Liz: The Dawsons of Montana, #3

By Jan Scarbrough

It's good to be in love, whatever age.

Producer and scriptwriter Chaz Kingston is burned out by the ruthlessly competitive world of Hollywood. He's tired of the empty celebrity lifestyle of his ex-wife and her daughters who are only famous for being famous. He's tired of a life chasing the next hot trend, the next hot script. And he's mourning the senseless death of his brother. Then he's offered the chance to write a script based on a real life feel-good family novel about a dude ranch in Montana. Maybe blue skies and open spaces are what this silver fox needs. But he never dreamed his R-and-R would include a beautiful widow.

Since her husband's tragic death in a riding accident, Liz Dawson has done all she can to keep the Six Buckles Guest Ranch running. When a handsome stranger arrives at the ranch, she fears her daughter-in-law is playing matchmaker. Liz has already been married to two different men—one wonderful and one not so much. She doesn't need another man in her life.

Sometimes second chances come when least expected. Can Liz and Chaz take a leap of faith…together?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Saddle Horse Press, LLC
• Release date: Jul 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9780997191943

Jan Scarbrough

Whether it is the Bluegrass of Kentucky, the mountains of Montana, or Medieval England, Jan Scarbrough brings you home with romances from the heart. Jan Scarbrough is the author of two popular Bluegrass series, writing heartwarming contemporary romances about home and family, single moms and children. Living in the horse country of Kentucky makes it easy for Jan to add small town, Southern charm to her books and the excitement of a Bluegrass horse race or a competitive horse show. Leaving her contemporary voice behind, Jan has written paranormal gothic romances: Tangled Memories, a Romance Writers of America (RWA) Golden Heart finalist, and Timeless. Her medieval romance, My Lord Raven is a story of honor and betrayal. A member of Novelist, Inc., Jan self-publishes her books with the help of her husband. She has published 26 romances. Jan lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with one rescued dog, one rescued cat, and a husband she rescued 23 years ago. When she isn't writing, she loves to ride American Saddlebred horses, drive grandchildren to activities, and volunteer with Alley Cat Advocates. There is nothing she enjoys more than curling up with a good book. Subscribe to Jan’s monthly newsletter and receive a free eBook.https://janscarbrough.com/contact/

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Malibu, California

July 2018

Charles Martin Kingston—Chaz to his friends—pulled off the main road into the parking space beside his half-brother’s twenty-five-million-dollar beach house. Fronted by the Pacific Ocean with views of the mountains beyond the highway, the six-thousand-square-foot luxury home had been his brother’s peace offering to his second wife.

Even six bedrooms, seven baths, a chef’s kitchen, infinity pool, and spa hadn’t worked. The ungrateful bitch had divorced Dalton Kingston anyway, throwing his baby brother into the deepest, darkest depression Chaz had yet seen.

Women.

His own track record wasn’t much better. He’d married once and divorced once, vowing never to get tied up with a crazy woman like Adrianne again. From the first, he should have been wary of her because she came with baggage from one failed marriage—identical twin daughters Alena and Amalee. God, he still couldn’t tell those girls apart, even though they’d turned twenty-one and he’d known them for fifteen years.

The only good to come of his marriage was his daughter Ashleigh. Fifteen—going on forty—she was the light of his life. But she was her mother’s daughter more than his. Hooked on glamor and fashion, she knew every pop trend that, of course, she tweeted, blogged, or whatever kids today did to call attention to themselves. Chaz had kept her out of her mother’s reality TV show so far, but it was getting harder to do.

Alena, Amalee, and Adrianne Wade (she’d taken back her first husband’s name) were big stars in the celebrity world. Famous for being famous. No real talent except for making themselves the objects of curiosity for paparazzi and gossip magazines. Chaz didn’t want that for his daughter.

