Redeeming Dreams: The Cowboys of Whisper Colorado, #7

By Melissa Keir

Jeannette Redding captured America's hearts when she won gold with the US Women's Olympic Swim Team, but no one knew the hidden past she couldn't escape. Her dream of starting over in Whisper, Colorado might derail if her past comes to light.

 

Tanner Brock lost his passion for building when his vengeful ex-wife destroyed his company and career. He started over doing odd jobs for The Heartsong Ranch but never dreamed he'd work with his hands again.

 

As Jeannette and Tanner discover their passion, can they find a way to make their dreams come true, or will they lose out on love and a brighter future?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melissa Keir
• Release date: Mar 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393633853

Book preview

Redeeming Dreams

Melissa Keir

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, places, or events is coincidental and not intended by the author.

If you purchase this book without a cover you should be aware that this book may have been stolen property and reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher. In such case the author has not received any payment for this stripped book.

Redeeming Dreams

Copyright © 2017 Melissa Keir

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All rights reserved.

5764 Woodbine Ave.

Pinckney, MI 48169

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Cover art By Shades of Rose Media

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This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. The copying, scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions, and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

Redeeming Dreams

Jeannette Redding captured America’s hearts when she won gold with the US Women’s Olympic Swim Team, but no one knew the hidden past she couldn’t escape. Her dream of starting over in Whisper, Colorado might derail if her past comes to light.

Tanner Brock lost his passion for building when his vengeful ex-wife destroyed his company and career. He started over doing odd jobs for The Heartsong Ranch but never dreamed he’d work with his hands again.

As Jeannette and Tanner discover their passion, can they find a way to make their dreams come true, or will they lose out on love and a brighter future?

DEDICATION

To the man who allows me to dream big...

And to all the people who reach for their dreams, no matter what roadblocks are put up.

CHAPTER oNE

You’re a loser. Fat and stupid.

You’ll never do the double layout with a twist correctly. Why am I even bothering with you?

You’ll need a little extra special practice. Come here.

Jeannette Redding awoke with a start. Her heart pounded. Where am I? What’s going on? Not again. Her body hurt from the imagined blows that happened long ago. When she finally recalled checking into the hotel yesterday, her heart slowed. Taking a deep breath, Jeannette let the horrors of her dream float away. She stared at the popcorn ceiling and watched the red light on the smoke detector flicker on and off.

The nightmares had returned a month ago. Now they came every night, sending her stress levels through the roof. Night after night, the same angry voices shouted at her then the pain began. Not even a change of location made a difference. Jeannette had tried sleeping pills and an essential oil mist machine. Nothing stopped her terrors.

She’d come to expect the pain and horror. In fact, she’d believed those hateful words for so long, they were tattooed on her heart. Even after winning four gold medals in Women’s Swimming at the Summer Olympics in Germany, Jeannette relived her pain each night.

She rolled over and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. Five twenty-three. Way too early for her appointment with the real estate agent, but she didn’t dare return to sleep. The dreams would return, much worse. Finally, here in Whisper, Colorado, she had taken the steps to leave her history behind, ready to make her dreams real. A home and a new adventure—a fitness facility for the town.

Flipping back the covers, the petite brunette swung her legs over the edge of the bed, stood then headed for the bathroom. Perhaps a warm shower would wake her up and dispel the nightmares. The quaint hotel boasted about their excellent bathrooms, far better than any other in town. And while she hadn’t seen more than this one hotel, she’d probably agree. Someone had spent some money on upgrades. The shower featured a full-tile surround with an overhead rain shower but, best of all, the spray ran hot for a long time. Not a little warm, but burn-the-skin-off-you scalding.

Jeannette tugged her sleep shirt off and tossed it onto the floor. She dragged the bath rug to the shower and turned on the water. When it had warmed, she stepped into the stall and let the spray splash over her body. Grabbing the lavender soap she’d brought from home, Jeannette lathered her body. After the dreams, pain remained a constant reminder for a few hours, her muscles clenched tight and ready to fight or escape. Her body recalled the pain long past. Each brush of her fingers across her skin sent phantom pain shooting down her legs. Returning the soap to the dish, she braced her hands on the stall wall and let the stream beat down on her head. Her hair slid over her face, hiding her shame as tears fell down her cheeks.

After a few minutes, she straightened, shoved her shoulders back, and shut off the shower. Determined to not let her past continue to haunt her, she dried her body. Since she was too early for the closing, she could drive out to The Heartsong Ranch and get the lay of the land. Due to begin her therapy lessons, she’d not been around horses before and the big animals scared her. Images of being kicked or bucked off filled her head. Before she even put her butt in the saddle, she wanted to meet a horse face-to-face. How was I ever talked into equine therapy? How can being around horses make me feel better when the thought of them makes me want to curl into a ball?

Throwing on a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, and boots, Jeannette brushed her hair off her neck before grabbing a granola bar and bottle of water. On her kitchen counter, she found her pill case. She dumped the seven pills of various colors into the palm of her hand. Some were for pain, others for anxiety, and one stopped the repetitive negative loop she heard in her