Cadeâs jaw clenched, a muscle ticking. âYou could have been killed.â
âBut I wasnât,â Mariah said stubbornly. âAnd you wouldnât be yelling if this had happened to anyone else on the crew.â
His eyes flared with heat and before Mariah could blink, he wrapped his arms around her, hauled her up against his hard body and took her mouth with his.
The kiss wasnât sweet, nor cajoling, nor slowly sensual. It was purely carnal and reeked of domination and desperation.
Mariah reeled under the instant surge of heat that flooded her, but she fought the need to give in to the desire to meet lust with lust and struggled to get her hands between them to push at his chest. He was immovable.
Dear Reader,
Like many little girls, I adored horses and cowboys, but I truly fell in love with Montana at the age of five when my family moved onto my great-uncleâs homestead in Butte Creek. Iâve been fascinated by the American West ever since and I was so pleased when Mills & Boon>® agreed to let me write another miniseries set in Montana. This first story in the BIG SKY BROTHERS belongs to Cade Coulterâeldest of four sons born to Joseph Coulter. When Joseph dies, Cade is the first to come home to the Triple C Ranch in Indian Springs, Montana, where the brothers grew up. Cade and his brothers must find a way to pay inheritance taxes or theyâll lose the ranch thatâs been in their family for generations.
Fortunately Cade has alliesâone of whom is beautiful Mariah Jones. Though he questions her motives, he canât ignore the passion between them.
I hope you enjoy Cadeâs story and that youâll join me soon for the story of the second brother to return to MontanaâZach Coulter, who brings his special brand of expertise to aid in the struggle to save the huge Triple C Ranch he loves.
Warmly,
Lois
Cade Coulter leaned against the fender of his old pickup truck, arms crossed over his chest as he stared at the closed door of the Triple C ranch house. His younger brother Zach was still inside.
What the hell is taking him so long? Cade glanced impatiently at his wristwatch. Itâs seven oâclock.
The June sunshine was already warm on his face. He slipped aviator sunglasses on his nose, turning his head to sweep the ranch yard with a swift, assessing glance. The Triple C was the biggest ranch in northeast Montana. Heâd been born and raised here and every day of his twenty-two years had been spent riding over the Coulter Cattle Companyâs vast acres, working cattle under the hot sun of summer and the cold wind of winter snows.
But he and his three brothers had made a pactâtheyâd all sworn to stay on the ranch only until the youngest, Eli, had graduated from high school. And last night, Eli had walked across the stage to collect his diploma. This morning, Cade was leaving the Triple C and Montana for good. He doubted heâd ever be back. He swept a longer, slower glance over the buildings clustered around a central graveled yard. Heâd helped paint the big barn, house, bunkhouse and assorted outbuildings more times than he could count.
His gaze reached the grove of trees beyond the barn and halted. Hidden behind the green leaves and sturdy trunks was his motherâs shuttered studio and the creek that flowed past it.
A sharp stab of grief edged with guilt sliced through him. But with the stoicism and relentless control gained over the ten years since his motherâs death, he instantly sealed the emotions away. Heâd learned long ago that regrets were useless.
âCade.â
He turned to see his two youngest brothers, Brodie and Eli, loping down the steps of the bunkhouse before striding toward him across the ranch yard.
âYou two ready to go?â he asked as they neared, noting the duffel bags each had slung over their shoulders.
âYeah.â Eliâs green gaze flicked over the four pickups parked in front of the house. âWhereâs Zach?â
âHeâs still inside.â Cade saw the swift frown that creased Eliâs brow.
âLetâs go get him.â Brodieâs voice was curt.
Eli nodded and walked through the open gate to the house yard, up the curved sidewalk to the porch.
Cade and Brodie followed him.
âWas Dad drinking when you got in last night?â Cade asked.
âDonât know,â Brodie replied. âI didnât get home till after two this morning and I slept in the bunkhouse.â He nodded at Eliâs broad back ahead of them. âSo did Eli.â
They jogged up the steps, joining Eli as he opened the door. All three of them stepped over the threshold, Cade first, just as Zach, the oldest of his three younger brothers, came down the stairs, a bulging duffel bag in one hand.