Her Alaskan Cowboy
Belle Calhoune
A rebel cowboy returns a single dadCan he find redemption in Love, Alaska?Back in Love, Alaska, Joshua Ransom comes face-to-face with ex-fiancée, Honor Prescott. A single dad of an infant daughter, Joshua’s no longer the reckless cowboy who broke Honor’s heart. But discovering he’s selling his late grandfather’s land to developers puts them at odds. With the Diamond R’s fate unclear, so is their future. Will this second chance lead to Joshua being one of Love’s Alaskan Grooms?
A rebel cowboy returns a single dad.
Can he find redemption in Love, Alaska?
Back in Love, Alaska, Joshua Ransom comes face-to-face with ex-fiancée Honor Prescott. A single dad of an infant daughter, Joshua’s no longer the reckless cowboy who broke Honor’s heart. But discovering he’s selling his late grandfather’s land to developers puts them at odds. With the Diamond R’s fate unclear, so is their future. Will this second chance lead to Joshua being one of Love’s Alaskan Grooms?
BELLE CALHOUNE grew up in a small town in Massachusetts. Married to her college sweetheart, she is raising two lovely daughters in Connecticut. A dog lover, she has one mini poodle and a chocolate Lab. Writing for the Love Inspired line is a dream come true. Working at home in her pajamas is one of the best perks of the job. Belle enjoys summers in Cape Cod, traveling and reading.
Also By Belle Calhoune (#uc03168e4-130a-50c3-af96-f8f722778bb3)
Love Inspired
Alaskan Grooms
An Alaskan Wedding
Alaskan Reunion
A Match Made in Alaska
Reunited at Christmas
His Secret Alaskan Heiress
An Alaskan Christmas
Her Alaskan Cowboy
Reunited with the Sheriff
Forever Her Hero
Heart of a Soldier
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Her Alaskan Cowboy
Belle Calhoune
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-08242-6
HER ALASKAN COWBOY
© 2018 Sandra Calhoune
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
—Psalms 139:14
“What do you think you’re doing?” Joshua demanded.
“I had to take action before you sold the ranch,” Honor said.
“No, you didn’t. It’s not your business!”
She glared at him. “It is my business. I could no sooner turn my back on this town than I could forsake my own family.”
Joshua let out a scoffing sound. “You’re affecting my future. And Violet’s. How can you do that? Is this about getting even with me?”
She glared at him. “I’m not doing this for personal reasons.”
Joshua narrowed his gaze. “So it has nothing to do with any feelings you might have for me?”
Honor sucked in a shocked breath and met his gaze head-on. “Everything I felt for you died the moment you lit the church on fire.”
She could see the hurt in his eyes as he stormed out of the building. She felt bad about the animosity between them, but she couldn’t allow her personal feelings for Joshua to sway her decisions.
If she did, Honor knew she would be in a world of trouble.
Dear Reader (#uc03168e4-130a-50c3-af96-f8f722778bb3),
Thank you for joining me on this Alaskan journey. Writing this Alaskan Grooms series has been a romance writer’s dream. I’ve had so much fun creating this Alaska-based series. The town of Love is filled with some very special characters. A sense of community ties them all together. Honor and Joshua are a fitting couple to end this series. They are two wonderful people who have been gifted with a second chance at love. Having fallen in love as teenagers, then ending an engagement at eighteen, they have truly earned their happy ending. Their love has endured. It grew and blossomed the second time around. Neither one of them had ever truly given up on each other. Their happy ending is a sweet reward.
Writing for the Love Inspired line is an honor. I feel very blessed to have my dream job. What’s better than working in my pajamas? I enjoy hearing from readers however you may choose to contact me. I can be reached by email at scalhoune@gmail.com or at bellecalhoune.com (http://www.bellecalhoune.com). If you’re on Facebook, please stop by my Author Belle Calhoune page.
Blessings,
Belle
For my nieces—Celina, Kylie and Nina.
May you grow up to follow your hearts
and live out your dreams.
Contents
Cover (#u42ba8a16-fa3f-57a6-ad28-543c18850db3)
Back Cover Text (#uf2d8cca8-09cd-566e-a1a6-bbb506d7a12d)
About the Author (#ucb51bbe5-99af-5d01-9974-41f7c61a1195)
Booklist (#ub5407545-6741-5a69-a9b9-e213b39fd8e2)
Title Page (#u035906a5-22ad-565e-a677-c6dc3d8c86b9)
Copyright (#u1cbd83dd-4fe0-5daf-ad34-04a64b16e821)
Bible Verse (#u8982adc0-c2a9-5301-bdd9-3c679d714b07)
Introduction (#u67a6d713-30e6-5a2d-a1c5-19bb2a24dbf1)
Dear Reader (#u404b25e1-a709-5c1e-850b-4ea525471e7d)
Dedication (#u3bb6c343-f9f9-5d5c-8569-3711ac0f0591)
Chapter One (#u483a9dba-9cf6-5df7-b960-9e95e7c5a036)
Chapter Two (#u7b0bb6b9-d079-515d-979d-60ba73576c4e)
Chapter Three (#ud190802d-49a4-5270-84f7-d5f79af2e46f)
Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One (#uc03168e4-130a-50c3-af96-f8f722778bb3)
Honor Prescott sat on her white stallion and stared down from the mountain ridge at the sprawling Diamond R Ranch. From this vantage point, Honor had a bird’s-eye view of the property. She could see horses in the paddock and a few ranch hands milling around. Snow from last night’s snowfall covered the ground. She let out a sigh of appreciation at the vast acreage. This view had always been spectacular.
A few cars were parked in the driveway by the main house. She spotted Lee Jamison’s distinctive yellow-and-tan wagon parked by the house. She felt her lips twitching at the sight of it. That van had to be older than Lee himself. As town attorney and a member of the town council, Lee was a beloved figure in Love, Alaska. Honor had come to the Diamond R Ranch today at Lee’s request.
Honor drew her coat tighter around her as the February wind whipped relentlessly against her body. Although the sun was shining, there was a chill in the air. Honor grabbed Lola’s reins and cantered toward the property. Riding her horse rather than driving over from the wildlife preserve was a luxury for her. Lately, she’d been so busy with work demands she rarely had the opportunity to spend time with her horse.
A feeling of nostalgia swept over her. It had been years since she had visited the ranch owned by Bud Ransom, the patriarch of the Ransom family. Bud had unexpectedly passed away a few days ago. She would miss him and his warm, solid presence. And she would be forever grateful to him for leaving the ranch to the town in his will.
Bittersweet memories washed over her as she surveyed the property. The two-story log cabin–style home was a generous size. It had been home for generations of Ransoms. Her ex-fiancé, Joshua Ransom, had grown up here with his grandparents, parents and his older brother, Theo. When they were dating, Honor had spent a lot of time at the Diamond R. Too much time, according to her own brothers—Boone, Liam and Cameron. They had been vehemently opposed to her relationship with Joshua, who had been in and out of trouble for the duration of their relationship. Joshua had been the ultimate rebel. Boone, who served as town sheriff, had hauled Joshua into his office on more occasions than she could count for a variety of charges. Drunk and disorderly. Vandalism.
But Honor and Joshua had been head over heels in love and committed to a life together. She had defended him at every turn, much to her family’s dismay. In the end, their engagement had imploded after Joshua’s involvement in a fire that had gutted a beloved town church and left a man seriously injured. It had been the final straw for her. Honor had given him back his diamond ring and headed off to college in Michigan. They hadn’t spoken since.
After Honor had left Love, she’d discovered she was carrying Joshua’s child. Weeks later she’d lost the baby. It still crushed her to remember how alone and scared she’d been. Since that time, Honor had turned to her faith and developed a relationship with God. She would never repeat the mistakes of the past.
Joshua had never known about their child. A few months after the miscarriage, she’d discovered that Joshua had gotten married. Joshua’s quickie marriage mere months after their breakup had been a terrible blow to Honor’s self-esteem. For some reason, it still stung.
Honor let out a sigh. The ranch represented a more innocent time in her life. She had experienced her first kiss in the barn. This ranch was where she’d fallen for Joshua. They had made plans for their future sitting amidst bales of hay. Their love had been genuine. Honor shivered as feelings of loss suddenly crept over her. After all this time, it still wasn’t easy to think about losing the only man she’d ever loved. It had broken her young heart to end her engagement. She’d been so naive back then, believing that there might be a happily-ever-after for the two of them.
Joshua. Her first love and former fiancé. She hadn’t thought about him in a very long time. Their relationship had ended in such a painful manner for Honor that it was easier now to stuff those memories deep down into a dark hole where they could no longer hurt her.
