Anna's Heart

By Pandora Spocks

She’s a rancher with a heartbreaking secret.
He’s Hollywood royalty, poised to take a chance that risks his reputation and his career.
Now that they’ve found each other, can he win her heart?

Anna Graves works hard helping to run her family’s Wyoming dude ranch. Still reeling from the tragic loss of her smokejumper fiancé in a horrific wildfire, she is content to hide from the world as she teaches horseback riding lessons to tourists by day and reads smutty romance novels by night.

When world-famous Scottish actor Angus McGregor needs to brush up his cowboy skills in preparation for his starring role in a new Western, he heads to Sweetwater Ranch in the boondocks of Wyoming. He is immediately fascinated by Anna, who won’t give him the time of day. Can he break down the self-protective wall she has built?

If you like hot cowboys, Scottish accents, and happily-ever-afters, you’ll love ANNA’S HEART, the third book in the Redheads & Ranchers series!

One-click ANNA’S HEART now!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pandora Spocks
• Release date: Jun 16, 2020

Pandora Spocks

Pandora Spocks is a bratty ginger and hopeless romantic who lives her happily ever after in South Florida. Pandora has entertained herself with the stories pinballing around in her head for years. Recently she decided to try her hand at sharing those stories with others. The author of Luke & Bella: Two Streets Over and the Rannigan's Redemption series, she enjoys reading and writing literary erotic fiction. Pandora is currently busy writing her next spicy romance.

Book preview

Forward

ANNA’S HEART, the third and final book in the Redheads & Ranchers series, has been a long time coming. 

Between selling our home, moving to a new town, pausing to write an entirely different book, a threatened Cat 5 hurricane, a global pandemic, and terrifying financial uncertainty, ANNA has been an extremely long haul. 

I appreciate you beyond any words I could think of.  Thank you for waiting patiently.  I hope you’re pleased with the results.

Love,

Pandora

Chapter 1

H e’s coming here to the Sweetwater, can you believe it? Simone chattered.   Angus McGregor, here at our little guest ranch.   Who could have imagined it? Tight black braids framed her deep mocha face, and her dark brown eyes sparkled with excitement.

Anna Graves tucked her long dark chestnut hair behind her ears and flicked an annoyed glance at her sister-in-law before she scanned the handful of guests who’d just arrived for a two-week stay at Sweetwater Ranch.  Some of them milled around the expanse of the lodge’s rustic lobby while others checked in at the front desk with Anna’s mother, Teresa.

Anna shrugged indifferently.  He’s just another guest.  He’d better not come here expecting that he’s going to be waited on hand and foot, that’s all I can say.  This is a working cattle ranch.  People know that when they sign up.

Yeah, Simone gushed, but I hear he’s getting ready to do a cowboy movie, and he has to brush up on his riding. 

He’ll have plenty of time to do that, Anna observed distractedly.  "How about I’ll see the cabin guests to their places, you can do the lodge guests."

Simone rested her hand on the swell of her pregnant belly and smiled gratefully.  Thanks.  These days, the less I have to waddle, the better.

In a few more weeks, you and Andy will present Mom and Dad with their first grandchild, and take the pressure off the rest of us, Anna smirked comically.

Her sister-in-law laughed.  It’ll be your turn one of these days.

Anna waved her hand dismissively as she strode to the front door and faced the room.  Hello, everyone!  I’m Anna Graves.  If you’re in a cabin for the next two weeks, follow me.  We’ll get you all settled in so you can explore Sweetwater Ranch a little bit before lunch is served.

WHAT THE EVER-LOVING fuck is this? 

Alanna’s shrill query sliced through the tranquility of the morning.  The aroma of Ethiopian arabica still hung in the air as a sharp slap against the marble countertop punctuated her question.

Standing at the kitchen sink with its panoramic view, Angus McGregor kept his gaze fixed on the rolling blue waves of the Pacific Ocean as it lapped at his own private stretch of beach a few dozen yards behind the house.  He groaned inwardly, and mentally counted to ten. 

