Janet Dailey was my first introduction to modern western
romance, many years ago. The author has since passed away
but I was delighted to see one of her seasonal books,
CHRISTMAS IN COWBOY COUNTRY, which by the copyright is a
new release.
Annie Bennett finds her rancher father ordering a surveyor
off his land. The hired hands are let go over winter so
the
Colorado property is quiet, and neighbours should respect
fence lines. But the nearby Pfeffers are always disputing
the boundary. Annie's twenty-eight and she's worked as a
ski instructor in Aspen. Town seems to creep closer to her
home every year, as ranching pays less well and homes are
built in subdivided lots. With a recovering broken leg,
Annie's asked to help decorate the saloon with Christmas
lights. That's where she meets the surveyor again.
Marshall Stone is the surveyor's name, and he seems polite
enough. Nice, even. Now how does a girl ask for a date -
if
he's unattached? A town meeting is their next chance to
see each other, and property is on the line. The Pfeffers
have brought in an outside consultant, and Annie isn't
sure
she trusts that man.
I was surprised that Annie, having exchanged just a couple
of words with Marshall, allows him to manhandle her in the
doorway of the town hall as a meeting is in progress. But
maybe that's the kind of manners people learn in a
millionaires' ski resort. Marshall, as it turns out, has
another vested interest and can't let a pretty ranch girl
get in his way. The tension rises quickly amid normal
preparations for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and Annie
starts looking into land speculators, reverse mortgages
and
elderly people who might be manipulated.
What with ski girls in town catching all the male eyes, a
stray dog who makes himself at home with Marshall and
snowdrifts to hold up the action, there is life and colour
in this wintry suspense tale. CHRISTMAS IN COWBOY COUNTRY
has a horse on the cover but no horses in the story, just
four-wheel-drive vehicles, and the mentions of recent
technology seem to indicate that the tale may have been
adapted by another writer after Janet Dailey's death.
Still, it's an interesting and entertaining read as we
second-guess all the different schemers. Wrap up well and
have fun.
The greatest gift is love. . .
Ski instructor Annie Bennett doesn't have time to miss the
twinkling lights and holiday parties in Aspen and Vail.
With
her older brothers gone and winter just around the corner,
her parents need help with their sprawling Colorado ranch.
The most wonderful time of the year isn't always easy for
a
lot of the folks in their town, but Annie does her
best--until the tall, dark, and rugged surveyor on their
neighbor's land becomes a potent distraction. . .
Wyoming born and bred, Marshall Stone is a practical man.
But there's something about Annie that's as wild and sweet
as the mountain wind. He doesn't want to tame her. Just
love
her. Annie Bennett is all he wants for Christmas. And for
always. But she's too wary to believe he means it. Until
he
takes her in his arms and explains without saying a single
word. . .
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