Ben vs Brody by Jan Scarbrough

Early in BRODY, the first book of the Dawsons of Montana, the hero Brody tells the reader about his stepbrother Ben. 

Brody removed his ball cap and scraped fingers through his hair. He felt gritty and dirty from his long trip and the shock of walking in on Lori Ann and friend earlier. Now this.

 

Jim Dawson had been a good stepfather. The man had raised him from the time he and Brody’s mother married. Brody had been about ten then. That was twenty years ago. Mercer had been born six months after the wedding. He’d helped raise his little half-sister until he went off rodeoing.

 

Brody let out a slow breath to release the tension in his body. “Is Ben here?”

 

Mercer shook her head. “We haven’t gotten in touch with him. He’s working up north at that big cattle ranch. We’ve left several messages. The foreman is trying to reach him.”

 

Sounded like Bennet Dawson. Jim’s firstborn had always been a workaholic. They’d never gotten along. Ben saw Brody as an interloper, and in a way he and his mother were. The ranch land had belonged to Jim’s first wife, Bonnie Bennett Dawson. It was by rights Ben’s land. The dude ranch part was just an afterthought, and Liz’s idea to boot, making it a bigger sin in Ben’s eyes.

 

I introduced the conflict with the stepbrothers in the beginning of the series. Now it’s time to find out if the two, now grown men, can resolve their conflict.

 

BEN is the fourth book in the series. Ben has had it tough since his mom died. He’s in exile, a self-imposed one, preferring to work on a cattle ranch instead of his family land, now a dude ranch for city slickers. He and Brody had been at each other’s throats since Brody had arrived at the Bennet Ranch.

 

From the prologue that didn’t make it into the book:

 

His dad always had high expectations, and Ben had always tried to meet them. Now he was getting chewed out because of this punk kid.

 

“Pay attention,” his dad scolded. “You can be the best roper or bronc rider in the world, but if you don’t watch what you’re doing, it won’t do you any good.”

 

Brody dropped his gaze, looking contrite. “Yes, sir.”

 

Ben fumed. His insides were ragged raw with anger.

 

“Son?”

 

“Yes, sir. I get it.”

 

“Good.”

 

Ben watched his dad lope away to the head of the herd. He looked askance at Brody, hoping his furious stare sunk into the kid’s thick skull.

 

Brody shrugged. “What?”

 

“You and me will have it out someday.” Ben clucked to his horse and rode away at a trot.

 

So, I wrote three books in the Dawsons of Montana series, but the ending was missing. Brody and Ben needed to have it out. They finally did in my book BEN.

 

Brody https://books2read.com/Brody-DofM

Mercer https://books2read.com/Mercer-DofM

Liz https://books2read.com/Liz-DofM

Ben https://books2read.com/Ben-DofM

 

Greetings ~ Raine Rochelle

 Hello,

I hope this finds you well. At such a tumultuous time, it’s good to be able to lose yourself in a good book, whether it be reading or writing one.

I’ve been working on Book 2 of The Johnsons of Junova, Heartbeat, which is Sam Johnson’s story. Sam is the drummer in the band, and, despite his instrument of choice, is one of the quieter members of the family.

Often in the shadow of his older brother Kurt, Sam has always hankered to be more like him. He even dyes his hair to look a little more like him, but in his own story he discovers that he just needs to be himself.

Sam has fallen for a girl he met at the hospital while visiting his dad recently. But things don’t go too well for him right from the beginning as this excerpt shows:

He mounted the horse and tried to start with a slow trot. Unfortunately, the horse had other ideas. It was very skittish, and threatened to rear up again. Sam kept control and calmed it a little. Then it bucked, causing Sam to hold on for dear life, before it stamped heavily and then raced off around the paddock.

All Sam could do was hold on tight and try to calm the massive beast as it ran around the training field.

“That’s it,” Ron called out to him. “Just ride it out. He’ll get tired and start to behave soon.”

Sam didn’t find his words much of a comfort. How soon was soon? Usually he loved being on a horse, but this animal was bucking and rearing all over the place, making for a very uncomfortable ride.

“Whoa, come on, buddy, settle down.” He kept his tone calm as he continually coaxed the horse to slow down, and eventually it paid off.

He could feel when the beast started to relax a little, and he stroked its mane to pacify him. The horse had given him a good run for his money, there was no denying it, but Sam was relieved when it slowed to a canter, before he could finally get it to stop.

Ron grinned, hurrying over to them. “I think you might have to try that all over again, son. That animal needs showing who the boss is around here, and it sure ain’t him.”

Sam gaped at him before realizing he was just kidding. He closed his eyes with a huge sigh of relief. “Man, you really had me going there for a second.”