It’s an eviction notice, replied calmly in his deep Scottish brogue.  Says it at the top of the page.

I see that, Alanna hissed.  But seriously, Angus, you’re serving me with papers and throwing me out?

Mug of coffee in hand, he turned slowly.  Alanna, we broke up two months ago.  I’ve let ye stay here this long.  It’s time tae move on. 

She picked up the legal notice and waved it at him.  Where am I supposed to go?  Have you thought of that?

"Have you though’ of it?  Ye’ve had two months.  I don’t mean tae be a hard-arse, seriously I don’t.  But I’m selling the house.  Ye’ll have to find somewhere else tae live."

Alanna used her right hand to flip her long blonde hair over her shoulder.  Can’t I stay until the house sells?

No, ye can’t.  I’m leavin’ today for Wyoming.  I’ll be away for a month, and after that, I’ll be shooting on location.  Ye can stay here until the end of the week, but then ye have tae be out.  Douglas will change the locks at that time, and if yer here after that, he’ll report ye tae the police as a trespasser. 

Angus pictured his Samoan head of personal security.  Douglas Matua was the nicest person in the world, but at six-foot-nine and 300 pounds, he was a force to be reckoned with.  He’d definitely spared Angus from serious injury once or twice when an overzealous fan tried to get too close.

Alanna rolled her huge blue eyes.  That stupid cowboy movie!

How was it that he hadn’t noticed her annoyingly nasal New England accent when they’d first met?  He supposed he’d been dazzled by her beauty and by her fame.  Say what you would about Alanna Powell, she was gorgeous, and her filmography was impressive.  The pair met on the set of a movie and had been tabloid gossip darlings ever since. 

But eventually, Angus had grown tired of her constant need to be the center of attention.  For Alanna, the term high maintenance was merely a starting point.  Beneath her highly polished exterior, she was selfish and demanding.  Angus had soon found her exhausting. 

He thought back to the day they’d first met.  While he’d been a successful actor for several years, in the back of his mind, he still felt like that grubby boy who’d grown up on the streets of Glasgow.  Winning the attention of a beautiful starlet like Alanna Powell had felt like winning the lottery, but he’d always had the nagging worry that one day, he’d be discovered as a pretender, as a fake and a fraud. 

She cast a big shadow, too.  Often, Angus felt more like Alanna’s accessory than a serious actor in his own right.

Around Valentine’s Day, when Alanna had insisted that they become engaged, Angus had gone along with the idea, maybe more to pacify her than for reasons of romantic love.  He’d dutifully purchased the ring she’d demanded, shelling out more than a million dollars for the obscenely large diamond solitaire.  Price wasn’t an issue, really.  His last role in a blockbuster action movie had earned him fifteen million, and there were more films in the offing.

But as Alanna morphed from annoying girlfriend to bridezilla fiancée, Angus realized he couldn’t see spending the rest of his life with her.  As gently as possible, he’d broken off the engagement two months ago, agreeing to allow her to stay in his Malibu beach house until she found a place of her own. 

In the kitchen overlooking the beach, Angus drew a deep breath against the barb she’d known would hit its mark.  After ten years in Hollywood, he finally had the opportunity to advance his career with the chance to direct a western he’d optioned from a novel he’d read and fallen in love with a few years earlier. 

This was his chance to be either highly successful or to fail most spectacularly.  And now more than ever, he was determined to make the best film he possibly could.

Yes, Alanna, the western.  I’m spending the month at a ranch in Wyoming tae learn the basics of riding and that.

Alanna snorted derisively.  You’re kicking me out of the house and running off to play cowboy.  Directing is harder than you think, you know.  She arched a knowing eyebrow.

I won’t discuss it any further, Alanna.  Ye have until the end of the week.

Carrying his cup of coffee, he headed out of the kitchen.

You can’t have the engagement ring back, she called after him.

He turned to see her waving her left hand mockingly.