She had been a mere kid at the time—eighteen years old. What had she really known about love?
As she led Lola toward the stable so she could tether her to a post while she met with Lee, Honor heard the crunching sound of footsteps walking on the snow. She swung her gaze up and found herself staring into the eyes of the last person she’d expected to see in all of Alaska.
Her heart constricted. Everything came to a standstill around her. The dark head of hair. The cleft in his chin. The sky blue eyes. Joshua Ransom, her high school sweetheart, was back in town. Her first instinct was to hop back onto Lola and ride off as quickly as possible in the opposite direction.
“Honor.” The sound of her name tumbling off his lips was startling. It had been six years since she’d last heard it. Truthfully, she had never believed she would ever hear it again.
“Joshua.” Somehow she managed to speak past the huge lump in her throat.
“It’s been a long time,” he said, his mouth quirking. “How are you?”
Her mouth felt as dry as cotton. “I’m doing well. And you?” she asked, marveling at the fact that they were able to exchange pleasantries despite the huge chasm between them.
“I can’t complain. What brings you out here?” he asked, his eyebrows knitting together.
“Lee asked me to meet him out here. We understood none of the family was returning since Bud didn’t want a service. When did you get back?”
“Yesterday. Theo and I flew in together from Anchorage.”
Theo Ransom had moved away from Love years ago and joined the military. To her recollection, neither brother had been back to Love in the ensuing years.
“I’m guessing you didn’t hire O’Rourke Charters to fly you here,” Honor said. Her voice crackled with sarcasm.
A hint of a frown marred his brow. “No, we didn’t.”
She shouldn’t have brought up the bad blood between him and the O’Rourke brothers—Declan and Finn. It harkened back to when she was dating Joshua and her own brothers had been staunchly against their relationship. There had been a lot of discord. It had all come to a head when she and Joshua had secretly gotten engaged and her family found out about it. Not a single person in town had been happy for them, except Bud. Despite his gruff demeanor, Bud had been a marshmallow at his center.
Joshua ran a hand over his face. “Bud never wanted a proper funeral, but Theo and I figured we should have some sort of memorial service for him. And we need to settle his affairs. Then I’ll be heading home to Seattle.”
Honor frowned. She hadn’t heard a single word about a service for Bud. From what she had understood, Bud hadn’t wanted any fanfare. The townsfolk would certainly want to know about the service so they could say a final farewell. Although she wanted to ask Joshua about Bud’s desire to leave the Diamond R Ranch to the town of Love, she wasn’t sure it was her place to ask Joshua probing questions. It would appear insensitive since his family was in mourning.
“I’m sorry about Bud. He was always kind to me.”
Joshua nodded. “Thanks. He thought you were the real deal. I think he hoped you could straighten me up so I’d walk the straight and narrow path.” Joshua let out a harsh-sounding laugh, although both he and Honor knew he wasn’t joking. Honor couldn’t count on two hands the number of times Bud had pulled her aside and asked her to steer his grandson in the right direction. At the time, she had naively believed it was possible. Life had shown her how wrong she’d been to believe it. Being in love with Joshua had given her a pair of rose-colored glasses.
Honor smiled at the memory of Bud. “Well, he always saw the good in people. It was what he did best.”
Joshua nodded. “He was a great man. I’ve always been proud to be his grandson.” He grimaced. “I wish I’d been better,” he muttered.
He didn’t have to say any more. Honor knew exactly what Joshua meant. As a rebellious teenager, Joshua had been in and out of trouble so much it had broken his grandfather’s heart and caused his family a world of embarrassment. He had tarnished the Ransom family name.
He jutted his chin toward Lola, then reached out and ran his palm across her side. “It’s nice to see you and Lola are still a team.”
Honor nuzzled her face against Lola’s nose. “She’s a part of me. Always will be. I’m glad Boone took care of her for me while I was away at school.” Boone had paid for the costs of boarding Lola at a local stable, along with feed costs and her upkeep while Honor attended college and graduate school.
At the mention of her brother, Joshua’s body seemed to stiffen. Honor couldn’t help but think that after all these years the bad feelings still lingered.
As the small talk between them faltered, tension hung in the air. There were so many things left unsaid between the two of them, words they had never gotten the chance to say to one another. Honor opened her mouth, then shut it. What was the point? It was six years too late for closure.
Both of them had moved on with their lives. End of story.
She shifted from one foot to the other. “Well, I should go see to Lola,” she said in a low voice. “Do you know where I can find Lee?”
“I saw him talking to Theo when I was out in the paddock. They were headed inside the house,” Joshua said. For a moment he looked at her curiously. She imagined he was still wondering what she was doing here at the ranch. A gut instinct told her Joshua didn’t know anything about Bud’s bequest. The thought of his being blindsided made her stomach knot. Although she was fairly certain he had no interest in coming back permanently to Love, it still might rankle to learn his family’s property had been given to the town he despised.
“Thanks,” she said, lightly pulling at Lola’s reins as she prepared to lead her toward the stable.
“Mr. Ransom!” a voice called out, interrupting the silence. Honor turned toward the house. Winnie Alden, housekeeper and cook for the Ransom family, was standing a few feet away from them with a crying baby in her arms. “I tried my best to settle her down, but she won’t stop crying. I think she wants her daddy.”
Winnie held out the child to Joshua. Honor’s heart stilled. The little girl wrapped in the pink blanket was Joshua’s daughter!
* * *
Joshua Ransom reached for Violet and held her against his chest. “Thanks, Winnie. I’ll take it from here.” He began to make rhythmic circles on Violet’s back. Almost immediately, she quieted down.
“The baby whisperer strikes again,” he said in a low voice next to his daughter’s ear.
He swung his gaze toward Honor. She was staring at him with wide eyes.
“She’s yours?” she asked in a shocked tone.
“Yes, she’s mine. This is Violet,” Joshua said, his voice filled with pride. “Violet Anne Ransom.”
Honor’s gaze locked onto Violet. She couldn’t seem to look away from her. “She’s beautiful,” she said, darting a glance at his ring finger.
Joshua didn’t hold it against her. It happened to him all the time. As a single father raising a little girl, he raised a lot of eyebrows. It was all right. Violet was his whole world.
He nestled her closer against him. “I should get her inside. It’s pretty cold out here and her sweater is on the thin side.”
“Go ahead. You don’t want her to get sick,” Honor said, her brow creased with concern.
Joshua sucked in a deep, steadying breath as he turned toward the house. He felt as if he’d been sucker punched. Although he had known it was a possibility to run into her during his stay in Love, he hadn’t expected to see her at his family’s ranch. And he wasn’t quite sure what she was doing here. Her answer had been vague.
She was just as beautiful as she’d always been. Time had only enhanced her good looks. Her hair hung in glossy chestnut waves. Her cheekbones were more pronounced in her heart-shaped face. Now she was more woman than girl, one who exuded a great deal of confidence. It hadn’t taken long for one of the locals to mention she was running a new wildlife center here in town. He felt a burst of pride knowing she had managed to achieve her goals.
She was no longer the eighteen-year-old who had dreamed of protecting animals and earning a degree in wildlife biology. Honor had reached out and successfully grabbed the brass ring.
It made him feel a little unsettled to know so much had changed since Honor had been his girl. In truth, it felt like another lifetime.
What did he expect? Time hadn’t stood still. In many ways, Joshua felt thankful for the passage of time. It had given him the opportunity to change his life and circumstances. Over the past six years, he’d worked extremely hard to better himself. Redemption had been a huge motivating factor. He was no longer the selfish youth who had been impulsive and reckless. In his younger years, he had stolen a car to go joyriding, destroyed town property and been arrested for underage drinking and disorderly conduct. He had been a fixture at the sheriff’s office. It had been easy for the residents of Love to believe he had been responsible for setting fire to the town’s church and demolishing it. The townsfolk had already written him off well before the fire.
Joshua had made something of himself through sheer determination and grit. He had adopted Violet, the biological child of his ex-wife who had passed away shortly after Violet’s birth. He had an impeccable professional reputation. His parents were extremely proud of the way he had pulled himself up by his bootstraps. And yet, he still yearned for the townsfolk of Love to think well of him. He still wanted their stamp of approval.
It had always bothered him that Honor’s brothers had so thoroughly disapproved of him. He felt heat suffusing his neck as he remembered their vocal opposition to his relationship with Honor. Sheriff Boone Prescott had made it his mission in life to break them up and to catch his every misdeed. Joshua let out a sigh. To be fair, he’d enjoyed being a rebel. Until things had spiraled out of control and his whole life was in shreds.
