Jake (Men of Clifton Montana Book 1) Read online

  JAKE

  A Men of Clifton, Montana

  Book 1

  Susan Fisher-Davis

  Sensual Romance

  Secret Cravings Publishing

  www.secretcravingspublishing.com

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  A Secret Cravings Publishing Book

  Sensual Romance

  Jake

  Copyright © 2014 Susan Fisher-Davis

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-63105-301-6

  First E-book Publication: August 2014

  Cover design by Dawné Dominique

  Photo by Eric Battershell

  Edited by Sue Toth

  Proofread by Renee Waring

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2014 by Secret Cravings Publishing

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  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

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  Dedication

  To Amy Valentini, the best editor anyone could have. I couldn’t have done it without you.

  To Cindy Wilson, a longtime friend and fantastic beta reader. Thank you.

  To my husband, Rob. Who never once got angry when I said to be quiet, I’m writing.

  To Secret Cravings Publishing for believing in me.

  Cover Model: Jason Blank

  Photography provided by Eric Battershell

  www.ericbattershellphotography.com

  Thank you both so much.

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  JAKE

  A Men of Clifton, Montana novel

  Susan Fisher-Davis

  Copyright © 2014

  Chapter One

  Jake Stone stared down at the ranch house shrouded in darkness. The wind howled around him like a pack of hungry wolves. From the hill, he had a good view of the house, barns and surrounding yard. The two security lights came on as dusk fell. His horse, Midnight, shifted under him, showing impatience at being out in the cold weather. Puffs of cold air rose from the horse’s nostrils. Jake tugged his cowboy hat down low on his forehead and pulled the collar up on his sheepskin coat. It was too damn cold to be here, but he hadn’t been able to stay away. The snowflakes hit him in the face as sadness beat at his heart. Leaning his forearms on the saddle horn, he sighed deeply.

  “Damn, Hattie, you’ll be missed,” he muttered.

  Twinges in his heart were making it difficult to breathe.

  Hattie Daniels had been a friend for years, even though she’d been old enough to be his grandmother, and he’d loved her as one. A sad smile tugged at his lips as he thought about the cantankerous old woman. She’d worked her ranch until her dying day, which had been two days ago. Her ranch had always been a successful one, her Paint horses admired near and far. Jake knew the ranch hands would take care of the place until Hattie’s granddaughter arrived, but he had to wonder what would happen to them later. />
  The saddle creaked in protest as he sat up then rolled his shoulders to ease the tension. Tomorrow was the funeral and he wondered if Hattie’s granddaughter would even show up. Jake had never met her and Hattie had rarely spoken of her. According to Hattie, her granddaughter was her only remaining relative since Hattie’s son and his wife had died in a car accident five years earlier.

  What bothered him was where in hell had the granddaughter been all this time?

  Jake shook his head. It was none of his business but if she showed up, he would offer his condolences, and then give her a piece of his mind for not visiting such a wonderful woman. The entire town of fifteen hundred would likely be there for the funeral, but he would find the granddaughter if she decided to show up.

  He nudged Midnight forward and rode down to the house.

  No lights in the house made his heart sad. Riding up to the porch, he got down and tied Midnight to the railing. Since they were close, Hattie had trusted him with a key. Jake walked through Hattie’s home, hating the silence. He should be hearing Hattie’s favorite country music station and smelling the homemade bread and rolls she always had baking in the oven. The woman may have been almost seventy, but she never slowed down. Not until a heart attack took her life. The only blessing to be found was when the doctor said she was dead before she hit the barn floor. Her foreman, Stan Watson, had found her. The older man had been with her for over forty years. There wasn’t going to be a dry eye at the cemetery. The whole town was going to miss Hattie Daniels.

  Jake’s boots clacked on the hardwood floors as he walked into the living room. He huffed and sat down in the recliner he always claimed when he visited. Hattie always sat in the one opposite him. On happier days, he would build a fire, and together they would sit and talk about the day. The ranch hands loved her, and all were now unsure of their future. Most of them were over fifty. Jake would take on those he could, but he already had seven men working for him now.

  Putting his head back, he closed his eyes.

  “What’s going to happen here, Hattie?”

  The words seemed to echo throughout the empty house. It had only been two days since her death and already the house seemed vacant, like no one had lived there in many years. It was amazing how a person infused life into their surroundings. The furniture was old but comfortable. Besides the two plaid recliners facing the fireplace, a built-in seat was set in front of the window that faced the front yard and driveway. Cherry hardwood floors ran through the entire home. Hattie had hated carpeting. She used to say it’s not a farmhouse if it has carpet. It was a spacious home with a dining room and living room, each with a fireplace. A large foyer welcomed visitors and the stairs led to six bedrooms, all with working fireplaces. The house, built in the eighteen hundreds, hadn’t changed much except for the kitchen appliances. Jake even had to convince Hattie to get central heat and air.

  Shaking his head, he stood, pulled out his cellphone, and put a call in to Walter Gray, Hattie’s attorney. Minutes later, when he hung up, Jake sighed. The granddaughter would arrive within the week.

  “Well it’s sure gonna take her long enough,” Jake said to the quiet empty room.

  Walter had explained that according to the will, Becca Daniels would have to relocate to the ranch within a week of Hattie’s death but it would be too late for her to make the funeral. Jake found it all hard to believe.