I don’t want it, he shrugged.  Wear it in good health.  With that, he headed upstairs to pack.

IT WAS AFTER TEN O’CLOCK that night when Anna finally made her way back to her own cabin.  Dinner had been served in the dining room in the main lodge, and the traditional Welcome Campfire had followed.  It gave the guests a chance to get acquainted with each other and with the ranch staff, most of whom were members of the Graves family. 

Anna’s older twin brothers Andy and Ross taught sessions in advanced horsemanship and in working with cattle, respectively.  They were also in charge of caring for all the horses in the Sweetwater stable.  Andy’s wife Simone worked in the kitchen alongside her mother-in-law, Teresa Graves, and she performed many of the housekeeping duties.  She and Teresa also took care of reservations and guest relations.

Anna also took care of many housekeeping tasks in addition to teaching the beginning riding sessions, which generally meant working with the children who visited the ranch with their families.  It was what Anna enjoyed the most. 

Overseeing the bulk of ranch business was Anna’s father, Tom.  When her mother had offered the suggestion several years earlier that the tourist business might be more lucrative than actual cattle ranching, Tom had realized that Teresa might be onto something.  Selling off a large portion of their land and concentrating on a much smaller herd had afforded the family a more stable livelihood.

A few part-time ranch hands helping out with the cattle and an on-call housekeeper rounded out the Sweetwater staff.

Back in her cabin, Anna quickly showered and slipped into her favorite pajamas, a soft black camisole with hot-pink PJ pants.  She unplugged her tablet and slid into bed, propping up against a couple of pillows.  She’d been looking forward to starting the brand new steamy highlander romance she’d downloaded earlier, but she found her thoughts wandering back to the latest round of guests. 

All the registered guests had arrived that afternoon, everyone except for their high-profile Hollywood VIP.  Simone had been desolate.  Even Anna had to admit to herself that she’d been somewhat disappointed that he hadn’t shown up.  Maybe he’d changed his mind.  She supposed that people in his circles probably tended to be unreliable. 

Oh, well, she thought to herself, sliding open her tablet.  At least I have my highlander.

THE FOLLOWING MORNING, as the guests finished enjoying a huge buffet-style ranch breakfast in the lodge’s dining room, Anna efficiently worked her way through their cabins, making beds, exchanging towels, and straightening up as needed.  While she did, Simone and part-time housekeeper Lana did the same in the lodge guest rooms. 

Right after breakfast, Andy would run his first advanced horsemanship group in the riding ring while Ross took another group of guests out to inspect the Sweetwater beef herd in the north pasture.  Later in the morning, the two groups would swap. 

For guests who weren’t interested in the ins and outs of actual cattle ranching, the lodge had an impressive library filled with all sorts of books, many that the elder Graves had collected over the years.  Visitors to the Sweetwater Ranch were invited to help themselves and to find quiet places to enjoy reading. 

Teresa Graves was always happy to share her ranch-style recipes with curious patrons as well, so at any given time, there might be a gathering in the lodge’s massive kitchen. 

After lunch, Anna led her first beginners’ riding class of the new session.  This time around, she had six eager young riders between the ages of five and twelve, and for two hours, she led them through their paces.  By the end of the following week, each student would be able to groom and saddle his or her own horse, and they’d be competent enough to participate in the overnight trail ride and camp-out with their families. 

When Anna’s riding class was over, Andy helped her untack her horses, and they worked together to feed and water the entire stable of fifteen equines. 

Guess that actor guy isn’t coming, Andy commented as he and Anna left the barn and headed for the lodge.

Anna shrugged.  I guess not.

Simone was really looking forward to meeting him.

Maybe you should be relieved, she grinned at her brother wryly.  Sounds like she might decide to just ride off into the sunset with Angus McGregor.

Andy held up his hands in mock surrender.  I just want to keep the pregnant lady happy.

Hang in there, big brother.  It won’t be much longer now, Anna laughed.  Just a few more weeks.

When they entered the lodge, several of Anna’s new students ran to greet her.