Being in love with the sheriff’s sister and the granddaughter of the town mayor, Jasper Prescott, had complicated matters. Law enforcement had not been on his side. Not that he’d made it easy on them. Joshua had been ornery and wild. He had deliberately pushed as many buttons as he could in his hometown and he’d never backed down from a fight. That had endeared him to very few people, particularly since Honor had been the town’s reigning princess.
Despite the opposition to their relationship, Honor had always been his biggest cheerleader. She had believed in him until he’d been arrested for burning down the church. Still, after all this time, it gutted him to have caused her such heartache.
Joshua shrugged off the feelings of guilt and recrimination. He had worked steadfastly over the years to redeem his character. He had painstakingly rebuilt his life, laying the foundation one brick at a time. God was a central part of his world now and he lived life with a purpose.
Coming back to his hometown hadn’t been easy, but he owed it to his grandfather to pay him his last respects and to tidy up his affairs. He hadn’t realized things with the Diamond R would be so complicated.
Joshua made his way to the room he was using as Violet’s nursery. Once he entered the bedroom, he stood by her crib and gently rocked her from side to side. When he felt her head droop against his chest, he slowly lowered her until she was resting on her back. Her eyelids were closed and she was peacefully asleep. He quietly made his way back downstairs.
For Violet’s sake, he felt grateful that he could finally hold his head up high in Love. He had put the shameful events of his past in the rearview mirror. He felt proud of himself, if only because he knew so many people had given up on him. This town had viewed him as irredeemable and broken. They had been dead wrong.
Joshua hadn’t expected to feel such a wealth of emotions upon his return to Love. As soon as he had spotted Kachemak Bay from his seat in the seaplane, he’d felt a tightening sensation in his chest. Despite everything, this town still lived and breathed in him, just like Honor Prescott. One look in her blue-gray eyes had shown him that the past was still a powerful force to be reckoned with.
* * *
As Joshua walked back toward the homestead and away from her with his baby girl, Honor’s shoulders sagged. Her cheeks felt flushed. Joshua had a child!
She’d been composed during their encounter, even though seeing Joshua holding his daughter had shaken her to the core. Her limbs were trembling. Coming face-to-face with her ex-fiancé hadn’t been on her agenda for today. And it had been shocking to realize he was a father. She felt as if someone had just thrown an ice-cold bucket of water over her head. Joshua looked even more handsome than she remembered. Age had only enhanced his masculine appeal. At six feet or so, Joshua’s frame had filled out, giving him a more rugged appearance. His dark hair set off against his blue eyes made a striking combination. He was the type of man who drew stares when he walked down the street.
Her mind veered toward Violet. It had hurt her to see the child nestled in Joshua’s arms. It served as a stark reminder of the child she had miscarried six years ago. Joshua’s child. She pushed the painful feelings away. She couldn’t allow herself to get consumed by the past. It might drag her under.
As she exited the stable, Honor spotted Lee, who was quickly making his way toward her. With his salt-and-pepper-colored hair and sea green eyes, Lee had a distinguished appearance. There was something so solid about him. He was trusted by the whole town. At the moment he had an intense expression etched on his face. His movements seemed full of urgency.
“Honor, it’s nice to see you,” Lee said, warmth emanating from his voice.
“Hey, Lee,” Honor said. “Good morning.”
Lee ran his hand around his shirt collar. His fingers seemed unsteady. “Under the circumstances, I’m sorry to have called you out here. It was a mistake.”
She frowned at him. He looked flustered. Normally, he was a calm, unflappable man. It was slightly alarming to see him acting this way.
Was Lee referencing Joshua’s unexpected appearance at the ranch? Like most of the townsfolk, he was fully aware of their history.
“There’s been a bit of a hiccup regarding the reading of the will and Bud’s property,” he said, his tone apologetic. His eyes radiated disappointment. “I probably jumped the gun by inviting you here to the Diamond R.”
“What’s wrong?” she asked. Adrenaline began to race through her veins. Instinctively, she steeled herself for bad news.
Lee let out a ragged sigh. “Bud didn’t update his will, Honor. He made no written provisions to donate the property to the land preservation society.” Lee threw his hands in the air. “There’s not a whole lot more I can say, but I’m very disappointed.”
“What?” Honor exploded. “That can’t be right. He said it over and over again. Everyone in town knew his wishes.”
Lee shook his head. “According to his attorney, Bud had the best of intentions, but he passed away before he could make it official. He never updated his will. Knowing Bud, he probably figured he had plenty of years ahead to make those changes.”
Honor felt numb as the ramifications of Lee’s disclosure began to settle in. “He verbally stated his intentions on several occasions. We all knew what he wanted to do with regard to the ranch. Isn’t that enough?”
Lee stared at her with sadness radiating from his eyes. “I’m afraid not, Honor. Our hands are pretty much tied. We could file suit against the estate, but it would cost a fortune. And to what avail? Alaskan inheritance law is very clear.”
Her heart sank. “So what happens now?” she asked. “Who inherits the property?”
“According to Bud’s attorney, Theo and Joshua and another relative named Violet are listed as the heirs to the Diamond R and all of its assets and acreage.”
Honor let out a deep breath. She felt like a deflated balloon. The old adage was true: don’t count your chickens until they’re hatched. In her mind she’d formulated so many plans for the expansion of the wildlife center. Now, in a puff of smoke, those dreams had been dashed.
Lee stroked his chin. “I’ve heard some rumblings about a developer from Texas who’s been circling around trying to buy up property in Love. It seems that Theo has already been in contact with them. They came to the ranch first thing this morning.” His chest heaved as he sighed. “There’s no easy way to say this, Honor, but I think we have to prepare ourselves for what lies ahead.”
Anger flared through her at the idea of Theo making deals to desecrate Bud’s ranch. Even as a kid he had never had an appreciation for the ranch. Joshua had been the one who had loved horses, the cowboy lifestyle and riding across the property with Bud. Honor had always thought of Joshua as her hometown cowboy.
“Lee, give it to me straight,” Honor demanded. Having grown up with three older brothers, she knew when she was being treated with kid gloves. She had always fought against it. She was way tougher than she might look on the surface.
“Do you remember the town council meeting where we discussed the upsurge in interest from developers in acquiring land here in Love?” Lee asked.
“Yes,” she said with a nod. “With the popularity of Operation Love, this town has been in the media spotlight. And now that Lovely Boots has taken off, a lot of developers view this town as a hot commodity.”
Operation Love was a matchmaking program created by Honor’s grandfather, Jasper Prescott. As town mayor, Jasper had devised a way of fixing the imbalance in the male-female ratio in town by bringing eligible women to town who were seeking Alaskan bachelors. The program had been very successful, with dozens of marriages and engagements. And Jasper’s wife, Hazel Tookes Prescott, had created genuine Alaskan boots that the town had mass produced as a way of boosting the local economy. After years of recession, it had been a brilliant way of bringing revenue to a cash-strapped town.
The downside of her grandfather’s matchmaking program and Hazel’s creativity was the sudden focus on their Alaskan hamlet. Suddenly, developers were viewing Love as a potential moneymaker. The idea of developers swooping down and buying up Alaskan land only to dig it up and build businesses on it made her sick to her stomach.
Lee’s features creased with tension. “This one outfit is serious about buying land here in Love and the Diamond R property is on their radar.” His mouth tightened. “It seems they have plans to build a five-star Alaskan dude ranch. There’s a chain of them all across the country.”
Honor’s jaw dropped. A dude ranch! Right here in Love?
“Theo and Joshua probably had a big check waved in front of their eyes by these developers.” He made a tutting sound. “They might find it hard to turn down such a lucrative offer.”
She let out a shocked sound. Joshua was in on it? She was stunned that he would go along with such a materialistic scheme. Was this the real reason the brothers had made their way back to their hometown? To make a quick buck by selling the Diamond R Ranch and the surrounding property?
“He wouldn’t,” she murmured. “He’s always loved this ranch.”
Lee narrowed his gaze as he looked at her. “Never say never, Honor. It’s been quite some time since you’ve known what Joshua may or may not do.”
“Is there any way to intervene?” she asked, instantly discouraged by the defeated expression stamped on Lee’s face.
“There’s nothing more for us to do except say a few prayers,” Lee said with a shrug. “Maybe the Ransom heirs will do the right thing and fulfill Bud’s heartfelt wishes.” He shook his head. “It’s doubtful though. Theo seemed very cocky about being owner of the ranch. Something tells me he won’t budge an inch.”
