Imprisoned In A Cowboy's Heart (Two-Five Ranch Outlaws Book 1) Read online

  Imprisoned in a Cowboy’s Heart

  Two-Five Ranch Outlaws

  Book One

  Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

  A Common Elements Romance Project Novel

  See the Five Common Elements in the Table of Contents or by swiping forward.

  Copyright

  All Rights Reserved. This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, scanned, distributed, stored in, or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, either now known or in the future, is forbidden without the express written permission of the author. Please contact the author to obtain permission to excerpt portions of this book.

  DISCLAIMER: The reader should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to his or her health, or a veterinarian for animal health, particularly with respect to any symptoms or accidents that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

  First Digital Edition, October 2019 United States of America

  Imprisoned in a Cowboy’s Heart © 2019 by Mary J. Dressel

  Edited By: Ally Robertson

  Cover by: DusktilDawn Designs

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidences either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Sign up for Mary’s Newsletter at maryjdresselbooks.com to stay updated about cover reveals and new book releases.

  Dedication

  For my daughter-in-law Christie.

  I love your adventurous heart and your beautiful soul.

  Five Common Elements

  In no particular order:

  A lightning storm

  Lost keys

  A person named Max (or is short for something)

  Stack of thick books

  Haunted House (haunted or rumored to be)

  Visit my website for more information about The Common Elements Romance Project.

  Chapter One

  Veering unto the highway off Historical Route 66 in Northern Arizona, Karis Sutton tensed as she drew closer to the ranch. She stopped a couple car lengths past the signpost entrance at the Two-Five Ranch to gather strength to see him again after leaving him behind. Not that she’d wanted to say farewell to Tanyon Outlaw. The chance was good she would’ve stayed here forever. However, the devastating call from her frantic mother had blown up her phone, bringing their future plans to a halt.

  She’d declined his offer to drive her to Phoenix that night. Her first mistake. Her mind conjured the image of him standing at the edge of the driveway nearly a year ago where he’d tried calming her before she’d driven away. As her heartbeat had pounded in her ears, he’d stood there with his arms crossed over his chest until he gripped her doorframe so tightly, his knuckles had turned white. He’d stuttered his words as he begged her in an emotion-choked voice to get out from behind the wheel to let him drive her. In the end, he’d wiped his brow of sweat and reluctantly stepped back from the car.

  Why, oh why, hadn’t she moved over to let him in? How could she expect him to let her in now?

  In her lucid moments—those brief times when her mind wasn’t shattered by grief—Karis had longed to be back here with the ranch owner. But that was the past now. He’d stopped sending her texts, emails, and phone calls. She’d hurt him by not responding to his messages. She’d been too broken to summon the willpower to even reply. Her own fault. His last phone message accused her of doing nothing but leading him on. Could returning make it right again? Now, she was here to seek forgiveness and ultimately, to win him back. She had to try before walking away for good.

  Karis sighed. She’d missed dinner with the crowd at the ranch, so she popped the last cold French fry into her mouth. She rolled up the empty carryout bag, clasping it tight in her hand. Had Tanyon changed? Become engaged? Lord knows, he had a following of women who wanted to call themselves Mrs. Outlaw.

  A job at the ranch was the perfect opportunity to be near Tanyon again, to see if there was any hope for them. That was what drove her to make the decision to return for the summer session as one of Tanyon’s crew to help on the ranch, either driving and moving cattle across his land, leading trail rides, repair fencing—sometimes a full-time job in itself—consoling greenhorns, or to fit in wherever else he needed a hand, which could include the kitchen.

  Sure, the job was fun at times, but this was hard work. It had been her escape from her patients, her hectic work schedule at the clinic, and this year, to escape from the reality of losing her brother. Though this year, she wouldn’t stay through the summer. She had two young fatherless kids to raise now. Her niece’s and nephew’s well-being were her priority, but here on the ranch, she hoped for a new start for both her sanity and her love life.

