Chapter 2
Two weeks ago…
I’m anxious as hell, hands trembling from the amount of sugar I’ve consumed today. I step out of my old truck in light blue cowboy boots, landing on the circular driveway covered in fallen leaves. Taking in Harlow Mansion for the first time.
There’s a wraparound timber porch with stone accents, and a modern black steel roof that brings it all together into something truly unique. Rustic yet modern. A grand home set behind the largest pine tree I’ve ever seen.
The legendary Lone Pine tree.
It stands like a beacon, tall and resilient, proof of the long-standing legacy of this cattle ranch. Looking just as I imagined it would, and better than any picture that’s been printed in the newspaper.
I never thought I’d get a call back after submitting my resume weeks ago, but standing here now, it still doesn’t feel real until a cold breeze caresses my skin, reminding me that I made it.
Red, amber, and gold leaves swirl in the strong breeze, trying to take my cowboy hat.
Rocks crunch under my boots as I approach a man with a thick, dark beard sitting on the porch steps, waiting for me.
The scent of pine and earth fills my nose.
Snow-capped mountains loom in the distance, looking like a fake backdrop instead of reality.
Anxiety stirs in my belly with each step towards him.
It’s been a long road to get to this multi-million-dollar ranch called Lone Pine, the largest cattle ranch in Northern Montana, and I’ve been nervous as hell for weeks about meeting the man in charge, hoping to secure my dream job and a safe place to finally call home.
If this interview goes well, that is.
The bearded man stands, offering me a smile underneath his black cowboy hat and blue aviator sunglasses. Rugged like a mountain man. “You must be Sadie,” he holds out his calloused hand. “I’m Blake Dalton. Ranch Foreman and part-time pilot. We talked on the phone a while ago.”
“Yes, hi,” my hand brushes against his.
He’s more handsome than I imagined, with a warm voice that matches his rugged features. I’m guessing mid-thirties by the speckling of wrinkles around his eyes from too much sun. A golden hoop sits in his right ear, like he’s some kind of rockstar cowboy. I like him already.
“Nice to officially meet you, Blake,” I smile.
A spark shifts in his brown eyes. “You’re a hell of a lot prettier than I thought you’d be, which is probably somethin’ I shouldn’t say if I’m going to be one of your superiors.”
Blush rushes to my cheeks. “I can take a compliment.”
“Good. That’ll be important if you’re going to work here surrounded by more men than you can imagine.”
Working on a ranch and getting paid? Check. Being surrounded by attractive cowboys daily? Check, check.
“Sounds like a good time,” I grin.
He chuckles, glancing at the mansion behind him. “You ready to meet the boss?”
Ready as I’ll ever be.
My literal fate rests in this interview. There are no backup plans, no other options. It’s this ranch or keep on running, and I’m sick of hotel rooms. Sick of living in fear of staying in one place for too long. And I’ve been dreaming about this place for as long as I can remember.
“Do you have any last-minute advice?” I ask, nervously swirling a ring around my finger.
“Just be yourself. You’ll be fine,” he smiles.
Be… myself? But the real me is hidden deep, behind layers and layers of deception. Sadie Lane is a creation that I spent the last year building. A name I could hide behind. A name I had to hide behind.
No one can ever know the real me.
“Lead the way,” I offer, swallowing down my anxiety.
Blake leads me into the mansion, the coziest and grandest home I’ve ever been in, with antler horns woven into the design. There’s a grand staircase and Western-themed rugs splattered on the wooden floors. He stops in front of the double doors, gently knocking three times.
“Good luck,” he tips his cowboy hat to me, striding away down the hall.
I open the door at the sound of his voice, laying eyes on Cole Harlow for the first time. Taking in the man who holds my future in his hands. He sits behind a dark antique desk, stacked full of papers, with a cast-iron cow paperweight sitting on top.
“Come on in, Sadie. Take a seat,” he smiles, gesturing to a leather chair in front of his desk.
His office is different from the rest of the house.
While the mansion has rustic charm appeal, his office feels edgy.
The walls are dark-colored, and a brown and white cowhide rug sits in front of an old stone fireplace, ablaze with warmth.
Behind his desk is a massive bookshelf that takes up the entire wall, leading to tall windows that let in hazy afternoon light, looking like something out of a modern farmhouse magazine.
But the thing that pulls me in the most is the first picture of Lone Pine Ranch, hanging proudly above the fireplace.
