Harvesting Hope: in Saddleback Ridge Read online

  Harvesting Hope

  In Saddleback Ridge

  Saddleback Ridge Book 2

  by

  MILAN WATSON

  COPYRIGHT 2020 © MILAN WATSON

  All characters; events and establishments in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the author.

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  Other titles by Milan Watson

  Saddleback Ridge Series

  Finding Forever #1

  Harvesting Hope #2

  ***

  Colorado Crazy Series

  Sunsets in Colorado #1

  Whispers in Colorado #2

  Midnights in Colorado #3

  Twilights in Colorado #4

  Autumn in Colorado #5

  Winter in Colorado #6

  Christmas in Colorado #7

  Spring in Colorado #8

  Summer in Colorado #9

  Under Colorado Skies (Box set #1-3)

  Building Colorado Dreams (Box set #4-6)

  Making Colorado Memories (Box set #7-9)

  ***

  Her Cowboy Protector

  A contemporary western novella

  ***

  Sullivan Family Series

  Bride on the Run #1

  For Justice or Love #2

  Summer Loving #3

  A Sullivan Affair (Box set)

  ***

  Seduced by the Boss

  A Stranger Like You

  (A short story)

  Unexpected Mistletoe Kisses

  (A Christmas Novella)

  Dedication

  To Linda, Karen, Lenda & Sue

  Some journeys are walked alone

  Some in the company of others

  Thanks for joining my journey

  You are the muse, the inspiration,

  And the smile that curves my mouth.

  Feed your soul by feeding the souls of others

  with love, kindness and compassion.

  ~Daniel Nikolova~

  Want to listen to the playlist while you read? You can get it here on Spotify

  Harvesting Hope

  Can a shattered summer romance be pieced back together?

  Gemma left Saddleback Ridge with a broken heart. Now she’s back nine years after the fact and facing the biggest project of her career.

  The only problem is that means working with Dusty Caldwell, the same man that broke her heart before she left for Denver.

  Dusty lost his trust for woman along with his heart when Gemma left Saddleback Ridge. Starting on his dream project the last person he expected to take the lead, is the one woman he couldn’t forget.

  As memories of the past lace their every interaction, they both find the anger they have suppressed for too long? Can they put back together what was broken long ago, or is time to let the past go?

  In Saddleback Ridge Stetsons are a way of life and not just a fashion statement. Cowboys, romance and small-town charm guaranteed.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  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

  Playlist

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  It was the height of summer and Dusty could feel the energy it brought rushing through his veins. He held onto the saddle-horn with one hand as the horse galloped through the field.

  He had broken her in less than a week ago and Dusty already knew she would make a great workhorse. She had the energy, the strength, and the disposition a rancher dreamed of when he was looking for a new steed.

  He pulled on the reins as the waterfall his great-grandfather had named Falcon Falls came into view. There was a smile on his face while the wind tugged at his hair. He might be a Caldwell but it was moments like this that reminded him of the Cheyenne that ran through his blood. If he closed his eyes he could almost feel his heritage, he could almost see with his mind’s eye what the range would’ve looked like two or three centuries ago.

  He rubbed the mare’s flank. “Good girl.” A chuckle escaped him as he swung out of the saddle. “Just don’t go braggin’ about us going for a ride to Sammy. She tends to get jealous.”

  Sammy had been his primary steed for the last three years. The painted mare was one of a kind, and her feisty disposition suited Dusty just fine, although his brothers had called her temperamental more than once.

  He led the mare down to the stream to drink as his gaze fell on the cattle in the distance. Falcon Falls had started with cattle and it had always been about the cattle to his family.

  Just like their father, his eldest brother, Ford, took to cattle like a calf to cud. For years Dusty had struggled to find his place on the ranch. He liked horses more than people and liked cattle even less than he liked people, which was saying something if you grew up on a cattle ranch. The wind changed direction and tugged his hat off, making Dusty smile; just like the wind things were changing at Falcon Falls.

  A year ago he had thought his eldest brother would become an eternal bachelor living in the shadow of their father, Clayton Caldwell. But a month ago everything changed when Clayton called a meeting with all four of his sons.

  Dusty could still remember that meeting as if it happened this morning. They gathered in the office and Clayton had surprised everyone by stepping back and slowing down, giving each of his sons more responsibility on Falcon Falls.

  Ford got his cattle, just like he always dreamed about. Drake got the crops along with a few more acres to sow what he wanted, and their little brother, Logan, stepped into the managing financial position on the ranch.