That’s why he needed to see Ashleigh more often. Make time. Not skip his visitation. But it was all so complicated. His life. His job. This business he was in, trying to make it in the ruthlessly competitive world of Hollywood. He was constantly trying to keep ahead of the sharks that would eat him alive if he didn’t remain current. Find the next trend two years before others knew it existed. Be the first with the best script. The best ideas.

Chaz sat a moment in front of his brother’s dual garage entrances. He expelled a breath, opened the car door, and stepped out onto the pavement. California sunshine struck him with its familiar fierceness. He squinted into the glare, wishing he’d brought his sunglasses. The roar of the ocean almost drowned out the rumble of cars driving past the beachfront house.

Except for Ashleigh, Dalton Kingston was his only family. Although ten years his junior, Chaz had always felt close to his brother. But even that closeness had frayed lately.

Chaz worried about him. About the anger and despondency that ate away at his brother’s life. About the fact that he hadn’t answered his cell phone in two days.

Why did it seem as if he’d lost control of everything? If he wasn’t careful, he’d end up as miserable as his brother.

His cell phone rang. Finally. If Dalton had called sooner, he could have saved himself the trip. Chaz pushed the button to answer the call without checking caller ID.

Mr. Kingston, this is Jane from the Morrison Agency. We spoke two days ago.

Chaz’s shoulders slumped with disappointment. Yes, I remember. Regardless of who was on the other end of the line, he was always polite. Professional. One never knew when a bit of kindness and consideration would pay off.

Did you receive the eBook I emailed you?

Had he? Chaz couldn’t remember. Yes, I did.

Great! I wanted to make sure you’d received it and that it was in the right format. I guess you haven’t had time to read it yet.

No. Not yet.

I understand.

There was a pause. Chaz shifted his weight to his other foot.

Mr. Kingston, the agent began then hesitated again. The thing is, I have another candidate for the book, but I’d really like to see you turn it into a TV script. You do such wonderful work. My client enjoys your shows on the Sweet Romance Network. She’d really love it if you’d take a chance on her book.

Yes, wouldn’t they all? Most eager novelists with a bestseller wanted him to write their movie script or produce their books for cable television or one of the streaming content platforms. There just wasn’t enough time in the day for every one of them.

Remind me again the name of this novel and why it’s so special?

"Under Montana Stars is a family novel. Set in Montana. It’s a USA Today bestseller as a self-published eBook. My agency has gotten involved to produce a trade paperback and handle the other rights—foreign, movie, audio book, you know."

Yes, he knew. As I asked, what’s so special about it?

The agent drew in a breath and then launched. "Under Montana Stars is a fabulous book about a blended family and how they coped with the loss of the patriarch, their father and stepfather. It expresses family values—love, loyalty—things that are so hard to find in much of today’s society. It is a feel-good book. One that will give the viewers a sense of hope."

One book can do all that?

Chaz rolled his eyes. Sounds fabulous.

It really is. The agent must not understand sarcasm because of her enthusiastic reply. It’s written by Stephanie Caldera, wife of the famous bull rider Brody Caldera. In fact, it’s semi-autobiographical in many respects.

Chaz had never heard of Brody Caldera or this wonderful book that had somehow broken through all the millions of other self-published eBooks to hit the bestseller list. That didn’t mean it wasn’t worth checking into, but at the moment his mind was elsewhere.

Give me time to read the eBook, and I’ll get back to you, he said to put off the agent.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Kingston. You won’t be sorry!

The call ended and so had Chaz’s patience. He was tired. Sick of people poking at him from all angles, wanting this or that. He was no magician. Hell, he couldn’t even control his own daughter or make his brother respond to a phone call.

Chaz stuffed the cell phone back in his pocket and strode to the metal gate that shut Dalton’s home from the world. He punched in the security code and pushed open the gate. Walking across the courtyard, he rang the doorbell. No answer. He twisted the doorknob. The heavy, ornate front door was unlocked.

Chaz entered and glanced around. The house was eerily quiet. No light jazz provided background music through the all-house sound system. Only the whir of air conditioning and the tick-tock of a distant clock broke the silence.

