The Rancher's Prospect
Digging a little deeperRunning his family's ranch has always been Josh McGregor's dream. Dealing with his feisty grandfather, however, is not. Josh is struggling to maintain control, and ranch manager Tara Livingston doesn't help. The only thing they agree on is ignoring the attraction between them.Tara has a special bond with his grandfather, but she won't stay in Montana forever. Yet her bold nature challenges Josh, making him question his goals. When Tara takes his grandfather on a treasure-hunting trip to the mountains, Josh has no choice but to go along. They may not find jewels, but they could come back with something even more valuable…
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Digging a little deeper
Running his familyâs ranch has always been Josh McGregorâs dream. Dealing with his feisty grandfather, however, is not. Josh is struggling to maintain control, and ranch manager Tara Livingston doesnât help. The only thing they agree on is ignoring the attraction between them.
Tara has a special bond with his grandfather, but she wonât stay in Montana forever. Yet her bold nature challenges Josh, making him question his goals. When Tara takes his grandfather on a treasure-hunting trip to the mountains, Josh has no choice but to go along. They may not find jewels, but they could come back with something even more valuable...
Heat crept up Joshâs neck.
âWhat kind of person do you think I am?â
Tara shrugged. The gesture was elegant, and he couldnât help thinking that sheâd look more at home at a French château than in Montana. âAll I know is what Iâve seen between you and Walt, and the way you acted at the clinic,â she said. âOh, and the way youâve done your level best to get rid of me. It hasnât been impressive.â
She had a point. Heâd never expected things to turn out this way. Sometimes he didnât recognize himself when he was arguing with Walt or pulling his hair out over a cowhand quitting.
As for Tara?
On one matter they totally agreedâthey didnât care for each other. That was okay, although he was fighting an undeniable attraction to her, a response that was purely chemical.
I have always been interested in geology, but lately the variety and beauty of this planetâs stones have been a particular passion. It may sound funny, but in many ways, rocks are like people. Some are harder, some softer, and each have their own particular beauty. Of course, as with people, it may also take a little work to discover the beauty inside. One of my favorite rocks is moldavite, a glass-like stone that was created when a meteor hit the earth. Love can be like that. It lands with unexpected force and creates something new.
My hero and heroine in The Rancherâs Prospect are both strong, stubborn, independent people whoâve set a course for their lives that isnât necessarily the best for them. A world traveler, Tara has developed a cool outer shell to protect herself, but she isnât nearly as tough as she appears, while Josh is working single-mindedly to achieve his dream of raising organic beef cattle on his own ranch.
It was interesting to pit these two very different people against each other, with the beautiful state of Montana as the backdrop to their story. Montana, by the way, has some very interesting geologic history, some of which naturally found its way into Tara and Joshâs story.
I enjoy hearing from readers and can be contacted c/o Harlequin Books, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON M3B 3K9, Canada.
Callie Endicott
CALLIE ENDICOTTâs life refuses to slow down, but lately sheâs taken a small amount of time to indulge her interest in rock hunting...in various rock shops. She still doesnât have enough hours to do everything she wants, but Callie figures life is a juggling act and practice makes perfect. Sheâs interested in everything, but her particular passions include history and nature, which fits perfectly with her love for writing, reading, hiking and walking on a beach. Between her cats, her guy and everything else, boredom is never a problem.
To Carol, and in loving memory of Joe
Contents
JOSH MCGREGOR REINED in his horse when his satellite phone rang. He pulled it from his saddlebag and saw his parentsâ phone number on the display.
âHey, whatâs up?â he answered.
âJosh, can you get to Montana right away?â asked his mother in a trembling voice.
Alarm went through him. Mom would never sound so shaky unless something terrible had happened.
âWhatâs wrong?â
âItâs...your...â She stopped and he could hear her crying and saying something about how sheâd thought she could handle it.
His stomach twisted.
A moment later his father came on the line. âJosh, thereâs been a car accident. Grandpa Walt and Grandma Evelyn. A drunk driver...â
Gripping the phone so hard his fingers hurt, Josh tried to sound calm. âHow bad?â He couldnât bring himself to ask if they were still alive.
âBad. They were airlifted to the hospital in Helena and are both in surgery. You should get here as soon as possible...just in case.â The last words were very soft, as if that would keep them from reminding his wife that her parents could be dying.
âIâll be there, whatever it takes,â Josh promised, his throat tightening unbearably. He loved both his grandparents, but he had a special bond with Grandma Evelyn.