Anger rose up inside her. She felt her cheeks getting heated. How could they even consider such a drastic move? It went against everything Bud had stood for in this world. It would be fine by Honor if the property wasn’t handed over to the town, just so long as it wasn’t torn up to create a tacky dude ranch. She didn’t want the town of Love to become a commercial enterprise. Her hometown was a small fishing village filled with God-fearing people who loved the quaint and charming aspects of their town. If the Ransom brothers decided to sell, it would be a nightmare for the residents of Love.
Her stomach churned with worry. Hadn’t Joshua just told her he would be heading home after settling his grandfather’s affairs? Clearly he wasn’t invested in the ranch or in this town. Honor fumed. Joshua might not care about the fate of the Diamond R or this town, but she cared deeply about its future.
“There may not be anything we can do to change their minds,” she said in a fierce tone. “But I’m going to let Joshua Ransom know exactly what I think of him turning his back on a town he used to call home.”
Chapter Two (#uc03168e4-130a-50c3-af96-f8f722778bb3)
Joshua threw his hands up in defeat as he gave in to temptation and moved toward the side window so he could check up on Honor. Was she still outside? He pushed back the curtain and peered out the window, keeping his eyes peeled on the stables. Honor was standing with Lee and they seemed to be having a very intense discussion. He watched as she threw her hands in the air and kicked her booted foot in the snow. The gesture almost made him chuckle. Some things never changed. Although most of the townsfolk had always regarded her as sweetness and light, Honor Prescott had always possessed a feisty side. He remembered it well. More times than he’d like to admit, he had been the recipient of her ire. He sighed. Joshua knew he hadn’t made it easy for Honor to love him.
But she had loved him, hadn’t she? Love never fails. How many times had Honor said those words to him, quoting the verse from Corinthians? In the end, their love hadn’t been strong enough to survive adversity. It had withered and died. And he had walked around with a broken heart for years, pining for the one who’d gotten away. That was a long time ago though. He no longer harbored any love for his ex-fiancée. It had taken years, but he’d finally gotten over her.
He probably shouldn’t be spying on Honor, but his curiosity had gotten the best of him. What was she doing here in the first place? And what was she discussing with Lee that had become so contentious?
All in all, it had been a strange morning at the ranch. Theo had met not only with Lee and his grandfather’s attorney, but with a developer from Texas who had come to discuss the Diamond R Ranch. Joshua hadn’t attended the meeting. His hands had been full with wrangling a cranky Violet.
Joshua turned away from the window and gazed at his surroundings. His grandfather was all around him at the ranch, but especially in this very room. The den had been Bud’s favorite place in the house. Before she had passed away, his grandmother, Pearl, had always enjoyed teasing her husband about holing up inside his man cave for hours on end. Joshua could hear her voice now. Bud Ransom, we might as well put a bed and a stove in there with you. Then you’d never come out.
He missed both his grandparents. They had been two of the most loving, generous people he had ever known. They had doted on him during his childhood and shown him unconditional love. His own parents were living in Singapore, too far away to come back for the memorial service. For all intents and purposes, his family had been reduced to a small circle.
Did a person ever stop yearning for the ones they had loved and lost? Honor’s face flashed before his eyes. Beautiful, headstrong Honor. He now knew for certain he wasn’t over the events of the past. Not by a long shot. Seeing her in the flesh had proven that point. After all this time he still felt a pull in her direction. Not that it mattered. She had shown him years ago that he was dispensable. Honor had tossed him aside like yesterday’s garbage. He imagined the whole town of Love had stood up and cheered her on.
A sudden noise drew his attention. Joshua cocked his ear to the side and listened for any cries. These days it seemed as if he was always bracing for the slightest sounds. It was amazing how a child could alter a person’s life. He exhaled as silence reigned. Suddenly, Joshua heard the slam of the front door, followed by heavy footsteps. He was about to give Theo a piece of his mind. How many times had he warned him about making loud, disruptive noises when a baby was in the house?
All of a sudden, Honor was standing in the doorway of the den, her hands strategically placed on her hips. Pure molten fire radiated from her eyes. Little huffing sounds were coming from her mouth. He was fairly certain steam was coming out of her ears.
“Are you seriously considering selling out?” she asked in a raised voice, quickly swallowing up the distance between them.
Honor had come charging up to him like a wild bull reacting to a red flag. If she hadn’t looked so angry, he might have laughed at her aggressive stance. Her arms were folded across her chest, and she was breathing heavily as she glared at him. She was tapping one of her feet on the hardwood floor.
Old memories crashed over him in unrelenting waves. How could he have forgotten this defiant side of Honor?
He held up his hands. “Can you lower your voice to a dull roar? Slow down. What are you talking about?”
“Lee said there’s a developer who wants to buy the Diamond R. He says they want to build a resort on the property—some bootleg version of a dude ranch for people who want a so-called authentic Alaskan cowboy experience.”
Joshua stiffened. Hadn’t Theo said to keep things quiet about the offer from the developers? Clearly his brother had been running his mouth about the subject. And he had failed to mention anything about a dude ranch. Typical Theo.
He let out a sigh. “Nothing has been decided yet. I just found out about it myself.”
Her face fell. “So you’re admitting someone is circling around and making an offer on the ranch?”
“Yes, Honor. It’s true. Theo told me there’s an outfit from Texas that’s very interested in buying the property.”
“Bud would never have wanted this place to be sold to a developer. How can you even consider it?” she asked, her voice ringing out in the stillness of the room.
Joshua clenched his teeth at the accusatory tone of her voice. He felt his anger rising.
“Excuse me? I don’t reckon you want to pick a fight with me over my family’s land.” He hadn’t meant for his voice to have such a hard edge to it, but so be it. He hadn’t come back to Love in order to be pushed around and judged by his ex-fiancée. The days of everyone here in town making him feel less than were over. “It’s nobody’s business but ours.”
Honor let out a shocked gasp. She took a few steps closer to him until he could hear her breathing. He could see the flecks in her blue-gray eyes. She was bristling with rage.
“Do you know what will happen to this land if you sell? This developer will come in and tear up the land and make it some ghastly commercial enterprise.”
Joshua frowned. “You’re getting way ahead of yourself.”
“Am I? These things seem to happen fairly quickly. One minute they’re making you an offer and the next thing you know papers are being signed. This is precious land. It shouldn’t be transformed into something unrecognizable. And Bud wanted to donate the property so it would be preserved from developers.”
“Then why didn’t he put it in writing and make it official?” Joshua asked. “Bud was smart. He knew the risks in not following through on his promise.”
“I—I don’t know, but I do believe it was his intention.” She locked eyes with him. “Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“This isn’t just up to me. Theo has some say in this as well. And I’m not convinced Bud wanted to donate the property to land preservation. He was as sharp as a tack. Maybe he changed his mind.”
He watched as Honor’s eyes widened and her mouth opened. Just as she seemed ready to erupt, a loud wail rang out in the room.
Honor froze at the sound. She turned toward the sound of the cries, which came from a nearby baby monitor.
“Is something wrong with Violet?” she asked. She sounded alarmed.
“I’m sure she’s fine. She’s been fussy since we arrived here,” he answered in a clipped tone. “She must have woken up from her nap.”
“She sounds upset.” Honor bit her lip and looked in the direction of the baby monitor.
“Sometimes she just needs to settle back down.”
She swung her gaze back toward him. “Aren’t you going to go get her?”
Joshua frowned. He didn’t understand why Honor looked so stricken. Was she suggesting he was neglecting Violet? He opened his mouth to say something, but he shut it. He didn’t need to remind Honor that she wasn’t a parent. There was already enough acrimony between them.
It really didn’t matter what she thought. He was Violet’s father. He knew what his own daughter needed better than anyone.
* * *
“I need to go see to her,” Joshua said in an abrupt tone. He turned on his heel and left the room, his footsteps echoing in his wake. Honor turned toward the baby monitor. She could still hear soft cries emanating from it. It caused a tightening sensation in her chest.
Honor hadn’t meant to sound so bossy, but the sound of Violet’s cries had been tugging at her heartstrings. There was something so poignant about the sound of a baby crying. Tears sprang to her eyes and she blinked them away. She knew it had everything to do with the baby she had lost. Joshua’s child. Although her own pregnancy had been unexpected, Honor had desperately wanted to be a mother. Not being able to hold her child in her arms was something she would never get over. And at moments like this one, the pain of loss came crashing over her in waves.
A few minutes later, the sound of footsteps heralded Joshua’s return. Honor’s gaze went immediately to Violet. The baby’s eyes were slightly red-rimmed and her hair was rumpled. She looked adorable.
