Chapter One

Abbie shifted her weight from one foot to the other in the crowded store. She realized that it was a mistake to come on a busy Saturday. Everyone seemed to be there, including their family members and pets.

She glanced around, trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening at the front of the line. She couldn't see anything because the man in front of her was tall and she couldn't see over him without leaving the line, which she would never do. All she could see was his back, covered by a sheepskin coat and on his head was a brown cowboy hat. His hair had streaks of gray and reached his collar.

Abbie tried to imagine what he looked like under the hat. As she tried to sneak a look at his face, she lost her balance and stumbled into him. He turned quickly, and their eyes met. His dark gaze reminded her of rich dark chocolate, framed by thick eyelashes. He scowled at her.

Despite his rugged features, he was not exactly gorgeous, his nose had been broken at some point and there was a thin, jagged scar running through his left cheekbone toward the corner of his mouth, but yet, there was something sexy about him. Abbie guessed he was in his forties based on his appearance.

"Sorry," she mumbled, feeling embarrassed. He just nodded and turned back to the front. "Oh, that's okay. No problem," she added in a low voice, trying to sound like a man.

When he looked at her again, he raised an eyebrow. She shrugged and looked away quickly, relieved when he turned back around. The line moved along, and it was finally the unpleasant cowboy's turn.

"Hey Creed, what can I get for you?" asked the clerk behind the counter.

Abbie wondered if Creed was his first or last name as she watched him place an order. He spoke in a deep voice that could rival Trace Adkins. Without any struggle, he picked up the large bag of dog food and placed it on the counter.

"Alright, we'll let you know when your order is ready," said Junior, the clerk.

Creed gave him a nod of thanks before turning to leave. As he walked past her, he glanced at Abbie once more, frowned, and then moved away.

Abbie let out a sigh of relief and stepped forward to place her own order for cat food before wandering through the store to wait for her turn. She took in the various scents of the feed store; leather, livestock feed, and probably some manure too.

Two years ago, her husband, Jeremy divorced her, and now he was engaged to the woman he cheated on her with. Despite being heartbroken, Abbie knew deep down that the divorce was for the best. It just took her some time to come to terms with it. Jeremy never loved her, or else he wouldn't have had an affair. And not just a fling, but a long-term relationship with the other woman. The only satisfaction Abbie found in the situation was knowing that it wouldn't last. Jeremy was in for a rude awakening. She knew the new woman would never be faithful; it was just who she was. But Jeremy couldn't see it yet. He would eventually, though, Abbie thought with a small smile.

As she browsed around the quaint store, she froze when she saw the cowboy again. He was examining the tack hanging on the wall. She couldn't help but stare at him. Tall men were one of her weaknesses. However, this particular one didn't seem very pleasant.

When he grabbed a cinch and turned from the rack, she quickly spun around and pretended to be interested in the row of cowboy hats. Smirking, she reached for a black felt hat, removed her beanie, and placed it on her head.

She walked over to the mirror and studied her reflection, glancing into the mirror at the cowboy behind her. Raising an eyebrow at him, she asked playfully, "How do I look?"

"Looks good on you... for a city slicker," he responded.

Abbie turned around to face him directly. "You think I'm a city slicker?"

"No ma'am," he drawled. "I don't think you are... I know you are."

"Oh really? And how do you know that?" Abbie challenged.

His eyes wandered over her outfit before meeting hers again with a smirk. "Designer jeans, leather jacket, and I'd bet any money those snow boots were expensive."

"That doesn't mean anything," Abbie retorted. "I'm sure many women around here dress the same."

The cowboy shook his head. "Only the ones who recently moved here and want to play cowgirl without knowing how. Can you even ride a horse?"

"I fail to see how that's any of your business," Abbie snapped.

He chuckled, and it transformed his entire appearance. Abbie noticed for the first time how sexy his lips were, and despite the slight crooked nose and scar on his face, he was dangerously good-looking. His teeth were white and perfect. The more she looked at him, the more she found the scar only added to his allure, and she couldn't deny her growing interest in him.

