Saved By Love: Contemporary Cowboy Romance (Carson Hill Ranch Book 11) Read online

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  ****

  AMELIA ROSE

  Saved By Love

  Carson Hill Ranch: Book Eleven

  Dedication

  To YOU, The reader.

  Thank you for your support.

  Thank you for your emails.

  Thank you for your reviews.

  Thank you for reading and joining me on this road.

  Special thanks to the Whisnant family of Rain Crow Ranch for their help with my research.

  Contents

  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

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Recommended Reads

  Connect With Amelia

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  The young woman stepped out the back door of the oversized kitchen and wiped the back of her hand across her forehead. Her hair was plastered to her forehead and tendrils curled at her temples of their own free will, the sweat of a long, hot day writing itself across her face. The sun beat down on the porch, stripping the Texas landscape of any hope of a breeze. The effect meant it was barely cooler inside or out, and the heat had a way of boiling the marrow in one’s bones, the air inside one’s lungs.

  She walked down the wooden porch steps and across the baked brown grass of the backyard, heading for the swing that hung suspended in its frame beneath the tiny circle of shade provided by a recently matured fruit tree. Before she could reach the swing, two strong arms grabbed her from behind, lifting her off the ground and carrying her through the air before pulling her down into the swing. She called out in surprise as her sneaker-clad feet dangled in the air, then laughed as she landed with a thud on someone’s lap.

  “Mason Carn! What do you think you’re doing?” Rose demanded, giggling from the surprise attack. He pulled her closer against his chest and shifted her legs across his lap, cradling her as he pushed against the ground. The swing began to move slowly under their weight, the first thing even resembling a breeze fluttering their sweaty hair as they moved.

  “I think I’m grabbing up my best girl—the girl I haven’t seen all day—and stopping for a minute’s rest in the shade of this fine tree,” he answered, letting his light drawl punctuate each word. Rose laughed again, quietly thrilled by the attention Mason lavished on her. They’d been dating for more than a year but she never tired of his attention, just as he never tired of surprising her.

  “You work hard today?” he continued, a hint of worry in his voice. Rose nodded, letting her head fall against his shoulder in a show of exaggerated exhaustion. Mason made sympathetic noises while holding her closer.

  “It was tough,” she admitted, “but there’s nowhere I’d rather be, even with the pile of dishes growing every time I turn my back. How about you?”

  “Yup, busted my tail ‘til I’m not sure I remember my own name. But it’s a good kind of tired.” Mason was quiet for a moment, and Rose knew exactly where his mind had gone. It had only been about this time a year ago that he’d been begging to keep his job after an injury had put him on the no-ride list, but he had pulled through and proven to the boss how hard he worked.

  For her part, Rose had found herself lost and alone on Carson Hill Ranch, too, jobless, homeless, and without a soul to claim her… except Mason. He’d been her only true friend from the moment she’d arrived but it hadn’t taken long for both of them to realize that friendship wasn’t enough for either of them.

  They’d been together ever since, and there weren’t too many days when the hard work that it took to be a hired on member of a working Texas cattle ranch weren’t completely worth it. Of course, Carson Hill wasn’t a typical ranch, with almost every aspect of the farm related in some way to the olden days of cowboys and their herds. Mason had a pretty straightforward job working with the different herds now that he was cleared to ride again, while Rose had a more or less odd-jobs kind of role. As a licensed hair dresser, she’d accidentally stumbled into her primary job when she first arrived at the ranch and was shanghaied into cutting one woman’s hair, but from there she kept a regular rotation as both hair dresser and barber.

  But there were only so many haircuts and ladies’ dye jobs a ranch needed each month, even a massive ranch like Carson Hill, so Rose also took a few appointments a month in Hale, the nearest town that was nestled about an hour away. When she wasn’t cutting and styling, she was one of the ranch’s go-to people, meaning she never knew what she could be called on to do. In exchange for her pay and room and board—like everyone else on the ranch—she might find herself delivering supplies to a herd, staying up through the night with a cow in labor, or peeling potatoes in the kitchen.

  The trade off, of course, was living on 800,000 acres of open farmland under a beautiful sky. But days when the temperature climbed into the low hundreds before breakfast and stayed put until long past sundown made it a trial to be indoors or out. The fact that the weather had turned unseasonably and unbearably warm even by summer standards was almost enough to make someone question the choice to live in Texas.

  Almost. But not for Mason, and certainly not for Rose. She couldn’t imagine going back to living and working her pretty much lonely, solitary existence in the city, not after experiencing the camaraderie and freedom of living out here. Mason had been right, this kind of life isn’t for everyone, but there was also nothing else like it.

