Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Indie Burton isn’t just escaping her controlling family and a high-profile life—she’s running from the scars of betrayal and a disastrous arranged marriage. Finding refuge in the small town of Copper Mountain, she craves anonymity and a fresh start as a midwife. But when her car breaks down on an icy mountain road, she’s rescued by King Steele, a gruff, brooding rancher who stirs more than just her curiosity.
King prefers the quiet of his ranch to the chaos of relationships. But Indie, with her fiery spirit and captivating secrets, throws his world into turmoil. He’s never wanted to let anyone in—until her. But Indie’s past threatens to shatter their fragile connection and King will stop at nothing to protect her—and claim her for himself.
The Cowboy’s Claim is a filthy-sweet, runaway bride romance about a small-town cowboy and the city girl that steals his frozen heart at first glance. If you love rugged mountain men, fiery heroines, and passion that burns as hot as a wildfire, saddle up for a love story that will steal your heart
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Chapter One
Indie
The tires crunch over the icy gravel road as I grip the steering wheel tighter, squinting through the windshield at the endless white ahead. Copper Mountain looks like a snow globe right now—serene, untouched, and perfect—but the winding road up its side is a different story.
The snow fell fast overnight, leaving everything slick and unpredictable. My little hatchback isn’t exactly made for mountain terrain, but I couldn’t leave Archer and Bella hanging. Their baby’s due any day now, and Bella called this morning saying the contractions were coming faster. I’d packed my bag, promised Aunt Betty I’d be careful, and hit the road.
I glance at my phone on the passenger seat. No service, of course. Just me, a rickety heater, and nerves jangling in time with every bump in the road.
“Piece of cake,” I mutter, mostly to convince myself.
A week in Copper Mountain, and I already feel like I’ve stepped into another universe. People here greet you by name, smile when you walk into the café, and treat you like one of their own. It’s a far cry from the world I left behind—the glittering chaos of Hollywood, where every smile hides an agenda.
I press the gas a little harder as the incline steepens, the heater wheezing in protest. I’ve been running from that life for weeks now, hoping the mountains will shelter me from the weight of my last name, the constant spotlight, and Chad, the man who once promised to love me but broke me instead.
Something massive lumbers out of the trees ahead, snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts.
I slam on the brakes and as I do, my tires hit a patch of ice and send me careering nose first into the snowbank.
A grizzly bear. No, two—three of them.
“Holy shit.” My heart leaps into my throat as the mother bear strides across the road, her cubs trailing behind her like shadows. They move slowly, purposefully, completely unbothered by the fact that they’re blocking my path.
I clutch the steering wheel, my heart thundering as I watch in stunned silence as the mama bear pauses and looks me dead in the eye before a low growl of warning rumbles past her lips. Then, just as soon as they arrived, they’re gone, slipping into the trees on the other side of the road.
“Okay, bears. You win. Just keep moving,” I whisper, half expecting them to turn back and challenge me.
I breathe a sigh of relief, shift into reverse, and tap the gas. The car spins.
I yank the wheel, panic tightening every muscle in my body, shifting back into drive and then attempt to shift into reverse quickly to rock myself out of the snow and ice I’m stuck in.
For a moment, everything goes still. Except my thundering heartbeat. My breath clouds the inside of the windshield, sharp and ragged.
“Great. Just great.”
I unbuckle my seatbelt and try to push open the door, but it’s jammed tight against the snow. I climb out on the passenger side, landing in knee-deep powder. The cold bites at my exposed skin, and the wind howls around me, carrying the faint echo of distant wildlife.
I glance around, half expecting the bears to reappear. Instead, I hear the creak of leather and the soft snort of a horse.
Then I see him.
A man on horseback emerges from the tree line, his silhouette sharp against the snow. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, and wrapped in a heavy jacket, his face partially hidden by a thick beard and a cowboy hat pulled low over his brow.
“What in the hell are you doing out here?” His voice is deep, rough, and laced with irritation.
“Nice to meet you too,” I shoot back, my teeth chattering.
He pulls the horse to a stop a few feet away, his sharp eyes assessing me from head to toe. “You always drive like that, or is today special?”
“I was avoiding a bear. Excuse me for trying not to get mauled.”
He swings down from the saddle with a practiced ease, his boots crunching through the snow as he approaches. Up close, he’s even more intimidating—towering, rugged, and radiating a kind of quiet strength that makes my pulse stutter.
“They don’t grow them like you in Hollywood,” I mutter under my breath.
“What was that?” His brow arches, a flicker of amusement softening his scowl.
“Nothing,” I say quickly, brushing the snow from my jacket. “I’m fine. I just need to figure out how to get my car out of this snowbank.”
He jerks his chin toward my car, now half-buried in snow. “That toy won’t make it another mile up this road. You’re lucky I found you, city girl.”
“Lucky,” I repeat, my tone dripping with sarcasm.
He crosses his arms, the corners of his mouth twitching. “Got a name, or should I just keep calling you city girl?”
“Indie,” I say, meeting his gaze head-on.
“Well, Indie, I’m King Steele. And you’re about one bad decision away from freezing out here.”