Larch Valley

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Behind the Book....

When my editor suggested a western duet I was thrilled. I loved setting The Rancher's Runaway Princess in Larch Valley and was dying to write something more.

The problem for me was coming up with a bit of a twist. I already knew I had a heroine in Jen, who makes an appearance as the bakery owner in The Rancher's Runaway Princess. And I knew the hero was her first love, back in town with his eye set on winning her back.

But, in the way of all writers, that big ol' question WHY reared its ugly head. Why was he back in town? What was driving him? What is going to be different about Lazy L Ranch?

I don't remember now how I got the idea, but it made perfect sense. Andrew was a veterinarian, and he was back to take over the family spread. The twist is that he is making it into a rescue ranch, and I had lots of fun with that aspect. I went to Calgary for a workshop and took a side trip to Bear Valley Rescue Ranch. What a special place, tucked into the foothills. Mike and Kathy Bartley run it and it is truly a labour of love. I met horses, cats, dogs, even pigs. All of them lovingly cared for.

Walking the land there, I even got an idea that turned into a pivotal scene in the book.

It's funny how little things that seem insignificant suddenly crop up in the writing too, in little touches. In each of my books a bit of my friend Joyce seems to appear. In Falling for Mr. Dark and Dangerous, it was her pumpkin cake. In Hired: The Italian's Bride, it was Tommy. In this book, it's something as simple as hunting for quartz, a remnant of family camping trips gone by.

I hope you enjoy Andrew and Jen's story!

Playlist...

I went through the first of this book without a playlist, but somehow the right songs always find ME. In this case, it was two by Josh Groban - good old Josh. He does seem to come through the majority of the time. The two songs were With You and My Heart Was Home Again. The last song was instrumental in creating the happy ending!

Excerpt

Andrew was waiting for her at Papa’s, seated at a table by the front window and scowling into a soft drink. Jen lifted a hand to Jim, the “papa” behind the name, and exhaled, pasting on a smile. She’d been relieved yesterday to set up their meeting in a public spot, but later had realized the folly of it. She might say it was not a date, but she knew the townspeople of Larch Valley would think that it looked like one.

She sat down across from him. “You’re early.”

He looked up, a smile breaking out on his face. “I had an errand in town and finished earlier than I expected.” As Jen put her purse on the seat, Linda Briggs brought a plastic tumbler and put it on the table. “Andrew ordered you a Dr. Pepper,” she said, but Jen detected a bit of steel in the words.

“Thanks, Linda. How’s Megan? Last I heard she was down with this spring cold.”

“On the mend, thanks for asking,” Linda replied. Jen couldn’t help but notice that Linda kept her back half-turned towards Andrew. Had he done something to make her angry? Jen smiled, attempting to lighten the atmosphere that for some reason held a shimmering of tension.

“You kids ready to order?” Linda asked, poising her pen over her small notepad.

Jen looked at Andrew, who was doing a good impression of being relaxed, leaning back against the vinyl of the booth seat. “You still like everything?”

“Absolutely.”

“A medium colossal, then. And could we get a salad to share too?”

“Sure thing, sweetie.” Linda scribbled on the pad and went back to the kitchen.

“Wonder what I did to her,” Andrew muttered, leaning ahead and picking up his glass. He took a drink and put it down again, moving it in circles on the scratched table top. “She was friendly enough when I came in, but when I asked about your drink she clammed up. You do still like Dr. Pepper, don’t you?”

She felt a little uncomfortable, knowing Andrew had deliberately ordered her favourite drink from teenage years. Jen suddenly smiled as realization dawned. She’d known Linda since she’d been a girl, seeing as her son Dawson had been friends with both her and Andrew. Linda, in her motherly way, was being protective. The whole town knew Jen had been heartbroken when Andrew had gone away. Her smile faded a bit, remembering. She’d been so sure he’d come back. In a town like this, everyone knew she’d been waiting. And they’d known when her heart had been broken too.

Linda was looking out for her, and Jen didn’t have it within her to mind. The people of Larch Valley had always been there for her. It was the reason why she’d wanted to stay, even when she’d lost her reason to.

Linda came back with a Caesar salad and two plates, and Jen waited quietly until she went away again. She picked up the plastic tongs and served each of them a helping of the crisp salad.

“You want to know what you did?” Jen asked, picking up the thread of conversation. She looked up at Andrew, who’d irritably picked up his fork. “You didn’t come back.”

“You’re joking. That was years ago.” He put down his fork and frowned at her.

“You really have forgotten what Larch Valley is like then. Memories are long.”

“Including yours?”

She felt a little twisting in her stomach at the question. He really had no idea, did he. Maybe it was time he learned. “Especially mine,” she replied quietly. “Don’t be angry with Linda. She’ll come around. I think she always kind of hoped that Dawson and I…”

“You and Dawson?” The question echoed through the eating area and both their heads turned quickly towards the kitchen area before back at each other. The gold flecks were sparking in his eyes and she raised her eyebrows.

“Are you jealous?”

He looked away. “Of course not.”

Jen picked at her salad. “For the record, no, not me and Dawson. He’s a friend. That’s all he’s ever been. Linda is just being protective.”

“And you obviously need protecting.” There was bitterness in the words.

“Hardly. I learned to stand on my own two feet long ago. Anyway, we came to talk about this dance, right?”

She pushed her salad plate aside and pulled out a notebook. “What we’re discussing here is business.”

“And that’s all there is?”

“That’s all there can be, don’t you agree?” She felt a certain release in saying the words. “I can’t dwell on the past. I moved on, built my own life. Just as you did.”

“I know that.”

Relief was tempered by a disappointment she didn’t want to feel. “I took this job because it makes good business sense. Not out of any feelings of misplaced sentimentality or loyalty.”

His throat bobbed as he swallowed and she saw a muscle tick in his jaw. Was he angry at her?

She wrote the word Menu at the top of a page, but Andrew stopped her with a hand on her arm. She looked up, mesmerized by what she saw in his eyes. Anger, frustration, gratitude…and something more that complicated everything.

Reviews

"Alward handles all of the emotions, the questions, the hurts and the passion with finesse in this well written cowboy story." Nancy, reader

"An intense, emotional story with well-defined characters, this one has a really strong core conflict..." Romantic Times Book Reviews

"...so realistic and refreshing...to read her books brings pure joy." Pink Heart Society Reviews

"This is a terrific category romance filled with relationship angst, sweet attraction, and a strong dose of small town ethics. Jen and Drew are characters I wanted to root for and readers will not be disappointed in this well-written book about the first of the Laramie brothers and the Lazy L ranch." Romance Readers Connection

"Even a friendship between these one-time lovers would be complicated, and adding the feelings that they still have for one another makes ONE DANCE WITH THE COWBOY an emotional and poignant tale." Romance Reviews Today

"Deftly written, powerfully emotional and resplendent with realistic and believable characters, tear-jerking drama, heartfelt conflict and breathtaking romance, One Dance with the Cowboy is a moving and tender tale about second chances and new beginnings that is simply perfect for losing yourself into on a cold January night!" Cataromance