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eBook Category: Romance Fallen Angel Reviews Recommended Read
eBook Description: Luke Tanner learned early on that no one cared enough to look past his homely appearance and sour attitude to discover what lay beneath the surface--other than his wallet. When Mary Carter hits him up for a loan, he makes her a proposition she can't refuse. Mary fantasized about Luke Tanner since her first glimpse of the veritable mountain of a man. She knows there is more to Luke than his bank account. Though she tries to hide her feelings, a fire burns between them. Will it end in ashes--or forge a love that would last a lifetime?

eBook Publisher: Moonlit Romance/Moon Glow, Published: 2006
Fictionwise Release Date: May 2006

156 Reader Ratings: Great Good OK Poor

Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [719 KB], eReader (PDB) [144 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [125 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [112 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [130 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [172 KB], hiebook (KML) [326 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [183 KB], iSilo (PDB) [103 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [129 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [165 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [163 KB]
Words: 38453
Reading time: 109-153 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

"The Reluctant Rancher is a remarkable, tender story full of romance. Luke's character shines as he is hit with such emotional isolation that it pricks the heart. The believable characters are well-developed, both having felt some sort of denunciation in their life. The secondary characters are well-rounded and blend in creating a story that is well worth the read many times over. Patricia Mason and Joann Baker have penned a rare read that is quite extraordinary and worth every loving tear it brings, as well as a recommended read. Recomended Read!"--Linda L., Fallen Angel Reviews

"The Reluctant Rancher fondly reminds me of the old Harlequin books I used to read: One part grouchy hero, one part sweet heroine, one cute old man, and shake 'em up you've got a heart-warming romance. It got me all melancholy and reminiscent... Four Rose Read!"--Cynthia Whitten, Romance Reader at Heart

"She's doing great but how's Mommy?" Mary Carter finished her exam of the two-month-old infant and handed the beautiful baby girl back to her mother. A registered nurse and the owner of a home health agency, Mary had provided assistance after her best friend, Jennifer, came down with a nasty case of the flu just days after giving birth. Today marked her last official visit to the Talbot household.

"I'm fine," Jennifer assured her. "But I don't know how I would have coped if you hadn't been here, especially during those first few weeks."

Mary smiled as she packed away her stethoscope in an old-fashioned doctor's bag. The move to Fiddler Creek, Wyoming had proved to be best thing she'd ever done. Not only did she have her friend close at hand, but the town and its people felt like home. It would be the end of her world if she had to leave.

Mary tried to push her worries to the back of her mind by concentrating on Jenny's soft voice as she lovingly placed her daughter in a dark wooden crib. She knew her business would succeed, but she needed an influx of money--and fast. Her plan to get that money literally had her shaking in her boots.

Oh well, no pain, no gain.

"Much as I love you and Jessica, I did come here with an ulterior motive." Mary grimaced as she spoke. "My car is in the shop again and I need to borrow yours to drive out to the Tanner ranch."

"The Tanner ranch!" Jennifer exclaimed loudly, startling the drowsy infant. A gentle pat calmed the baby. "Whatever for?"

"Why do you think? Money." She continued before Jenny could utter the words Mary knew she wanted to say. "I don't have much of a choice. The banks won't loan me money and my application has been with the Small Business Administration for months now. My hands are tied. If I don't get some working capital, and soon, I'll be out on the street and everyone who works for me will be out of a job."

Even though her services were in great demand, reimbursement from insurance companies came in slowly. With all the start-up costs inherent to a new business, some weeks she barely made payroll. She couldn't remember the last time she'd received a full paycheck. To make matters even worse, last week her landlord called and raised the rent on the building she occupied downtown. No way did she have the money to pay more rent. Because of her cash flow problems, the small space doubled as her office and home, having a small efficiency apartment upstairs.

The higher rent, intermittent payments and unexpected expenses meant taking out a loan until the business operated in the black, something Mary predicted would happen in just under another year. But yesterday the banker at United Trust had politely, but firmly, put paid to the idea of a conventional business loan. So that left only one alternative--Luke Tanner, the richest man in the valley.

"But Mary, are you sure you want to ask Mr. Tanner? You know how he gets when people ask him for things." Jennifer's expression said it all. Many good citizens of Fiddler Creek had suffered the sting of the rancher's razor-sharp tongue after they'd approached him for help with a community project. When it came to charity, Luke really only tolerated Mark, Jennifer's husband, and his notorious do-good deeds.