Cole notices my gaze, pointing to the old photo. “That’s the first picture of—”
“Lone Pine Ranch, founded in 1901.” I’m practically frothing at the mouth.
He smiles, nodding his head. “That’s right.”
“You have to put me in touch with your designer.”
He chuckles, reaching for a pair of reading glasses. “Sadly, he’s done with that kind of work.”
He glances at the papers in front of him. One of them is a resume I emailed two months ago.
“Sadie Lane,” he warmly smiles at me underneath his dark brown cowboy hat. “29-years-old, applying for the position of Ranch Hand. Originally from Valentine, Nebraska,” he nods at me with interest.
I flinch at the mention of Valentine.
“It says you grew up on a farm, raising horses, chickens, and sheep,” he continues reading. “Your last job was as a waitress at a diner, and you did that for almost two years. And… well then, there’s a gap for the past year.”
“Yes,” I fiddle with my hands. My life is too complicated to explain in a single interview, but this job, this place, is my dream.
A secret dream I’ve wanted for so long, and I wanted it more than anything.
“Look, I know there aren’t a lot of qualifications for me on that piece of paper.
I’ve never been given many chances in life, but I’m a fast learner.
I’ll work twice as hard as anyone here.”
He sets the papers down and clasps his arms in front of him, eyeing me carefully. “Why do you want to work here?”
“I’ve been dreaming of working on a ranch like this since I was a little girl.” Reaching into my leather satchel, I pull out a dozen newspaper clippings that I’ve collected about the ranch, spreading them out on his desk. “I’ve been a fan of this place for a while now.”
Surprise flashes across his face as he leans forward. “Well, I’ll be damned.” He grabs one of them, an article from The Silver Lake Gazette, naming Lone Pine as one of the last ranch giants in Montana. The last kingdom on the range.
“When I was young, I started collecting Farm & Cattle Magazines. Yours was always my favorite. No matter what life threw at you, drought, market swings, rivalries with other ranches, you always came out on top. Stronger. Better. The kind of resilience I admire.” The kind of resilience that inspired me to keep going.
Something sparkles in his blue eyes.
“This is the only place I want to be,” I confirm.
He sits back with a pleased expression on his face, eyes watery and bright. “That’s one hell of an interview. But… now please don’t take this the wrong way, Sadie. Ranching is hard work. Backbreaking. Perhaps you’d enjoy working in the kitchens or—”
“I’m a terrible cook, and I don’t mind getting my hands dirty.” My childhood was spent making friends with animals on the farm, cleaning stalls, and working until my hands bled. But no matter how hard it was, how many tears I cried from exhaustion, it was the only place I ever felt safe.
“I’m not afraid of the work,” I add.
He nods with a smile. “Dalton,” he shouts, bringing in Blake in the next second. “Find a place for Miss Lane.”
“Really?” He’s hiring me? I can hardly believe it’s true. I’m smiling so hard my face hurts. “Oh, thank you.”
Cole smiles with a nod.
Blake clears his throat, staring at the floor. “Unfortunately, all the cabins are full for the season.”
Cole’s dark brows furrow for a moment, but then he smiles with an amused spark in his blue eyes. “There’s space next to my nephew. Put her there.”
Blake’s face turns pale. “But—are you sure?”
“Absolutely. She’s just what he needs.”
Blake chuckles. “If you say so.”
“Welcome to Lone Pine, Sadie.” Cole shakes my hand before walking out.
“What’s wrong with his nephew?” I turn to Blake at the door. Wondering why he laughed at the thought of me living next door to his nephew. Not that it really matters. I’ll sleep in a tent for this job if I have to.
“Nothing. Not medically, at least. Kit’s just… well, he’s not going to be too happy about this,” Blake replies with a laugh.
The name Kit vaguely rings a bell… I think I saw a photo of him in the newspaper last year.
A PR article about the good charity of Lone Pine Ranch, giving back to the community in need.
At the time, I thought he was handsome, with the most striking blue eyes I’d ever seen. Eyes that faintly resembled Cole’s.
And it looks like he’s my new neighbor.
Present Day…
In the last three days, pretty much everyone in town has introduced themselves to me, and nearly every man has offered to buy me a drink.
Which, to be honest, is nothing new. I’m used to getting attention, but the selection of men here is quite different from the other small towns I’ve frequented.
Especially the men I work with on the ranch.
But my frustrating neighbor Kit Harlow is the only one I can’t pin down.