"It's not my concern," he replied nonchalantly. "But you just answered my question. You're either a tourist or visiting someone—"

"I live here," Abbie interjected. "Not that it's any of your business."

"You need to learn how to fit in here, sweetheart. Clifton is not a place for fancy folks like you. We're down-to-earth people, cowboys, ranchers, and farmers. You won't blend in with those clothes."

"I know it's not a fancy town. I was born and raised in Spring City," she snapped back as he raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so? Could have fooled me."

"Just leave me alone, Mr. Creed."

"It's McBride actually. My first name is Creed, and how do you even know my name?"

"I overheard Junior calling you Creed."

"Well, aren't you a nosy little thing?"

Abbie gasped. "You are the rudest man I have ever met."

"No doubt there." He tipped his hat and grabbed the bag of dog food before walking off toward the loading docks.

Despite his unpleasant personality, Abbie couldn't help but think he was incredibly attractive. But why? Why did she find him so irresistible?

Sighing heavily, Abbie placed the hat back on the shelf and continued browsing the store. The PA system announced her order was ready, so she headed to the back to collect it from the loading docks. She gasped as she saw heavy snow falling outside.

"It's going to get bad," the young man loading her SUV warned.

"I should probably head home then."

"Yes ma'am. Which way are you going?"

"Toward Spring City."

"Sorry to say, there's a major accident out that way. Traffic is backed up for miles."

"Well damn. I guess I'll stick around in town a little longer."

"That's probably for the best. The weather forecast doesn't mention any ice, so your four-wheel drive should handle it fine."

"Thank you," she said gratefully as he closed the hatch and smiled at her.

"You're welcome. Drive safe now."

After climbing into her SUV and starting it, Abbie made her way out of the parking lot. She mentally groaned at the sight of snow covering the roads. It wasn't her driving skills she was worried about, but rather the other drivers on the road. She knew how to navigate through snow, but she certainly didn't enjoy it.

Feeling hungry, Abbie headed to the local diner for a meal and some time to kill. When she entered the diner, she saw Creed McBride a few stools down from her at the counter.

"Are you following me?" he asked.

"You wish," she quipped, rolling her eyes as butterflies fluttered in her stomach at his chuckle.

"Hey there, Creed. How are you doing, hon?" Connie, the owner of the diner, asked as she poured him a cup of coffee.

"I'm doing just fine, Connie. How about you?"

"Wonderful. Are you ready for spring to get here?"

"Yes, ma'am. What about you and Owen?"

"We are. We love the holidays, but once we're past January, we're ready for warmer weather." Connie turned to stand in front of Abbie. "Hi Abbie, what can I get for you today?"

"Just my usual and a hot tea, please."

"No problem, hon. I'll bring your order right over." Abbie watched as Connie stopped in front of Creed again. "I'll bring your order over too, Creed."

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you." He looked at her and smirked. "So, you know my name. What's yours?"

"Abbie Wells."

"Is that short for Abigail?"

"No, it's actually Abilene."

"I like Abilene," he said with a nod.

"Well, I don't particularly care what you like," she retorted.

He couldn't hold back a laugh.

"You're a feisty little thing, aren't you?"

She shrugged nonchalantly and played with the napkin holder. The man was impolite, and she had no patience for rude people.

"I think I'll take a booth, Connie," she told her when she brought her tea.

"Oh, sure thing, hon. I'll bring your lunch over once it's ready."

"Thank you." Abbie slid off her stool and turned to grab her cup.

****

Creed lifted his cup, took a small sip, and placed it back on the counter. He hadn't made a good first impression on Abilene Wells. She stood at around five-eight, was Creed's guess. He briefly checked her ring finger, but didn't see any rings there. How was this stunning woman still single? Her long brown hair, streaked with blonde, cascaded down her shoulders, and her blue eyes had flared with anger at the Feed Store. She looked to be in her mid-to-late thirties.

"Are you married?" he asked.

"No, are you?" she turned to face him.

"Not anymore."

"I see. Your ex couldn't handle your sunny disposition, huh?"

