Broken Vows: The Cowboys of Whisper Colorado, #6

By Melissa Keir

Sometimes life doesn't go as planned….

 

Rick and Julie Tyler are happily married ranchers who raise and train horses. When money becomes tight, Rick becomes a firefighter in order to make ends meet, but he's forced to move out of state if he wants more money and a chance to become a station chief.

 

Distance causes problems for the happy couple and turns their world upside down. When Julie puts her foot down, will Rick decide to make the right choice, or will their vows break?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melissa Keir
• Release date: Mar 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393806158

Book preview

Broken Vows

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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.

Broken Vows

The Cowboys of Whisper Colorado #6

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

Edited by Kate Richards

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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.

Broken Vows

Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned....

Rick and Julie Tyler are happily married ranchers who raise and train horses. When money becomes tight, Rick becomes a firefighter in order to make ends meet, but he’s forced to move out of state if he wants more money and a chance to become a station chief.

Distance causes problems for the happy couple and turns their world upside down. When Julie puts her foot down, will Rick decide to make the right choice, or will their vows break?

Other Books by Melissa Keir

Wilder Sisters Series:

Forever Love

Beach Desires

A Christmas Accident

Coming Home

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The Cowboys of Whisper, Colorado

The Heartsong Cowboy

The Heartbroken Cowboy

Claiming the Cowboy’s Heart

A Pigskin Cowboy

Broken Dreams

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Charming Chances:

Charming Chances (print of combined ebooks)

Second Time’s a Charm

Three’s a Crowd

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Pigg Detective Agency:

Protecting His Wolfe

Protecting Her Pigg

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Magical Matchmaker

Chalkboard Romance

One Night in Laguna

One Night Behind Bars

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Crash and Burn

Love, Bake, Write (recipe book)

The Way to the Heart (recipe book)

We’d Rather Be Writing (recipe book)

Musings of a Madcap Mind (memoirs)

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Dedication

To my readers who make this trip always possible and to my husband for always putting me first....

Chapter One

August 2016

Julie, the job offer came in. We’re going to Detroit.

Stunned, she stared at the phone. She’d known a move to another firehouse was a possibility. But to another state? Whisper, Colorado had always been her home. She’d grown up here, met and married her husband, and they’d bought their first home—all within the city’s boundaries. However, her husband’s career had stagnated. He’d reached the top of his pay scale and position. If he wanted to become a fire chief, he’d need to leave their hometown.

Did you hear me? His deep voice echoed through the phone, sending tingles down her spine. Julie loved how his voice still turned her on. How lucky she was. Many of her friends barely tolerated their husbands after four years of marriage, but she and Rick still acted like newlyweds.

I heard you. I can’t help it if your voice sends my mind down other avenues. I’ll see you when you get home in the morning. Take care and be safe. She sighed, wishing she wasn’t sleeping alone tonight.

Love you. He chuckled, sending another shiver through her.

Love you more. She held her emotions in check. The saying was their way of always acknowledging how much they meant to each other. Rick’s job put him in danger too often for her to forget each goodbye could be their last. No matter what, they always ended each parting—in person or on the phone—the same way.

Julie paced through the living room of their ranch house. She recalled the day they’d finally gotten the keys, making it theirs.

Rick had carried her through the door in his arms but tripped over a box the previous owners had left in the foyer. He’d stumbled and fallen to his knees, almost dropping her. He’d cradled her against his muscular chest, keeping her safe. Curse words had flown from his lips while she’d tried to stifle her giggles. He’d been so frustrated, however, she’d found a way to relax him.

Julie’s face heated as she remembered how they’d christened each room that night. She rolled her shoulders, recalling her stiffness for days afterward. Sleeping on the floor never felt so good.

Each corner, each room filled with memories. She teared up as she thought about moving. Not only would they have to leave their home, but she doubted there’d be room for a horse farm in inner city Detroit. She would have to say goodbye to not only her friends, but also the animals she’d raised and grown to love. Rick had enjoyed running the ranch, caring for the horses, but the bills stacked up. He’d always dreamed of helping others and, to him, being a fireman offered the perfect way. Too bad being a horse breeder didn’t earn more money.

Julie grabbed her cell phone off the coffee table and strode to the back deck and her blue Adirondack chair. She watched their latest yearling frolicking in the corral. He kicked up his feet as if dancing to a silent tune. Cool afternoon breezes had made the warm fall days bearable this week. The cooler months made Rick’s job easier, although the holidays brought an increase in the number of home fires. Dialing a number, she tapped her foot until her friend picked up.

Hello, Angela. Rick called. It’s official. We’re moving. She wiped at the tears sliding down her cheeks. She hadn’t wanted to cry, but finally saying the words aloud made it all the more real.

Hello, Julie. I’m sorry to hear it, although we knew it was possible. Where are you going?

Detroit. But we really could end up living anywhere in the area. We haven’t even begun to look at houses. With all the negative press about the city, I’m not excited to live in a ghetto. She paused. And I’ll have to find homes for all the horses. Julie dropped her head back on the chair. It’s breaking my heart.

"Jake and I can always use some more therapy horses. The ones you have are so sweet, they’d be an asset to our program. But I’m sorry about the move. I know it’s hard, but you have quite the adventure in front of you. A new home to