Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Ladd
As the son of a third-generation cattle rancher, it's expected that I would follow in the footsteps of my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and work the family ranch just as they did.
However, that wasn't my dream, and thankfully, my parents stood behind me when I told them I wanted to open a sporting goods store in our hometown of River Falls, Colorado. That's my plan. My endgame, and nothing is going to distract me from that goal.
Then, I met Vivianne Pennington. It soon becomes clear to me that Vivianne is now a part of my dreams, and when I bring her home for Christmas, my entire family and the town of River Falls fall head over heels in love with her.
Vivanne
I've gone and found myself in love with a cowboy from a small town in Colorado. When Ladd's mother and father insist that I come and spend Christmas with them on the family's cattle ranch, I'm both excited and nervous.
It becomes clear to me that Ladd's family has deep roots in the community and a family bond I've never experienced before. Estranged from my own parents, I long to be a part of the Wilde family and start to see myself living on the ranch and being a part of the community.
But I'm keeping a secret from my past. A secret that I'm terrified will destroy the future I envision, and I'm scared to lose the wild cowboy who has stolen my heart
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Ladd
River Falls Cattle Ranch, River Falls, Colorado
1988
I sat in my father’s office in silence as he stared out a window, while my mother sat in her usual chair, knitting a blanket for River Falls Haven, a local orphanage she patronized.
My father, Gus Gatlin Wilde, was a third-generation rancher. It was in his blood. It was in mine. My mother, Nellie Anne Wilde, also had ranching in her blood. Her father was a fourth-generation cattle rancher. She was the only daughter in a long line of sons, and grew up being able to do everything her brothers could do, and then some. She was a formidable woman, and I often wondered who ran our own family ranch. My father or my mother?
According to my grandmother, Lilith Wilde, it was my mother most of the time.
“Are you going to say something?” I asked.
My mother lifted her head, then raised a brow.
I wanted to roll my eyes, but I knew if I did, I could risk one of those knitting needles rapping me on the back of the knuckles. Oh, she’d done it before for sassing, but it never hurt. One of these days, I was bound to anger her enough, though, that she would deliver a good blow to my hand.
My mother was still so beautiful, with light brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and her meadow-green eyes that always gave her away when she otherwise wanted her boys to think she was angry.
Turning slowly, my father leaned against the windowsill and folded his arms over his chest.
His speech was probably coming. The whole, ‘my-father-worked-this-land’ speech, and ‘I’ve worked it, and now my sons will work it’. Then again, my father never put pressure on his sons to follow in his footsteps, but I knew he wanted his oldest son to take over the ranch.
“Before I worked this land, my father worked it. And before him, my grandfather, Lawrence. This ranch has been built on sweat, tears, and a lot of hard work. It’s been passed down for three generations to the oldest son in the Wilde family, and each son has taken up that privilege with honor and pride.”
I held my breath, waiting for the next round of words.
“I remember sitting in front of my father, telling him I wanted to join the Marines.”
My mouth dropped open in shock.
“He was so angry, I thought for sure he was going to have a heart attack right then and there. His face got so red, I actually looked to my mother for help. She simply smiled as if that wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. Of course, at the time, I had no idea why my father was so adamant I take over the ranch. When he finally calmed down, he told me how much it meant to him to have me take over the running of the ranch. I think he mostly needed my help saving the ranch, looking back on it now.”
“I never knew that,” I said softly. “About you wanting to join the Marines.”
My father smiled. “It was more of a rebellious thing, to be honest with you. I loved the ranch and wanted to run it, but all of my friends were joining the military, and a part of me wanted something different. Or I thought so at the time. Deep down, I think I knew if I didn’t take over the ranch, there would be no ranch. My father was slowly losing it acre by acre with his gambling addiction.”
I swallowed. “I didn’t realize that either.”
He shrugged. “The fewer negative things I’m able to tell my sons, the better. I hated him for that. I could have gone and joined anyway and not worried about the ranch. I was pretty sure he wouldn’t have disowned me, but I knew that wasn’t truly what I wanted. Maybe I wanted to get away from my father, I’m not sure. I swore that day that if I was ever blessed with sons, I would never make them feel like they had to work this ranch. If ranch work isn’t for you, then I will support you in whatever endeavor you decide on, Ladd.”
I felt tears prick the back of my eyes. “I’m not walking away from the ranch; I still want to be a part of it. I’ve learned everything about ranching from you, and no school could have taught me better. But I’d like to get a business degree to open up a sporting goods store in town. And I know it will also help with the ranch. I could start to take over the financial side of it one day, so Mom can pursue other things if she’d like.”
Smiling, she said, “I would like that very much. I hate math.”
My father and I both laughed.
I went on, thinking I needed to explain more. “You know how much David loves this ranch and wants to help you run it. The only thing Mike ever does is try to prove how much he wants to be just like you. And if it were up to Jason, he’d live in the barn with the cattle. When he’s not playing football, that is.”