Bonnie R. Paulson - Lost Trails

Lost Trails

Book 9

Montana Trails series

A Clearwater County Romance

By

Bonnie R. Paulson

Lost Trails

S he refuses to believe in love.

Hes never wanted anything so bad.

Hannah cant believe shes lost so much in her short life. Losing her parents, her sister-in-law, and then her brother broke her dreams of ever finding happiness. Watching each member of her family find happily-ever-after made her want to find it, too.

At first...

But when man after man passed her by over the years, Hannah is convinced theres no one out there for her. She decides to make plans for her future that dont involve a man or anyone.

Zander knew Nate the oldest Montana Trail cousin. A regular at the local watering hole, multiple drunken nights and an affinity for listening earned Zander the rare opportunity to hear about the Trails and the intrepid Hannah. Even in her shyness, the stories of her persistence with regards to searching for Nate impressed Zander. Tales of the large Montana Trails family warmed something inside Zander and he knew Hannah and the family were meant to be his.

He had to take the chance to meet Nates littlest sister. A woman like that...

Would he be able to win her heart?

Or would they continue to live lost ?

Chapter 1

H annah

Life at Bella Acres had changed drastically over the years.

Even in the early morning light, changes across the barn and other outbuildings were easily seen.

Pausing mid-step on her way to the garden, Hannah glanced over her shoulder at the large rancher with its updated exterior, remodeled deck, newly painted trim and shutters. Since Drake and Stefanie had purchased the house, land, and ranch from Nates bankrupt hands, theyd refurbished so many things and returned the house to its former glory and beyond.

None of that could be considered a small feat considering the dilapidated conditions of the home. When Emmas health worsened, the home had fallen into a sickened state. There wasnt much Nate could do since he was gone trying to make money as a ranch hand just to pay the basic necessities.

But now... the home had found a splendor unlike any Hannah could ever remember. When her parents had passed, the home had been warm and welcoming, but still simple in its elegance. Stefanie and Drake had reclaimed many of the pieces Nate had sold to neighbors to keep food on his sisters plates.

Focusing on the past wasnt the best way for Hannah to move on, to grieve.

Hannah sighed, turning back toward her garden. Her garden. Not Emmas anymore. Stefanie wasnt interested in growing things. She loved design and style and riding with the men. Cooking, gardening, and canning were so far out of Stefanies scope of interest Hannah often found herself doubting they were sisters.

Brushing aside a dew-spotted spider web glistening in the early morning light, Hannah enjoyed the quiet of the morning. Her feet rustled across the longer grass she refused to let Drake cut.

Her garden gate was old and rotten in parts. No matter how many times Drake offered to put in a new fence, Hannah wouldnt have it. Her father had built that fence with Lodge Pole pine from the back part of their property before hed had it selectively forested. Hed been so excited to create the garden area for Hannahs mom and there was no way Hannah would let it get torn down. She couldnt lose that part of them.

Living on a ranch, Hannah would have expected to smell evidence of the animals in the barns instead of the fragrant lilac bushes bordering the garden and along the outside of the chicken coop.

The rickety gate creaked as Hannah pushed it open. She pushed her bucket ahead of her through the slight opening. The gate didnt open all the way. Between rusted hinges and an over-grown Lovage plant, the gate wouldnt open enough for more than an effort to squeeze through.

Yet Hannah wouldnt trade it for anything.

Settling the bucket into the groove of her waist just above her hip, Hannah deftly picked at the large red berries. Shed been neglecting them the last couple days and they were going to make her work for it that morning. She glanced down the tall row of sagging raspberry bushes, smiling wryly. Oh, Emma, look at what we made.

Hannah jerked her gaze back to the berries at hand and blinked away tears that seemed to be so close to the surface lately. Shed started the garden with its plentiful berries with Emma as a way to boost their nonexistent income. When Emmas disease had worsened, everything had fallen to Hannah.

After Drake and Stefanie took over and Nate left, Hannah couldve stopped the small business, but it was the only thing which was solely hers. She couldnt let it go. Plus, it tied her to Emma and she needed the connection so much more than she wanted to admit.

From behind her the gate squeaked, announcing the arrival of someone new.

Hannah swiveled to glance behind her and grinned, pausing to watch her brother-in-law, Drake, try to maneuver his large muscular frame through the tiny opening. After extricating himself from all of the clothing snags on various items poking out, Drake glared back at the gate and then turned to Hannah, surprised to find her watching him. He jerked his thumb toward the gate. You really need to let me refurbish that.

You mean tear it down. No, thank you. Her smile remained as she turned back to the berries, picking them as fast as she could and dropping them into the bucket. A solid thunk followed each time a berry fell to the plastic bottom. In seconds, the sound disappeared as the first layer filled and the berries landed on other berries.

Drake crossed the bark-covered ground, his boots making the sounds of whispers as he walked. He stopped at the end of the row, just feet from Hannah, and reached out to pick a handful of berries and pop them in his mouth.

A few moments passed in comfortable silence while Drake watched her. Then he spoke, his congenial tone a testament to their brother-sister relationship. Youve got a lot of work to do out here, squirt. Need any help?