HIS NEW WESTERN HOME
Lila Jenkinsâs Montana ranching town roots run deep. So why does the widowed B and B owner feel so connected to her latest boarder? Seth Maxwell might know his way around horses, but heâs a wanderer, not a rancher. Lilaâs son thinks Sethâs the hero heâs been waiting for. Andâheaven help herâso does Lila.
Seth loves hunting for rare gems in remote areas, but maybe itâs time to make a change. The footloose adventurer is tempted by rumors of sapphires in a nearby mine, but itâs Lila and her boy who make Snowy Owl Crossing and the idea of a ranch to share feel like home...
Rory zeroed in on the bat in Sethâs hand and the ball in a mitt lying on the porch.
âOh, wow! Are these mine?â he asked, his eyes huge and his freckles standing out against his pale face.
âThey are. And itâs still light enough for us to try them out,â Seth said, glancing at Lila, who moved at a much slower pace toward the steps.
She shifted her purse to the other shoulder and seemed to take in everything before stepping up. âOhâ¦ohâ¦that rosebush is beautiful. Where did it come from?â She brushed past her son, who turned to spot what she was exclaiming over.
âI passed a nursery after I left the sporting-goods store. The rose called to me,â Seth said, deliberately making light of the agony he went through to choose it.
âItâs perfect there,â she said, her eyes shiny with tears. âI donât know why I never thought to buy something to decorate the porch. Itâs the very touch needed to greet guests. Iâve no idea what it cost, Seth, but you must let me reimburse you.â
âThe rose is a gift.â
Iâve been to Montana and have set books there before, so my fictional town of Snowy Owl Crossing has characteristics of other ranching towns Iâve traveled through. As in all small communities, itâs the people who live and work there that make it a place youâd want to visit and maybe even settle down. Itâs the same in A Maverickâs Heart.
Seth Maxwell came for his brotherâs wedding, liked the area and was drawn to Lila Jenkins, owner of the B and B where he rents a room. Seth has never set down roots, instead traveling to exotic places finding and selling precious and semiprecious gems.
Lila, a widow with a nine-year-old son, has deep roots in Snowy Owl Crossing. She struggles to hang on to the Owlâs Nest, which she bought before her husband died in a mine collapse. A mine where Seth has heard previous gem hunters found sapphires.
Ah, can you see rocks, not gems, along the road to Seth and Lila falling in love? I hope you enjoy their story. As in His Ranch or Hers, my depiction of the snowy owls is tied to the group of friends who wants to ensure a habitat for the birds that long ago arrived and originally took up residence in abandoned eaglesâ nests, some returning year after year.
As always I love hearing from readers via mail at 7739 E. Broadway Blvd #101, Tucson, AZ 85710-3941, or email at [email protected].
Sincerely,
ROZ DENNY FOXâS first book was published by Harlequin in 1990. She writes for several Harlequin lines and her books are published worldwide in a number of languages. Rozâs warm home-and-family-focused love stories have been nominated for various industry awards, including the Romance Writers of Americaâs RITA® Award, the Holt Medallion, the Golden Quill and others. Roz has been a member of the Romance Writers of America since 1987 and is currently a member of Tucsonâs Saguaro Romance Writers, where she has received the Barbara Award for outstanding chapter service. In 2013 Roz received her fifty-book pin from Harlequin. Readers can email her through Facebook or at [email protected], or visit her website at korynna.com/rozfox.
Iâd like to dedicate this story to the wonderful
gem people who put on the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show every year. The more years I attend, the more I love seeing gems and minerals from all over the world.
Chapter One
Lila Jenkins bustled around the Snowy Owl Café, straightening up after her womenâs group, the Artsy Ladies, ended their meeting. âRory,â she called to her nine-year-old son. He was in the kitchen with his grandmother. âCollect your homework and bring your backpack. Itâs almost time to go home.â
The lanky kid dragged his pack into the café. âMom, tomorrow can I go to ball practice? Coach told Kemper if I watch, Iâll learn what Little Leaguers do.â
She paused. âItâs supposed to rain. If so, wonât the coach cancel practice again?â
Three of the women whoâd been at the meeting said goodbye. Tawana Whitefeather still stood at the kitchen pass-through chatting with Lilaâs mother.
Waving to those leaving, Lila still saw her sonâs pout that ran his many cheek freckles together. âIâm never gonna get to play ball on Kemperâs team, am I?â