Honor’s pulse began to quicken at the sight of Joshua and his little girl.
Violet was the perfect name for the blue-eyed stunner squirming in Joshua’s arms. With her chubby cheeks and a head of blond curls, Violet was a vision. Unable to stop herself, Honor took two steps toward Joshua, then reached out and grasped one of Violet’s fingers.
“How old is she?” Honor asked, filled with curiosity.
“She’s ten months old.”
Her throat felt as dry as sandpaper. There were other questions she wanted to ask, but she wasn’t sure it was really her place. Where was Violet’s mother? she wondered. She cast another gaze at his ring finger to make sure she hadn’t missed it. He definitely wasn’t wearing a wedding band.
“Bud said you’d gotten divorced a long time ago,” she blurted out, immediately wishing she could pull back the impulsive words. She didn’t want Joshua to think she’d been keeping tabs on him. Bud had hired her to come over to the Diamond R twice a week to check in on his animals. Although he’d never divulged much about Joshua’s life, he had slipped one day and confided in her about Joshua’s divorce.
“That’s right,” he said, jutting his chin out. “About five years ago. It lasted all of eleven months. I’m no longer married.”
Honor knew the shock was showing on her face. Her entire life people had told her about her inability to hide her feelings. She was certain this moment wasn’t any exception. She was reacting to the fact that Joshua hadn’t married Violet’s mother. It wasn’t shocking in itself, but it didn’t gel with the Joshua Ransom she had once known.
Joshua Ransom was no longer her business. What difference did it make whether he was single or divorced or had a houseful of babies? It was none of her concern. He was nothing more than a faded memory to her.
“Dada,” Violet said in a sing-song voice, looking up at Joshua with a gummy smile.
“Hi there,” Honor said in a light voice, smiling at the blue-eyed charmer. “Aren’t you the sweetest little thing?”
Violet gifted her with a grin, then reached out and tugged at her hair. Honor let out a squeal as Violet grabbed a few strands and wrapped them around her fingers. The expression on Violet’s face was one of triumph.
“Easy there, Vi,” Joshua said with a low chuckle. He began disentangling Honor’s hair from Violet’s grasp. “She loves to latch onto things.”
“She’s beautiful,” Honor said, unable to take her eyes off the little girl. She looked dainty in her pink-and-purple onesie, yet her little body appeared to be sturdy and well nourished. From the looks of it, Joshua was doing a great job in the fatherhood department. There was a funny feeling stirring around in her belly.
“Thank you,” Joshua said. “She’s changed my life in ways I never could have imagined.” Joshua’s voice was filled with reverence. “On a cloudy day, this little lady can make the sun peek out past the clouds.”
“And her mother? Is she here, too?” she asked, her heart sinking at the idea of coming face-to-face with the woman who had given Joshua a child. It was a petty emotion, but Honor couldn’t ignore it. It was an unsettling feeling. After six long years she shouldn’t care about Joshua’s personal life.
Joshua’s expression hardened. His jaw tightened. “She passed away right after Violet was born. I’m raising her on my own.”
Guilt clawed at her. Moments ago she’d felt an emotion resembling jealousy. And now she had just discovered that Violet didn’t have a mother. The situation was heartbreaking. Joshua was a single father raising a baby daughter. And poor Violet would never know the woman who had given her life.
It was incredibly difficult to reconcile the man standing in front of her cradling Violet with the ex-fiancé who had run wild all over town, leaving mayhem in his wake. He had once stolen a car as a prank and broken into a Jarvis Street shop named Keepsakes on a dare. And in one final act of rebellion, he had gone too far and started a fire that had destroyed the town’s beloved church. A local man had sustained burns after trying to put out the blaze. There had been no going back for Joshua after that heinous act. It had earned him a one-way ticket out of Love.
She shook the painful memories off and focused on the present. “I’m sorry to hear that, Joshua. It’s terribly sad for both of you,” she said in a low voice.
“Yes. It’s not fair for Violet. She’ll never get to know her mother,” Joshua said. He sighed deeply. “Tomorrow is never promised, like Bud always said. Life keeps teaching me that lesson. I thought I’d be able to see my grandfather again. He had plans to fly to Seattle to visit Violet and me next month.” His mouth quirked. “That won’t happen now.”
There was nothing Honor could say. No words were necessary. They both knew from their own experiences how unfair life could be. At the age of eight, Joshua had lost a baby sister to leukemia while Honor had struggled throughout her life with having parents who were missing in action. But developing a relationship with God during her college years had strengthened her as a person. He had shown her that despite setbacks and disappointments, life was a beautiful journey.
Honor found her gaze straying back toward Violet time and again. She felt a wild impulse to ask Joshua if she could hold his daughter. She wanted to cradle her tightly in her arms and smell her forehead. Babies always smelled like powder and soap and fresh flowers. She knew it wasn’t true, but looking at Violet made her believe it.
Seeing Joshua’s child created an ache deep within her soul.
“I need to get back to the wildlife center,” Honor said, tearing her gaze away from Violet. She needed to get away from Violet and Joshua as quickly as possible. These tender feelings were making her feel all jumbled up inside. A feeling of intense loss swept over her. Thinking about the baby she’d lost was incredibly painful. Joshua’s child. Seeing Violet brought back those devastating memories. What she wouldn’t have given to have held her own child in her arms just once.
She had only come to the Diamond R Ranch today to meet with Lee about Bud’s will. Seeing Joshua had been a complete shock to the system. And finding out that Joshua had a sweet-faced baby girl had been quite the surprise. Her mind was still whirling about the terms of Bud’s will. It was all a little much for her to absorb at the moment.
Honor had no intention of allowing herself to get swept up in Joshua’s life. When she had ended their engagement, Honor had cut all ties with him. Joshua had torn her world apart and ripped her heart to shreds. Becoming invested in his life was a surefire way to blur the lines she had established between them. She couldn’t run the risk of falling for him all over again. The sight of him holding Violet threatened to wear down all her defenses. It made her wonder what kind of a father he would have been to their child.
Joshua eyed her warily. “Are you finished reading me the riot act?”
She locked gazes with him. “For now,” she said in a low voice. “I don’t want to startle Violet by raising my voice.” On impulse, she reached out and swept a finger across the baby’s cheek. She was soft and warm. She is more precious than rubies. Honor felt a tugging sensation in the region of her heart as she gazed upon the irresistible sight of Joshua’s baby girl.
“By the way, no decision has been made regarding the Diamond R,” Joshua said in a firm voice. “But make no mistake, Honor. Any decision I make will be in the best interest of Violet and her future. The moment I became her father she became my number one priority in this world. Bar none.”
She nodded in his direction as an acknowledgment of the sentiments he had just expressed. Putting his daughter first was noble. She had no idea what that meant for the future of the ranch. If she believed Joshua, its destiny still hung in the balance.
As Honor walked away from Joshua and Violet and out into the brisk February afternoon, a feeling of sadness swept over her. Six years ago she would have given anything to have this version of Joshua Ransom in her life. Steady. Devoted. Strong. Dependable. Instead, she had fallen for a rebellious rabble-rouser who had stolen her heart, then made a fool of her in front of her family and the whole town. Ever since then Honor had been wary of falling in love.
Tears pooled in her eyes as the dreams of her youth came rising back to the surface with a vengeance. She had once dreamed of forever with Joshua. She’d wanted the fairy tale—the white picket fence, the blue-eyed babies who were the spitting image of their father and a happily-ever-after. None of it had come true.
Her brothers had all found their happily-ever-afters. Boone had married the love of his life, Grace, and they now had a baby girl named Eva. Cameron had reunited with Paige and discovered he was a father to baby Emma. Liam had been given the greatest gift of all when he’d discovered that his wife, Ruby, who had been presumed dead in an avalanche, was alive and suffering from amnesia. Their reunion had been incredibly moving. Even Jasper had found everlasting love with Hazel. The list went on and on. Declan. Finn. Sophie. It was as if the whole world was coupling up and finding their happy endings. Everyone but her.
All this time Honor had been telling herself she didn’t want love in her life. But it had been a big lie. Being wounded by her failed relationship with Joshua had made her gun-shy. She wanted the same things her siblings had—promises of forever. But having all her dreams go up in flames six years ago had left her with permanent scars. Even though she had a good idea of the life she wanted to live, she had no idea how to reach out and grab it.
