Colton's Cowgirl: Cowboys of Cauldron Valley, #14

By Caroline Lee

Newly returned from his third deployment, Colton Colmenares is determined to build his ranch into a success, even if it means taking a temporary job to earn a nest egg. He just doesn't count on being bowled over by his coworker; a prickly, standoffish cowgirl who goes by "Alcatraz".

 

Anna learned long ago that she can't trust big men—or big dogs, for that matter. And not only is Colt twice her size, but he's got a pet who could bite her in half if it wanted. How is a woman of her stature supposed to protect herself against someone like Colt, if he tried to hurt her? Nope, she doesn't want anything to do with either of them.

 

So then why is her heart—and her body—telling a different tale? And why does she get the feeling that, despite his size, she might be able to perhaps, maybe, possibly…trust him?

 

He might be a good man, but is Colt big enough to protect her when her past catches up to them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Caroline Lee
• Release date: Oct 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393369776

Book preview

Chapter 1

On her way back from the coffee shop, Anna Alcatraz stopped by the dog park.

This wasn’t unusual; she actually tended to park her truck a few blocks from the shop specifically so she could take this route on the way back after she finished her sugary afternoon pick-me-up.

But she figured she might get some stares, considering she didn’t, you know, have a dog.

You don’t have to have a dog to enjoy the dog park.

Although if she did have one, it might make her feel less like a weirdo. Was she a dog watcher, perhaps? A dog voyeur? Did this make her some kind of canine Peeping Tom?

Peeping Toms are people who watch others do naughty things.

Anna’s lips curled up on one side as she stacked her elbows on the upper rail of the gate and watched the two little dogs chase each other. Naughty things?

Like steal cookies from cookie jars.

Right. Because that’s the naughtiest thing her brain could come up with.

On the other side of the fence, the two pups barked and ran through a small tunnel. Anna glanced around and saw their owner—an elderly man she recognized from earlier visits—observing from a nearby bench. She nodded her greetings, and the man waved in return.

At least he didn’t think she was a weirdo for watching dogs play.

Maybe one day—one day soon?—she’d have a pup to bring here to play. It was why Anna stopped here whenever possible, although she still felt awkward about it. How else was she supposed to figure out what kind of dog she wanted? All the smaller breeds seemed to have their benefits and disadvantages, according to her internet searches and the few conversations she’d worked up the bravery to start about them with random people.

All she knew was she wanted a dog and had since she’d been a little girl. For so long, she’d been told no, she wasn’t allowed. Then, once she was old enough and on her own, and knew she could have one, she’d started second-guessing herself. Sure, the cute little house she rented now on the ranch was big enough for her to have a dog, but would it be fair to the pup, with her working all the hours she was working?

So for now, it was enough to just stop here at the dog park and watch the cute little ones play.

She had to chuckle as a plump little pug chased a ball across the dirt. He couldn’t get his mouth around the toy and kept just pushing it along with his cute little flat nose. He seemed to be having the time of his life, even though no one had thrown the ball for him.

Anna scanned the fence at the edge of the park. There was no one specifically watching the pug, but that wasn’t unusual. She knew, in the small town of Cauldron Valley, lots of owners might drop their dogs off and run to one of the mom-and-pop stores nearby. If they weren’t gone long, no one seemed to mind much.

But that wasn’t going to help the pug, who’d just pushed his ball into a hole. The hole wasn’t that deep, but the poor thing couldn’t seem to get a good enough grip on the toy to pull it out. He scrambled helplessly at the dirt and growled in an attempt to dig the thing out.

Poor baby.

Anna cocked her head and watched the pug. She’d never found the breed particularly cute, but she had to admit there was something about this one’s plump belly and bowed legs which called to her.

He’d probably be lots of fun to cuddle up with after a long day at work.

Maybe a pug would be nice.

Or a dachshund—there was one playing at the opposite side of the park.

Or a Yorkie, or chihuahua, or maybe a spaniel of some sort, if she was brave enough to handle a dog which wasn’t quite as small as the previous ones in her list.