  He walked through the living room to the kitchen. He glanced around, taking in the white appliances, dark cherry cabinets and matching floor, remembering all the meals his friend had cooked for him. After opening the door to leave, he looked back once more with a sigh. Stepping into the yard, snowflakes hovered around him. Jake didn’t notice. He’d be back in a few days to get the house warm for Hattie’s granddaughter.

  * * * *

  Becca Daniels slapped her hand against the glass door to the coffee shop she co-owned with her best friend, bumping it into the wall behind it. The thought that she could’ve broken the glass didn’t even register. Most of the patrons turned to look in her direction, startled by the noisy distraction, while others were too busy on their iPhones to notice. The enticing aromas of the coffee being ground and served didn’t give her the usual pride she felt every day when she came to work, and neither did the amount of customers, either sitting at the little café tables or standing in line.

  She huffed out a breath, ruffling her bangs and headed straight for her office in the back, slamming the door behind her when she reached it. Knowing she should be helping Olivia out front, Becca also knew she needed to calm down first. She took a deep breath and blew it out.

  Taking her coat off, she hung it up and tossed the envelope she’d picked up from the post office onto her desk. Closing her eyes, she tried counting to ten and made it to two before she felt, rather than saw, her best friend standing in the doorway behind her.

  “Are you all right?” Olivia Roberts asked softly.

  Becca sighed deeply and shook her head. “Let’s get the morning rush over with and then I’ll tell you. You will not believe it,” she muttered as she walked by Olivia.

  An hour later, they sat in the back office. If anyone came in the front door, it would chime, alerting them to a customer. Becca handed the letter to her and watched as Olivia’s eyes scanned it.

  Wait for it. Wait for it.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” Olivia practically yelled.

  Becca could feel a smile lifting her lips. Leave it to Olivia not to hold back. Becca shook her head. “I didn’t even know she existed. My parents never mentioned a grandmother and especially one in…” She glanced at the letter. “Clifton, Montana.”

  “But to make you go there for six months? The hell with it, Becs, just sell it.”

  “I thought about it but then I called the attorney, Mr. Gray, and he said the will explained it all. It states that I’m to live on the ranch for six months after which time I can sell it or keep it. Otherwise, it will go straight to auction. He told me it was a very lucrative horse ranch. Going to auction would be a mistake because it would sell for a lot less than what it’s worth. Apparently, my grandmother sold and bred Paints that—”

  Olivia took the letter from her again. “Sold what?”

  “Paints are a breed of horse.” Becca smiled.

  Olivia shuddered. “I have no idea why anyone would want to get up on one of those huge beasts.”

  Becca sighed. “I’m going to go out there and do what I have to do to sell it. I’m sure Dad would have wanted me to do that much, even though he never told me about his mother.” She chewed on her bottom lip and shook her head. “I don’t get it, Liv. Why wasn’t I told about my grandmother?”

  Olivia shrugged, looking at the letter, again. “Who’s this Jacob Stone and why does he have the first option to buy the place when you decide to sell?”

  Becca shrugged. “I have no idea. Maybe a rancher who helped her out or something.” Sighing deeply, she took the letter from Olivia’s hands. “I suppose I’ll find out soon enough.” She reached for the phone. “I’m going to call Mr. Gray now and find out exactly when I have to be there. I forgot to ask and he never mentioned it but the will says I’m supposed to take possession of the ranch within seven days. My grandmother died two days ago. He called me earlier to inform me of her death and told me he’d sent a copy of the will to me, but he didn’t explain about taking possession. I’m going to need more time. He sent the will certified but it still took time to get to me,” she complained, holding up the envelope marked certified.

  “I just hate for you to be gone for six months. I mean, nothing much goes on here, but what will I do without you?”

  Becca gasped. “Oh, my God! I forgot about Steve.”

  “Damn time,” Olivia muttered, but shrugged when Becca narrowed her eyes at her. “What? You know I can’t stand him, Becs. I trust him about as far as I can throw him.”

  “Liv, I know you don’t like him, but we’re not serious.”

  Olivia
snorted. “Maybe you’re not but I promise you, he is.”

  Becca was about to argue when the bell chimed at the front of the shop. Olivia stood up and motioned for Becca to make her call, she’d take care of the customer. After a short phone conversation, Becca walked out front and found Olivia and Steve glaring at each other. Biting back a groan, she smiled at Steve and gave Olivia a dirty look.

  Olivia’s eyebrows lifted but instead of leaving, she took a seat on a stool and moved her eyes back and forth between Becca and Steve Harris.

  Becca thought Steve was a good-looking man. Tall at six feet, he had blonde hair and blue eyes but otherwise, he just didn’t float her boat. She knew Olivia hadn’t liked him on sight. Now, here he was. He smiled at Becca and ignored Olivia.

  “How’s your day going so far, Becca?”

  Her eyes shifted to Olivia who grinned, then back to Steve.

  “I have to go to Montana for a while. It has to do with my grandmother’s ranch,” Becca said in a rush.

  Steve’s eyes widened. “Montana?”

  “Yes, Steve. You know it’s a state out west,” Olivia said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

  Steve spun around and glared at her. “I know where Montana is. Don’t you have something to do?”

  Olivia’s smile grew. “Nope.”

  Becca glared at her friend, and then took Steve’s arm, pulling him over to a table. They both sat down. Becca explained to him about going to Montana. To say he wasn’t happy would be an understatement.

  “But … but you can’t just leave. You have a coffee shop to run. The Daily Grind needs you. I need you. Can’t you just sell this ranch you inherited?”