Blurb:
With a will that reads like a piece of fiction, the return of
his long-lost brother, and the possibility of losing the family ranch, Micah
Cooper calls on high school friend, Sky Baxter, to bail him out of a bad
situation.
Though her brain tells her no, Sky’s heart says yes. She
accepts Micah’s in-name-only proposal, knowing it’s unlikely anything permanent
will come of it. She’s been in love with him since the ninth grade, and if he
hasn’t figured it out by now, there’s little chance he ever will.
When an unexpected kiss ignites a spark, giving Micah hope
for a possible future with Sky, a tragic accident threatens to take it all
away. Torn between following his heart, doing the right thing, and forgiving
the past, Micah is lost in a whirlwind of pain and emotions. Will he make it
through the next two years, or will a long-kept family secret be the undoing of
the Cooper family? (or… be the undoing of all of them?)
Author:
Lucie Ulrich hasn’t stopped writing since her first skit was
performed on a church stage more than fifteen years ago. An avid reader, she
enjoyed sharing her passion for writing and storytelling with her middle and
high school drama students. No longer part of the teaching profession Lucie
looks forward to traveling the country with her husband, Rick, seeking story
ideas, taking photographs, and enjoying life to the fullest.
Excerpt:
CHAPTER ONE
Sky Baxter leaned against the worn red counter and stared
through the diner’s plate glass window. Dime-sized snowflakes flitted around
the streetlamps before joining the three inches already on the ground.
Sighing, she thought of the fur-lined boots sitting on the
rubber mat by her front door. Why hadn’t she listened to the weatherman?
“Go home, Sky.”
She pivoted toward the small kitchen area behind the counter.
Her boss and friend, Carl Johnston, scraped charred burger remains from the
grill.
“But I still need to mop the floor.”
“I’ll mop. You go.”
“It’s only ten blocks. The snow won’t pile up that much more
in the next few minutes.”
He stepped into the dining area, his limp more pronounced
after the long day. “All the same, I’d rather you leave now.” He held out her
parka and handbag. “And call me when you get there.”
Carl lived upstairs and didn’t have to worry about cold or
snow. She knew he would have driven her if he could, but he’d given up driving two
years ago. An auto accident had left him with a severe limp. That in itself
wouldn’t have stopped him, but burying his wife a week later did.
“Guess you’re right.” Sky threw on her parka, covered her
long black ponytail with a knit cap, and shoved her hands into a pair of
gloves. She planted a kiss on his cheek. “See you tomorrow.”
Cold air and heavy snow swirled around her as she darted
across the street and hurried down the sidewalk. A familiar black pickup
stopped in front of her as she was about to step off the curb. The passenger
window lowered. “Need a lift?”
Sky peered into the cab. The sight of Micah Cooper’s crooked
smile sent a wave of heat from her icy nose to her frozen toes. She’d been
crazy about him since high school. “I’m not fool enough to say no.”
He pushed the passenger door open. “I always knew you were
smart.”
Scraping the snow from her shoes on the running board, she
climbed in. “If I were smart, I’d have worn my boots today. That and figure out
a way to buy a car.”
With a quick flick of his wrist, Micah put the truck in gear
and pulled out into the nearly deserted street. “News flash. You have to know
how to drive before they’ll give you a license.”
“Yeah, well, if my mother had ever owned a car, or could have
afforded Driver’s Ed when I was in school, I’d already know how to drive.
Besides, learning isn’t the problem. Saving is.”
“Hang in there. Who knows? Some customer might just leave you
a thousand dollar tip tomorrow.”
“Pssh. We’re talking
Elk Flats, Montana, not New York City. The biggest tip I’ve ever gotten is six
bucks. Old man Bentley left it after he pinched my backside and I didn’t slap
him.”
Micah laughed. “With his arthritis, I’m surprised you felt
anything.”
“That was two years ago. He doesn’t come in much these days.”
The truck was warm, so she pulled off her hat and gloves. “Speaking of coming
into town, I’m surprised to see you so soon. You normally don’t show up twice
in one week.”
He stopped for a red light. “This month’s co-op meeting was
moved up at the last minute. I also have a meeting with my grandfather’s lawyer
in the morning.”
“You staying in town, then?”
