Weston Knight came home, leaving behind a promising military career to take over the ranch after his father’s passing. As the oldest, it fell on his shoulders to keep things together, even as the books bled red around him. Year after year, they slip a little further behind. He does his best to keep it from the town, and from his family, but secrets don’t stay buried long. Not in a place like Stone Ridge.
Small towns come with complications you don’t see anywhere else. The dating pool? Let’s just say most of the good ones have already paired off. And Weston… he’s not the kind of man who settles. The more I get to know this broody cowboy, the more I realize he’s not looking for easy. He needs something deeper. Someone who can meet him where he stands and not flinch.
I’m still learning what kind of love shaped him, but right now I’m leaning toward this—a father who worked too hard and left nothing for anyone else, and a mother who loved fiercely enough to try and fill in the gaps.
Which means Weston grew up knowing what responsibility looks like… and what it costs.
So it’s not something he’s looking for. He’d never put anyone through what he watched his mom go through. She loved his dad and there were happy moments but his father was always busy. He paid attention to the boys when they offered something he valued. Weston never felt good enough even though all he did was work by his father’s side from the day he was old enough to drive a tractor. Maverick hid his artistic talents because dad said it wouldn’t go anywhere and no one got anywhere unless they worked for it and well Colter, was Colter.
And that’s where my girls come in.
Not all of my female main characters are plus size, but as someone who has spent most of her life in that space (and who to this day will never say no to tacos), I love writing women who feel real. Women who take up space, who own it, and who are deeply, fiercely loved because of it, not in spite of it.
Callie is one of those women.
She’s stepping away from the noise, from the constant push and pull of city life, and from a relationship that left her feeling like she was always coming in second. Fresh off a breakup with a man who was far too invested in himself, she heads to visit her best friend in Stone Ridge.
(Yes, that Stone Ridge. A little nod to Ridge Ranch for those who’ve been here a while.)
What she finds there isn’t just a change of scenery. It’s a shift in perspective. A reminder that life doesn’t have to be lived in the fast lane, fueled by espresso and deadlines. Sometimes it’s slower. Messier. Quieter.
And sometimes… it’s exactly what you need.
Especially when it puts you directly in the path of a man who’s convinced love only ever costs too much.
The first two chapters are where we meet most of our main players, and things kick off a little messy… the way all good stories should.
Chapter one opens with Callie learning that her boyfriend—now very much an ex—has betrayed her. Not only did he steal one of her ideas, he passed it off as his own, costing her a promotion she’d worked hard for.
Let that be your reminder: dating where you work is a gamble. Sometimes you win… and sometimes you get your idea stolen and your heart handed back in pieces.
Enter Piper. Best friends since college, voice of reason, occasional chaos agent.
She suggests Callie get out of the city, clear her head, and come stay with her for a bit. It takes some convincing (and probably a little emotional arm-twisting), but eventually Callie agrees and heads for the country.
And because I like to keep things interesting…and because I can.
By the end of the chapter, Callie walks in on Piper and Colter going at it over the kitchen counter.
Let’s just say… we might be planting a few seeds for Colter’s story while we’re at it. We’re going to get to know Colter along the way, very well.
Chapter Two is where we meet Mrs. Knight. She’s the heart of the Knight family and a force all her own. I can’t wait for you to get to know her. She’s the kind of woman who sees straight through you, whether you’re ready for it or not.
She knows Weston’s carrying something heavy before he ever says a word. But of course, Weston being Weston… he doesn’t say a word and she being who she is, doesn’t push. He’ll come to her when he’s ready.
Instead, he shuts down and walks out. Out of all three boys, he’s the most like his father, and he knows it. Maybe that’s exactly why he’s sworn off relationships. He’s seen what that kind of life costs, and he’s not willing to risk it.
Unfortunately for him, the ranch doesn’t slow down just because he’s in his feelings.
It’s pumpkin patch field trip day, which means chaos, kids, and more responsibility than one person should probably handle before coffee. It’s all hands on deck. Even Colter makes a surprise appearance—no warning, no call, just suddenly there like he never left. He’s bouncing between rodeos, but he shows up when it matters.
Weston won’t say it out loud, but he’s glad for the help.
Maverick gets mentioned too—the brother who isn’t there but always is in some way. Even stationed overseas, he finds ways to carry part of the load. That’s just who the Knights are.
And then… the meet cute.
Because you know I couldn’t resist.
Piper is there with her preschool class, and one of her students—a shy little thing—takes one look at Callie and decides she’s hers for the day.
And wouldn’t you know it… Weston’s the one driving the tractor because someone called in sick and well, there’s a job to do.
So now we’ve got a stubborn cowboy, a guarded city girl, and a tiny human with pigtails, refusing to let go of Callie’s hand.
Tell me that isn’t the perfect setup.
I love a good meet cute. Sometimes they happen on page one. Sometimes they take their sweet time. In Saving Maddie, for example, those characters knew of each other, even talked on the phone, but didn’t actually meet until several chapters in. Because that’s what their story needed.
That’s the thing about writing for me. Yes, I outline. I like having a roadmap.
But my characters? They treat it more like a suggestion.
I might think I know exactly how Weston and Callie’s story is going to go. What pulls them apart, what brings them back together but I’ve learned not to get too comfortable. They tend to have opinions. Strong ones.
And honestly? That’s what keeps it fun.
So tell me, what do you want to hear about next?
A specific character? A place on the ranch? My writing process?
I’m an open book and so are most of my characters.
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