  It had been her mother who had convinced her to return to the ranch. To return to him and the small-town of Wills Bend, west of Flagstaff and south of the Grand Canyon. This fourth year at the Two-Five is what she’d needed though it would be hard to wake without Mia and Austin. She’d have the kids come visit while here. In fact, she sent a text to her mom to relay to the kids she’d arrived: I’m here Mom. Give my love to the kids. Miss you all.

  A truck drove in and around her, the brake lights coming on a few feet after driving by. A reminder to get up to the house. It wasn’t a truck Tanyon owned, but it could’ve belonged to one of his siblings or a ranch hand.

  Setting her emotions aside, she shifted into drive, and drove up the road to park in the same place she parked last year. That summer had been the best year she and Tanyon had ever had together as a couple. They’d grown closer than they’d ever been. She loved the man. Her belly ached in pain for losing both him and one of her siblings.

  Upon exiting from her car, she paid attention to the sound of crackling from the campfire. Smoke blew her way. Burning must’ve been allowed this late spring evening. She left her bags in the car and moseyed toward the crowd. From the silhouettes, some of the women were familiar. None of the guys resembled Tanyon, but in the dark and the firelight partially blinding her, it was hard to tell.

  She squeezed in between two friends and sat on a log lying horizontally. “Hey, ladies.”

  “Karis! Oh, I’m glad you came back. How are you doing, sweetie?” Annette, a town local and friend she had made here over the years, gave her recognizable cheery greeting.

  “Thank you. I need this break. Road construction sure is bad. It’s the reason I’m late.”

  “You missed dinner. You poor thing. Maybe Chef can throw a plate together for ya.”

  “I grabbed food in Flagstaff.”

  “Good thing. Tanyon should be out shortly. They’re all recuperating from training the newbies. You should’ve seen it, Karis. What a joke. It’s obvious some are only here for the money, not to learn. I can’t see Tanyon keeping them long.”

  An instant shudder rippled over her body to know they’d meet face to face in mere moments. It was a good chance Tanyon hadn’t wanted to see her. Dare she inquire? Not yet. She nudged against Geri, another friend who worked in housekeeping on the ranch. “How are the kids?”

  “They’re fantastic. Growing out of their clothes. Roger has already sent umpteen texts to ask where this or that is.” Geri checked her phone as she spoke.

  “That’s cute,” Karis replied. Geri, who also lived in town, had been married to her high school sweetheart, and each day spent here at camp
brought groans at how much she’d missed him. Often, she’d end up returning home by midweek instead of staying in a cabin.

  No matter the distractions from the chatter around her, she couldn’t get her mind off Tanyon and how he’d react to her.

  “Hey, girl!” Geri yanked her back from her thoughts.

  The goings-on around the fire made her smile. She’d been friends with these ladies on social media but had been too grief-stricken to bother making anything of it this past year. Everyone had drifted apart, or was it she who had drifted away—lost in her world of gloom?

  She gazed across the group. By the smiles on everyone’s faces and the sound of laughter around the campfire, it was hard to tell who was happier, the few kids belonging to local ranchers or cowpunchers and other workers. One by one, the kids recognized her, smiled, and waved, but everything around her faded into a blur when the tall rancher strode from the house and toward the fire with a guitar in his hand. Her breath caught. How it reminded her of her first year here after meeting the bull riding son home for a weekend. Time passed too quickly when he’d been home.

  Tanyon took a seat across from her, the campfire separating them. A chill overtook her in the midst of the fire’s glow. In the shadows, she barely recognized his face due to the scruff, more than scruff. He apparently hadn’t cut his hair in months.

  The memory of being in his arms shook her to the core. Their relationship had turned serious—so serious that they’d talked of their future together. None of this left her thoughts now, or her womanly cravings. It hadn’t worked out then. Why would it now? You’re ready. She hushed the silent voice that resided in her psyche. It takes two.

