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Cattenach Ranch

Cattenach Ranch

Romance
last updateLast Updated : 2023-09-09
By:  Kelly MoranCompleted
Language: English
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91Chapters
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Synopsis

Tragedy

Rebel

Forgiveness

Contemporary

Hero/Heroin

Affair

Secret Love

Independent

Dark Romance

Nearly the last remaining member of Olivia Cattenach's family has just died overseas and left her overcome by grief. But when a soldier shows up at her ranch with a final message from her brother, she finds new purpose. Nathan Roldan is as formidable as they come. Bulging muscles and inked to boot, he looks like every bit the bad boy he claims to be. Except, under his shuttered gaze and behind his walls lies a gentle giant. Determined to carry out her brother's wishes, she chips away at Nate's layers and discovers more pain than any person should ever have to endure. And a passion she never dreamed was possible.He's not the hero she thinks he is...Nate's mistake got a fellow comrade killed, and a deathbed promise to take care of the guy's sister lands him in Wyoming with the hope of redemption. But he wasn't expecting...her. Beautiful, witty, and sweet, Olivia is everything he doesn't deserve. Born a nothing, he'll die a nothing. Though guilt is a living thing, temptation is too hard to resist. Somehow, she's unleashing his restraint and unearthing feelings he buried long ago. He wants her. More, he's worried he needs her. She's trying to save him, but when she learns the truth, he'll lose the only happiness he's ever known. "An emotionally raw story with beautiful prose. A compelling read."Cattenach Ranch is created by Kelly Moran, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

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Chapter 1

Chapter 1

ISADORA

"You must think I’m a joke if you believe I’ll sit back and let you run my life like it doesn’t belong to me."

"Don’t be silly, Isadora. Luca Morretti is a good match for you," my dad replied, not even sparing me a glance. It was as if I wasn’t worth the energy. Well, I’ll be damned if I let him trade me off for more money and power.

"Good match? He’s in the Mafia, Dad! He’s a Don! Don’t sit here and act like you haven’t heard the rumors," I seethed, turning to look at my mom, who sat there ever obediently. It pissed me off that she never went against him.

"Like you said, sweet Isadora, rumors," he replied half-heartedly. I clenched my teeth to keep myself from saying something I couldn’t take back.

"Alright then. I’ll marry Luca." That brought a smile to his face. "But I’ll be damned if you get any of that money or power you’re after." His smile dropped instantly, replaced by a murderous expression. Good. My turn to smile.

"Do not test me, little girl. You will marry Luca, and you will not interfere in my business," he said, rising from his seat and walking toward me. "Now go get dressed. He’ll be here soon to discuss the alliance. Don’t mess this up." He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"I hate you," I spat, storming out of his office.

There’s no way in hell I’m marrying Luca Morretti. The rumors say he murdered his first wife, and if those rumors are true, I won’t be his next victim. He became a Don after brutally killing his father, making him the youngest Don in history. At just 28, he’s both respected and feared by everyone around him. He got married at 25, and two years later, his oh-so-mysterious wife died. Now here I am, 24, being forced into this nightmare. I want to finish college, get my business degree, and live life on my terms not chained to a Mafia Don.

After a lot of back and forth in my mind, I made my decision: I wasn’t going to marry Luca Morretti. I packed a small bag with enough cash to last me a few days and decided to climb out my window. Guards were stationed at my door and all over the compound, but I’ve been dodging them for years. I knew all the blind spots, all the cracks in their vigilance.

With a deep breath, I slipped out unnoticed. The air outside was cold and heavy, but it felt like freedom. Calling a cab was out of the question, it would raise too many alarms. Besides, our house was in a secluded area, far away from the city, where cabs were a rarity. I’d have to go on foot.

I walked for what felt like hours, the silence of the night giving me too much time to think. I was so lost in thought that I didn’t notice the headlights rushing toward me until it was too late.

A car screeched to a halt, nearly hitting me. The force sent me stumbling back, dizzy and breathless. My hands flew up instinctively to shield my eyes from the harsh headlights.

Before I could regain my balance, three men stepped out of the car. The headlights dimmed, and my heart stopped. The face I saw standing before me sent a chill down my spine.

It was Luca Morretti.

Darkness swallowed me whole as I fainted.