Anna!  Anna!  This is my mom and dad! cried the youngest of her students, a tiny towheaded blonde named Ariel.

Anna grinned broadly.  Hi, Mom and Dad.  It’s nice to formally meet you.

The mother smiled.  She can’t stop talking about riding Rocket.

We named him Rocket kind of ironically.  He’s really slow, Anna laughed, thinking affectionately of the old bay.

Well, Ariel had a good time.  We’re excited about the camp-out at the end of next week, the father said.

Anna nodded.  That’s usually the highlight of everybody’s stay.

Across the room, she saw Teresa flagging her down.  If you’ll excuse me, she offered before heading off to find out what her mother wanted.

A flyer came in the mail today.  Founders’ Day is a week from Friday.

Anna frowned slightly at the brightly colored sheet her mother thrust into her hands.  The bulk of the page was a vintage mid-19th century sepia photograph of Main Street in Crystal Springs, overlaid with jaunty graphics declaring the annual Crystal Springs Founders’ Day celebration. 

Back in the late 1860s, the nearby town of Crystal Springs had sprung up practically overnight as a mining boomtown.  The coal vein had played out by the middle of the following century, but the small town was proud of its heritage.  Each summer, they celebrated what they thought of as Founders’ Day with a parade down Main Street followed by a giant picnic, and capping off the festivities with a family-friendly dance at the fairgrounds in the nearby town of Eagleton.

There was a time when Anna had looked forward to the annual event.  Now, she scowled at the announcement.

I’d like that put on the bulletin board on the front porch, Teresa said.  I’ll mention it tonight at dinner, but I want to make sure all the guests know that they’re invited to attend.

Anna nodded and headed toward the front door.

And Anna? her mother called after her.

She stopped and turned around.

I expect you to go to the dance this year.  Teresa arched an eyebrow, daring her daughter to argue.

Anna stalked back to the reception desk.  I don’t want to go.  Why do you insist that I go?

Because it’s time you started getting out, meeting people.

Swallowing her rising irritation, Anna gritted her teeth.  I meet people.  She waved toward the guests wandering through the lodge’s lobby.  They’re all people.

You know what I mean.

Huffing in frustration, Anna turned on her heel and headed back toward the door.

"You will go.  I don’t want to hear any more about it."

Wordlessly and without turning around, Anna waved the flyer in the air and marched out the door.  Outside on the long covered front porch, she opened the protective glass front of the bulletin board and silently fumed at her mother. 

For fuck’s sake!  I’m twenty-fucking-six years old!  I don’t need to be told what to do and how to do it, or where to go and when.  I make my own decisions.  Besides, there are always things that need to be done around the ranch.  Everyone can’t go gallivanting into town.  Somebody has to stay back and hold down the fort.

Part of her told her she was making way too much out of her mother’s request that she attend the celebration in town.  But the rest of her was in no mood to be reasonable.  She tacked up the flyer and closed the glass door, deciding she’d go remind her mother about the need for someone to stay behind during the festivities.

She turned abruptly and ran headlong into something substantial.  The next thing she knew, she and a tall red-haired man landed in a tangled heap on the front lawn.

Oof, he managed as he lay gasping for air.

Oh my God, I’m so sorry!  I didn’t see you standing there.  Anna scrambled to her feet and reached down to help the man stand.

Slowly, he allowed her to pull him up.  Green-tinted Rayban aviators sat askew on his face, and a pair of bags lay strewn on the grass.  He coughed slightly as he straightened to his full height.

Anna figured he had to be well over six feet, maybe as tall as six and a half feet, judging by the way he towered over her five-foot-four frame.

Are you okay? she asked him. 

He nodded, reaching to straighten his sunglasses and run his fingers through his red hair.  Aye, had the wind knocked out of me is all.  And that’s a fine welcome, I must say, he replied in a thick Scottish brogue.

Feeling her cheeks color, Anna reached to brush the dirt off the man’s sleeve.  I’m really sorry!  It was totally my fault.  I should have been watching where I was going.

