Dangerous Cowboy: Whitfield Ranch, #2

By M.M. Grey

Ana Maria Vaquero wishes to be free of her two timing husband. Young and innocent, with nowhere to go and no one to turn to, she’s stuck in a loveless marriage. After a public betrayal, she finds herself in the tender arms of Mad Dog Maddox.

Maddox offers a temporary reprieve from Ana Maria’s trapped life and gives her a glimpse of what she’s been missing. Choosing Maddox—a stranger—means risking her safe, comfortable life on Whitfield Ranch.

Broke and homeless, Mad Dog Maddox is a cowboy with nothing to offer Ana Maria except a stolen moment of sweet solace. Vulnerable and heartbroken, Ana Maria arouses all of Mad Dog’s instincts and soon he’s willing to risk the only thing he has left—his freedom—to protect the woman he loves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diana Persaud
• Release date: Sep 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386218067

Book preview

Dangerous Cowboy

Whitfield Ranch Book 2

Published by M.M. Grey

Copyright 2017 M.M. Grey

Digital Edition, License Notes

This e-Book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-Book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to DianaPersaud.com and purchase your own copy. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. These characters are products of the author’s vivid imagination and are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark ownership of all trademarks, service marks and word marks mentioned in this book.

Cover design © 2017 M.M. Grey

Image used under license from Deposit Photos.

First Edition June 2017

~Summary for~

Dangerous Cowboy

Whitfield Ranch Book 2

Ana Maria Vaquero wishes to be free of her two timing husband. Young and naive, with nowhere to go and no one to turn to, she’s stuck in a loveless marriage. After a public betrayal, she finds herself in the tender arms of Mad Dog Maddox.

Maddox offers a temporary reprieve from Ana Maria’s trapped life and gives her a glimpse of what she’s been missing. Choosing Maddox—a stranger—means risking her safe, comfortable life on Whitfield Ranch.

Broke and homeless, Mad Dog Maddox is a cowboy with nothing to offer Ana Maria except a stolen moment of sweet solace. Vulnerable and heartbroken, Ana Maria arouses all of Mad Dog’s instincts and soon he’s willing to risk the only thing he has left—his freedom—to protect the woman he loves.

~ Chapter One ~

At 9:45 Monday night, Mad Dog Maddox strolled along the sidewalk, past a liquor store and a check cashing business.

He scoffed.

As if anybody around here had a steady job that paid with checks. Yet unlike other businesses in this area, this one stayed open. Perhaps because it was a front for something else.

Drugs, probably.

Or maybe prostitution.

The only people he had ever seen go in or leave were single men who didn’t live on this side of town.

And pimps.

He shrugged. Wasn’t any of his business. He learned at an early age to keep his nose out of other people’s business. Most of the time, anyway.

He strolled past a bar and stopped in front of a bodega. Casually he surveyed the motel across the street.

A baby blue ’57 Chevy was still parked in front of the Manager’s office. Mad Dog went into the bodega. The dark skinned cashier raised a brow and pursed her lips. She had warned him many times about loitering in her store. But tonight she was silent.

He glanced around. The bodega was empty. Perhaps she didn’t mind the company. This time at night was lonely. And dangerous. He wondered why her husband wasn’t behind the counter.

Mad Dog hadn’t eaten all day and now that he was surrounded by food, his belly grumbled loudly. He was down to his last twenty dollars, so he took his time choosing carefully. Finally he picked out a frozen dinner—Salisbury steak and cardboard potatoes— and stuck it in the microwave. While his food heated, he paid the cashier. He leaned against the counter, keeping an eye on the motel across the street, using a long plastic coffee spoon to eat his hot, tasteless dinner.

He could get free ice from the ice maker and let that melt. No need to pay for a drink. Not if he wanted to eat tomorrow.

At last the baby blue Chevy pulled out of the parking lot and drove down the narrow street.