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Comments

default avatar
Lexi Son
Such a good book. It gives you a mix of just about every emotion.
2024-02-03 14:38:05
0
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Miley
2 books in 1. You definitely want to read both since they are related. One seems to be a sequel. This book is definitely for mature adult readers. Well written, but very adult content.
2023-12-24 09:01:21
0
user avatar
Judy Harris
Wonderful story! The author helps readers to see PTSD in unexpected situations. We need more talk about these issues and more talk of sexual abuse. When I survived frequent abuse in the 60s it was a secret. There was no one to talk to. Thank you for modeling what it means to be supportive.
2023-06-25 03:46:17
1
default avatar
xrystabelle
Kelly Moran has become one of my favorite authors, and these stories are gut wrenchingly beautiful.
2023-06-16 02:25:18
0
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graciela.castano.l
Great stories and great way of narrate the dark that surrounded two of the characters and the way how they found help, acceptance and love to overcome it.
2023-05-29 04:27:08
0
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Julie Jones-Campbell
I love this book. I wish there was more.
2023-01-02 04:37:29
0
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Sonya Orton Bass
I love this book
2022-10-08 09:43:22
0
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Monica Anguay
Love the first book. Love the second as well. Had me in nears from the beginning.
2022-09-13 11:29:23
0
user avatar
Erin Pooley-Pitt
love reading this book. specially sense it's based in Wyoming where I live.
2022-09-03 14:58:01
0
91 Chapters
Chapter 1
VOLUME ONE: REDEMPTIONIn the private cemetery on her family's ranch, Olivia Cattenach knelt by her brother's grave and brushed grass clippings from the headstone. Six months since Justin had been killed in action. Hard to believe. The loss was still as fresh as the day two soldiers had shown up at her front door with his tags and their condolences.Worse than losing her brother, her best friend, was the reality of a life cut short at just twenty-eight. Tragedy didn't begin to cover it. One IED, one wrong step, and he was gone. Erased as if he'd never been here at all.Knowing Aunt Mae was standing behind her at the wrought iron gate, waiting to start the day, Olivia sighed, took a sip of coffee from a travel cup, and tried to keep her morning visit short. But, damn. The sharp stab of loneliness pierced her stomach.She glanced past his grave and that of her parents' to the northern pasture in the distance, teeming with long golden stems as far as the eye could see. "In another mon
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-19
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Chapter 2
She couldn't blame him for not catching her drift. It's not as if she'd ever flirted with him before. She wasn't even sure she knew how, at any rate. In these parts, the direct approach of buying someone a beer at the sole tavern in town was the equivalent of an offer. He went eerily still and, as if in slow motion, his gaze slid from the clipboard to her. Hard black eyes nailed her to her spot and probed as if searching for the Holy Grail of meaning. Unnerved and feeling more than a little stupid, she shifted her weight to her other foot. "Have you ever thought about it? Me, you, clothes on the floor?" Yikes. Couldn't get any more obvious than that. She'd kill Aunt Mae later.A harsh inhale, and he turned his head, glaring at the mountains in the far distance. His Adam's apple bobbed with a swallow and he closed his eyes for a brief moment before looking at her once again. Interest flared in his eyes, but uncertainty was gaining ground.Finally, he switched the clipboard to his
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-19
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Chapter 3
A promise. After an honorable medical discharge, that's what had sent Nate from Chicago to Meadowlark, Wyoming. The "honorable" part of his release from the Army was a joke, but his pledge to a dying comrade was not. Redemption was asking too much, but he could hope. Something told him he'd still be seeking absolution when he took his last breath on some distant day.It should've been him six feet under with Justin standing vigil at Nate's funeral. Not the other way around. And he'd pay for it the rest of his pathetic life. He was here, as Justin had asked of him, but there was no atonement for getting a friend killed.He stared out the massive living room window at a dark Cattenach Ranch, waiting on Olivia to return from upstairs. Justin had talked about his family and the land often, but somehow hadn't done any of it justice. Nate had envisioned a little farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by rolling hills and cows. Showed what he knew.It had taken five solid minutes o
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-19
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Chapter 4
"Bones." The owner in question stepped onto the porch, shutting the screen door behind her. "When he was a puppy, he'd bring me skeletal remains of whatever animals he could find. Ergo, the name." She sat in the chair next to his and laid her head against the back, her eyes suspiciously red and puffy. She'd put a sweater on to ward off the chilly night.Figuring she'd talk when she was ready, he continued petting the dog and took in what he could of his surroundings. Another ten years, and he might get used to the silence, the fresh air."Looks like you made a friend already." She turned her head and offered a sad smile.He glanced at Bones again. Great name. "I always wanted a dog." Frowning, he snapped his mouth shut, unsure why he'd told her that."Your parents wouldn't let you have one?"Considering his foster families claimed eating was a privilege, and those were the decent ones, he didn't respond."Do you have anything waiting for you back in Illinois? A job? Family?"He
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-19
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Chapter 5