Creed shook his head. "She put up with that and a hell of a lot more."

"Then why are you divorced?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Who said I'm divorced?"

Abbie frowned at him. Then her expression changed to one of shock.

"Widower?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"I'm so sorry. I didn't realize—"

"It's fine. Enjoy your lunch." He sipped his coffee and avoided looking at her again.

Abilene Wells was undeniably beautiful, but Creed knew she would never be interested in someone like him. She was out of his league and didn't seem like the type to casually have sex with just anyone.

He glanced over his shoulder once more to see her settling into a booth. Too bad.

****

Abbie sat down in the booth, making sure her back was facing the door. She couldn't bring herself to look at Creed McBride. She wondered how he had lost his wife.

Once Connie set her lunch in front of her, Abbie gave a polite smile and thanked her. Connie told her to let her know if she needed anything and then turned to serve other customers.

"Connie?" Abbie spoke up.

"Yeah, hon?" Connie replied.

"Do you like Mr. McBride?" Abbie nervously nibbled on her lip.

"Creed is one of the kindest men you'll ever meet," Connie answered sincerely.

"I see. He seemed a bit rude to me." Abbie shrugged.

Connie chuckled. "Creed has never been one to hold back. He says what's on his mind without caring about the consequences."

Abbie smiled, thinking that summed the man up perfectly.

"That's definitely the impression I got."

Connie laughed. "He's gone through a lot of loss."

"I see. He's a widower... and I didn't know. I made such a stupid comment about his wife. I feel terrible."

"Honey, don't beat yourself up over it. You couldn't have known," Connie reassured her.

"We started off on the wrong foot, and I just had to make a smartass remark." Abbie buried her face in her hands. "I need to control my tongue better."

Connie laughed again. "It will be okay. I should probably go before these hungry customers start a riot. Enjoy your meal."

As Abbie finished her lunch and went to pay at the cash register, she realized that Creed had already left. She cursed under her breath.

"Hi, Abbie! Did you enjoy your lunch?" Deidra Mitchell greeted her.

"I did, thank you for asking Deidra. How's Preston doing?"

"He's doing great now that he can go out and check on the cattle. His back surgery kept him down for a while."

"I'm glad to hear he's doing well. I'm sure it was tough for both of you," Abbie sympathized.

"Oh, trust me, it was. He drove me insane," Deidra joked.

Abbie chuckled. "I bet. Men are such babies when they're sick, let alone when they're in pain. You'd think they were dying."

"And yet they call us the weaker sex," Deidra scoffed.

"I know exactly what you mean. I was planning on heading to see my parents in Spring City, but there was a terrible accident that way."

"There was. Nevada got called in to help with it. He was actually here having lunch when he got the call."

Looking out the window, Abbie saw heavy snowfall. She wasn't sure if she would be able to make it to visit her parents today.

"I don't think I'll be going to see my parents after all. I hope I can make it home," she sighed.

"Please be careful," Deidra urged her.

Abbie nodded, paid for her meal, and stepped outside to find that the snow had gotten even heavier. Would she be stuck in traffic for hours? Only time would tell...

As she walked along the sidewalk, heading for her vehicle, she gazed up at the Glacier Mountains, their peaks hidden by newly fallen snow. She groaned at the sight; more snow meant more trouble. Driving slowly through the streets, she received a call through her car's stereo system. A smile spread across her face as she saw her best friend's name on the screen.

"Hey, Lorna," Abbie greeted.

"Hey, Abs. What are you doing on this lovely, snowy day?"

"Just heading home from the diner. The roads are treacherous, so I'm taking it slow."

"I heard there's a winter storm coming, so please be careful."

"A winter storm?"

"Yes, and they're predicting up to three feet of snow."

"Oh wow. I can see it already coming over the mountains."

"Please make sure you get home safely."

"I will." Abbie glanced at the clock on her dashboard. "It looks a lot later than one o'clock. The sky is dark because of all this snow."

"Call me when you get home."

"I will. Let me go now so I can focus on driving."

"Sure. Love you, stay safe." Lorna hung up.

