His Montana Homecoming

Snowbound with a millionaire

Faith Shaw can’t wait for another hometown Thanksgiving with the good people of Jasper Gulch. Turkey, mashed potatoes, apple pie—and this year’s centennial celebration. Yet there’s one person who isn’t happy to be there: Dale Massey, the Shaw family’s reluctant houseguest. When a winter storm strands the big-city millionaire in Montana, he is far from pleased. But the mayor’s daughter suspects Dale’s all-business attitude is masking a deeper hurt. Faith can’t help but feel he was sent to Jasper Gulch for a reason. Can an old-fashioned girl and some holiday tradition help bring

his weary heart home?

BIG SKY CENTENNIAL: A small town rich in history…and love

It’s Homecoming Weekend

in Jasper Gulch. Please Join Us As We Salute the Descendants of Our Town’s Founding Fathers!

It’s been generations since a Massey has set foot in Jasper Gulch, Montana, and the whole town is abuzz over the arrival of Dale Massey, great-great-grandson of one of the town’s founders. One hundred years later and people are still talking about the feud that caused a rift between the Masseys and the Shaws.

But now they are also talking about a possible connection between a Massey and a Shaw: Dale Massey and Faith Shaw, to be precise. What would a millionaire real estate broker want with the sweet small-town violinist? Has history come full circle? Or will Dale leave town when the photo ops are done, leaving Faith and her loving heart behind?

* * *

Big Sky Centennial:

A small town rich in history…and love.

His Montana Homecoming by Jenna Mindel—November 2014

JENNA MINDEL

lives in northwest Michigan with her husband and their three dogs. She enjoys a career in banking that has spanned twenty-five years and several positions, but writing is her passion. A 2006 Romance Writers of America RITA® Award finalist, Jenna has answered her heart’s call to write inspirational romances set near the Great Lakes.

His Montana Homecoming

Jenna Mindel

www.millsandboon.co.uk

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.

—Genesis 28:15

To my fellow authors Valerie Hansen, Ruth Logan Herne, Carolyne Aarsen, Brenda Minton and Arlene James—thank you for your insight, your wealth of knowledge, your patience, but most of all your friendship. It has been a pleasure!

To Sherry Linnerooth, Executive Director of the Bozeman Symphony, thank you for taking the time to answer my many questions. Your insight is greatly appreciated.

To Rob, thank you for all the interesting little details like candles in the car and talc mines.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Dale Massey yawned. He was used to traveling, even overseas, but today’s flight to Bozeman, Montana, had wiped him out. During the layover in Denver, he’d managed to get some work done but not nearly enough to satisfy him.

Grabbing his suitcase in baggage claim, Dale headed for the rental-car counter. It didn’t take long. The airport was small. Wood-beamed ceilings were a novel touch as well as the stonework and robust-patterned carpet. He’d heard that Montana was rugged land, but he’d take Fifth Avenue any day.

In New York, he knew what to expect. And no one expected him to care. He hadn’t earned the nickname Dale the Coldheart by shying away from the hard calls in business. His ability to cut through the frills was the reason his father made him in charge of delivering the uncomfortable decisions made by Massey International.

Ten minutes later, Dale kept his voice low and controlled. No need to ever rant. Dale always got what he wanted. “Check again. I have a BMW reserved.”

“I’m sorry, but we have no record of that, sir.” The young woman’s face grew red.

With embarrassment or fear, Dale wasn’t sure. He knew his assistant, and Jeannie never let him down. Reserving the 528 Bimmer was a given. The mistake had to be on the rental service, one of only two in the airport.

“Then what do you have available?”

Now the girl looked scared. “An economy car, sir. We’re waiting for more vehicles to arrive, just like the other car rental store.”

He’d fare no better with their competitor, then. Shaking his head, he signed the paperwork. “How do you run out of cars?”

“It’s a big week at the ski resorts and there’s this homecoming in Jasper Gulch—”

“I get it.” Dale held up his hand to stop the service clerk’s overly chipper-sounding rattle.

The girl did her job.

It wasn’t her fault that Dale had to represent the Massey family in Jasper Gulch. In an economy rental, no less.

She gave him the keys with trembling fingers. “Right through those double doors. You can’t miss the car. It’s yellow but it has a turbo engine, no extra charge.”