* * *
Once Honor left the ranch, Joshua brought Violet into the kitchen so he could whip up some lunch for her. Introducing Violet to his ex-fiancée had been a bit surreal. Two worlds colliding. He hadn’t bothered to tell Honor that Violet wasn’t his biological child. Truthfully, it wasn’t anyone’s business. In his heart, she was every bit his daughter. When his ex-wife, Lauren, had discovered she had a terminal illness, she had tracked him down and begged him to raise Violet. Although he hadn’t seen Lauren in over two years, Joshua had embraced her request. It had been the single best decision he’d ever made in his life.
Joshua let out a low chuckle as he placed his daughter in the wooden high chair he had retrieved from the attic. It looked like something from the Stone Age. He imagined his grandparents had used it for his own father and perhaps him and Theo as well. He had been surprised at its sturdiness. Built to last. He had always thought of the Diamond R Ranch in the same vein. Enduring.
Joshua placed Violet in the high chair, then bent over so he could place a kiss on her temple. “This thing might be old, but it does the job, doesn’t it, cutie pie?” Violet looked at him and gurgled. He took that as a yes.
Footsteps announced Theo’s arrival in the kitchen. His brother stood in the entryway with a huge grin on his face. With his dark head of hair and azure-colored eyes, Theo could easily pass for his twin. Growing up, they had constantly been confused for one another by teachers and townsfolk.
“Be careful, bro. You’re turning into a pile of mush,” Theo teased. “That little charmer has you wrapped around her finger.”
Joshua felt a slight twinge of embarrassment. He had always prided himself on being rugged and manly. That’s the way he and Theo had been raised. Now Theo had caught him in the act of cooing to his baby girl and mashing up peas and carrots and pastini for her lunch.
Why should he worry about what he looked like? He loved his daughter more than anything in this world. He had always cared way too much about his older brother’s opinion. Doing so hadn’t always been in Joshua’s best interest. It had ended up costing him a lot.
“Fatherhood changes a man,” he conceded, not even bothering to object to Theo’s observation. If being mushy brought him one step closer to being a phenomenal father, Joshua would assume the title as the mushiest guy in all of Alaska.
Theo took off his cowboy hat and rocked back on his heels. “Was that Honor Prescott I just saw beating a fast path away from here on a horse? She was riding like the wind itself was chasing her.”
Joshua didn’t really want to discuss Honor with his brother, but there was no way of avoiding it. Theo had made it clear on numerous occasions how he felt about his ex-fiancée. Stuck-up and highfalutin were two words he had regularly used to describe her. It had annoyed Joshua to no end. Theo hadn’t known Honor. Not the way Joshua had. She had been sweet and loyal and kind. The best person he’d ever known. And if he hadn’t messed things up so royally, she would have become his wife.
“Yes, it was Honor,” he admitted. “She came here to meet up with Lee. And then she blasted me regarding your meeting with the developers. She was really bent out of shape at the idea of us selling the Diamond R.” He hated the way Honor had made him feel. The way she had spoken to him had been harsh, as if he was a traitor to his grandfather and the entire town. Even though a part of him rejected her assessment of the situation, he still felt a bit tarnished by her judgment. Old habits died hard. Sadly, it was a familiar feeling in this town.
Theo’s expression hardened. “Same small-minded opinions,” he scoffed. “Some things never change. These people seem to think they have some say in the matter, when in reality it’s Ransom family business.”
“Please don’t tell me they’re really intending to open an Alaskan dude ranch,” Joshua said. “That’s about the cheesiest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“They mentioned it in passing,” Theo said with a shrug. “But, to be honest, it’s not my concern. What they do with the property is their business.”
Joshua frowned at his brother. “Sounds like you’ve already made up your mind. We’ve barely discussed it.”
Theo scoffed. “Is there really anything to think about? Let’s face it, Joshua. Neither one of us wants to live in this Podunk town. It would be about as exciting as watching paint dry to stay here. I for one could use a big fat check from this Texas corporation. They sound as if they’re ready to make a very lucrative offer and draw up contracts.”
Joshua’s head felt as if it was spinning. He’d barely been back in Love for twenty-four hours and not only had he inherited the Diamond R Ranch, but he might end up a millionaire if he agreed to sell the property. That type of money would be instrumental in raising Violet and paying for her future education.
Coming face-to-face with Honor had knocked him off balance. She represented all of his young hopes and dreams. There had never been another great love in his life after Honor Prescott. She had imprinted herself on his heart. And even though he shouldn’t care about her opinion, he still did. He wanted her to see the new and improved Joshua. It had hurt him to see such condemnation flashing in her eyes.
Everything was happening way too fast for his liking. The idea of selling his family’s ranch felt incredibly final. And if Honor was right, it wasn’t in accordance with his grandfather’s wishes. But Theo wanted to make the deal, collect the money and then head out of Dodge. It was a lot to process.
“Theo, I need some time to wrap my head around all of this. Why don’t we focus on the memorial service? After all, it’s the main reason we came here, isn’t it? To honor Gramps.”
Theo nodded. “You’re right. Let’s give him a fitting send-off.” He rubbed his hands together. “How about a rip-roaring barbecue at the ranch?”
“It’s February in Alaska. It’s far from barbecue weather.” Joshua chuckled. “How about a simple church service followed by a nice meal and fellowship with some of his friends?” Joshua suggested.
“A church service?” Theo asked with wide eyes. “Not sure we’d be welcome in church, Joshua. Not after what happened with the fire.”
“Our grandfather paid our debts at that church. He donated a hefty sum of money to have it rebuilt. I managed to dodge jail time due to my age, but I still had to attend a program for first-time offenders before I went overseas.” Joshua winced. He hated discussing that period of his life. It hadn’t been pretty. “Pastor Jack reached out to me and extended an olive branch. He wants us to host the memorial for Bud there. He was beloved in this town. Thankfully, the townsfolk could separate Gramps from the actions of his grandsons.” He shook his head, overwhelmed by the pastor’s generosity. Not many people would be gracious toward the man who they believed was responsible for burning down the town’s church.
“Joshua,” Theo said in a low voice. “Maybe it’s time for me to set the record straight. It’s not fair you’ve been blamed all this time for something I did.”
He waved a hand at his brother. “It’s water under the bridge. We made the decision to protect your army career. If I hadn’t claimed responsibility, you would have lost your military position.”
Theo made a strangled sound. “So instead you lost the woman you loved and were run out of town on a rail. It doesn’t seem fair, does it?”
Even after all these years it still hurt to think about the dissolution of his relationship with Honor and being disowned by his hometown. At the time, it had felt like the end of the world. It had forever altered the course of his life.
He shrugged. “I wasn’t exactly innocent, Theo. I was right there with you causing trouble. We had no business being in the church at night.”
“But I set the fire. You didn’t. I was playing around with my lighter and one of the hymnals. When the flame began raging out of control, I had no clue how to put it out. I was frightened.”
Joshua nodded. The event was indelibly imprinted on his mind. “So we ran. Probably the worst thing we could have done,” Joshua said. “The church might have been salvageable if we’d stuck around and called the authorities.” After all this time, he still felt guilty. If only he’d convinced Theo to alert law enforcement. If he was being honest with himself, he knew why he hadn’t done so. Sheriff Boone Prescott. He hadn’t wanted to give Honor’s brother the satisfaction of saying I-told-you-so to his fiancée. They had been caught anyway.
Joshua turned to Violet and spooned a mouthful of food into her mouth. Although he appreciated his brother’s desire to make amends, Joshua knew it wouldn’t do much good in the present. He had lost Honor because of one foolish decision that had spiraled out of control. The town had been rocked by the torched church and the knowledge that the fire had been started by one of their own.
Joshua raked his hand through his hair. Now he couldn’t hold back the groundswell of memories rising up inside him. “Zachariah Cummings spotted us as we fled the scene. He told the authorities I was the one covered in ash and fleeing the church. He mistook you for me. Same hair and eye color. Same build.”
“Zachariah tried to put out the fire by himself before the authorities arrived,” Theo said, a look of discomfort stamped on his face.
“He suffered serious burns,” Joshua said with a shake of his head. “He’s lucky to be alive.”
Theo groaned. “It was all my fault. And you took the fall because my stint in the army would have been over before it really began.”
The brothers locked gazes. So many words had been left unspoken between them. Joshua had taken the blame to protect his brother’s military future. As a result, he had lost everything. “But I’m no longer in the army, and you deserve to be vindicated.” Theo’s voice rang out with conviction.
“Theo, I’ve moved on since then. It won’t serve a single purpose to rehash the past and dig up old wounds. In a few weeks we’ll both be back home in Seattle and Los Angeles living our lives. I can’t imagine either one of us having a reason to come back here.” Just saying the words out loud caused a tightening sensation smack-dab in the center of his chest. It sounded so final.
