His Ranch Or Hers

FROM GREEN BERET TO GREENHORN

Myra Odell’s parents have given away her Montana ranch—to a tenderfoot. Lieutenant Zeke Maxwell may have saved her brother’s life, but he doesn’t know the first thing about cattle. For the sake of the ranch, Myra agrees to train Zeke, but she’s determined not to get too close.

The military taught Zeke a lot of things, but ranching wasn’t one of them. Zeke is impressed by Myra’s experience and courage...but seriously distracted by her beautiful eyes. Her claim on the Flying Owl is complicated, as is her claim on his heart. Can he prove to Myra that the ranch will never be his home without her?

“Are you hurt?” Zeke knelt close beside Myra.

“Only my pride.” She stood, wiping wet snow from her jeans. “Cayenne’s never thrown me before.”

“If you’re sure you’re okay to ride, come on.” Zeke boosted her up onto Ember’s back. “We’ll ride double.”

“I can sit behind you,” Myra said, attempting to swing down again.

“Stay. We’ve gotta make tracks home and I want to know you’re not so woozy you’ll fall off.” He landed in the saddle behind her.

Myra tried to keep from leaning against Zeke, but snuggled between his solid thighs and cradled by his arms, she relaxed against her will.

“It’s really dark now,” Zeke said, his breath rustling Myra’s hair. “Do you think your horse will head straight to the ranch?”

“I hope so.” Myra turned slightly to look at him. Part of her liked the comfort afforded by Zeke Maxwell’s strong arms. Another part of her whispered, But he’s the enemy.

Dear Reader,

The theme idea for the Snowy Owl Ranchers books started when I read a great article in National Wildlife magazine about a study done on snowy owls in the lower forty-eight. Snowy owls used to nest only in the cold lands of the far north. The study shows these gorgeous birds are having to travel farther afield for food and nesting.

Book characters generally come to me in the night. Odd as it may sound to people who don’t write down stories that pop into their minds, the town of Snowy Owl Crossing is fictional, as are all of the people who populate His Ranch or Hers, the first of three connected books for the Mills & Boon American Romance line.

I hope readers come to love the owls as I have and also develop a fondness for folks like Zeke Maxwell, Myra Odell, and their friends and family who live and work in my fictional Montana ranching community.

As always I love hearing from readers via mail at 7739 E. Broadway Blvd #101 Tucson, AZ 85710-3941, or email: [email protected].

Sincerely,

His Ranch or Hers

Roz Denny Fox

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ROZ DENNY FOX’s first book was published by Harlequin in 1990. She writes for several Harlequin lines and her books are published worldwide and in a number of languages. Roz’s warm home-and-family-focused love stories have been nominated for various industry awards, including the Romance Writers of America’s 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 Tucson’s 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.

I want to thank the hardworking editors at Harlequin who have so kindly shared my vision for the Snowy Owl books and others. Always to Paula Eykelhof and Kathleen Scheibling. Also to Dana Hopkins, and to Victoria Curran for whom I have written stories for the Harlequin Heartwarming line. Harlequin books across all lines are my favorite books to read.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

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

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Myra Odell parked the tractor in the implement barn and went out to the fenced acres of grass. Recent rains had greened the pasture nicely. Good. Maybe tomorrow she’d bring the new crop of young animals down to ready them for market. Her neighbor Hank Watson had offered to truck them to the stockyard before winter storms hit northeastern Montana. With August close to the end, she’d still hoped for a few more weeks of decent weather. But all morning the sky had looked ominous. She’d gotten fairly good at predicting weather disruptions. She’d grown up in this country, and for most of her twenty-eight years she’d spent summers here on Flying Owl Ranch with her dad’s parents. Three summers ago she’d come to help out Gramps, who’s health had declined after her grandmother passed away the previous year.

Rather than return to teaching high school math in Great Falls that year, she’d stayed to run the ranch she loved. Her mom fussed about it, but truth be told Myra liked cattle ranching way more than teaching. Although after losing Gramps, the loneliness took some getting used to. Thankfully, she’d made friends with neighbors and some in the nearby town of Snowy Owl Crossing. And Gramps said she was a born rancher. Which was good because Myra saw herself spending the rest of her life right here.