  An empty tree stump lingered beside Tanyon. He hadn’t spotted her yet. Maybe he hated her now. Her confirmation approving her summer work, hadn’t come from him, but his secretary, Carmen. Dare she go over there to fill the void? No. Let him make the first move. That was the logical and stubborn thing to do. Karis wasn’t always logical but often stubborn.

  “I’ll be right back.” She strolled behind the others around the circle, if for no other reason than to apologize to him for cutting off their correspondence once she’d learned what taking care of her family, plus dealing with her own grief, entailed. Today, she had enough strength to explain. Karis hadn’t expected him to forgive her, but she could hope.

  Tanyon lifted his eyes and followed with his gaze, bringing an instant warmth over her body. Oh, his gaze. Those blue-gray eyes in her memory had hypnotized her for the past months. She’d beaten herself up over ignoring his calls. By then it was too late. His sympathy would’ve been too much to bear at that time in her life. Her second mistake stemmed from illogical thinking.

  She’d needed internal strength do it all on her own, especially because hers and her mother’s relationship had been choppy for years. If she hadn’t helped her family, who would’ve? They were forced in the cruelest way to come to terms with each other. Why bring Tanyon into an inconsolable chaos? Because he has broad shoulders. In hindsight, his broad shoulders would’ve supported her.

  She plopped down on the upright short stump beside him, the heat from the fire warming her face and setting a glow on Tanyon’s strong, masculine features.

  Tanyon positioned his guitar to play. “Howdy, Karis. I saw your name on the list. Since you weren’t here by dinner, I figured you’d changed your mind. No surprise.”

  Speak voice. “Hi, Tanyon. If nothing else, I need to apologize to you…” Her words fizzled out at the end like a firecracker dud.

  He strummed his guitar to tune it. “You could’ve done it on the phone. Anyway, it isn’t necessary. Life happens.”

  “I tried to contact you. You stopped answering my calls—”

  He slammed his palm against the strings to quiet the sound then stared at her with a narrowed eye. “After you stopped answering mine?” Tanyon strummed his guitar until others recognized the tune and broke out in song. A peacefulness engulfed her to be in a place with happy people though she sat beside an angry person. However, he was in no mood to talk. She sang low, robotically clapping with the rest of them, the cloud of grief yelling for escape.

  Before long, the chef came out with bags of giant marshmallows. Everybody picked up their sticks and threaded a couple onto them. Maxton Outlaw, a strong and handsome ex-marine in his early fifties who she’d had fun joking and teasing with through the years, came toward her, stooped to her right. “Glad to have you back. I have a new recipe I want you to try. We’ll discuss it tomorrow.”

  “I’ll be happy to, Max, but on one condition.”

  Max stood and set his hands on his waist. “Yeah, and that is? You’re pushing boundaries here, Karis.”

  “I want the recipe for your chili.” Could she have been any bolder?

  Max brushed fingers over his smooth chiseled face. “Tell ya what? I’ll give you a chili recipe, but not my famous contest winner. I’m looking forward to showing you a few new techniques in the kitchen this year.”

  Karis stuck her hand out with a forced smile. “It’s a deal. Catch you tomorrow.”

  Tanyon cleared his throat and strummed louder.

  “See you then.” Max called for his daughter. “Get on over here, girl.”

  Brielle left a couple locals and sauntered over with a pout on her pretty face disguised with too much makeup. “Dad, don’t make me leave. We’re having fun.”

  “That’s why you’re leaving. I see these young cowpunchers checking you out. They’re a lot older than you, darlin’.”

  “I’m fifteen. You can’t tell me what to do.”

  “Don’t get smart with me, young lady, or you’ll be going in for a long while.”

  “I’ll keep an eye on her if you change your mind, Max.” Karis had no business butting in, but she and Brielle had bonded over the years. Brielle trusted her, but Karis didn’t want to piss off Max, either.

