The Rancher's Surprise Bundle: Regan Brothers, #7

By S. D. Wells

Hayden Regan is a twenty nine year old horse breeder and after watching his brothers each marry, he takes off to join rodeo. Almost a year later his brothers confront him, leaving him angry and frustrated. He goes into a hotel bar and after sharing a meal with a total stranger he ends up in bed with her.

Hailey Adams is a twenty seven year old school teacher. After living on the west coast most of her life she takes a job for a school system in the middle of nowhere. She decides to take a road trip and breaks down in Minneapolis. Frustrated with her life she wanders into a bar and after sharing a meal with a total stranger she ends up in bed with him.

A few months later the couple meets up again and Hailey has a little surprise for him. Hayden refuses to get caught in the trap he is sure was set up and ignores her. Can Hailey win this rancher's heart? Can she prove to him that not all women are bad news? How will the story end?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sandra Wells
• Release date: Jul 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393149231

S. D. Wells

I am married with 3 grown children. I was raised in Dallas, Texas and have always loved to read and write. I have been married since April of 2001 to my best freind. I have experince loss of my own in my past. My eldest child died in 2006. I am a Christan and am strong in my faith. To me family is important as are freinds and God.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

July 17, 2003 ~ Sacramento, California

Hailey Adams was a twenty seven year old teacher looking for a fresh start. She had been born to Tim and Jami Adams and had spent her childhood moving from base to base. Her father had been a lieutenant in the Marine Corps and had died just before her tenth birthday in an accidental explosion. Her mother had moved them to California, where they lived until the woman passed away. Sighing, she picked up the last box and looked around her tiny apartment.

After graduating high school, she worked to pay her own way through college. As a kid her only dream had been to become a teacher. Children are the future, she had thought many times to herself. Now as she prepared for the new school year, she was also preparing for a new life. For almost four years she had worked for the Sacramento school district but when her relationship with her former fiancé ended, her life went downhill. Thankfully, she had been offered a job in the mid west and far away from her former life. With one last look around, she closed the door and left for a two week road trip to King’s Hill, Wisconsin.

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July 18, 2003 ~ El Paso, Texas

Hayden Regan was a twenty nine year old horse rancher that was having a temper tantrum. After watching each of his brothers marry and start families of their own, he was tired and angry at the whole mess. He understood Brendan and Dillon’s need to have a family. However, he did not understand how Aiden could trust a woman again after being dumped at the altar. Conor had taken back the woman who had dumped him and married her, and then there were Frank and Garret. The three of them had sworn off the whole matrimony trap and had lived a carefree life of beer guzzling and skirt chasing. Woman after woman had entered their lives and Hayden could not understand how his brothers had given up the carefree lifestyle to settle down. Hell, neither of them even lived at the ranch anymore.

Who needs them, he sneered out as he slapped his hat against his leg. After traveling with rodeo for the last year he knew that the time was coming where he would have to return home. After all, he had a ranch that needed his attention. He had hired someone to run the place in his absence but the man was ready to move on. He pulled his ringing cell phone from his pocket and groaned when he saw Aiden’s number.

What? he answered.

I hear you will be in Minnesota next week.

Yeah, so?

Me and the boys will come out to see you ride and then we need to talk.

Talking is overrated.

Hayden. This is not a damn joke. You have responsibilities that need your attention.

I know that. Look I will be glad to see you but don’t bring any wives or your kids.

I promise it will be just us boys.

I will be in Minneapolis on Thursday but I’m not riding until Saturday.

Then we will see you then. Hayden groaned as he hung up. He knew the lectures were coming and he was prepared to tell them all to kiss his ass.

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The challenges we face in life are always lessons that serve our soul’s growth. By: Marianne Williamson

ONE

July 26, 2003 ~ Minneapolis, Minnesota

Hailey groaned as she watched the mechanic type something in his computer. She had been traveling for almost a week and though she was not due to be in King’s Hill until the first she had hoped to have time to explore the surrounding areas.

So it’s going to be close to three hundred dollars to fix your radiator. It will take me at least a day or two to get the parts. Sighing, she just nodded as she pulled out her emergency credit card. She had learned long ago that it was always good to have a backup plan just in case and she was now grateful that she had not touched the card until now. There is a nice hotel just around the corner if you want me to drive you.

That would be nice of you. Let me get a few things out of the van first. The man nodded and after helping her retrieve her luggage, he drove her to the hotel.

Welcome to the Palace Hotel. How may I help you?

I need a room for a few nights.

You are in luck. We had a cancellation at the last minute otherwise, we would be booked. Hailey nodded as she pulled out her credit card. How many nights will you be staying with us?

For now let’s just say three. Do you have room service?

Yes ma’am. We also have a bar that serves lunch and dinner. Once again Hailey just nodded and cringed when the woman swiped her card. She wondered if she would have to get a second job to pay for all the extra expenses from her trip. Here you go, Ms. Adams. You are on the third floor, room 329. Would like help with your luggage?

Please. With a huff, she took her room key and followed the bellboy to the elevators. What she needed was a drink to erase the memories of the bad day away.

