescue?” Declan slipped the truck into Park then glanced at his little brother with the faint smile that said he was highly amused.
“We can’t keep calling it that because it’s going to be more than that.”
“Damn right.” Jake lifted his chin. “What’s your brainwave?”
“Not me,” Aiden insisted. He let his grin break free when he realized this was the perfect way to trap the other two into going along with his plan. “It’s Declan’s idea. You said it, bro. Come hell or high water. The perfect place to not only rescue animals, but people.”
Jake sat for a moment then nodded. “Leave it at High Water officially, so the delicate types don’t flip out. But we’ll know the truth.”
“I like it,” Declan said. “I am brilliant at times.”
“You’re definitely something,” Jake taunted. “Fine. We have a name. Now I need a beer.”
Aiden stood outside his door, waiting until his brothers joined him, a sense of satisfaction rising in his soul. A new home. A new goal. A new name. Maybe even the opportunity to find someone to spend time with—that would be new as well, although he’d take another dose of his wildcat.
Looked as if their move to Heart Falls would be smooth sailing from here on in.
**
Deciding what to wear for the evening wasn’t the weightiest issue she had, Petra Sorenson decided. Nope, clothes were simple. She’d pulled on a pair of faded jeans paired with a black tank top and a checked button-down. She had pretty, but comfortable, well-worn boots planned for her feet. Her long brown hair had been gathered into a ponytail for ease while dancing. Most importantly, a couple of the girlfriends she knew from her many visits to the area were waiting for her to join them.
She just needed to get out the damn door before the evening was over.
Her problem was an overly enthusiastic big brother who didn’t know how to turn off his excitement over having her move to Heart Falls. Their large family, with six siblings and Mom and Dad, had always been close, but tonight Zach’s zeal buzzed at such a level it made Petra wonder if he was pulling her leg and trying to be annoying…
Well, hell. That’s exactly what he was doing.
“Before you go, let me show you the office areas,” Zach suggested. He pushed back from the supper table and bounced to his feet. “You can decide if you want to have your space there or—”
“I’m probably going to work remotely,” Petra reminded him. “I’ll check the offices tomorrow.”
“There’s a new colt in the barn. You have to see him.” Zach blinked innocently, and his resemblance to a Ryan Reynolds wannabe was so unfair. “I can take a picture of you next to him to post to the family chat.”
She usually had zero problems standing up for herself, but Zach, her sibling closest in age and childhood playmate, was her soft spot. Especially when he was being all sweet and seemingly focused on making her happy.
The jerk.
Petra met her sister-in-law’s gaze, begging for an assist.
Thank goodness for female solidarity, because Julia laid a hand on Zach’s arm and shook her head. “Hey, you aren’t trying to get out of your promise, are you?”
Zach blinked, his smile fading slightly. “Um, no?”
Julia nodded decisively. “Good. Because for a minute there I thought you’d forgotten we’re supposed to go over to my sister’s tonight. Josiah and Lisa are expecting us.”
His confusion wiped clean instantly as suspicion slipped in. “They are?”
“Yup.” Julia kept a straight face, but when she twisted toward Petra, she winked. “We’ll take care of the dishes. Go have fun with your friends. We’ll catch up more later.”
“Sounds great. Thanks for supper… and everything.” Petra hurried to the door and shoved her feet into her boots, snatching her coat off the hooks. “Take me for a tour tomorrow, ‘kay, Zach? Night.”
She escaped into the warm fall evening, grinning as laughter erupted behind her in the cozy home Zach and Julia had built together.
So. Her brother had been acting like a turkey just to tease her.
Petra climbed into her truck and eased her way down the ranch drive, headed the short distance to town. If Zach wanted to play those games, she had zero problems handing out as good as she got. In fact, this was going to be fun. Tormenting her big brother was one of her favourite things.
She pulled behind Buns and Rose’s café, happiness welling up when she spotted another favourite thing, friends.
Tansy Fields and Sydney Jeremiah stood framed by the backdoor of the café. One slightly under medium height and blonde, the other a petite redhead.
Petra shoved open the truck door and all but threw herself into their arms. “I missed you both so much.”
Sydney squeezed her hard but escaped the embrace quickly. “Of course you did.”
“We’re extremely missable.” Tansy snickered at herself. “Wait. That didn’t come out the way I intended.” She snuck in a hug before retreating far enough to examine Petra carefully then nodded with approval. “You look happy.”
“I’m so glad to finally be here,” Petra agreed.
“You want to be in a small town with one grocery store and two-and-a-half restaurants?” Sydney eyed her as if ready to pull on her doctor jacket and make a diagnosis before smiling. “I know exactly what you mean, since I did the same thing two years ago.”
