Author Spotlight: The Taking a Peek Edition

Hello, mes amis, and welcome to a midweek peek at my current work-in-progress.

A few months ago, I signed my fifth contract with Tule Publishing. I was so excited when they accepted my proposal for the Dykemans of River’s Edge series and even more jacked up that they were all in for one of the Dykeman siblings to take a little trip to Marietta, Montana. She will still be in River’s Edge for part of the story, so don’t worry–you’ll see Mac and Megan and Sam and all your old favorite characters, but this story belongs to Beth.

With Book 1 in the Dykemans series, I’m joining three other Tule authors–Sinclair Jayne, Nicole Flockton, and Jeannie Watt–in celebrating the 87th annual Copper Mountain Rodeo. Our stories, Bad Boys of the Rodeo, release one a week in September and I am so thrilled to be a part of such a dynamic and talented group of authors.

The draft blurb for Beth Dykeman’s book is:

It was supposed to be just one night…

43-year-old Beth Dykeman’s life is spiraling—her 20-year marriage is over as is her career in Nashville’s Chamber of Commerce. Now back home in her childhood bedroom in River’s Edge, she’s grieving the end of her dream to have a family. Her friends stage an intervention to treat Beth to a relaxing week at a spa in beautiful Montana. But Beth arrives only to discover her friends accidentally booked her at a working dude ranch in the middle Marietta’s 87th Copper Mountain Rodeo celebration weekend.

When he’s not competing, 36-year-old bronc rider, Del Foster works the Aspen Springs Ranch. He’s ready to hang up his spurs. This rodeo will be his last competition before he finally settles down and buys his own small spread to train cutting horses.

Their instant chemistry shocks them both, and on her last night, Beth indulges the attraction knowing she’ll never see Del again. But fate has a way of changing plans and challenging assumptions. Can Beth and Del both have what they never knew they always wanted?

Intrigued? Here’s a little snippet…

Suddenly, Del swerved to an overlook on the side of the highway, shifted into Park, and turned off the engine. Squinting at her in the sunlight filtering through the trees, he asked, “Ma’am, where exactly do you think you’re going?”

Startled, Beth moved a little closer to the door and the armrest jabbed her in the small of her back. “Aspen Springs Resort and Spa?”

He heaved a huge sigh. “Well, sh— er, um, dang it.”

Beth’s heart sank to her sandals. “I’m not in the right place, am I?”

He rubbed both hands over his bristly face, then leaned one elbow on the bottom of the steering wheel. “Doesn’t appear like it. Hang on.” He opened his door and slipped out of the truck, walking to the edge of the overlook while he pulled out his phone.
Beth got out too. No way was this guy going to problem-solve her situation alone. “Who are you calling?”

He held up one hand, presumably to shush her.

She narrowed her eyes at him, but stood silent as he waited for whoever was at the other end to pick up. They didn’t. He released a frustrated breath and tried another number. “Damn voicemail again.” He paced, looked at his phone, texted something to someone, and paced some more. “They must be with Ginger.”

“Ginger?” Beth had no idea what he was talking about. The knot in her stomach that had begun to form when he’d mentioned jeans and boots suddenly tightened. She put her hand over her belly.

“A mare that’s foaling.” He tossed it over his shoulder with a look that seemed like he thought she should’ve known.

Beth held up her own phone—bars! She opened her contacts and tapped on Sam’s number. The call forwarded to Alice, her assistant. “Evans, Hayes, and Flaherty.”

“Alice, it’s Beth Frye…er, Dykeman. I need to talk to Sam.” Beth moved away from Del Foster and stared out across the vista in front of her. It was breathtaking—high clouds over a town scattered in a valley below surrounded by tall aspens and pines. The buildings were tiny, but there was a church steeple and another domed structure that might have been a town hall or a courthouse.

“Sorry, Beth. Sam’s in a deposition. Is it an emergency?” Alice’s tone indicated that it had better be life or death if she was going to interrupt her boss.

Beth blew out a breath. Not an emergency, just a mix-up. “No. Could you have her call me when she gets out?”

“Sure, hon.”

“Thanks.” She chewed her lower lip and tapped her phone against her palm. It was Sam or at least Sam’s intern who’d made her reservations so chances were good that Tee, Jazz, or Meg wouldn’t have a clue. She pulled up the confirmation emails from the Aspen Springs Ranch that Sam’s intern had forwarded to her. The FROM indicated MARIENICHOLS@ASPENSPRINGSRANCH.COM. Beth hadn’t even questioned that—hadn’t Sam said it was a dude ranch with a resort and spa?

Quickly, she googled Aspen Springs Resort and Spa. There it was in Livingston, Montana. She tapped the map link and asked for directions from her current location, and it showed the resort miles back up the highway. Hadn’t Del just said the ranch was only twelve miles away? With a frustrated argh, she googled Aspen Springs Ranch. The website was simple and homey with a shot on the main page of a low house at sunset and few outbuildings against the backdrop of Copper Mountain. She tapped the Gallery link. Another picture showed a huge barn and an open arena that had several horses in it. Then a pasture with a grazing herd of cattle, another picture of a pretty lake and another pasture and a group of folks riding behind a bunch of cows on a dusty trail, and then some people in Western gear riding up the side of a mountain.

Where was the huge lodge? The guest cottages with the pretty gardens? The spa? The enclosed pool with the roof that opened to the blue sky and sunshine and the— Oh sweet lord, he was taking her to an actual ranch! Not a resort and spa, a working dude ranch. Her heart began to pound and an ache formed at the base of her skull. This was not how things were supposed to go today.

Across the gravel lot, Del Foster was thumbing his phone and scowling. Finally, he slid the phone into his jeans pocket and jerked a thumb toward the truck, clearly no happier about the turn of events than she was. “C’mon. I’m taking you to the ranch. Marie will figure it all out.”

She shoved her phone in her bag. “You know what? Just take me back to the airport.”

He stared at her for a moment, then suddenly, he pushed his hat back off his forehead and grinned. The unexpected smile completely transformed his face. “Aw, c’mon. Don’t give up so quick.” Gone was the grumpy, scruffy cowboy and in his place was a dimpled charmer. “Come to the ranch with me. Marie will fix everything. Might be an adventure.”

Stay tuned for an adventure!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great rest of the week, and if you haven’t already popped over to Fresh Fiction, there’s a chance to win a boxful of goodies from me! Check it out.

Stay well, stay safe, stay aware, always choose kindness, and most of all, mes amis, stay grateful.