  Max shot Karis a warning glance she didn’t argue against. “Are you sure?”

  Karis nodded, and Brielle hugged her. “I’ll let you know when I’m going inside, sweetie. I’m tired after my drive and delay getting here, so it won’t be much longer. You’ll go in when I say?”

  Brielle nodded. “Okay, Dad?” She waited, and when he agreed, she rushed back to her place on the log beside an older girl.

  He pointed a wagging finger. “I’m counting on you. A lot has changed since you were here last.” Max glimpsed Tanyon. “A lot.”

  “We’ll be fine.” Karis eyed Brielle across the way with her friends. That girl would play hell getting out of her sight tonight. She removed a marshmallow from the bag, tore it in half, and popped it into her mouth. Yum. What made them taste special up here in this beautiful green north country?

  Tanyon handed her his roasting stick then got up and walked away. That said it all. His feelings had died. Why wouldn’t they? She’d unintentionally brushed him off like a hot ember on one of these marshmallows. But, oh, she never stopped caring for him. Karis strolled back around the circle to sit with Annette and Geri, but after a half hour, she bid them good night and collected Brielle.

  “Karis? Wait.” Annette caught her before she got far. “There’s been a mix-up with the lodging. The plumbing is what I was told.”

  “What? Aren’t we together this summer? Where are we staying? I should’ve gotten here earlier.”

  “No, I’m afraid not. The three of us have been situated wherever they could fit us instead of giving us our usual cabin. We’re in the big house!”

  “Tanyon’s house?” Had her gulp been noticeable? “I can’t stay in his house.”

  “Of course, you can.” Annette grinned wickedly. “You practically did last year. I remember those late nights you’d sneak in the cabin like an unruly teenager. You two are so right for each other.”

  Karis pushed down a lump in her throat. “I’m far from a teenager. Does he know I’ll be staying there?”

  “Rumor has it, he suggested it, but you didn’t hear nothing fro
m me.”

  What a shocker. Had he done it on purpose to teach her a lesson? To return the hurt? To let her see what she’d be missing? “Well, I’ll ask someone if there’s another place on the ranch. If not, I’ll stay in Williams.”

  Annette halted her again. “The someone will be Tanyon. From what I hear, you’re next to his master suite.”

  Karis glanced at Brielle who waited patiently. “No way in hades. I’m not staying there.”

  “Yes, you are. Neither of you hid anything—”

  “We never tried to hide our feelings for each other. It’s over. I came back this summer because I…I need to breathe. I need to ride horses, fast horses, and punch those massive cows.” And start over.

  “I’ll ride with you, Karis.” Brielle gave her a big grin, her braces gleaming in the dim property lighting.

  Karis gave Brielle a soft smile. Her brunette hair had grown and thickened this past year.

  “Okay, okay. But he’s the one who put you there.” Annette grasped Karis’s arm. “Honey, there’s something else.”

  What else could there be? Ah, he must’ve been seeing someone. Was it one more sign she shouldn’t be here? Annette nodded toward Brielle, a silent suggestion for Karis to escort her inside. “I’ll be right back. Come on, Brielle.” She escorted Brielle around the house to where she and Max lived on the property, then Karis strode back to where Annette waited. “What’s going on?”

  “Let’s walk.” They took a slow stroll along the fence line where cattle bawled in the distance. “I’m sure you don’t know, but stop me if you do. A few months ago, a young stable hand had been seriously injured on a bronco. He’d never been trained to ride such a beast. The boy had no permission to ride him.”

  Karis stopped, widening her eyes. “What happened? Is Tanyon being sued?”

  “That’s only half of it. The young man hasn’t yet recovered from his head injury. The lad had slipped into a coma. Tanyon hasn’t been the same since and took full responsibility. Of course, you know everyone working here fills out permission forms for the insurance purposes, but yes, Tanyon is being sued by the family. He could lose all this.”