Home Free
His first taste of freedom was only the beginning…Arch Hoffman has paid for his crimes. All he wants is to come home to rural California and start over. He's not looking to be a hero when he rescues a wedding cake from hitting the dirt at the ranch next door. But culinary artist Mandy Allen's irresistible smile makes him glad to save the day—and thankful that they're neighbors.Mandy's just the distraction Arch needs. Her sweet voice quiets the memories that threaten his chance to be a better man, and he's determined to help her confront her fears. But the past is its own prison, and even love might not be enough to set them free.
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His first taste of freedom was only the beginning...
Arch Hoffman has paid for his crimes. All he wants is to come home to rural California and start over. Heâs not looking to be a hero when he rescues a wedding cake from hitting the dirt at the ranch next door. But culinary artist Mandy Allenâs irresistible smile makes him glad to save the dayâand thankful that theyâre neighbors.
Mandyâs just the distraction Arch needs. Her sweet voice quiets the memories that threaten his chance to be a better man, and heâs determined to help her confront her fears. But the past is its own prison, and even love might not be enough to set them free.
âArch, wait!â
He turned, surprised, and saw Mandy hurrying after him. In her hand was a plate filled with an enormous slice of cake. He started back toward her, admiring how elegant she looked in that wine-colored dress.
âHere.â She held out the plate. âYou saved it from falling. You earned a slice.â She was a little out of breath, as if sheâd jogged, cake and all, to catch him.
He tried to remember the last time someone had reached out to him like this to show him a kindness. He couldnât. âYouâre a good person.â He blurted it out like an awkward kid. He had no experience with generosity.
âI just made a whole lot of wedding cake.â Her smile was fleeting, but kind.
âWell, this will make the walk home a whole lot better.â
There was silence while they looked at each other. He needed to let her get back to her sisterâs wedding. âNice to meet you, Mandy. Thanks for sticking up for me back there.â
âOf course.â She took a step back and waved. âWelcome home, Arch.â
Sometimes the best way to find a story is to ask a simple two-word question. What if? Those two words were how Home Free came to be.
When I first thought about the Sierra Legacy series, I planned just two booksâthe stories of Nora and Wade Hoffman. But then that tricky what-if question popped into my mind. What if one of the older Hoffman brothers didnât flee to Mexico after all? What if he made another choice? And most of all, what if he came home again?
I couldnât resist answering those questions. So now I offer you Arch Hoffmanâs story. At first I was nervous to write it. How could I make someone whoâd done such terrible things into the hero of a romance novel? But as I got to know Arch, I came to love him, and I hope you do, too. Heâs served his time, paid his dues and is ready to start his life again. But he quickly learns that freedom means a lot more than just walking through the prison gates. Itâs something heâll fight for every day.
And the woman who steals his heart? Sheâs been trapped in a different kind of prison, with thick, stifling walls of loss, fear and doubt. Meeting Arch changes everything. Love changes everything. It might even have the power to set them both free.
Thank you for giving Arch a chance. I hope you enjoy Home Free.
Claire McEwen
PS: If you would like to learn more about organizations that help people adjust to life after prison, please visit the Resources page on my website, clairemcewen.com. I love hearing from readers, so please stop by the Contact page while youâre there if youâd like to connect on social media or via email.
CLAIRE McEWEN lives by the ocean in Northern California with her husband, son and a scruffy, mischievous terrier, whose unique looks and goofy hijinks provided inspiration for an important character in Return to Marker Ranch. When not dreaming up new stories, Claire can be found digging in her garden with a lot of enthusiasm but, unfortunately, no green thumb. She loves discovering flea-market treasures, walking on the beach, dancing, traveling and reading, of course! Claire enjoys Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and likes musing about writing and all things romantic on her blog, Romance All Around Us. Please visit her website, clairemcewen.com, for more information.
For anyone who has to overcome the past so they can reach for the future.
And for my sisters.
Contents
WHEN MANDY ALLEN planned her sisterâs perfect wedding, she never imagined crying alone in their ranch house kitchen with only the wedding cake for company. But those were definitely tears sliding down her cheeks. And if they didnât stop soon, mascara would stripe her face like a zebraâs. Mandy dabbed her eyes with the hem of her apron, appalled by the black smudges. Self-pity never looked good on anyone.
The problem wasnât the cake. That was her masterpiece, despite the anxiety that had almost kept her from finishing it. Anxiety that crackled and fizzed like a bad-reception radio set to her own personal self-doubt channel, reminding her that sheâd never done this kind of baking before. What if it was a disaster? What if it tasted terrible? What if it looked terrible?
