The Heartsong Cowboy
by Melissa Keir
First Ride Cowboy Collection
You Never Forget Your First…
Saddle up for
a sexy ride with 18 bestselling and award winning authors as they share with
you their first in a series. These cowboys will claim your heart with their
rough edges and raw emotions. Dust off your boots, and join us for a ride
you'll never forget.
FEATURING:
The Heartsong Cowboy by Melissa Keir
Can two
people, one horse and the power of love cure a little girl?
Forget Me Knot by Lori King
Will her
vacation into the heart of cattle country turn out to be a mistake?
Cowboy Crazy by Em Petrova
Five brides
for five brothers…at least that’s the deal the Daltons have struck with their
boys. Each son must marry in order to inherit a piece of the ranch they love so
much.
Watching Fireflies by Jaycee Ford
A cowboy who
knew nothing of love. A city girl who wishes she didn't.
Sweet As Candy by Sidda Lee Rain
She may be the
softness to smooth his rough edges. That is...if he can convince her to give an
ol' rodeo bum a chance.
Lazarus by Beth Williamson
Being a Graham
isn't easy, and it's about to get a lot harder for one stubborn lawman and the
woman who still owns his heart.
Gimme Some Sugar by Stephanie Berget
She’s is a
genius with cupcakes and croissants. He needs a ranch cook to whip up beef,
beans and bacon. Love never tasted so good.
Her Fated Cowboy by Donna Michaels
Thrown back
into the path of her first love, she finds hers is not the only heart fate has
damaged.
Cowboy Proud by D’Ann Lindun
She left town
to chase her dreams…he stayed and ignored his…can they find love again?
Davis: Letters of Fate by Paty Jager
A marriage of
convenience ignites into a steamy romance and brings two strong wills together.
Make Mine a Cowboy by Sandy Lea Sullivan
She writes
fantasy cowboys for a living...but she never expected to find her own on the
back roads of Hill Country, Texas.
Chocolate Cowboy by Kirsten Lynn
Returning to
Wyoming two things surprised GySgt Jared Worrell…becoming the town chocolatier
and Lucy Thomas. Coming home never tasted so sweet.
Montana Bachelor by Hildie McQueen
Rich Bachelor
seeks Single Female who won't mind complications of elite society, a suspicious
father and an evil ex-girlfriend…
Cowboys Never Fold by Lexi Post
A cowboy
honors a promise by working at a nudist resort but to win the sexy owner’s
heart, he must bare more than his soul.
River’s Edge by Gem Sivad
From
gunslinger to ranch owner. He's finding respectability a lot more dangerous
than his former life of sin.
Under Pressure by Rhonda Lee Carver
The Stone
sisters know their way with a gun, rope, three-inch heels, and a cowboy's
heart.
Jake: Men of Clifton by Susan Fisher Davis
He can tame
the wildest stallion, but can he tame a stubborn redhead that wants nothing to
do with him?
The Real McCoy by Sabrina York
She mistakes
him for a stripper...he is happy to comply!
Get a taste of:
The Heartsong Cowboy
by Melissa Keir
Can two people, one horse and the
power of love cure a little girl?
Angela French blames herself for
her daughter’s lack of voice. Determined to do anything to correct the
situation, she seeks out Jake Kyncade, the owner of The Heartsong Ranch.
Jake Kyncade hides his own sorrows
behind his no-nonsense demeanor. Helping children becomes one way to correct
his past. Using equine therapy, he sets out to make a difference.
Can Jake help Angela’s dreams come
true or will Jake’s past bring more heartache? Will love save them all?
READ AN EXCERPT
Chapter One
Blood
dripped down Taylor’s neck, the deep red contrasting with the pale whiteness of
her skin. Trapped, unable to stop the blood flow, she was helpless to prevent
each drop from falling to her daughter’s lap. Whimpers escaped Taylor’s lips,
and Angela bit down on her own, the taste of sharp copper washing over her
tongue. The cries became louder as the evil man sliced the knife across her
daughter’s throat. “No!”
A scream echoed through her mind,
startling her from sleep. Shaking, Angela sat up in bed. It was only a dream.
Soft cries came from Taylor’s bed,
and she turned toward the sound. Her daughter lay curled in her covers, holding
tight to her stuffed horse.
These nightmares are getting more
frequent. Both hers and mine. She pulled back the covers and crossed the small
space to her. Bending over, she brushed the hair off her daughter’s face then
placed a kiss on her forehead, but the distressing whimpers continued.
Usually a touch wakes her. This
must be a bad one. Sitting on the edge, she pulled her daughter into her arms
to cradle her tight against her heart. “Shhh. I’m here. Wake up. It’s okay.”
Small arms flailed, smacking
Angela’s face. She held her daughter tighter and shook her gently.
