Characters

• Jake Tarleton
  • He is the oldest of the Tarleton siblings and the steady hand behind Beartooth Ranch. A born protector with broad shoulders and a deeper past, Jake has spent years burying his own heartache while raising his young son, Dylan. Known around Pine Creek for his quiet strength, work ethic, and cowboy code, Jake doesn’t chase drama or dreams—until Mia Montgomery returns to town. She’s the one woman he’s never been able to forget… and the one who still sees past his walls. Beneath Jake’s rugged exterior is a man torn between duty and desire, fiercely loyal but afraid to hope again. Whether he’s leading trail rides, teaching kids to ride, or rocking a newborn to sleep, Jake embodies what it means to be a true Western hero. Strong. Steady. And when he falls in love—he falls hard. Jake doesn’t run from love. He fights for it, with everything he’s got.
  Mia Montgomery
  • She is a fierce, independent single mother with a past full of mistakes—and a heart full of determination. After a messy breakup and years of chasing stability she never quite found, Mia returns to Pine Creek with her eight-year-old daughter, Emily, hoping to rebuild the life she once ran from. She's smart, sharp-tongued, and not afraid to speak her mind—but beneath the sass is a woman who’s been burned more than once and isn’t sure she can trust again. Especially not with Jake Tarleton—the cowboy who once held her heart and unknowingly left her with more than just memories. Mia is torn between fear and hope, past and future, love and survival. But as the ranch begins to feel like home and her daughter starts to bloom, Mia realizes she may still have roots in Pine Creek… and maybe, just maybe, a second chance at the kind of love that lasts.
  Dylan Tarleton
  • He is an eight-year-old with a cowboy’s heart and an old soul. Raised by his father, Jake, on Beartooth Ranch, Dylan is dependable, observant, and already wise beyond his years. He’s got a quiet strength, a deep love for horses, and a protective nature—especially when it comes to his dad and, later, to baby Faith. When Emily Montgomery arrives, Dylan is hesitant at first, but her kindness slowly draws him out. He’s the kind of kid who watches before he speaks, who listens closely, and who’ll stand his ground for the people he loves. Loyal, brave, and pure-hearted.
  Emily Montgomery
  • She is eight years old, shy around strangers but brave in all the ways that matter. With her big brown eyes and gentle spirit, she’s always been her mom’s shadow—quiet, thoughtful, and wise beyond her years. Life hasn’t always been easy, but Emily faces change with quiet courage. When she arrives in Pine Creek, it’s the horses that first draw her out… and a certain serious boy named Dylan who surprises her with unexpected friendship. Emily has a tender heart, a love for animals, and a quiet strength that grows with every chapter—proving that even soft voices can be powerful.

Summary

• For Mia Montgomery, coming back to Pine Creek wasn’t part of the plan. She left years ago, determined to build a life in the city, far away from small-town gossip and heartbreak. But after a failed relationship and a need for stability for her eight-year-old daughter, Emily, she finds herself driving back to the town she swore she’d never call home again.

  Jake never expected to see Mia again—especially not waltzing back into town like a summer storm, her sharp wit and fiery determination rattling his carefully built walls. When he offers Mia and Emily riding lessons at Beartooth Ranch, he convinces himself it’s just for the kids. But deep down, he knows better.

  Once a free-spirited, ambitious city girl, Mia is now a single mother, craving stability. The more time she spends at Beartooth Ranch, the more her defenses crack. And when a heated moment in the barn turns into one passionate night, Mia convinces herself it was a mistake. But weeks later, when an unexpected wave of nausea hits, she realizes it was something much more.

  Now, pregnant with Jake’s child, Mia must confront her deepest fears and the wounds she never healed. Can she trust Jake to stand by her side when the past still looms between them? And when Trevor, Emily’s estranged father, suddenly arrives in Pine Creek, claiming he wants to be part of Emily’s life, Mia must decide who she’s willing to fight for—and who truly has her heart.

  Jake, never one to back down from a challenge, is determined to prove to Mia that she doesn’t have to do this alone. With Dylan and Emily growing closer by the day and the ranch becoming more of a home than ever before, Jake refuses to let Mia run from what they could have together. But convincing a woman who’s spent her life guarding her heart won’t be easy.

  As storms roll over the Montana horizon and custody battles threaten to tear them apart, Jake and Mia must decide if love is worth the risk. With a newborn daughter on the way, a blended family forming, and the undeniable pull of small-town roots calling her home, Mia faces her biggest decision yet.

  Despite the challenges, Mia and Jake come together, standing strong against every obstacle threatening their newfound happiness. With the birth of their daughter, Faith, their bond deepens. Pine Creek embraces them as a family, and Mia finally realizes that love isn’t about running—it’s about choosing to stay, to fight, and to believe in the future they are building together.

  In a heartfelt proposal at Emerson’s Pond, Jake asks Mia to marry him, and this time, she says yes without hesitation. Their wedding, set against the breathtaking Montana landscape, is a celebration of love, family, and second chances.

  As they settle into life at Beartooth Ranch, with their children playing nearby and a bright future ahead, Mia finally understands—she has found her Montana Haven.

Tropes

• Small Town
  Dominant Alpha Male
  Rancher
• Single Dad
• Single Mother
  Grumpy / Sunshine
• Smart & Sassy
  Second Chance
  Surprise Pregnancy
  Cowboy
  Friends-to-Lovers

• Share
• Share Share

As an Amazon Associate

I earn from qualifying purchases