“Not as fast as he had you going, son.” Ron chuckled. “He sure is a feisty one. You did well to hold on.”

“I didn’t have much of a choice. I knew if I fell at that speed I’d do myself some serious damage, not to mention run the risk of getting trampled. This boy sure has an attitude on him.”

He climbed down, still holding onto the reins.

“That’s all you’d need today, to wind up at the dang hospital.” Ron grimaced. “What about that poor girl of yours?”

“That’s what worried me,” Sam admitted. She hadn’t been far from his mind all day, and he was determined he wouldn’t let anything stand in the way of him picking her up from the station later. He’d already ordered a beautiful bouquet from the florist in Brightside, which he’d collect on his way.

At that thought, he reached for his back pocket. His blood ran cold as he quickly checked the other, not finding his phone in either.

“My cell phone.”

Ron frowned. “I saw you put it into your right-hand pocket earlier.”

“It’s gone. It must have happened when the horse reared.”

“I’ll take him back. You have a good look around. It has to be here somewhere.”

Sam felt his heart hammering as he hurried back to where he’d started, scouring the field on his way. Then he saw it. Or, at least, part of it. Lying in the muddy snow. As he’d feared, it must have slipped out of his pocket while he’d been grappling with the horse.

He picked up the remains and stared at the state of it. Ruined. Just like his chances of seeing Lydia again.

 

As always, things are never that easy for the Johnsons, are they? I’ll keep you updated with the progress of the book—and Sam and Lydia’s relationship.

In the meantime, take care of yourself,

Raine

 

The Johnsons of Junova is a continuation of The Billionaires of Brightside Ranch that can also be read as a standalone series.

Book 1 in the Series, Heartstrings is available HERE

Don’t forget that The Billionaires of Brightside Ranch series is currently FREE in Kindle Unlimited

New Release--Be Mine, Valentine

I’m happy to announce the release of my first short Valentine’s Day story, Be Mine, Valentine.

Tom Porter moved to Revolving Point, Texas to escape his past. Taking the job as the hotel and eatery’s manager was supposed to ease the pain of his wife’s death, not heap more sorrow onto his injured soul. The eatery’s waitress is vibrant and pretty… and too young for the likes of him. Better he love Jessie in secret than make her a widow before her time. Trouble is, holding her in his arms and tasting her sweet kisses is what he wants most.

Tracking a missing loved one brought Jessie Kane to Revolving Point. Tom Porter was her reason for staying put in the notorious border town along the Rio Grande. Handsome and kind… Tom may have thwarted her love on Christmas Eve, but he won’t do so again on Valentine’s Day. One way or another, she’ll wrangle a profession of love from him, and a lifetime of happiness.

Excerpt:

Quietly moving across the floor, he nudged the door open to find Jessie wearing her night clothes and sitting in a chair before the hearth, her blonde hair hanging loose down her back. She cradled a cup in her lap, caressed the rim while staring at the low-burning fire. He filled a cup and joined her.

“Can’t sleep,” he asked.

“Oh,” she startled, and arched her neck toward him. “I didn’t hear you.”

“I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He nodded toward the hearth. “May I join you?”

Her guarded gaze traveled the length of him. “Al-all right.” She shifted her attention back to the crackling wood.

He pulled a chair beside her and sat, took a long drink of the hot brew. “Are you up because you’re worried about the squatter?”

“No. The sheriff and the deputies will find him.” She kept her gaze on the flame. “They won’t allow harm to come to their wives and children.”

“Reckon you’re right about that.” He took another long swallow to settle the unease snaking through his gut. He had plenty to say to her, and hoped the words came out right.

“Why are you awake?” she asked.

“I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

“Most people do.” She leaned forward, pulled a log from a basket beside the hearth and added it to the fire. Sat back in her chair.

“Jessie,” he started, only to pause and take a deep breath. He let it out slow, prayed his gumption wouldn’t desert him. “I apologize for what I said to you earlier. You’re more than a waitress to me. You’re someone I care about very much.”

She sniffled and met his gaze. Except for the moisture clinging to her eyes, her expression was void of feeling. “So you’ve often said.” She cocked her head. “Are you willing to do something about that?”

He swallowed hard. “If you’re referring to marriage, than I’m sorry, but the answer is no. I can’t marry you.” He touched her arm. “But I can be your friend.” And love you with everything I am. “Someone you can depend upon for anything.”

“I have friends, Tom,” she said, stonily. “I want more than that.”

Be Mine, Valentine is available for purchase at Amazon. www.amazon.com/dp/B01ATV451O

Be Mine, Valentine is part of the Revolving Point, Texas Series. Other books in the series include: 

Zanna’s Outlaw

Lydia’s Gunslinger

Debra’s Bandit

and can be purchased at www.amazon.com/author/julielence