Abbie noticed the snow falling heavier as she drove out of town on Main Street. She hoped she could make it home before it got too bad. Reaching over to turn the wipers on high, she realized they were having trouble keeping up and were now covered in ice. She hadn't been aware of a snowstorm moving in since she hadn't listened to the radio earlier that day. Flicking on the radio, she turned it up to hear the weather station warning of an incoming severe winter storm.

"Great," she muttered to herself as she continued driving.

Her mind drifted back to Creed McBride and how foolish she had acted around him.

"You'd think you'd learn to think before you speak, Abilene Wells," she scolded herself.

The snow was now so thick that she could barely make out other cars on the road in front of her. Finally, after thirty stressful minutes, she pulled into her driveway and let out a sigh of relief at having made it home safely.

****

Creed stepped inside his house and was greeted by his German shepherd, Ranger, waiting at the door. He took off his coat and hat before crouching down to give the dog some affection.

Ranger eagerly pawed at the backdoor, his tail wagging with excitement to be let out into the world. Creed dreaded this moment, knowing that Ranger had a tendency to roll around in the snow instead of just playing in it. He had found the dog five years ago, on the day of Wren's funeral. A German shepherd pup, someone had abandoned him on the road and he ran straight toward Creed's car as he pulled into his driveway. Without hesitation, Creed picked up the starving pup and brought him inside. After feeding him, Creed made a mental note to visit Dr. Tessa Garrett, the local vet, to make sure Ranger didn't belong to anyone or have a microchip, which he didn't.

Despite posting photos around town and checking for any potential owners, no one came forward to claim the dog. So, Creed kept him, grateful for the company and love that the dog provided. But deep down, he also wished he could meet the person who abandoned such a sweet and loving dog to give them a piece of his mind.

Opening the door, Creed watched as Ranger bounded into the snow with pure joy and energy. He couldn't help but chuckle as the dog hopped off the porch and disappeared into the fluffy white blanket surrounding the house. With a heavy sigh, Creed knew he needed to grab some towels for when Ranger returned, as he always did after frolicking in the snow.

As he made his way to the bathroom closet and retrieved three old towels, Creed shook his head. "Why does getting wet from rain or snow differ from getting soaked in a bath?"

Returning to the kitchen with towels in hand, Creed peeked outside just in time to see Ranger burying his face in a pile of snow. Knocking on the windowpane, he couldn't help but laugh as Ranger lifted his head, revealing a muzzle covered in snow. Opening the door, Ranger sprinted toward Creed but stopped on the porch to shake his body vigorously, sending chunks of snow and ice flying in all directions. Creed couldn't help but swear as some of it hit him.

"Damn it, Ranger! Knock it off!" he scolded, though his laughter gave away that he wasn't angry.

Ranger quickly obeyed, sitting down with a silly grin on his face. Kneeling down, Creed began to dry him off with the towels, trying to remove as much snow and water from his fur as possible. But before he knew it, Ranger took off running through the house again, leaving a trail of wet paw prints behind him.

The silence no longer bothered Creed like it used to. He couldn't help but miss Wren and the life they could have had together. Their daughter would be five years old now, and Creed knew he would have spoiled her just as much as he did his wife.

Wren had been overjoyed when she found out she was pregnant. They both wanted a big family, but that dream was shattered now. That part of his life was gone.

"Stop dwelling on it," he muttered to himself as he undressed and threw his clothes into the hamper. Barefoot, he made his way to his bedroom and retrieved a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt from the dresser.

After taking a quick shower, he wandered back into the living room where he planned to spend the rest of the day being lazy.

As a livestock agent with Montana's Department of Livestock, Creed had worked hard to get where he was today. Only the younger agents were required to work weekends unless there was an urgent case that needed all hands-on deck. Days like today, with heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures, he was grateful to have time off to stay indoors.

He reclined on his favorite chair and turned on the TV to check the weather forecast.

"Damn," he muttered when he saw the prediction for more snow and below freezing temperatures with strong winds.