“Honey, it’s Mommy. Wake up.” Her
voice was louder, more demanding.
Her daughter’s eyes shot open. Her
stare latched onto her mom’s as a silent scream formed on her lips, her body
stiffening.
When will this trauma ever go away?
She brushed the hair from her own eyes, her fingers swiping the wetness on her
cheek. “Honey, Mommy’s here. I have you. There’s no bad man here.” She choked
on her tears. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Her gaze focusing, Taylor relaxed,
but her brow puckered in what Angela called her question face. Her small hand
reached up and touched the tear trailing down her mother’s cheek.
“It’s okay. I’m fine now that
you’re fine. It must have been another bad dream.”
***
Their family counselor, Justine,
helped them through the trauma right after it happened. She’d helped Angela
with her guilt and brought them closer as a family. Ever since her husband died
three years ago, the weight of responsibility had fallen on her shoulders.
Taylor was just three when her dad had died, and she didn’t remember him.
Naturally shy around men, her attack only made things worse.
“I’m proud of how far you’ve come
since you started here.” The counselor always began by talking about Angela’s
progress. “Have you had any problems with flashbacks? Fear of driving or going
to the bank with your deposits after work? I realize it’s not where the
original accident happened, but we know fear doesn’t stay in one location.”
They’d moved to North Dakota to
escape the memories and give them a fresh start. “I’m better. I’ve taken your
advice and make sure I don’t do the deposits alone. Still, some people frighten
me. But I take a few deep breaths and try to relax. I’ve started some yoga at
home, even have Taylor doing it with me. Anything to calm my mind.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Exercise is
important for children of trauma.”
Angela stared at the woman seated
behind the desk. Her short, blonde hair showed off her striking face, her
clothes neat and unwrinkled, and her fingernails were polished. As she looked
at her own broken and chewed nails, doubts about the woman’s effectiveness
crept into her mind. She looks like a model or movie star. It’s obvious she’s
not been up all night worried about a child. I’ve had enough of this pleasant
talk. I need to know my daughter will be fine.
“When is my daughter going to
speak? She’s said nothing except grunts and whimpers for the last six months.”
Angela tried to keep her frustration under control, but exasperation rang in
her voice. “And the nightmares are getting worse. Last night I could hardly
wake her. Is there more we can do? What else do you recommend?”
Justine tapped her pen on her
notepad. “We’ve been through this before. Your daughter’s hiding from the pain.
While the junkie didn’t physically cut Taylor’s voice out, he did prevent her
from screaming for help. The very real pain she felt from the knife at her
throat has made her mute.”
“But for how long?”
“There’s no telling. Let’s get her
in here and see if we can get her to talk this week.” A smile crossed her face.
“Okay. I’ll grab her.” Angela
walked to the outer office. I know she’s trying to reassure me, but I can’t
help feeling lost. My baby used to sing and dance. She was such a happy girl,
even with the loss of her dad.
Sitting in the chair closest to the
secretary’s desk, Taylor stared at a magazine in her lap. Her daughter’s
light-brown hair and deep-brown, almond-shaped eyes reminded her so much of
Mike. Oh, but her personality is all mine. A pang of remorse flowed over her
heart. Mike would have known just what to do.
She stood watching her for a moment
as she flipped through the pages. Photos of animals filled the pages. Animals
have always been her favorite. She connected with them.
While looking at one picture,
Taylor reached her fingers out as if to pet the animal. What did I do to
deserve this angel? Pushing her shoulders back, Angela walked over and tapped
her on the shoulder. A tentative smile lit up her daughter’s face.
About the Author
For my wedding in Vegas, my books
and computer came with me but there wasn't enough room for my wedding shoes.
It’s all about priorities! As an avid reader, I was probably born with a book
in hand. Luckily my mom was also an avid reader, so it was easy to
"borrow" her books when my books were finished.
I was reading from an early age
about dashing men on horseback riding to the rescue of strong willed and
capable women who didn't really need rescuing. I came to expect that women in
fairy tales should have fought their own battles. When I was older, I found
Margaret Atwood and realized that women could re-tell history in their own way
and I experimented with changing those basic fairy tales.
Fortunately for me, my husband
allows me the opportunity to be myself (spend my salary on books) and still
takes care of the really important things for me like killing spiders and
opening jars. As an elementary teacher, teaching children about the many worlds
inside of books is a gift that I’m lucky enough to do for a living. Teaching
the next generation to love reading is a lot of fun! Reading the right book can
make a new world come alive!
Currently living in the suburbs of
Ann Arbor, Michigan with my darling husband, way-too-grown-up children and
spoiled dogs, I enjoy getting away through a book to escape the harsh winters
or summer road construction.
I’d love to hear from you!
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