Since her brother had moved to Heart Falls four-and-a-half years ago, Petra had been on the receiving end of the wonderfully giving local female community. She’d been welcomed with open arms to any girls’-night-out events taking place during her visits. The mix of participants changed regularly based on who was free, and Sydney and Tansy were the two whom Petra had gotten to know the best, apart from her sister-in-law Julia, who the entire family loved to pieces.
Petra peeked into the shop. “I want to get caught up on everything you guys have been doing, but I want to get some dancing in as well.”
“It’s going to be much easier to stay in touch now that you’re here full-time instead of flying in and out three or four times a year to visit your brother.” Tansy pulled the door shut and locked it behind them. “Tonight it’s a mini-girls’ night out. Just the three of us.”
“Wait. Forgot something.” Petra raced back to the truck and snatched up her purse, sliding it over her shoulder before returning and linking her arms through both Sydney’s and Tansy’s.
They marched down the back alley toward Rough Cut.
“I’m opening the clinic at seven a.m., so I’m heading home at midnight,” Sydney warned.
“That’s my deadline, as well,” Tansy said. “Baking tasks start at four a.m. for me.”
Jeez. Petra didn’t mind getting up early, but that was beyond her skills. “You’re both going to hate me when I tell you I’m going to sleep in until noon.”
Sydney snickered. “You can tell us that, but you’d be lying.”
“Fine.” Petra couldn’t stop grinning. They knew her too well. “I hope to sleep until seven, but knowing my bratty brother, he’ll probably stand outside my cabin window and crow like a rooster at five.”
“Really?” Tansy hummed thoughtfully. “Let me know if I need to doctor his coffee the next time he comes in. Just a little retribution—that kind of thing.”
“You’re the best. I promise to let you know if it’s necessary.” Petra held up her pinkie, and Tansy laughingly linked their hands together.
Yup. Moving to Heart Falls was exactly what Petra had needed.
Jobwise, she was a skilled computer programmer. That, plus the other slightly less-legal vigilante adventures she’d been working on for the past year kept her busy. Yet both of those were tasks she could do anywhere.
What she needed the most right now were friends who liked her for herself.
Inside the pub, the dark wood and western style settings were welcoming yet intimate, with room to dance and room to chat. Tansy guided her and Petra to their favourite spot on the edge of the dance floor and settled in to examine the potential dance partners available that evening.
Tansy’s running monologue of who was in attendance made Petra snicker. “Matt is a solid seven. Tony counts his steps, but he’s a nine if you don’t try to talk while on the floor. Joey is a seven, eight if he’s had a few drinks—”
“And Jeb is a ten if you want to dance right now.” A tall cowboy with a cheeky smile stood before Petra. “Hey, pretty lady. Long time no see. Want to take a spin?”
Petra leaned around him to grin at her friends. “Thanks for the play-by-play, but I think I’ll go with this one first, no matter how he rates on the Tansy Dance Scale.”
Both Tansy and Sydney offered a thumbs-up before going back to their calculating.
Petra stepped into the cowboy’s arms and let him take the lead.
The quick pace of the current song didn’t encourage chatting, which was fine. Petra needed this tonight. A chance to exercise her body without her mind whirling through possibilities and mistakes and goals for the future.
Because they were all there. The good and the bad and the impossible.
Right now was the time to establish a new attitude. Which meant shoving aside the sadness in her belly to keep it from dragging her down. The change in her relationship situation wasn’t going to be an easy thing to simply ignore, though.
Not tonight. Not here and now. Do not dwell on it.
Maybe if she told herself that firmly enough she’d eventually follow her own excellent advice.
She was on the dance floor with only her second partner when someone near the bar roared loud enough to grab the attention of everyone in the place. Mid-twirl in a rapid two-step, Petra didn’t catch all the details, but it looked as if an argument had broken out.
Her dance partner jerked to the side, letting go of her in the process. Petra stumbled, struggling to keep her feet. The fighting cowboys surged onto the dance floor even as other men rushed forward to try to break them apart.
With curses flying and fists swinging nearby, Petra didn’t know which way to turn. When one of the cowboys trying to break up the fight stepped suddenly to the right, Petra was slammed broadside with full force, her balance still too shaky to recover. She tumbled, bracing herself to hit the floor.
Instead, she found herself being swung upward, a firm grip around her back and under her thighs as she flew into the air away from the action.
Relief flooded in, and she curled herself tighter against her rescuer. She looped her arms around his shoulders and buried her face in the crook of his neck until he stopped moving. “Are we safe now?”
“Think so.”
“Thank God.”
She’d said it with conviction, but his answering chuckle seemed bigger than it should be. “No problem, Petra.”
Her heart gave a kick as memories rushed in. That voice—
That touch.
Petra lifted her gaze and stared into the face of the man she’d enjoyed a one-night stand with on the night of Zach and Julia’s wedding.
“Holy cow. Aiden?”
Return to A Cowboy’s Bride