"Wonderful," he sarcastically grumbled as he lifted the footrest on his recliner and settled in to watch the news. Yawning, he closed his eyes and listened to the weather updates before eventually drifting off to sleep.

****

Abbie lounged on her living room sofa, gazing out the window and observing the snowfall. She imagined that Spring City, Hartland, and Clifton were deserted at the moment; the towns usually came to a halt during major storms. The current one was hitting hard. Personally, she didn't mind snow as long as she could stay indoors. She jumped in surprise when her cat jumped onto her lap.

"Goodness, Oakley, you startled me." She smiled when she sat and stared up at her with a look of disdain. "Let me up and I'll check your food. God knows, you won't eat if you can see the bottom of the bowl."

Entering the kitchen, she filled the food dish and got the cat fresh water. Once that was done, she was completely ignored as Oakley stuck her face in her dish.

Deciding she needed something to eat, too, Abbie went to the fridge, opened the freezer door, and scrutinized its contents.

"I'll have to restock once this weather clears up." She reached inside for a microwave dinner and followed the instructions on the back of the box. After pressing start, she threw away the box.

As she watched her meal rotate inside the microwave, she frowned in frustration. Muttering under her breath, she dug out the box from the trashcan to reread the instructions... only to throw it back in after realizing she had done everything correctly. Finally, when her dinner was ready, she sat at the table and ate.

She wondered if she would be able to make it to work tomorrow at the hospital. The weather was too treacherous for anyone to be outside, but she knew there would be accidents and emergencies that required her skills in the Emergency Department. Having been an ED nurse for fifteen years now, Abbie loved her job but also knew that some days were more chaotic than others.

Later that evening, Abbie curled up on her sofa with Oakley by her side watching a movie. She rarely left her alone, always by her side since she adopted her during a time when her heart was broken and needed something to distract her.

Abbie's heart was shattered after Jeremy divorced her, leaving her unable to function. She had been completely in love with him, and the pain of his wanting someone else was overwhelming. For weeks, she could do nothing but cry and try to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. Even going to work seemed impossible, and it wasn't until her boss forced her to take a break that she realized she needed to heal before moving on.

She remembered sitting in the diner with Lorna, who used to be an ICU nurse, the aroma of fresh coffee and burgers frying wafted through the air as Lorna's words were like a soothing balm for Abbie's wounded soul.

"You can get through this, Abbie."

"I'm trying, Lorna."

"I know you loved him deeply, but it's clear he wasn't right for you. He moved on and now it's your turn." Lorna let out a heavy sigh. "You will find someone else. He's out there waiting for you." She raised her hand when Abbie opened her mouth to protest. "I know it's hard to hear right now but trust me. Love will find you again."

Abbie fought back tears as she thought about falling in love once more. But the thought of opening up to someone new felt terrifyingly vulnerable.

"It'll happen when you least expect it," Lorna continued. "Someday, a man will catch your eye and make you forget all about Jeremy Wells."

"I don't even know how I feel about him anymore. He tore my heart apart."

"I know he did, and I hope he gets what he deserves for hurting you. Look, I understand what it's like to lose someone." Lorna's husband, Macauley ‘Mac' Carter had been a livestock agent who was tragically killed while on duty. But now, she was with a wonderful man who loved her and her daughter Lily. Eli Hawkins had been Mac's best friend, and was now her fiancé.

Abbie couldn't help but feel happy for her friend, but the thought of finding someone new still felt daunting.

Creed McBride suddenly popped into her mind, but she quickly shook the thought away.

"No way," she muttered to herself. "That man may be attractive, but he's just too rude."

He had made it clear that he had no interest in her, especially since he thought she was a city girl who didn't know how to ride a horse. But Abbie refused to believe that riding horses was a requirement for living in Montana.

She nervously chewed on her bottom lip as Creed's image lingered in her mind, and she wondered how he got that scar. She knew it was pointless to think about him, as they would probably never cross paths again.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Abbie got up from the sofa and headed upstairs to her bedroom. She decided to unwind with a hot bath before going to bed. After all, she didn't have anything else to do anyway.