  “I got a letter from my brother today,” Mason said, brightening as he reached into the front pocket of his button-up work shirt. He pulled out a folded envelope that had obviously been dropped in the dirt a time or two. Straightening the papers that had been tucked inside, he explained, “I’ve been after him for the last few years, pretty much ever since I signed on out here, to come visit and see this place. It’d be great summer work for him, if nothing else. He’s finally agreed, and said that if I can get him work on the drive next month he’ll come along. He could only stay for the first month or so since he has to get ready for school in the fall, but it’s better than nothing.”

  “Mason, that’s great!” Rose said, beaming. “I know how much you’ve talked about him, so a nice long visit would be perfect for the two of you. Now, this is the one in medical school?”

  “Well, pre-med, but he’s a senior this year. He’s already been accepted to some school in New England. I can’t remember the name, but my whole family was really proud of him.” Mason skimmed the letter again carefully, as though he didn’t trust his own eyes. But there it was in print: Axel was willing to come visit the ranch.

  Mason had never had much use for school, seeing as how he didn’t have much use for any knowledge that couldn’t be found in nature. Where Axel had always been the studious older brother, Mason had been the one to be gone for hours at a time, wandering in the woods behind their house. He built forts in the trees, hunted, fished, and generally did anything that could keep him out of the house longer. His grades hadn’t
suffered for it, so his parents chalked it up to being his own individual instead of following in his big brother’s footsteps.

  Rose untangled herself from Mason’s arms and slid off his lap, fanning herself in the shade. As wonderful as his arms felt around her, it was simply too hot to stay pressed against another warm body. He got up from the swing and joined her as they walked hand in hand under the thin branches of the orchard that had been planted only a handful of years ago, the limbs struggling to bear both fruit and leaves while the sun baked their very roots.

  “I was gonna ask you if you’d thought about coming along on the drive, too,” he began, casting a sideways glance at her. Rose nodded, remembering their handful of conversations about the idea. It wasn’t that she was opposed to life on the drive—sleeping on the ground, bathing in whatever available creek they could find, spending weeks in the saddle—it was more like she wasn’t sure how she could contribute.

  “It sounds exciting, Mason, it really does. But I just don’t see how the Carsons could need me. Unless they want the cows’ tails braided so they look pretty when they arrive at market, I’m not exactly the most capable cowboy for the job. Or cowgirl, I mean.”

  “Well, Claire used to go along to help Emily with all the food, but she didn’t make it last time since she’d just had the baby. And I’m sure she won’t want to be gone from her little one for six weeks, even if the little one’s not so brand-new anymore. You could help out with the chuck wagon, and in between times you’d switch off with one of the other riders so they’d get a rest day in the truck. I’d be happy to suggest it to Casey, but only if you want me to. If you just don’t want to go, that’s okay too. But I sure will miss you.”

  Rose couldn’t ignore the pleading look on Mason’s face. And he was right, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to go, but more like she felt she’d be in the way. The last thing she wanted was for him to realize that the lifestyle he loved so much still wasn’t second nature to her, even though she was trying to adapt to it.

  “I’d love to go, but not if you have to beg for a job for me. The Carsons know me, seeing as how I’m sort of related, and Emily knows me. If they all agree that I’m the right person to fill in, then so be it. But if they need convincing, well, they know this ride better than I do. If they don’t think I’m up to the task, then the last place I need to be is on the drive. I’m sure it’s hard work, dangerous work even. We’ll let them have the final say.”

  Mason kissed Rose quickly before throwing his arms around her and swinging her in a circle. Her innate sense of wisdom was one of the plenty of things he loved about her. She had a good sense about her in most things, and this time was no different.

  “I’ve got some more chores to finish up before dinner,” Mason said before kissing Rose again, this time letting his lips linger against hers a little longer as his hands wound around her waist. “But I’ll see you after dinner, right?”

  Rose nodded, flashing a broad grin at him. “I wouldn’t miss it,” she replied, referring to their habit of taking a walk or a ride after both of them had finished for the day. He gave both her hands a squeeze before taking off at a run towards the barn, leaving Rose feeling just as hot as when she’d first stepped out of the kitchen.

  Chapter Two

  Laney McGrady drove the mile and a half up her parents’ driveway, winding through the trees that surrounded their summer estate and enjoying the feeling of the rush of air blowing her hair in every direction. The convertible had been a graduation gift, and thankfully the summer hadn’t seen a drop of rain. The farmers could wring their hands all the wanted to, she thought to herself with a smile. Summer was made for sun, and nothing said “sun” like road trips with the top down.

  The noise from her car’s speaker system filtered through the trees to where her brother was trying to read, distracting him from his textbook and causing him to frown in the general direction of the main entrance. He’d know the music anywhere, but coupled with the roar of an engine that was approaching way too fast, he was sure it meant Laney the Painy was home.

  As if on cue, her shiny red BMW slid into view and came to a halt in the middle of the circular drive in typical Laney fashion. She adjusted her sunglasses on top of her head as she got out of the car, reaching over the side of the car into the backseat to retrieve her oversized beach bag and purse. With her tote bag flung over her shoulder, she climbed the stone steps to the house and paused when she saw Oren sprawled in a wooden Adirondack chair, his notebook and textbook open in his lap.