The décor was pristine white with an occasional beach scene watercolor on a wall. The Pacific Ocean was meant to be the house’s main design element and the tall picture windows exposed ocean views from every direction. Dalton’s home was built into a hillside with four stories. The top floor was the entrance and contained a few bedrooms. Chaz knew his brother never used them. He descended a staircase built into the right-hand corner of the house that would take him from the entry hall to the family area on the bottom floor.

Dalton! he called when he reached the kitchen on the second floor.

The sink was filled with dirty dishes and legal papers were scattered on the table. Housekeeping wasn’t Dalton’s strong suit. Folding doors stood wide open to the massive outdoor entertaining deck. Chaz crossed the deck and gazed at the ocean.

Something was wrong. He’d known it all week, but he’d tried to ignore the feeling gnawing at his gut. Now it punched him hard in his stomach. What would he do if anything happened to his baby brother?

The expansive master suite on the third floor was empty—the bedclothes rumpled and a pair of blue jeans cast off on the bathroom floor. Chaz opened the door to the private deck and went outside. He saw the blue water of the infinity pool below. From its location one level above the sand, it seemed to cascade into the ocean.

But he didn’t see his brother.

Heart in his throat, Chaz went down the stairs one more time and came into the family room. As in the kitchen above, the folding doors stood open. Someone was stretched out in a wicker chaise lounge facing the pool and ocean. The chair was situated under the deck which had obstructed Chaz’s view from above.

Dalton?

No response. Chaz walked closer and paused behind the chair.

He knew what he’d find, but he had to force himself to take the last step.

Facing the rolling ocean and the brilliant orange sunset, Dalton Kingston sat with a needle sticking into his outstretched arm.

He was as dead as Chaz knew he would be.

CHAPTER ONE

Six Buckles Guest Ranch

September 2018

Morning coffee in hand, Liz Mercer Caldera Dawson stood on the porch steps of the family’s guest lodge. It was early. The crisp morning air seeped into her middle-aged bones, but she didn’t mind. This was Montana, after all. She was used to the cold.

What she wasn’t used to was life on the ranch without her daughter Mercer. The youngest of the two Dawson children, Mercer had been the family princess. Her husband’s son by his first wife, Ben, adored her. So did Liz’s son by her first marriage, Brody. Mercer was the family mascot, the good luck charm and peacekeeper.

And she had left home.

Liz swallowed a lump of sadness as the taillights of Drake Hawkins’ SUV faded into the weak morning light. Her baby was Mrs. Drake Hawkins now, and she was moving to Tennessee to start her new life.

Part of Liz was happy for her daughter. If Mercer had found the love of her life like she found hers in Jim Dawson, then all would be well. The other part, the selfish-mother part was not so happy. What would she do without Mercer to talk to? What would she do for a best friend?

The nineteen-hundred-mile car trip to Drake’s home in Tennessee was to be their honeymoon. Once there, Mercer would become an instant mother to Drake’s foster child Gracie. The couple planned to adopt the little girl. Liz wished she could be there for support. Sure, she was a cell phone or a Zoom meeting away, but it wouldn’t be the same. Oh, well. Mercer would make her own way, much as Liz had always made hers.

Gazing over the creek-fed lake that gave the guest ranch such a picturesque setting, Liz knew her place remained in Montana. She had Jim’s legacy to protect.

For the first time since her husband’s tragic death in a riding accident and subsequent heart attack, she wondered what he’d think about her guardianship of his legacy. All Jim had wanted was to provide for and sustain his family. Liz had married into the Dawson clan, bringing Brody with her, and become part of Jim’s plan. She’d worked hard to make their dude ranch successful, funneling money into the working ranch for a time, the ranch that belonged to the family of Jim’s first wife.

Her husband had wanted his two children and Brody to have a home to come back to if they ever left. Liz wondered if Mercer would use her father’s inheritance. It was here. Like the