Espino, Stacey - Hardcore Cowboys [Ride 'em Hard 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read Online Free

not just the epicenter of the Canadian rodeo circuit.
    Wyatt opened the driver’s side door which gave a groan of aging metal and pulled out his heavily padded plaid jacket. The weather report warned of a severe storm system close to home. Being a cattle farmer living in the Snowbelt had to be the place they sent men when hell was full. But he was a Canadian cowboy, not quick to complain or bow out from the hard labor needed to keep things running on a working ranch. It was time to head home.

    * * * *

    Samantha had been driving for way too many hours. She had a new respect for full-time truckers. Her eyes felt as heavy as lead, burning when she tried to hold them open for more than a few seconds. She barely noticed the sign welcoming her into Alberta , Canada . Only one more province until she reached the far west and the world-renowned British Columbia . The weather warnings had been valid. The farther she drove, the more intense the storm system became. The whiteouts were literally blinding traveling through prairie country. She drove at a snail’s pace, in fear of hitting another vehicle that could have been a foot in front of her. Although she hadn’t noted any other cars for over an hour, her nerves were still on edge.
    She’d need to hit a gas station soon. The red warning light on her control panel captured her attention every time she shifted her eyes from the white canvas beyond the windshield.
    “Shit,” she muttered. “What was I thinking?” Samantha wished she had of taken the advice from the waitress at her pit stop yesterday. Everything she’d warned about had come to pass.
    Samantha needed to sleep, needed gas, and needed a saving grace in the worst way. She finally decided her best bet would be to pull over to the side of the road and wait out the worst of it. The severity of the storm couldn’t continue like this all night. It would have to die down sooner or later, hopefully sooner. Her tires sank into the thick snow of the soft shoulder as she steered the car to the right. She flicked on her hazard lights and prayed to God that a passing car wouldn’t rear-end her.
    Minutes turned into hours. The storm didn’t cease, but continued to grow in strength and severity. She was sure the snow was high enough to block her from opening the car doors if she dared to try. Half an hour earlier, she had run out of gas and had no source of heat. Being used to city life, she wasn’t even sure if cops patrolled these highways. Would anyone even spot her?
    Exhaustion began to pull at her, tempting her to fall asleep and forget her worries. She imagined this was God’s mercy, allowing her to die in her sleep rather than in a state of panic. Samantha didn’t fight the urge to close her eyes and drift into unconsciousness.

    * * * *

    “Fuck me !” Wyatt nearly fishtailed off the highway. The plows wouldn’t dare venture out in a storm like this, so he had to rely on his four-wheel drive. Everything was white. He was completely snow blind.
    The storm pelted his truck, and the thick snow grabbed at his tires. Good thing he was on his way home to help Val and Cord. Tending the animals in this shit weather was at least a three-man job. They’d have to hook the snowplow up to one of the pickup trucks and clear a way just to get to the fucking barn. Winter usually showed signs of receding this late in March, not this kind of strength. Farmers should be prepping their fields, not holed up in their ranches. He’d blame the old adage, in like a lamb, out like a lion , but winter in Alberta always came in strong and fought when it was time to leave.
    He’d be home in less than an hour, maybe longer if he continued to navigate at a snail’s pace. Wyatt’s mind wandered. He should have called home. He’d been gone for nearly a year with no word and no way to contact him. If anything bad had happened to either of his little brothers, it would just be another slash on his cold heart. Not so cold that guilt didn’t