For a few moments silence settled over the kitchen. Violet’s gibberish was the only sound in the room. She was in her own world and babbling away. Joshua imagined that Theo, much like himself, was consumed by the past, their grandfather’s passing and being back in their hometown. Not to mention the dilemma of whether or not to sell the Diamond R.
“We’ll have to contact Pastor Jack and get a list together of all his friends here in town,” Theo said, breaking the silence.
An invite list. He couldn’t help but think about Honor and her big, bustling family. They had always respected and admired his grandfather, but because of the bad feelings between himself and the Prescotts, Joshua wasn’t certain if they would attend the memorial service. It made his heart ache a little to think about it. Joshua hoped he hadn’t burned all of his bridges in his hometown.
For some reason, being a father had changed his views about Love. It hadn’t all been negative. He wanted Violet to know the place where he’d been born and raised. The Diamond R Ranch had been a huge part of his upbringing. He couldn’t change the way people felt about his past, but he wanted to show everyone that he had grown and matured.
Even though he had tried to convince himself that he was over the past, it still sat like an anchor on his chest. When he least expected it, memories rose up and threatened to drag him under. Pain. Loss. Heartache. One fateful decision that had altered the course of his young life. He had kicked himself a thousand times for not telling Honor the truth.
Even if he was only in Love for a short duration, Joshua intended to extinguish those painful memories before he headed back to Seattle. Since he’d left town he had worked tirelessly to make something of himself. He now owned a home construction business and he’d been flipping houses to bring in more income. He had stashed away a nice sum of money. In the next few months he intended to purchase a medium-sized starter home for himself and Violet. All in all, life was good.
His life had moved on in the aftermath of the dissolution of his relationship with Honor. When she had broken off their engagement, the very foundation of Joshua’s world crumbled. Although he had been forced to adjust to living without her, it had been the most difficult undertaking of his life.
She’s too good for you, Ransom.
Those words had been seared into his brain, courtesy of Sheriff Boone Prescott and his brothers. As much as he had hated Boone for being so blunt, Joshua had always known it had been true. Despite having loved her, Joshua knew he hadn’t been worthy of the reigning princess of Love, Alaska. Honor had been the shiny brass ring completely out of his reach. Against all odds, he had earned her love, which had made him the happiest man in all of Alaska. But love hadn’t been enough.
Joshua winced as bitter memories washed over him. In one reckless moment, Joshua had shown his complete unworthiness and given Honor no choice but to walk away from him. And even though he had moved on, Joshua still wasn’t over it. Not by a long shot.
Chapter Three (#uc03168e4-130a-50c3-af96-f8f722778bb3)
Honor drove her truck down the snowy streets of downtown Love and hummed to the upbeat tune on the radio. It felt nice to be out and about on a chilly Saturday afternoon. Having brunch with her family provided a well-needed pick-me-up. She had become so isolated working and living out at the wildlife center. As much as she loved her job, it was important to stop every now and again to smell the forget-me-nots.
Her family had been advising her to get out more and start socializing with the townsfolk. Honor knew exactly what it meant. Everyone wanted her to find a nice Alaskan man to settle down and start a family with. It was easier said than done. So far she hadn’t been able to let go of the past in order to embrace her future. Her heart had been encased in ice for quite some time. And whenever she thought about opening up to someone, fear of the past repeating itself kept her in the safe zone. It was far better to be single than to be brokenhearted.
As soon as she crossed the threshold of the Moose Café, the tempting smells of freshly brewed coffee and baked bread rose to her nostrils. There was already a bustling crowd scattered about the establishment. Her brother Cameron’s café was a very successful eatery here in town. Everyone loved the coffee, the food and the relaxed atmosphere. Honor was proud of her older brother for living out his dreams and pushing past all the self-doubt.
“Honor! It’s nice to see you.” Sophie Catalano, Honor’s dear friend and a waitress-barista at the Moose Café, warmly greeted her. “You barely show your face around here anymore.”
“Hey, Sophie,” Honor said, wrapping her arms around the beautiful redhead for a warm hug. “It’s great to see you. I’ve been so busy at the wildlife center it’s hard to get to town most days.”
“I understand,” Sophie said with a smile. “You’re doing important work over there. Ruby was raving about your workshop on birds of prey. Aidan was mighty impressed,” she said, referring to Honor’s seven-year-old nephew.
“Wait till he finds out we have some lynx kittens that were orphaned and injured in a fire. He’s such a compassionate little boy. I know he’ll want to come see them as soon as he can get over there.” Just the thought of the lynx kittens made Honor smile. It had been so fortunate that a local firefighter, Hank Jeffries, had managed to rescue them from the fire. They were now out of danger and on their way to a full recovery.
“You’re pretty much the bee’s knees as far as Aidan is concerned,” Sophie said.
Honor grinned so wide her cheeks hurt with the effort. “I think that’s probably the best compliment I’ve ever received.” Just the thought of her nephew and nieces filled Honor with joy. Her brothers had made her such a proud auntie. Family meant the world to her and God had blessed her with all of these connections.
“If you’re looking for your brothers, they’re sitting over there with Jasper,” Sophie said, nodding in the direction of a table in the back. Honor followed Sophie’s gaze, smiling at the sight of all three of her brothers sitting with her grandfather, along with Declan and Finn O’Rourke, close friends of all the Prescotts. None of her sisters-in-law were present, which made Honor the only female in attendance. She looked around for Hazel. It always felt nice to have some extra estrogen when surrounded by Prescott and O’Rourke men.
Honor walked over to the table and quietly joined her family. She was greeted by a chorus of enthusiastic voices. Warmth settled in her chest. This was home, she thought. A place where you were greeted with joy and open arms. Unconditional love. She settled into a seat beside Boone and Liam. It felt nice to be surrounded by family and good friends. She felt safe and protected from the slings and arrows of life. Honor might disagree with them from time to time, but when times were tough, they all had each other’s backs.
Hazel—Jasper’s wife and a surrogate mother to Honor and her siblings—strolled over to the table clutching papers against her chest. She looked around the table and flashed a wide smile. “Morning everyone. Glad you could all make it. Isn’t it nice to get together and break bread? I can’t wait for you to taste my new jalapeño corn fritters.”
Jasper looked at Hazel. “You know I don’t like spicy food. It gives me heartburn. Can you please just cut to the chase and tell us why you organized this brunch? You’re about as transparent as glass. It’s obvious you have something up your sleeve.”
Hazel slapped Jasper on the shoulder, causing him to let out a yelp. “Old Jasper here is right. I’ve made up some flyers and I’m going to be distributing them to our customers today. Then I’m going to hang some up at the church on the announcement board.”
“If this is about your over-the-top birthday party,” Jasper groused, “we already know you’ve planned your own shindig. Everyone has already saved the date and placed it on their calendars.”
“Once again, you’re wrong, Jasper.” Hazel swung her gaze around the table. “To be frank, I really don’t want to hear any grumbling about this. I just wanted to give you all a heads-up.” She placed the papers down on the table with a thump, then eyeballed everyone as if daring them to say something.
Honor picked up one of the flyers. It had the café’s logo at the top. She read the words out loud. “Home-going reception in honor of Bud Ransom.”
Liam sputtered as he drank his coffee. “Here? At the Moose Café?” he asked, his eyes bulging.
Cameron held up his hands. “Don’t blame me. I had nothing to do with it. I just own the joint,” he muttered.
“Was this all your idea, Hazel?” Honor asked with a frown. Never in a million years would she have imagined that the Ransom brothers would be welcome at the Moose Café. It felt like something in the universe had shifted.
Hazel grinned. “Yep. It was all me. I figured after the memorial service we could all come here for some refreshments and fellowship. Joshua and Theo were at the church looking for a place to hold a reception, so I suggested they have it here.”
“What in the world did you do that for?” Jasper asked. “Those Ransom boys are nothing but trouble. Always have been. Always will be. And I can’t believe either one of ’em had the nerve to step inside a church.”
Honor cringed at the harsh tone of her grandfather’s voice. By force of habit she opened her mouth to stick up for Joshua, then quickly shut it. It wasn’t her job to take up for Joshua anymore. Those days were long over.
“To be fair,” Liam said, “that was a long time ago. None of us would want to be judged by our worst moment.”
Honor ached at the sincerity in her brother’s voice. Of all her siblings, Liam was the one who was the most forgiving. As a physician, he didn’t have the luxury to judge others. All who sought medical help from him were treated with equal kindness and dedication.