  “Hey nerd,” she said, tossing her long blonde beach waves behind her shoulder and striding past.

  “Hey Painy,” he answered without looking up. The jab stopped her in her tracks and she turned to look at her little brother over the tops of her sunglasses.

  “I told you not to call me that. See if I say hi to you again.”

  “And I told you that when you act self-centered and spoiled, I will refer to you by the name you so richly deserve.” He continued to make notes on his scratch paper as he peered at the math book in his lap, struggling to make sense of.

  “What did I do now, your nerdliness?” she demanded, staring down at him with a burning anger rising in her.

  “Well, how about plopping your ridiculously expensive toy in the middle of the driveway where no one can get around you? Did you happen to notice that Maria’s car is now blocked in?” he said, looking up at her and squinting into the sunlight.

  “So? She’s not going anywhere for a while,” Laney answered, as though that justified things.

  “Well, she’s actually leaving in about thirty minutes. But instead, she’ll be trying to hunt you down. Of course, you’ll be lounging in the bath tub, so Maria will have to wait additional time for Her Royal Highness to finish her luxury soak and put clothes on so she can leave, all because you think the world revolves around you. But no, don’t give it another thought. By all means, go on inside the house and tend to your pampering ritual. When Maria needs to leave, I’ll just get your keys and try to move your car myself. I hope I don’t bump into anything or scratch the paint,” Oren answered, his hand flying to his mouth in mock horror.

  “Don’t you dare drive my car!” Laney shrieked, balling up her fists instinctively as though she’d have to physically fight for her car’s life. “If you touch it, I’ll tell Mom and Dad.”

  “Then go move it, princess.”

  “No.” She crossed her arms and smirked down at him. “I don’t take orders from puny little boys who can’t pass fifth grade.” Her words had hit their mark judging by the hurt expression on his face, and Laney was secretly proud of herself. They’d been going at each other’s throats since they were old enough to talk to each other, and the fact that she was home from college for the summer only meant she was even less inclined to put up with him.

  “Oh well. It’s your paint job.” Oren shrugged off her hateful remark and looked back at his book. Laney started to protest but he simply held up one outstretched hand, cutting her off. She stomped her foot and headed back down the steps to her car, turning the ignition over and moving the car forward and to the side of the driveway.

  “Are you happy now, jerk?” she asked, glowering at her brother as she kicked his chair with enough force to knock his book out of his lap. Instead of retrieving it for him, she kicked it into the grass before heading through the front door, slamming it with enough force that the floral wreath their mother had hung bounced against the leaded glass.

  Stupid jerk, Laney thought angrily. I am not a spoiled princess! She stormed up the wide staircase and down the hall to her room, throwing herself on her bed after slamming the bedroom door shut. She wasn’t sure who she was trying to keep out since her parents were still at the golf tournament and weren’t expected home until well after dark. The only other ones here were Oren and the housekeeper, Maria, and of course they didn’t count.

  When Laney finally came out of her room after a shower and changing into long faded pajama pant
s and a tank top, she found the mail in the basket on the kitchen counter top, looking for any further information from her college. She’d been waiting eagerly for news of the fall sorority rush week and her new sorority dorm assignment. Her parents had insisted she live on campus and not participate in Greek rush for at least one year, all intended to give her a chance to focus on her studies.

  “The least you can do is get me a room to myself,” she’d whined when they told her they weren’t getting her an apartment her freshman year. “I don’t want to have to share a room with a stranger! With my luck it would be some goth kid who probably writes ‘deep poetry’ and doesn’t shave her underarms.”

  Her parents had only laughed at her assessment of college life, but tried to reassure her. They promised her that the friendships she made in college could be lifelong friends, people who saw you through the best and the worst things that time could throw at you. Somehow Laney had trouble believing that a name that some university computer spit out at random was going to end up being her bosom buddy.

  Unfortunately, she’d been right about her first roommate. The university had paired her with some homely girl who didn’t want to do anything in her free time except listen to sad music through her headphones and write morbid poetry. Laney was all about getting out and having a good time, only making room for studying and homework when she’d absolutely had to. Needless to say, that was one roommate who would not be on her list of lifelong friends.

  As Laney flipped through the envelopes, tossing them aside in disgust when she’d once again not received any forwarded letters from her college’s student life division, one thick envelope fell to the marble tiled floor. She bent down to retrieve it but was screaming her brother’s name before she’d even stood back up.

  “Oren!” she screamed, stomping through the house to the front porch where she’d last seen him. She flung open the front door with as much force as she’d used to slam it less than half an hour ago, cringing only slightly when it rebounded loudly off a large planter filled with climbing ivy.