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Hayden sat at a table with his six older brothers. Aiden was the oldest, followed by Brendan, then Conor and then Dillon. Each of them were born eleven months apart or as close to it as their parents could get it. They had had a sister, named Emily, that had died during child birth. Their mother had mourned her little girl for almost three years before Frank and Garret had come along. Eleven months later Hayden was born. Their mother had stopped there, saying she had more than enough children to love. Feeling a bit edgy, he scrubbed his hands over his face before focusing on the server. Hayden quickly scanned the beauty but groaned when he saw a wedding ring. He may have loved his lifestyle but he never once hooked up with a woman who was already spoken for.

Pay attention to us, not the women in the room, Aiden demanded. Hayden gave his drink order before focusing on his brothers. Are you alright? That bull slammed you pretty hard today.

I’ve been hit worse by bigger. I will have a few bruises but I will live. His brothers nodded and they each tuned as the server returned with their drinks.

Here you go, fellas. If you need anything else just holler. Dillon had ordered a scotch on the rocks while, Hayden, Frank and Garret had each ordered a beer. Conor ordered a glass of wine while Brendan and Aiden ordered sodas. The woman then headed off to greet another customer.

Hayden, Aiden began, How long are you going to be away from home?

How long are you all going to stay married?

Hayden, this is not funny anymore, Frank growled out. You are really hurting our wives feelings.

Who says I’m playing a joke? I have someone looking after the ranch...

It’s not his responsibility to do so. You should know that a lot of people are talking about moving their animals to other ranches. Brendan stated. Plus the man is not very good at caring for the animals.

That’s what I have hired hands for. He has one job and....

Shut it, Dillon ordered, and listen to what we are saying! This has gone on long enough. You have exactly one month to get your shit together or else we will take over the ranch. Got it?

You can’t do that! It belongs to me.

We all have stock in that damn ranch, Aiden hollered and frankly, we are tired of dealing with your stand in. Either come home or sell us your stock. Those are your choices. Now angry, Hayden growled as he stood and tossed money on the table. Where are you going?

I have better things to do than take this abuse. I will hire an attorney if I have to.

We have already done that. You have one month! Conor barked out. Hayden walked off feeling ticked off about the whole situation. Could they really take the ranch away from him? He knew it was time to go home but he wanted to do it on his own terms, not because his big brothers ordered him to. With one last glance in their direction he headed up to his room. He needed a shower and a nap before coming back down to the bar for his dinner.

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Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. By: Charles R. Swindoll

TWO

After his nap, Hayden took a nice long shower, dressed in his usual rodeo stud outfit and headed down to the bar. Women loved cowboys and he was not one to disappoint them. He slid into a booth in the corner and looked around. It was almost empty but then again it was not even five o’clock yet. The server came up and he almost groaned when he saw it was the same one as from before.

Well, hello again. Do you want a beer?

Please and keep them coming. I had a rough day. The woman just nodded and quickly walked off. Taking a deep breath, he thought back to what his brothers had told him. If he didn’t return home soon, he would most likely lose his ranch and most of his customers. It was time to hang up his rodeo hat and go home. Sighing, he pulled out his phone before dialing his brother’s number.

Hello? Aiden answered.

Will you give me longer than a month?

We said one month and we mean it. What’s your decision?

Please, let me finish out this last season and I will come home.

When will that be?

End of September is my last ride. I will end my tour in Las Vegas.

Alright, but Hayden, if we do not hear from you after that, we will take over the ranch.

My last ride in scheduled for the twenty seventh. I will let you know when I am due to be home.

Good and no more shutting out your family. Your brothers are all married and you will treat our wives and children with respect. Do you understand?

I got it. I may not like it but I guess it’s your life. Just remember I told you so if and when they get tired..... He heard his brother growl before disconnecting. He had no doubt that Brendan and Garret’s wives would stick it out. However, the rest were from big cities and big city women, as he had been taught, always got bored with the country life. The server dropped off his beer and he went back to looking for his next tryst.

Almost an hour later he was on his third beer and was about to order dinner when he watched a goddess walk into the bar. Whoever she was, she was a real beauty and Hayden knew he had found his date. Smiling, he stood, picked up his beer and headed to the bar.

I’ll have another, he told the bartender And whatever the pretty lady wants goes on my tab. The beauty turned and smiled at him as he slid onto the stool next to her. She was drop dead gorgeous.

Thank you, she told him and Hayden just knew his night would end with her in his arms. The beauty stood about four feet, ten inches with chestnut colored hair and deep green eyes. My name is....

Stop.

What?

It is best if we don’t know each other’s names. Otherwise it might make things a bit too personal. Can you handle that? She smiled and nodded at him as she accepted her drink.

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What was she doing? She had never been one to flirt and pick up random guys in her life. Now here she was sitting in a bar talking to a stranger and she had no doubt she would end the night in his arms. Could she do that? Could she allow him to go back to her room or his and fall into bed with him? She was no virgin but it had been a long time since she had experienced the thrill of passion. Swallowing, she turned from her drink and focused on the sexy cowboy next to her. The man was about six foot, four inches with auburn hair and hazel eyes. He was sinfully handsome and she was anxious to see where their night would end.

So what do I call you, then? she asked him.

What would you like to call me?

Cowboy, she flirted. He chuckled as he moved closer to her. And what will you call me?

Storeen.

What does that mean?

It’s an Irish term meaning, little treasure.

Are you making fun of my height, she pouted.

"No, ma’am. You are