Mad Dog tossed the empty plastic container. With a nod to the cashier, he left the bodega. He crossed the street, walked past a giant cactus with neon green outline and into the dimly lit parking lot of the motel. He kept to the small sidewalk that ran in front of the rooms on the first floor. The motel had faded pink walls with dark cyan doors. He passed a group of prostitutes and their pimp, ignoring their offers.

This motel wasn’t the kind you would see plastered on a postcard proudly stamped Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Mad Dog slowed down as he approached room sixteen—his home—at least it had been his home for nearly six months. Until the economy tanked and he lost his landscaping job. Then he was forced to give up his musty room with ugly dark blue green carpet. The faded geometric burgundy and tan duvet. Stained white sheets. Paper thin walls that didn’t hide the sounds of whores with their Johns or slaps from their pimp.

It was a shitty motel room but it was better than being homeless.

The door to room sixteen opened and a scantily clad young woman stepped out. Half drunk, she stumbled and he caught her in his arms. Cursing, he set her upright, bracing her against the wall.

She sported a fresh black eye and looked more haggard than the last time he saw her.

She had been bleeding then. Her pimp had wailed on her face then thrown her on the ground. Mad Dog had stepped in between her and her pimp. He had tried to protect her. But the ungrateful whore had stabbed him in his side. He had been lucky. The blade had narrowly missed any vital organs.

And he had learned a valuable lesson. Not everybody wanted to be saved.

Knowing her pimp would be along to collect his money, he adjusted his saddle bag and continued to the stairwell. He took the stairs two at a time. He had to find Camila. Let her know he was on duty.

Camila was a pretty young woman stuck working the night shift. Either the manager was a total idiot or he was helping pimps recruit women from his payroll.

One night after he had lost his job, out of habit Mad Dog had walked by the motel. A panicked cry had him crossing the parking lot and into an open room. One of the local pimps had Camila on the bed. Her uniform was ripped open, exposing her white bra and the pimp was slapping her repeatedly.

With a loud growl, Mad Dog grabbed the back of the pimp’s shirt and tossed him against the dresser. He slammed the pimp’s face into the dresser with a satisfying THUD then shoved him outside.

The pimp scrambled away. Camila sobbed quietly on the bed behind him. It didn’t matter if the pimp escaped. He doubted she would press charges against him anyway.

Men like that always seemed to get away with their crimes.

He turned to face Camila. Her hands covered her face and her shoulders shook.

He’s gone. Is there someone I can call?

She wiped her nose and scrambled off the bed. She pulled the sides of her blouse together and held it closed.

A pin might help, he said then turned away.

Wait!

He stopped by the door.

I—I know you. Room Sixteen.

Not anymore. Lost my job. Can’t afford to stay here.

We’re the cheapest motel on this strip. She hesitated. Didn’t want to offend him, he supposed.

I’ve been sleeping in an alley not too far from here, he said. He tipped his hat and strode toward the door.

"Wait."

He turned around.

Thank you, she said. If—if you want to take a shower, you can do it while I finish cleaning this room. Her gaze dropped. I’m sorry I can’t offer more….

She didn’t have to explain. Times were tough. For some people, anyway.

I’d love a shower. A hot shower would feel damn good after the disappointing day he’d had. I’ll get my pack. I dropped it in the parking lot.

Hopefully it was still there.

After he had showered and dressed, Camila stood by the door, wringing her hands, her eyes full of worry.

I guess you have to go now, she said.

He shrugged. Didn’t have anywhere he needed to be. After studying her for a moment he realized she was scared. Afraid the pimp would return.

When is your shift over?

Two o’clock.

Guess I could hang around until then. If you want.

Relief washed over her face.

He stood guard while she changed the sheets and then did the laundry. Even with a heavy dose of bleach, the sheets were still dingy.

Seems kind of silly to take a shower and then go sleep in an alley, she said.

He had to agree. Perhaps he should have negotiated a shower