  As for Dusty, dad had given him a double surprise. Not only would he be taking over the breeding and training of all the horses on the ranch, he finally agreed to let him realize a dream he had had for years. The dream of starting a dude ranch right here on Falcon Falls. It might be a small dream to some, but Dusty wanted to share his heritage and their way of living with burned-out city folk who needed a break from the rat-race, and make a profit while doing it.

  At first Dusty was cautious of getting overexcited, fearing his father would snatch away the carrot before he reached it, but today he was taking the first step toward having that dream realized. The thought made him glance at his watch before he quietly cursed.

  He grabbed the reins, swung himself into the saddle and nudged the horse into a gallop. If he was going to make that meeting he’d better hurry. He was about to head to the ranch when he realized he’d make better time if he just rode to the South West paddock instead of stopping by the ranch
and taking the pickup.

  The scents of spruce and wildflowers permeated the air while Dusty raced against time. He was due to meet the architect at the site for the Dude Ranch for the first time, and the last thing he wanted was to make a bad impression by being late to a meeting on his own property.

  He had considered meeting her at the house, but it would be better to give her a feel for the area he had in mind. The South West paddock bordered a main road and he had emailed her directions to the gate that would lead her right to the spot he had picked out.

  He bunched his thighs as he urged the horse to go even faster when he saw a car pull in through the gate in the distance. The horse was panting but they were almost there. Dusty leaned into her for the last quarter mile, bringing her to a stop just as the car came to a halt. He bolted out of the saddle, thanking the mare briefly before he made his way to the car.

  The door opened and the first thing Dusty noticed were her legs. Long, slim legs. He swallowed past the drought in his throat, convincing himself it was from the exerting ride but when the woman climbed out and recognition slammed him in the gut.

  “Gemma?” Dusty could hear the disbelief in his own voice.

  “Dusty,” Gemma Riley said evenly.

  A frown creased Dusty’s brow as he held her gaze. She didn’t look a day older than the last time he’d seen her, which was more than nine years back. Midnight-black hair was hanging loose over her shoulders, glossy like the beautiful mane of an untamed Mustang. Her sharp chin and nose still reminded him of a fairy from Irish folklore even as her green eyes gave nothing away.

  For a moment Dusty could do nothing but stare. Her eyes had always had that effect on him, robbing him of speech and comprehension, dulling his mind for a few seconds before he managed to fight his way back through the fog.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” This time there wasn’t disbelief in his voice, it was pure anger and irritation.

  Gemma cocked a brow in a way that would make grown men shrivel, but Dusty was unperturbed. She wouldn’t get to him, not a second time around. Regardless that he was struggling to ignore the way her slacks clung to her hips, or the way her soft sheer blouse kept falling off her shoulder.

  “You called a firm in Denver to hire an architect. I’m their freelance architect in Saddleback Ridge. I’m here to meet your father about a dude ranch.”

  Dusty shook his head, feeling baffled. When he had received the okay from his father a few weeks ago to get the ball rolling on the dude ranch he had refused to settle for anything less than the best.

  He had indeed called one of the top firms in Denver, who assured him that they had the right person for the job. A freelancer they’d said. Someone living in Saddleback Ridge which would make the whole process more cohesive, they’d said. They didn’t once mention her name and Dusty didn’t bother to ask for G. Riley’s first name.

  “I’m not working with you,” Dusty said firmly as he glanced at her from beneath his Stetson. It was as if the past had just come back to bite him in the ass and that was not what he had in mind when planning his future.

  “Wait, they said I was meeting with Mr. Caldwell, they didn’t say I’d be meeting with you.”

  “The dude ranch is my project and like I said, I ain’t working with you.” He narrowed his stare, hoping she couldn’t see how much her presence was riling him up.

  He expected her to turn tail, get into her car and leave; instead she stepped forward with a narrowed look, one that made every nerve ending in his body leap up and beg to be stroked.

  Chapter 2

  She gave him the smile she used on difficult clients as she stepped closer. “If you want this dude ranch to be everything you dreamed of, I’m afraid you have no other choice.”

  When Gemma’s boss had told her about a project on the Falcon Falls ranch she had been a little cautious. Not because she doubted her abilities as an architect, but because Clayton Caldwell was intimidating. The last thing she had in mind was meeting with Dusty instead of his stubborn father.

  She could feel her cheeks heat even as she briefly allowed her gaze to travel over him. He still had that tall lean frame wired with taut and hard-honed muscle. Even now as he clenched his jaw she could see the muscles in his neck tighten. His hair was dark, the color of her coffee first thing in the morning, and his eyes were barely a few shades lighter. Gemma knew that when he smiled there would be flecks of gold that lit up around his irises, but he wasn’t smiling at her now.

  He hadn’t smiled at her since that last time nine years ago. She cleared her throat and hoped she looked composed because inside she was falling apart.

