Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Hi! Happy weekend. I’ve returned this Saturday with another excerpt from Imprisoned in a Cowboy’s Heart. This one is a fun scene on the Two-Five Ranch between Karis and Tanyon with a couple other family members who make their appearances. Haunted House is mentioned and is one of the Five Common Elements used in the book. The haunted house episode referred to happened earlier which is another scene I love in the book. Oh, Max is an element too!

Karis went downstairs to wait for Tom and wandered into the kitchen. When had she eaten last? Lunch on the trail? A scrumptious sweet-cinnamon aroma filled the house bringing on an inkling of a memory from childhood. The oven was still warm when she walked by. It must’ve been dessert, so she opened it to see what Max had made. Mmm, apple pie.

“Where’s the pie,” Tanyon asked, entering the kitchen, soaking wet. “Something smells delicious.”

She laughed at his wet clothes and hair plastered to his head. Albeit, she didn’t mind his wet shirt hugging his abs. “Maybe you’ll patch your floor in the truck now?”

“Yeah, I don’t remember until it’s raining. Bring the pie over here. I’m starved.”

“No way. I’m not dealing with Max. He made this pie for a reason. I know dinner is around here somewhere.”

“Yeah, because I asked him to make apple or cherry pie.”

She blocked the oven. “No. I have to hear it from him.”

He strode over to her, set his hands on her upper arms and attempted to move her. She held her ground, but he hadn’t tried hard, or she would’ve been moved. She giggled. “Stop.”

Tanyon tickled her in the ribs. “I know how to get you out of the way.”

She fought off his hands, laughing and protecting her ribs at the same time. “I’m not ticklish, anymore.” Like hell.

“Hey, what’s going on here?” Max’s big voice roared. “You’re after pie, aren’t you?”

“Don’t worry, she’s protecting it like her life depended on it.” Tanyon chuckled.

“It does!” Max bellowed.

Tanyon raised his hands. “Come on. Didn’t you make it because I asked?”

“Well…”

“Ah, ha.” He gazed at Karis with a devil grin on his face then lifted her off the floor and moved her.

“Get it out and come on over here, you two,” Max called. “I’ll get the ice cream. Tanyon, change your damn wet clothes. Go on. You’re worse than a kid dripping on the floor.”

“You’re bad, Outlaw.” Karis chuckled when Tanyon and Max said, ‘No, I’m not’ at the same time. “You both know the truth.”

“I’ll be right back.” Tanyon hurried out of the kitchen.

Max made the cut. “You get the first bite, and we’ll rub it into his face.”

“Literally?”

Max reconsidered. “Ah, better not.”

She got plates from the cupboard. “You’ll get me in more trouble. He’s already mad at me.”

“He’s always mad at somebody, but darlin’, he isn’t mad at you. He was worried because you broke down in front of the haunted house.” Max snorted as he sliced the pie.

“Not you too.”

Tanyon entered the room with a dry shirt and the same wet and muddy pants, but he’d combed his hair. He raised a brow at Karis. “You two will do good to remember who signs your checks.”

“Yeah, Ronni signs the checks.” She defiantly held eye contact with him until Max waved a spoon between them.

“I’m glad you asked for pie this morning, Tanyon. I’ve been wanting to make apple or cherry.”

She dished out ice cream. “Me too! Cherry would be delicious.” A grumbling tummy wasn’t necessary to know she was ravenous.

“That’s why I made both. With this bunch, how could I only make one?” Max howled. “I made four.”

Cade came in, ducking through the doorway with Nadia on his shoulders.

Karis poured her, Tanyon, and Max a cup of coffee. “Nadia, have you been playing in the rain?”

Nadia flicked her smiling gaze to Cade. “Me and Daddy danced in the rain.”

“Sweet!” Karis said.

End of excerpt.

I wanted apple pie while writing this scene. Mmm, even I could smell it. No, I haven’t had any yet. LOL.

I appreciate you taking the time to visit. Thank you. ❤ ❤

A Common Elements Romance Project Novel

Imprisoned in a Cowboy’s Heart (Two-Five Ranch Outlaws #1)

Four knife-piercing words in a frantic phone call from her mother, caused Dr. Karis Sutton to leave her cowboy in Northern Arizona to return home. While grief-stricken over a tragic loss, she’d let the man she loved slip away instead of allowing him to console her in a time of need. Now, a year later, and ready to break free from her world of gloom, she drives north to seek a second chance with the moody yet irresistible alpha-owner of the ranch. But she’s forced back to Phoenix to fight to keep two fatherless kids. While doing so, will Tanyon think she’s leaving him again and give up on any chance they might’ve had? She’s pulled in different directions. How will she make it right with so much distance between them all?

Tanyon Outlaw never thought he’d see her again. Now, she’s returned as part of the summer crew on the Two-Five Ranch. In her sad eyes, he sees straight through to her pained soul while memories of their past love invade each thought. What will it take for his cold heart to grow warm toward her again? Then, when bad things happen on the ranch, it comes in droves. Karis is called back home. A lawsuit looms over his head. Fences are cut to maim or steal his cattle. Someone else has an eye for the woman he longs to love. He’s running out of time. How can he discover why people are out to get him, while figuring out what his heart wants before he loses her forever?

Once again, Karis and Tanyon have separate, life-changing matters to attend to, so how will they keep it all together and still find a way to capture the love they once shared?

Enjoy your weekend.