"Remember the summer camp for kids?" Jennifer reminded her.

"Don't I ever?" The year before the reclusive rancher had grudgingly allowed the county to run a camp for underprivileged kids on a remote parcel of the Circle T. When the counselor suggested Luke come out and give riding lessons he'd refused, saying he had better things to do than teach a bunch of smart-assed juvenile delinquents how to be horse thieves.

It said something, though not much, that the man allowed the county to use the land free of charge. And assigned cowboys to give riding lessons. But then, maybe the rich rancher just needed a tax write-off. Not that her proposition could be deemed a charity case, Mary thought quickly. Hers was a legitimate business venture which would prove very lucrative, given time. But time was a luxury she could ill afford.

Mary's stomach tightened into knots as she contemplated asking the meanest, orneriest man in the valley for a big chuck of change. And based on what? The fact that she, Mary Carter, thought she deserved it? She had never thought herself worthy of anything in her life, never "up to standard." Someone prettier or smarter or just plain better always lurked in the shadows ready to step into her shoes.

Despite Mark's steadfast friendship with the man and the small amount of evidence to the contrary, Luke Tanner was a mean son-of-a-bitch by anyone's standards. Plus it didn't help matters that she had a full-blown crush on the hard-nosed rancher.

She sighed, remembering how disappointed she'd been during the rare occasions when Luke had graced the camp with his presence. Naturally, he'd overlooked her, just like every other man ever had. Not that she'd expected fireworks and rockets and an instant proposal of marriage. She'd long ago accepted the fact that she would never be one of those small, dainty women that everyone seemed to find so attractive. She stood five-foot-eight in her stocking feet and carried more weight on her frame than recommended by the height and weight charts. As she had gotten older, she'd finally found a semblance of peace with her size but not before spending many long, lonely years.

But it would have been nice to have seen some flicker of awareness--and dare she even hope--attraction from Luke Tanner. She hadn't even told Jennifer about her feelings for the man. Her friend would rant and rave that Mary deserved someone better. But Mary knew who she wanted, not who she deserved. But that, too, was just some hopeless, romantic fantasy. Luke Tanner, sinfully rich, could have any woman he wanted. That woman would never be someone like Mary. It never was.

Not that she could be called a slouch in the romance department by any means. In fact, before she moved to Fiddler Creek, she'd had a very active social life. Even though she didn't possess the waif-like figure of a runway model, Mary was an attractive woman. Regardless of what the media touted, there were men out there who loved big, beautiful women. She'd had her share of romantic adventures, but they had been just that--adventures. Nothing that ever made her long to stay around for the happily-ever-after, or even for the night. She, like every other woman in the world, large or small, just wanted to meet the man who made her feel beautiful.

"Oh, Mary, I didn't know things were so bad. You know Mark and I would help if we could."

Jennifer's soft voice broke into Mary's reverie and she smiled, glad for the distraction. That was enough wallowing in self-pity for one day. "I know. But you have the boys and this little one to think of."

Mary walked to the window and pulled back the pink gingham curtains to look outside. Jennifer and Mark's house overlooked the valley floor and she had a spectacular view of Fiddler Creek. Again she thought what a wonderful place she'd found to live and how heartbroken she'd be if she had to leave.

Her childhood had been a constant state of upheaval with a military father who had been transferred every few years. Her brothers and sisters relished the vagabond lifestyle, but not Mary. The constant moving combined with a weight problem had made her childhood difficult. Made it hard for her to join in, be one of the "crowd." She'd always longed for a place of her own. A place to call home.

"Let Mark talk to Luke," Jenny urged. "You know they're friends."

Mary let the curtain drop back into place and joined her friend at the door. "That's not a good idea, Jenny. If he says no, I don't want this to come between your family and Mr. Tanner. I'm a big girl and I can take care of this problem myself."

Despite his hard-as-nails reputation, both women knew Luke Tanner provided the house the Talbots lived in free-of-charge and made the generous anonymous donations which ensured Mark received his salary from the church every month.

"Let's not wake Jessica," Mary whispered. With one last look at the now sleeping infant, the women tiptoed from the room. "Besides, you look like you could use a nap as well. While you're sleeping, I'll whip up a batch of my world famous, double-fudge, chocolate brownies."

Mary laughed at her friend's groan of despair at the mention of the calorie-laden treat. Both women knew Jennifer would not be able to resist the chocolate temptation. Or change Mary's mind about going to the Circle T.