MEET THE FORTUNES!
Fortune of the Month: Graham Fortune Robinson
Age: 32
Vital statistics: Broad shoulders, rugged build and a heart as big as Texas.
Claim to fame: Graham has shunned the familyâs multimillion-dollar business in favor of a rancherâs life on the Galloping G. His father would say he has âuntapped potential.â Graham believes he is already living the dream.
Romantic prospects: Impossible. Heâs crushing on his childhood buddy Sasha-Marie Smith. She has a seven-year-old daughter and is expecting a second one. Did we mention that she is technically still married? Her soon-to-be ex walked out on her and sheâs seven months pregnant. Heâs sure romance is the very last thing on her mind.
âIâve never done what anyone has expected of me. Iâm a cowboy in a family of computer geeks. Iâd rather punch a cow than a time clock. And Iâd rather live alone than settle.
So now Iâve finally found my Miss Right. But the timing is absolutely wrong. Sasha has a baby on the way. Maybe sheâs still stuck on her ex. And for sure she doesnât think of me as anything other than a friend. What kind of guy pursues a woman whoâs got so much weighing on her slender shoulders?
On the other hand, what self-respecting cowboy can ignore a beautiful damsel in distress?â
The Fortunes of Texas:All Fortuneâs Childrenâ Money. Family. Cowboys. Meet the Austin Fortunes!
To Allison Leigh, Stella Bagwell, Karen Rose Smith, Michelle Major and Nancy Robards Thompson. And to the fabulous Marcia Book Adirim, who has those amazing stories of the Fortunes dancing in her head.
Thanks for working with me on the 2016 Fortunes of Texas Anniversary series and for making this book a pleasure to write!
Chapter One
Graham Robinson had spent the morning working up a good sweat, thanks to a drunken teenager whoâd gotten behind the wheel of a Cadillac Escalade after a rowdy, unsupervised party last night.
The kid had apparently lost control of the expensive, late-model SUV and plowed through a large section of the fence at the Galloping G Ranch, where Graham lived. Then he left the vehicle behind and ran off.
Both Graham and the sheriff whoâd been here earlier knew it had been a teenager because on the passenger seat a frayed backpack, as well as a catcherâs mitt, sat next to an invitation with directions to a ranch six miles down the road.
Sadly, the same thing could easily have happened to him, when heâd been seventeen. Thatâs why he and Roger Gibault, his friend and the owner of the ranch, were determined to turn the Galloping G into a place where troubled teenage boys could turn their lives around.
Back in the day, both Graham and Rogerâs late son had what Roger called rebellious streaks. Grahamâs dad, the patriarch of the famous Austin Robinsonsâand an alleged member of the Fortune familyâwasnât so open-minded.
But after Peterâs tragic death, things had changed. Graham had changed. Now, instead of creating problems for others to clean up, Graham was digging out several damaged posts and replacing broken railings.
After he hammered one last nail into the rail heâd been fixing, he blew out a sigh and glanced at the well-trained Appaloosa gelding that was grazing nearby on an expanse of green grass. Heâd driven out here earlier in the twelve-year-old Gator ATV, but the engine had been skipping. So after unloading his tools and supplies, heâd taken it back to the barn, where Roger could work on the engine. Then heâd ridden back on the gelding. Hopefully, Roger had the vehicle fixed by now. If not, theyâd probably have to replace it with a newer model.
When the familiar John Deere engine sounded, Graham looked over his shoulder. Sure enough, Roger had worked his mechanical magic and was approaching at a fairly good clip.
Moments later, the aging rancher pulled to a stop, the engine idling smoothly.
Glad to have a break, Graham winked at his elderly friend. âDid you come out here to check up on me and make sure I wasnât loafing?â
âI knew better than that. Iâd be more apt to make sure you hadnât worked yourself to death.â Roger lifted his battered black Stetson, then raked a hand through his thinning gray hair.
The fact that he hadnât returned Grahamâs smile was cause for concern. âWhatâs up?â