Olivia sipped coffee at the kitchen table while Aunt Mae flipped strips of bacon at the stove. Sizzles and pops filled the room in a sound as comforting as it was familiar. A large stack was piled on a draining plate and two of the men had already stopped by for a bite."Have you seen Nate this morning?" Olivia moved scrambled eggs around her plate, hoping it looked like she'd eaten more than she had, else Aunt Mae would fuss."No, but he's probably comatose if he drove straight from Illinois."No doubt. "I should've discussed him living here." It had been an impulsive offer after she'd read Justin's letter, but she couldn't bring herself to regret the decision. According to her brother, he suspected Nate had no family and wanted him to find a place to call home once he was out of the service. Justin had said other things, stuff she didn't want to dissect yet, but she'd process later. "Is it okay with you?"Up went Aunt Mae's brows. "I don't get involved in your hiring, baby girl.""I
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-19
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Chapter 6
At the cemetery fence, he paused. "He's buried here?""Yes, along with four generations of Cattenachs." She faced him, watching the hard edges of his profile. "Our parents died in a car wreck when we were eight. I didn't sleep well for a long time afterward and I refused to get in a vehicle for a year, thinking I'd die, too. I won't pretend to understand what you're going through, but what helped me was coming here, talking to them." He turned his head and looked at her, gaze sweeping over her face like a caress. Understanding and respect shone in his eyes before he broke the connection and glanced at the cemetery again.Bones nudged his hand and, with a blink of surprise, Nate looked at the dog."I think he senses what troubles you. Maybe you should let him sleep in your bed, see how it works out." She opened the gate and walked to Justin's grave.Nate's quiet footsteps padded behind her, but he said nothing. He spoke very little, actually, but his eyes gave a lot of him away. G
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-19
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Chapter 7
After the foreman's temper tantrum yesterday morning, Nate had spent the day ten feet from Olivia while she'd shaved wool off sheep. Many, many sheep. At least he knew what shearing meant now. It looked exhausting. A week ago, he wouldn't have said so, but since watching her and Nakos for nine solid hours, Nate would've rather done eight-hundred push-ups than partake.And he'd tried damn hard not to think about how great her ass looked in jeans every time she'd bent over. Which had been a lot. Or the way sunlight had lit her cornflower eyes and auburn hair on their walk. Or the way she'd smiled sweetly at him as if she could chase away all his dark simply by wishing it.Justin had been like that, too - worked his way past Nate's defenses and burrowed deep. Didn't matter how many times he'd told Justin to go away or gave off fuck-you vibes, the guy had just kept at it with charm and smiles and blah, blah, blahing Nate to death. Until he'd found himself liking the fellow soldier so much,
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-19
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Chapter 8
She grabbed the reins of two horses and walked them out the opposite end and into a clearing. Long prairie grass stirred in the wind as the pink sky faded to navy. She tied the brown horse to a post by a fence and held the black one in place.Nate eyed her, then the animals. "Never ridden one of these.""This is Midnight. He's a three-year-old stallion and very mild-mannered. Come on over here." When he did as asked, she took his wrist and had him run his hand down the horse's nose. In turn, Midnight nudged Nate's shoulder, and Olivia laughed. "There, he likes you."She instructed him how to mount, and he climbed onto the saddle. She did the same on hers, looking way more graceful about it, and settled her horse next to his."My guy here is Pirate, and he's a two-year-old gelding. Now, you know how to ride a motorcycle, so you're at an advantage." She set one hand on his stomach and the other on his forearm, and he inhaled hard. "Driving a bike requires using your core and arms. Yo
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-19
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Chapter 9
Olivia spent the next few days riddled in guilt and feeling stupid. And insensitive. And then more stupid. While they'd finished the week shearing and getting the wool loaded for the supplier, she'd done everything in her power to avoid all physical contact with Nate. She hadn't realized how often she used her hands until she'd been forced to think about every move. The best way for her to teach him was by demonstration.In bed, she flopped from her stomach to her back and stared at the ceiling. She was going on three nights of restlessness and nothing was working. She'd tried everything but the obvious path to assuage her wrongs. Because she was a coward.Top of the list? She needed to have a conversation with Nakos to clear the air. Which was darn impossible with Nate underfoot. Nakos had been a friend since as far back as she could remember. She may not share his romantic feelings, but he was entitled to respect from her.Lord. And Nate? What the heck was she supposed to say, to
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-19
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Chapter 10
"Are you cold?"He dropped his forehead to her temple. "The opposite." His nose brushed her cheek as he lowered his head, and she emitted a full-body tingle. "Just the opposite," he repeated, his rough voice barely above a whisper.Shaking his head, he shut off the faucet and reached for a paper towel. He dried her hands like she were a toddler in need of assistance, then held up her hand to examine it. Only a small half-inch knick on her outer palm, but it had created a lot of blood. He pressed the paper towel to the cut and held it there. "It's not deep enough for stitches."She nodded, recalling his initial response. "Does the sight of blood bother you?" Half her ranch hands passed out cold at the hint of red. It was a pretty common phobia and men could be babies."Not usually." "You seemed a little rattled before.""Justin died next to me. My mind flicked back for a second." He straightened suddenly and cursed, then muttered something that sounded like filter. "I'm sorry.
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-19
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