  Dusty Caldwell was the only man who could make her heart race with a smile and her knees weaken with a kiss. He was the only man she ever dreamed of having a future with.

  He was also the only man to never call after a third date – and he didn’t even bother to tell her why. It took her months to work through his rejection, more than a year before she had the courage to go on a date again. For Gemma, Dusty had always been the one that got away.

  Growing up in a small town like Saddleback Ridge everyone knew everyone, and it was no different with Gemma and the Caldwell brothers. Ford had a distinct reputation of being the eldest and taking after his domineering father.

  Dusty, on the other hand, took more after his mother. Gemma could still remember Leona Caldwell; she had a serenity about her that could only be attributed to her Cheyenne heritage. Dusty had her coloring, her warm brown eyes and when he smiled, he had her dimples as well.

  But it wasn’t his looks that made Gemma fall for him after just three dates; it was the way he spoke of the land and the horses, the respect with which he treated nature, the kindness and gentility he showed towards her. Dusty was a gentleman, the kind that were few and far between these days.

  But he was a gentleman who had no interest in her. He dropped her like a hot coal and never even bothered to explain why, and now he was acting as if it were all her fault.

  Dusty shook his head. “I have a choice and this is my project, so why don’t you just get in your little SUV and head right back into town. I’ll take this up with the firm in Denver.”

  When the opportunity arose to be part of building the first dude ranch in Saddleback Ridge she simply couldn’t turn it down, but now she had a feeling she was going to have to fight if she wanted to be part of this project. It was the first major project in Saddleback Ridge since she moved home, and except for proving Dusty wrong she had to prove to her boss that she could make her career work as a freelancer in the small town she called home.

  “What exactly do you think I’ve been doing for the last few years, Dusty? Did you even notice I’d left town?” She knew there was emotion in her voice and cursed herself for it, but it couldn’t be helped.

  Dusty shrugged. “Naw, can’t say I did.”

  She knew he was lying, but she didn’t let it get to her. “I got my degree in architecture, Dusty. I’ve been working at the firm for the last seven years and as well as designing a mall, an office building, and a hospital, I’ve designed three hotels. So believe it or not I’m the best there is. You asked for someone with experience in hospitality, you got it. Now the only question is whether you’re going to settle for second best if you have the opportunity to work with the best?” Gemma cocked her brow and crossed her arms, already regretting giving him an ultimatum.

  “I…” Dusty chuckled shaking his head. “You’ve been busy.”

  Caught off guard by his sudden display of charm Gemma nodded. “If you want to make a name for yourself, there isn’t really another option.”

  “When did you move home? Something wrong with your ma?” Dusty asked as if he hadn’t just accused her of being incapable just a moment ago.

  The concern in his gaze made her heart skip a beat. How was it that he could crumble the defenses she had built over the years with a single smile and a touch of concern?

  “No, my folks are fine. Ma had a
scare with the stroke last year, but she’s fine now. I just…” Gemma let out a heavy sigh as she glanced over the fields and pastures of Falcon Falls. “The city was suffocating me. I went there to prove something to myself and I did, but this place will always be home.”

  Dusty frowned. “You mean Saddleback Ridge?”

  Gemma nodded. “Yeah, Saddleback Ridge. When I considered coming home the firm offered me a freelance position. That way they get to extend their reach and I’m still on hand if they need me to consult on bigger projects.”

  “So you’re back for good?” He said the words carefully as if he wasn’t entirely on board with the idea.

  Gemma let out a frustrated huff. Was she that unsightly that he couldn’t even stand to live in the same town as her? She wasn’t completely sure what had turned him off, causing him to never call again, but she was pretty sure their dates hadn’t been horrendous. “I think the town is big enough for both of us, don’t you?” She didn’t wait for him to answer before she continued. “So, you want to build a dude ranch? Does your dad know?”

  Dusty chuckled. “Still afraid of my dad?”

  “No, I just know how Clayton feels about having strangers on his property. Do you remember when that bunch of seniors decided to camp out at Falcon Falls without asking for his permission? If I remember correctly your father chased them off with a shotgun.”

  Dusty chuckled at the memory. “Well, now you understand why it’s being built in the south-west paddock. Dad promised to do just that if any guests come ambling up to his front door.”

  Gemma searched his gaze, wondering if working with Dusty was a good idea after all. She couldn’t help but feel as if there was unfinished business here, unsaid words that might make a project of this size complicated. Before she could decide Dusty interrupted her thoughts.

  “So I had this in mind to start with. Nothing big, just three or four cabins, a fire pit, maybe a laundry room type deal, and of course we’ll need the infrastructure to go with it.”