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For as long as anyone can remember, the Dempskeys and the Stonewells have been at odds. JT Dempskey’s ruthless need to possess Rough Ride, the Stonewell’s ranch, carried beyond the grave and the edict of his will sets into motion a course of events that will change the lives of two people forever. Ryder Dempskey wants nothing to do with his father’s sick scheme, until he sees Callie Stonewell and realizes he can’t walk away. Convinced that the ‘ends justify the means’, Ryder lies about his true reasons and convinces Callie the only way to save Rough Ride is to marry him. Death threats, kidnappings, and attacks show Callie and Ryder that there is more at stake than their respective ranches… their lives could hang in the balance… just because a Dempskey and a Stonewell dare get married. Too much could be lost if they walk away, and neither one of them bargained on the pull between them – even if they both prefer to deny it. Decades of lies culminate in revelations that will leave some stunned… and others dead. EXCERPT A weary grin pulled at his lips. "It's been a rough twenty-four hours for both of us." He pulled her close, his forehead against hers. "I was about crazy when I watched you go into the drainage ditch and couldn't get to you." Callie leaned against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. Just as they had been for the last few days, her heart and mind battled over what was right. He was a Dempskey, and she knew she shouldn’t trust him. But, she couldn’t deny that she felt safe when he held her, and she wanted to be close to him. Each time he touched her, it was easier to forget everything else. She took in a deep breath, ignoring the battle for now. "I'm good." Ryder kissed her the top of her head. "I'm not going to the hospital with you only because I think Duck would stroke out. Call me if anything happens." The sharp crack of knuckles against wood interrupted the comforting embrace, making Callie jump -- her nerves already frazzled. Sheriff Jameson knocked again on the back porch door. Before Callie could move, to answer it or call the sheriff inside, Ryder moved across the kitchen and opened it. He invited the man in. "Come on in, Sheriff." "Callie, Mr. Dempskey." The sheriff tipped his hat. The man was a collection of circles. A small circular face sat on top of a round body supported by oval shaped legs. His brown hair and the beard that covered the impressive jowls were speckled with gray. Light sand colored eyes carried the fatigue that comes from working in law for over twenty years. "I'd like to ask you some questions." "Please have a seat, Sheriff. I'm sorry I don't have any coffee to offer you." Jameson pulled a wooden chair out from the table and sat down with a huff, dropping his hat on the tabletop. "That's fine. I'm working to cut back. How you holding up?" "I'm doing okay. My brain is sort of numb." "Understandable. Why don't you tell me what happened. Do you know why Ms. Flower's car would be in a ditch near your house?" Callie sat down and Ryder stood behind her, his hands resting on the high back of the chair so his knuckles skimmed her shoulders. "Jessica was supposed to visit last night… we had plans." She figured it best not to mention those plans involved burning the bed in the next room, especially with Ryder behind her. "I got a call from Earl saying Papi was in the hospital, and forgot to call Jessica to cancel. She must have come over like we planned, and when I wasn't here, she left." "Now, about Duck. I hear he was beat up pretty bad. Any idea who might've done that?" She felt Ryder's fingers tighten on the back of her chair. "No, Sheriff. I wish I did, but I have no idea. I've been trying to figure that out myself. Really, very little in the last twenty-four hours makes sense to me." "I need to talk to Duck. Any idea when they'll have his meds cut back so I get something besides drool?" "Some time later today. I'm going to the hospital as soon as we're done. Is it okay if I tell him about Earl?" "That'd be fine. I understand you and Mr. Dempskey are planning a spring wedding." Callie was surprised Jameson knew. The gossip mill must have worked overtime. "Yes. May fourteenth." "That must have come as a shock to Duck. How did he handle his only grandchild marrying a Dempskey?" "He'll come around." Ryder spoke up for the first time since welcoming the sheriff. The sheriff shifted in the chair so he looked past her, Ryder becoming the sole focus of his vision. "Is that so, Mr. Dempskey? How do you figure that?" "Duck loves his granddaughter. Once he sees how happy she is married to me, he'll move past any personal feelings he may have." Jameson lifted an eyebrow. "Clearly, you don’t know of your future grandfather-in-law’s intense dislike for Dempskeys. I imagine your dad is having a legendary tantrum in the grave." He squinted for a moment, leaning forward slightly with his arm resting on the table. "Where exactly were you doing these events? I don’t suppose you met with Mr. Stonewell to help him understand how happy Callie was going to be married to you." "At the hospital with Callie," Ryder answered with a tight, strained tone. "I don't like what you're implying, Sheriff." Callie looked over her shoulder to look at him. The muscles of Ryder’s neck tighten and pulse. Her stomach lurched as she broke out in a cold sweat. Jameson stood. "Wouldn’t be the first time a Dempskey used force to gain something they wanted. Tell your granddad, I’ll be around sometime later today." “Okay." Callie watched the man walk out of the room, a sickness settling into her soul. Could Ryder have hurt Papi? How had he found out Duck was in the hospital? Could the man that made her heart race and blood boil, kill someone? Gerrie Ferris Author of When Serpents Die "The Gamble was very well crafted; I loved the fast paced story line. Lyncee Shillard gave the hero and heroine time to fall in love and try to work out the differences that their family’s generation of dislike and distrust had instilled in them. I would definitely read this author again. I give this story a rating of 4 1/2." Melissa - Classic Romance Revival Reviews Rating = 4.5 Wings "...this was overall intriguing and readable. Background at the old ranch and the horseracing scene are just right; believable backdrop for all the action. The story itself is well thought out and several characters are quite dynamic. All in all a solid read." Snapdragon - Long and Short Reviews Rating = 3.5 books Try these related products: E-mail a friend about this item. Join the Desert Breeze Publishing EXCLUSIVE BOOK CLUB!
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