“Bud was a fine man, but that’s where it ends as far as his family is concerned,” Boone said, folding his arms across his chest. “Theo and Joshua haven’t been part of the fabric of this town for quite some time. They burned those bridges a long time ago, no pun intended. I’m surprised they’d want to host something here.”
Declan flashed a pearly grin. “It might be fun to toss them out on their ears for old time’s sake,” he said with a laugh.
“You should be ashamed of yourselves!” Hazel barked. “Not an ounce of charity to spare, is that it? Those boys just suffered a great loss. Haven’t you ever heard that once you’re a part of this town you’re always welcomed home with open arms? It’s practically the town motto.”
“Nope,” Cameron said with a shake of his head. “Can’t say I have.” He squinted at Hazel. “Are you sure you didn’t just make that up on the spot?”
Hazel glared at him. “I’m not even going to dignify that with an answer. We’re going to let those boys host the reception right here at the Moose.”
“They’re not exactly boys anymore,” Finn said with a snort.
“Troublemakers is what they are,” Jasper roared. “I can’t think of a single good thing either of those two ever contributed to this town. They weren’t happy unless they were causing mayhem and madness.” He shook his fist in the air. “You mark my words! If they stick around Love, they’ll be up to no good in no time.” He swung his gaze toward Honor. “You should thank the Lord Almighty that you didn’t marry that scoundrel.”
Honor gulped. She didn’t even want to think about how angry her family would be when they found out Joshua and Theo were courting an offer from a developer to purchase the Diamond R Ranch. She feared Jasper just might have a coronary. He’d already had one heart attack a few years ago. For the moment she was keeping quiet about it. After all, nothing had been decided. And she really didn’t want to raise Jasper’s blood pressure. The news would surely put everyone on edge.
Hazel planted her hands on her hips. “The last time I checked, I have some say around here. Long story short, I’ve invited the Ransom brothers to have a reception here after the memorial service. I don’t want to hear another word about it.”
Everything stilled and hushed for a moment as the news settled in. Even Jasper kept quiet. There was a don’t-mess-with-me vibe radiating from Hazel. No one wanted to see her erupt.
“Well, we might as well order some food,” Boone mumbled. “I came over here expecting to be fed. And I know better than to fight with you, Hazel.”
“I sure wish Jasper would get that memo,” Hazel said, letting out a delighted cackle. “I keep telling him he needs to be sweeter to me since my birthday is coming up. He might not make it onto the invite list.”
Jasper grumbled and buried his head in the menu, refusing to meet his wife’s gaze. Honor knew her grandfather’s anger was genuine. He really disliked both Ransom brothers. Honor knew part of the reason was tied up in her history with Joshua, while another reason lay in Jasper’s title as town mayor. It was impossible for her grandfather to respect people who he felt weren’t law-abiding citizens. Being responsible for the destruction of the town’s church had been unforgiveable in Jasper’s eyes. Not to mention the fact that Jasper’s close friend Zachariah had been hurt in the fire.
Honor let out a sigh. Jasper wasn’t the only one. The majority of the townsfolk in Love had vowed to run Joshua out of town on a rail. It hadn’t come to that since Joshua had packed up his things and left Love after she’d broken things off with him.
Brunch was a solemn affair. Everyone dug in to their food and tried to focus on anything but the elephant in the room. At the end of the meal, everyone got up and dispersed without lingering for conversation or fellowship. A disgruntled vibe hung in the air. It made Honor feel uncomfortable. She didn’t like her family to be at odds. For a long time after her breakup with Joshua, Honor had been angry at Boone. She had irrationally blamed him for her broken engagement and all the troubles with Joshua. It had taken quite a while for Honor to forgive her brother for opposing their relationship.
As she stood up to leave, Liam placed his arm around her and pulled her off to the side. “How do you feel about all of this? It must be strange to have Joshua back in Love after all this time.”
“It’s fine,” she murmured, meeting Liam’s skeptical gaze. She shrugged. “I’ll admit it is kind of odd. Seeing him for the first time was surreal. And finding out he has a baby kind of threw me for a loop.”
“A baby?” Liam asked. “I heard he had one of those quickie marriages a few years back, but if I recall correctly, they split up shortly after the wedding.”
Honor wrinkled her nose. “You’re right. He isn’t married any longer. And he’s raising baby Violet on his own because her mother died.”
Liam winced. “That’s tough. I know what it’s like to raise a child by myself. When Ruby was presumed dead, I was both father and mother to Aidan.” He scratched his jaw. “It wasn’t easy.”
“No,” Honor said, squeezing her brother’s arm. “I know you went through some hard times. Despite what went down between myself and Joshua, I don’t want him to suffer the same way you did.”
Liam narrowed his gaze as he looked at her. “Honor, I hope you maintain a safe distance from Joshua.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“You have a heart that’s as wide open as the Alaskan tundra. I don’t want you to get hurt again.” Liam didn’t need to say anything else. It was written all over his handsome face. Her brothers had always been her protectors. Years ago they had tried in vain to get between her and Joshua. Like most young women who were head over heels in love, Honor had been stubborn and intractable. She had felt such resentment toward her brothers for trying to sabotage her youthful romance. There had been no convincing her of the unsuitability of Joshua Ransom.
She had been blind to Joshua’s flaws until everything exploded in her face.
“He’s only come back for the memorial,” she said in a clipped tone. “And, believe it or not, I’ve moved past my relationship with Joshua.” She let out a brittle-sounding laugh. “We were kids back then.”
Liam nodded. “Kids who were crazy in love,” he noted.
Crazy in love. It was an apt description for the way she had felt about Joshua. And the way he had felt about her in return. They had been madly, deeply, happily in love.
All of sudden Hazel appeared at their side, allowing Honor a reprieve from having to come up with a response to Liam’s statement. There was no doubt about it. She and Joshua had been so committed to one another that they had dreamed of getting married and spending their lives together. He had proposed to Honor and put a ring on her finger. Their relationship had been so much more intense than youthful infatuation. Even though she had tried to minimize those feelings over the years in order to make herself feel better about the way things had crashed and burned, it had been the real deal.
Hazel cleared her throat. “Liam. Do you mind if I have a word with Honor?”
“Of course not,” Liam said. He winked at Hazel. “She’s all yours.”
Once they were alone, Hazel began shifting from one foot to the other. A sheepish expression crept over her face.
“Honor, I think I might owe you an apology. Jasper, bless his heart, isn’t always on target, but he pointed out that I was wrong to offer the Moose Café to Joshua without checking with you first.” She bit her lip. “I know how hard it was when things ended between you and Joshua. Never in a million years would I ever want to cause you any pain.”
“Please don’t worry about me. I’m fine. I think it was very generous of you to offer the Moose Café to Joshua and Theo.”
She groaned. “You’re just being nice. I’m sorry if I made a mess of things. Sometimes I try too hard to do what I think is right,” she muttered. “Maybe I should have just left things alone.”
Honor reached out and took her hand. “Hazel. You didn’t do anything wrong. Joshua and I are six years older and wiser. We’ve both moved on with our lives. What kind of woman would I be if I begrudged them the use of the café for Bud’s reception?” No matter what had transpired between her and Joshua in the past, Honor couldn’t allow it to change who she was as a person. She had cared for Joshua’s grandfather. Bud had been her friend.
“That’s very mature of you. Can you do me a favor and ask your brothers to kick their vendetta to the curb?” She made a tutting sound. “They need to just let it go already. Joshua was a boy of eighteen when he started that fire. It was a terrible accident and he paid dearly for it.”
“Yes, he did,” Honor murmured, knowing Hazel was referencing her.
“Call me a softie, but life is too short to harbor bitterness in one’s heart.”
“Old grudges are silly. I don’t want anyone feuding on my account. The way I figure it, if I can be civil to Joshua, no one else has the right to act up.” She chewed on her lip. “And I hate to say it, but there could be a legitimate reason for tensions to heighten in the near future.”
Hazel frowned. “Do I dare ask what you’re talking about?”
Honor bit her lip. “I don’t want to gossip, but you’ll find out soon enough. Bud didn’t sign the ranch over to the town and the preservation society. Joshua and Theo are his heirs. And they’re considering selling the Diamond R to a Texas developer.”
Hazel’s eyes bulged. “No! That can’t be right!”
“Unfortunately it is. I heard it straight from Lee’s mouth and then Joshua confirmed it.” She made a face. “Some outfit from Texas wants to create a posh dude ranch on the property. It seems as if everyone wants a piece of our little fishing village these days.”
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