Rocky Mountain Cowboy. Tina Radcliffe

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       Chapter One

      It had been a good many years since Rebecca Anshaw Simpson had inhaled the earthy combination of cattle, horse and hay that was home. As the scents wove their way in through the vents of her car, it seemed like only yesterday that she was a kid, riding like a swift rush of wind through the valley of Paradise, Colorado. Life was simple then. So blessedly simple.

      Rebecca yawned and rolled down her window to fully appreciate the enticing perfume of home. As she stretched, her aching neck protested. The muscles were stiff because she’d fallen asleep inside the ancient compact Honda.

      When an almost icy spring breeze moved through the car, Rebecca pulled her down-filled vest closer.

      A horse and rider appeared in the distance. Silhouetted against the horizon and the rising sun’s orange glow, the man in the dark Stetson approached at a rapid clip, with two dogs racing alongside.

      She’d know that profile anywhere.

      Joe Gallagher.

      Tension crept along her shoulders. She’d had serious reservations about taking this job because of Joe. They’d dated all through high school, even though she was two years younger than him. Joe was her first love. Until she’d dumped him.

      Young and naive, she’d been swept off her feet at the end of her sophomore year of college, and eloped with Nick Simpson.

      What a trusting fool she’d been. For a lingering moment, Rebecca allowed herself to contemplate what life would have been like if she’d stuck with the homeboy.

      “It doesn’t matter,” she whispered.

      None of it did. All that mattered was today. Life as she’d known it had been stolen from her two years ago. She had returned to Paradise to begin again.

      What irony that she should be returning home to the man she had scorned. Forced to face him again, after so many years. The Lord surely had a sense of humor opening the door to this assignment. OrthoBorne Technology had not only given her a job, but it had dangled a huge bonus, like a proverbial carrot on a stick. She’d taken the bait and was determined to make the most of this chance.

      When the man on the horse was close enough for her to see his midnight-black hair peeking out from under his hat and the shadow of a beard on his face, Rebecca inhaled a sharp breath. Joe Gallagher had changed. He’d become ruggedly handsome in the years since they’d parted.

      “Becca?” Joe slid off his horse and approached the gate. His deep voice reflected stunned surprise, and the underlying tone was anything but welcoming.

      Tired of craning her neck, she opened the car door and stepped out, stretching her stiff legs while discreetly pulling down the sleeves of her sweater. She still had to look up to meet his gaze. Joe was taller than she remembered, with that same dangerous loner aura.

      He rested his gloved left hand on the top of the gate, while his other hand, the prosthetic one, according to her notes, remained tucked away inside the pocket of his fleece-lined denim jacket. For a long minute he simply stared. It was as though he was looking through her, to the past.

      The lean black-and-white cattle dogs at his feet barked and raced in energetic circles, eager to be part of the conversation.

      “Sit,” Joe commanded, his voice steely.

      The animals instantly obeyed.

      “Been a long time,” he finally said, his gaze returning to hers.

      Rebecca tried to gauge what he was thinking, but his expression was unreadable. Apparently he still held everything deep inside.

      “It has been, hasn’t it? A very long time,” she murmured. “I heard you joined the army after college.”

      “Yeah. When my dad died, I went ahead and took an early discharge.”

      “I’m so sorry about your father,” she said, immediately regretting her words. “I, um, I know how close you two were.”

      He gave a quick nod of acknowledgment. “What about you?” he asked. “Home for a visit? Is your husband with you?”

      At Joe’s question, everything around Rebecca slowed down and began to blur. The world came to a stunning halt as the words slipped from her mouth.

      “Nick is dead.”

      Joe jerked back slightly, eyes widening a fraction. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry for your loss.”

      Unmoving, she stared at him. The surprise on his face seemed genuine enough. Could Joe Gallagher be the only person in Paradise, in Colorado for that matter, who didn’t know about the accident? The trial? Hadn’t it been splashed in every newspaper? The grandson of one of the founding families of Paradise Valley had been taken from this world far too soon.

      Apparently Joe didn’t know her life had been on hold for the last twenty-four months as she awaited the results of the jury trial.

      “You okay?” Joe asked when she didn’t answer.