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- Herausgeber: WS
- Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
- Serie: Love in Cedar Valley
- Sprache: Englisch
Avery Stinson's work at Healing Horse Ranch has been her lifeline against loneliness, whether it's the counselling she does, or training her rescue dog, Rex. Sure, she sometimes dreams of finding her special person, but if her work's going to be her whole life, it's at least valuable and fulfilling. She loves seeing their clients leave with more confidence and hope than they thought possible.
She really hopes Will Dupont, a new arrival seeing one of her colleagues, can have that kind of success because the man’s heartbreak is almost palpable. When they find themselves together at the Christmas party, Will opens up about his personal tragedy, and Avery's drawn to the brave, quiet, stoic cowboy. He's not her patient. Getting closer isn't really against the rules. As day follows night and Will begins to heal, Avery begins to wonder, can they have a happily ever after this Christmas, or will the call of the wide-open range a thousand miles away prove too strong for Will to resist?
A Touch of Cowboy is a 12k word small town romance between a counselor, a cowboy, and an adorable pooch.
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Seitenzahl: 64
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024
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A Touch of Cowboy
Gabbi Powell
Avery Stinson's work at Healing Horse Ranch has been her lifeline against loneliness, whether it's the counselling she does, or training her rescue dog, Rex. Sure, she sometimes dreams of finding her special person, but if her work's going to be her whole life, it's at least valuable and fulfilling. She loves seeing their clients leave with more confidence and hope than they thought possible.
She really hopes Will Dupont, a new arrival seeing one of her colleagues, can have that kind of success because the man’s heartbreak is almost palpable. When they find themselves together at the Christmas party, Will opens up about his personal tragedy, and Avery's drawn to the brave, quiet, stoic cowboy. He's not her patient. Getting closer isn't really against the rules. As day follows night and Will begins to heal, Avery begins to wonder, can they have a happily ever after this Christmas, or will the call of the wide-open range a thousand miles away prove too strong for Will to resist?
A Touch of Cowboy is a 15k word small town romance between a counselor, a cowboy, and an adorable pooch.
Copyright © 2024 Gabbi Powell
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously.
References to real people, events, organizations, establishments or locations are intended to provide a sense of authenticity and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, organizations, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
NO AI/NO BOT. We do not consent to any Artificial Intelligence (AI), generative AI, large language model, machine learning, chatbot, or other automated analysis, generative process, or replication program to reproduce, mimic, remix, summarize, or otherwise replicate any part of this creative work, via any means: print, graphic, sculpture, multimedia, audio, or other medium. We support the right of humans to control their artistic works.
No generative AI was used in the creation of this book.
Edits by ELF
Cover by Jo Clement
Dedication
Sharon & Jeff
Andie & Jenny
Contents
Chapter One
Avery Stinson loved her life. She might occasionally find the long nights a little lonely, but her busy days and active circle of friends more than made up for the feelings that crept in when she found herself with only her dog, Rex, for company.
She eyed her pooch.
He eyed her back. Then he leapt on her lap. Before she could react, he licked her cheek.
“Naughty dog. You’re not supposed to jump up without permission. You’re not supposed to give kisses without permission.”
Rex gave her the same baleful look he always did when she reprimanded him—no matter how gently. He was a damned smart dog. He knew the rules. He also knew when he could bend and break them.
She was a sucker. And her dog was so far from the animal she’d rescued from the shelter three years ago that the odd times he didn’t do what he was told were okay because he was so much more affectionate. Less scared. Less nervous. It’d taken more than a year of training with Torah before Rex really started to come out of his shell.
“Down.”
Rex obeyed.
“Sometimes you behave.”
The English cream lab mix cocked his head.
Avery petted his head, scratching his silky ears in the way that made his eyes drift shut in ecstasy. “Okay, Jean is next up. She likes you, but you still have to wait for permission before joining her on the couch.”
Rex wasn’t a therapy dog. Or a comfort dog. Not for lack of trying. Torah had tried to get him up to speed so he could pass the test, but his odd fear of random strangers just made him too unpredictable.
Avery’s boss, Kennedy, allowed her to bring Rex to work on days when all her clients were okay with having the pooch around. And he did offer comfort to some of them. Other clients would merely acknowledge him, and then he’d go hang out in his bed in the corner of Avery’s sunny office.
Healing Horses Ranch was truly a wonderful place to practice counselling. Avery’d come here after several years of working in the trenches with social services, and a bad incident led her to conclude she wasn’t cut out for the grind of government work. She’d brought her counselling degree with her when Kennedy opened the ranch more than half-a-dozen years ago. Hard to believe so much time had passed.
“Stay.” She rose, eyeing Rex.
He sat, fully compliant.
She didn’t miss the gleam in his eye. She opened the door of her office.
Rex bolted.
“Hey.” After rolling her eyes, she followed the pooch’s path to the main reception area.
The two-story room with its soaring wood beam ceilings had plenty of comfy sitting areas for clients waiting to see their counsellors.
Four full-time therapists, including herself, and a part-time psychiatrist were on the staff.
To her horror, Rex barrelled into the room and took a flying leap.
Graceful, he was not. He landed on the newcomer’s chest, forcing air from the man’s lungs.
“Rex.”
Even her most-admonishing tone didn’t deter her dog as he proceeded to lick the poor man’s cheek incessantly.
“Rex.”
A chuckle emanated from the man. “It’s all right. I don’t mind.” He stroked Rex’s shiny, light-brown coat. “Lab?”
“Some mix of. A rescue,” she offered. As if that would somehow excuse her beast’s behavior.
“Oh, those are the best.”
His rough voice washed over her and set her skin tingling. Even the little she could see—worn jeans with a plaid shirt, and a real cowboy hat—spoke of someone who worked with his hands for a living. He wasn’t a wannabe guy. She knew that deep in her soul.
“Excuse me, ma’am.” He lifted off his hat. “Shouldn’t be wearing that indoors.”
“It’s all right. Truly. This is, after all, a working ranch.”
He inclined his head.
“Well, we have horses.”
“Who work as counsellors.”
His sardonic grin bit just a touch.
“I’m accustomed to actually working with horses. Herding cattle, in fact.”
“Not a lot of cattle in Mission City.” She cocked her head. “Or Cedar Valley, for that matter.” The town lay just over an hour east of Vancouver in southwestern British Columbia.
“I’m from Alberta.”
“Oh.” The next province over was more than a twelve hour’s drive. “You’re a long ways from home, cowboy.” She smiled, offering her best show of support.
“Yeah, well…it’s kind of a long story.”
“Which I’ll be happy to hear all about.” Another masculine voice resonated in the room.
The cowboy’s and Avery’s gazes snapped at the same time to the newcomer.
Who held up his hands. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“Justin, you’re too quiet.” Avery gave her coworker a mock glare.
He grinned unrepentantly. The redhead topped out at six foot three, with flaming red hair and stunning blue eyes.
Avery’d always had a soft spot for the younger man. Who was now married and had two adopted children. Justin’s husband, Stanley, was a very lucky man. They both were.