Aye, ye should have, he grinned wryly, but then I’d have missed being tackled by a bonnie lass such as yerself.  Do ye play rugby, perchance?  His laugh was hearty, and any other time, she’d have found it almost infectious.

Mortified, Anna started to gather up his belongings, but he stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm.  I’ve got my bags, thanks.  He hoisted a large leather duffel bag onto his broad left shoulder and picked up a matching suitcase.  I have a reservation for McGregor.  Do I check in here?

Um, yes, Anna nodded.  Just this way.  Still blushing, she led the way up the front steps and into the lobby.  With a pair of tortoiseshell-framed readers perched on the bridge of her nose, her mother stood at the check-in desk efficiently tapping something on a keyboard.  When she looked up and saw Anna with their new guest, she smiled brightly.

Mr. McGregor is checking in, Anna said meekly, wishing she could melt through the floorboards.

I’d be happy if ye’d just call me Angus, he said quickly. 

I’m Teresa Graves.  Welcome to Sweetwater Ranch, Mr. M—Angus, Teresa greeted him.  We’re happy to have you here.

I’m happy tae be here.  Ye have a lovely ranch, from what I’ve seen so far.  He glanced Anna’s way, and she blushed furiously.

Mrs. Graves turned and retrieved a brass key from a vintage wooden key rack behind the front desk.  Here you are.  Cabin 6.  Anna will take you there. 

She handed him the key and smiled cordially.  You’ll find a folder in your cabin with this week’s schedule.  Once you settle in, I hope you take the opportunity to explore the ranch.  And dinner is here in the dining room at 6:00.

While Anna silently shot daggers at her mother, Angus’s full-wattage grin was charming.  That sounds perfect.  Thank you, Mrs. Graves.

He turned and looked at Anna expectantly.

Oh, um, right this way.  She turned, shooting one last glare at her mother, and led their new guest back outside. 

AFTER ANGUS SETTLED his six-foot-five-inch frame into his first-class leather seat at the gate at LAX, he ordered a soda and lime from the cabin’s efficient flight attendant.  Slouching slightly in his window seat, he lowered the green lenses of his Raybans over his eyes. He scrolled through his phone, more to avoid the curious looks of the other passengers as they boarded than to actually check on anything important. 

His notifications showed several text messages from Alanna, which he promptly ignored.  What she wanted at this point, he couldn’t possibly imagine.  He’d thought they’d said all there was to say in his kitchen that morning. 

He tossed back the rest of his drink and sighed, grateful he had Douglas and the rest of his security team in place to handle whatever reticence she might still have when it came to moving out of his house.  Lately, she and the house had become a tremendous weight on his shoulders. 

The time had come to move on.  A month on a Wyoming ranch was just the thing he needed.  He’d gain some horseback riding skills, and he’d concentrate on the script for his directorial debut. 

Before the plane pushed back from the jetway, he handed his empty glass to the flight attendant and sighed as he peered out the window.  He was not surprised that the aisle seat beside him was empty.  He’d purchased the two first-class tickets to ensure that his journey to Denver would be peaceful.  The puddle-jumper that would take him from Denver to Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport didn’t have a first-class section at all, so he’d be on his own at that point. 

But for now, he closed his eyes as the plane climbed into the sky, and the ground fell away.  Ready for a new adventure, he felt a flutter of anticipation.

To his delight, the flight from Denver was a pleasant one.  The Beechcraft 1900 twin-engine turboprop had only single seats on either side of the narrow aisle.  An elderly woman in the seat across from him chatted animatedly about the grandchildren she’d been to visit in Colorado.  If she recognized Angus, she didn’t give any indication, and that suited him just fine. 

Once on the ground, he made a beeline for one of only two car rental counters where he’d had his assistant reserve a pickup truck for the length of his stay.  Ten minutes later, with the address of Sweetwater Ranch plugged into his phone, he drove away from the airport and aimed the silver F-150 east. 

Traffic was