All she knew was she wanted a small dog. It was what she could handle.

At five foot even in her cowboy boots, Anna only had to bend a little to rest her chin on her hands which were resting atop the wooden fence. She’d always been smaller than everyone around her, and as far as she was concerned, that wasn’t a good thing. The only way she’d be able to manage a dog would be to get a tiny one.

A small dog, one she could pick up and cuddle with. One she could control.

Maybe I should think about getting a hamster instead.

Her lips twitched upward again. A hamster? No, she’d always wanted a dog, and she’d get one. Just not a big one, because a big dog would think it could control her.

Cowgirls stayed in control, as far as she was concerned, and since she was a cowgirl now herself, she must maintain control.

The poor pug was still trying to get at that ball. Anna glanced around the park again, wondering if anyone else was going to help him. There were a few people already inside the fence, but they were occupied with playing with their own dogs. No one seemed to notice the pug’s distress except her.

Well, the pug wasn’t too big; she wouldn’t mind getting closer.

Anna straightened and walked over to the gate located on her side of the park. It was easy enough for her to reach through—she wasn’t tall enough to reach over as most people would do—unlatch it, then slip inside.

She slowed to a stroll as she approached the pug a little warily, but the animal didn’t seem to mind her.

Hey there, fella, she murmured.

The pug turned to her, then plopped on its haunches as his gaze darted between her and the ball.

Anna chuckled wryly. You want some help?

The dog just looked at her.

Well, what did you expect? The dog to answer you with "Yes, please?"

She crouched down, and when the pug didn’t seem to object, reached her hand out slowly and cautiously for the ball. Even though the pug was small, if he decided to snap at her hand, she’d probably end up with some sort of injury.

Anna snatched up the ball, and the pug just watched her. She gently rolled the toy toward the dog, and the little animal bounced to his feet. With a happy little bark, he nosed the ball again, then trotted happily after it.

Sighing in satisfaction, Anna stood and brushed her palms against the thighs of her jeans. She watched the pug push the ball out of sight around the corner of one of the dog structures, and she took a few steps forward to keep an eye on it. Soon she stood in the center of the park, smiling, as she watched the little pug play.

A sharp whistle behind Anna surprised her. She jerked her head around, but in the wrong direction, which was how she was lucky enough to see the beast before it attacked her.

Galloping toward her—because really, the thing was the size of a pony—was a wolf. That was the only explanation; a full-grown rabid wolf had somehow gotten into the dog park and was determined to make a meal out of one of the tinier creatures running around.

Including her.

Sucking in a gasp, Anna began to backpedal, fixated by the strands of saliva dangling from the beast’s maw. As she watched, the thing opened its mouth to reveal what had to be the biggest razor-sharp fangs she could ever have imagined.

Whimpering now, Anna started to turn. She was certain she’d feel the beast’s front paws—did wolves have claws on their paws?—shredding into her back at any moment. But her only chance at getting to safety was the fence. If she could reach that, she could climb over, but she wasn’t going to reach it by running backwards.

No, better to turn so she couldn’t see her doom racing toward her—

When she ran into a solid wall—much closer than the fence should have been—Anna let out a little whimper, which was all she was willing to concede to the overwhelming terror.

Her shoulder was plastered against something hard, but before she glanced up to see what it was, her head swiveled as far as it would go, and her eyes darted to the beast chasing her down.

It was close. Too close.

She wasn’t going to be able to outrun it.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Anna prayed she’d faint before the pain of its attack became too much to bear.

But just then, a pair of hands closed around her waist, and she went flying.

At least, that’s what it felt like. Her eyes flashed open to realize she’d been picked up by a man—the man she’d run into, actually—and he was turning, lifting her out of harm’s way.

Unfortunately, that only put him in harm’s way. The slavering beast slammed into the man at chest height, letting out a sharp bark.

And the man, who was clearly crazy, laughed. The force of the collision had him shifting