Jesse (Secret Life of Cowboys)

by C H Admirand

[Cocktails and Books]

3 1/2 stars.

Jesse Garahan is on his way into town to pay down some of the family ranch's debt when he stops to rescue the two females that will forever change his life.

Danielle Brockway is on her way back to Pleasure hoping staying with her beloved Uncle will help heal the wounds she got when her husband left her and their small daughter behind for the bull riding circuit. But an overheated car throws her in the path of Jesse and nothing for either herself or her daughter is ever the same again.

I really liked Jesse. He was a man who wanted to feel like he was contributing to his family's ranch in the same way that his brothers did. He gave up his dream of racing cars so he could help out at the family ranch. But he was also a man who had been hurt badly both by a woman he loved (twice) and by the death of his parents at a young age and his grandfather later on. At times, you could see the little boy he was looking for his parents and the validation at knowing things would be alright. It was at those times that I really felt for Jesse and wanted him to have all he wanted.

Danielle had fallen for a smooth cowboy before and wound up not only getting her heart broken, but her young daughter's as well, so it's understandable that she would shy away from Jesse as he pursued her. It was also understandable that she wasn't willing to take a backseat to someone else's dream, like she did with her ex-husband. While she didn't push Jesse to ever reveal where he was working on those nights he'd rush away from the ranch, you knew that she would cut those ties quickly if she didn't think she and her daughter came first with any man.

This was a sweet story. Besides, how could you not enjoy a story when three strong cowboys were brought to their knees by a little pink cowgirl.