Ty Hopewell survived a nasty wreck on his way home. His
best friend Skip and partner didn't. The nightmares of that
Christmas night just wouldn't abate, and neither will the
guilty feeling that somehow he had caused the fatal
accident. Now ten years later, he was meeting Skip's sister
Madeline and immediate took note of how different physically
the siblings were -- Skip's coloring was made for the tough
life in the sun but his sister certainly wasn't. He was on
the defensive about why she had arranged the meeting given
that he lived on his ranch in Reno and she was a professor
at a university in NY. It had to be something important to
bring her all this way. And boy was he right.
Dr. Blaine
was nothing if not blunt and to the point. She wanted to
know why the ranch he had co-owned with Skip, and now with
Madeline, was showing no profits. Just what was he doing
with the ranch and the money she needed? If she were being
totally truthful, she would have told him that at the
moment her position at the university was less than secure.
In fact the temporary suspension they imposed on her could
very well become permanent. It seemed her mentor and
partner in research was very likely throwing her under the
bus -- a scapegoat for allegedly inappropriately using
research material. Her professorship wasn't just a job -- it
was her life, even more so after the death of Skip. Now
also faced with care of her grandmother, she had no option
but to chase down any possible revenue. That meant spending
time on this ranch with Ty. Madeline was not prepared for
the rough living conditions and lack of basic amenities at
the ranch, but she was determined to adapt and keep Ty in
the dark as long as possible -- until she had a plan. But
that plan had nothing to do with living for any extended
time on the ranch. And it certainly didn't involved falling
in love with Ty and his organic ranch. But Madeline wanted
to show not only Ty but herself that she was made of sterner
stuff -- the stuff that would make her a valuable partner to
Ty on the ranch and in life.
Watts' story is about dreams and how sometimes those dreams
take some unusual turns. No matter how you plan your life
you had better leave some wiggle room for the unexpected.
No heat. No bed. And a cow…hanging from the rafters? What
kind of ranch is this? No wonder Madeline's brother only
sent pictures of the stunning Nevada landscape. He couldn't
very well have convinced his family he was happy in this
godforsaken place. But the cold outside is more bearable
than the frosty partner she's inherited along with half of
the ranch. Ty Hopewell. Not exactly Mr. Social.
Never mind. She has every right to be here. She may be a
city girl, but Madeline Blaine has a PhD and she's not
afraid to use it. Something about this place—and this
cowboy—just doesn't feel right. And she's going to figure
out what it is. And fix it. Fix him, too…if she can.
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