Ryan

By Vanessa Devereaux

This book was first published by Evernight Publishing in 2015. It has been reformatted and edited.
Welcome to Big Sky County, Montana. Take one look at the men and you’ll agree they’re just as breathtaking as the state’s natural beauty. From ranches to board rooms, in Big Sky County you’ll find men who play hard, sometimes play hard to get, but always seem to find their perfect match.
Gracie Atkinson and her father planned a new beginning out West but when the coach they’re traveling on loses a wheel causing it to roll down into a ravine, she soon learns her father is dead and that she’s the sole survivor of the tragedy. Her only hope is to walk to the nearest town.
Ryan Doyle’s a man with a past but he’s now the sheriff of Grantsville. One night while riding his horse into the nearby canyon he finds a young woman clinging to life. He knows one place where she can recuperate. Maggie McGuire runs the town’s whorehouse but Ryan knows Gracie will be save in her care.
The plan is simple but what he doesn’t count on is falling for Gracie. There’s one problem—he’s too old for her and he was committed a terrible act.
Gracie has her heart set on the sheriff and with the help of Maggie and her girls she’ll find a way to get him to rethink his old fashioned ideas

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Palmquist
• Release date: May 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463182574

Vanessa Devereaux

Vanessa Devereaux is the bestselling author of erotic romances and erotica including Cater to Me, The Rake, Who's the Boss, and The Pleasure Room. She's also pens three ongoing series, Perfect Pairing, Big Sky County and Kalispell Shifters.

Book preview

Ryan

Big Sky County

Vanessa Devereaux

Published by Coldstream Publishing at Smashwords

Copyright 2020 Vanessa Devereaux

Smashwords Edition, License Notes.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Thank You

Social Networks

Back to Top

Chapter 1

You have to promise me you’ll take good care of this. My dad doesn’t even know I removed it from the attic. In fact, I don’t think he’s aware I even know about it. I stumbled upon it when I was fourteen and up there looking for something to do on a snowy day. I thought I’d read it and let’s just say it fired up the imagination of a teenager whose hormones were already crazy, said Cash.

Katy took the padded envelope from him. Inside was a slice of Grantsville history. A story as equally scandalous as her own family’s famous threesome of Sarah, Jon and Shaun. Or so Cash had told her.

I will keep it under lock and key when I’m not reading it.

I hope you’re not too shocked by what you find out about my ancestors.

If you haven’t forgotten I own a sex shop.

Cash smiled. They’d been on their auction date, another date and she’d taken him along as her guest to her brother Connor’s wedding to Jennifer Nealon, but they hadn’t had sex yet. Hadn’t even kissed yet, not even so much as a peck on the cheek.

She liked him, liked him a lot but whenever she was with him, Katy got the feeling he was hiding something. Maybe that was part of his appeal for her. A man of mystery. She wasn’t going to give up on him. She would find some way to get him to one, give her a kiss, two, give her a mind- blowing orgasm.

Cash looked at his watch. I have to run but happy reading.

She walked him to the door, cradling the padded envelope in her arms.

Still no kiss but he simply walked down the path away from her townhouse and got in his car. All she could do was watch and hope that her gut instinct and that little flutter she felt in her heart was accurate and that she wasn’t pursuing another loser. She’d had enough of them. Despite what her parents thought she really was the settling down sort of girl. Problem was up till now she hadn’t found a guy that she’d felt worth was settling for.

Katy closed the door and walked back into her townhouse. She poured herself a glass of wine, switched on the gas fire, already feeling its warmth on her body, kicked off her shoes, and snuggled down in the chair.

She pulled out the diary from the padded envelope, seeing tiny flecks of the journal’s binding fall onto her skirt. She set it on her lap and opened it up. Katy was quite looking forward to reading about a slice of Grantsville history. She took a sip of the wine and began to read.

1872

Somewhere between Bozeman and Missoula Montana

Gracie took the bandana from her pocket and wiped the perspiration from her cheeks. She glanced out through the carriage window and looked up to the sky hoping she’d see at least one cloud hovering somewhere nearby. All she asked for was the thinnest fleck of cloud so the sun would have something to hide behind and they’d get a few minutes respite from the searing heat.

However, there was nothing up there, not even so much as a small strand. She glanced at her father who was now mopping the back of his neck with his handkerchief. The lady next to her sat fanning her face with both her hands. They would all be fried alive before they reached their destination. How the folks traveling up on top of the carriage were faring she had no idea. They must be toasted by now.

The journey from Wisconsin had already seemed like it had taken years. The roads were dusty, rough, and the temperature inside the coach suffocating. The driver had told them the next stop wouldn’t be until Missoula.

The name sounded so exciting and it would be close to the place that was to be their new home. Gracie could wait to get there.

The man sitting opposite her began to cough so his wife patted his back.

There, there Charlie, we’ll be stopping for a rest very soon.

He looked out the window and then wiped his brow. I think this carriage is hotter than I imagine hell to be.

If only there was a breeze it would give us some relief, said the lady, fanning her face with her hands again.

It might be more comfortable riding on top, said the man before he coughed again.

No, we’re better off in here. The sun would beat down on your head and it’s way too dusty, said her father. He squeezed Gracie’s hand and looked at her. All she could think was that his cheeks looked like they were on fire and she suspected hers did too. Right now, she wished she could bathe in a cold lake or stream.

The carriage hit a patch of bumps and potholes causing Gracie to slide toward her father. He held her to stop her from bouncing around on the seat. Her butt hurt and she wished she’d taken out one of the cushions out from their trunk. Maybe she’d do that on their next stop.

I hope we get there in one piece, said the lady looking out the window. I think we might be in for some reprieve from the heat because storm clouds are forming over that mountain range ahead.

Gracie closed her eyes. Clouds and