PART 1: THE MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR IN MONTANA HAS FOUR LEGS

Jake Turner had survived three stampedes, two broken ribs, and one disastrous engagement. But nothing in his thirty-five years had prepared him for the humiliation of discovering that his horse had a better love life than he did.

It started on a perfectly ordinary Tuesday morning in the little Montana town of Willow Creek.

Jake walked to his mailbox, expecting the usual collection of bills, advertisements, and threatening reminders from the feed store.

Instead, he found thirty-seven pink envelopes.

Every single one was addressed to the same individual.

Mr. Romeo Turner, Handsomest Gentleman in Willow Creek, Turner Ranch, Montana.

Jake stared at the envelopes.

“What in God’s green pasture is this?”

He opened the first letter.

Dear Romeo, your beautiful brown eyes have haunted my dreams since I first saw your photograph. I hope someday to run my fingers through your magnificent hair.

Jake slowly lowered the paper.

“Magnificent hair?”

He looked toward the barn, where his chestnut stallion, Romeo, was enthusiastically scratching his backside against a fence post.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

The second envelope contained a photograph of a smiling woman holding a bouquet of roses.

The third contained a poem.

Oh Romeo, with your flowing mane, my lonely heart you shall obtain.

Jake read it twice.

“My lonely heart you shall obtain? Who writes this nonsense?”

He opened another.

Dear Romeo, I’m a sixty-eight-year-old widow from Billings. I’ve never believed in love at first sight until I saw you. My late husband Harold would have understood.

Jake nearly choked on his coffee.

“Harold would have understood WHAT?”

By the time he finished reading the letters, he had discovered that Romeo had admirers in five Montana counties, three marriage proposals, and an invitation to attend a women’s garden club luncheon.

Jake, meanwhile, had received exactly one piece of mail addressed to himself.

It was a past-due bill for horse feed.

“Unbelievable.”

He marched into the barn carrying the stack of envelopes.

Romeo lifted his handsome head, his reddish-brown coat shining in the morning sun. A white blaze ran down his face, and his thick black mane fell beautifully over his neck.

Jake pointed an accusing finger at him.

“Listen here, you overgrown hay vacuum. I’ve been looking for a respectable woman for six years. SIX YEARS. And somehow you’ve got thirty-seven women writing you poetry?”

Romeo blinked.

“Don’t you blink at me. You don’t even know how to read.”

The horse snorted and stole Jake’s hat.

“And you’ve got terrible manners!”

At that exact moment, a familiar voice shouted from outside.

“JAKE! YOUR BOYFRIEND’S FAMOUS!”

It was his neighbor, Hank Miller, laughing so hard he could barely stay on his horse.

“What are you talking about?” Jake demanded.

Hank threw a newspaper at him.

“Page three, Romeo. Page THREE!”

Jake unfolded the Willow Creek Gazette.

There, taking up nearly half a page, was a beautiful photograph of Romeo standing proudly in a wildflower meadow.

The headline read:

“MEET ROMEO: MONTANA’S MOST HANDSOME BACHELOR IS SINGLE, LOYAL, AND NEVER FORGETS AN ANNIVERSARY.”

Below it was an article written by a woman named Emily Parker.

While the men of Willow Creek continue struggling with basic manners, one distinguished gentleman has captured the hearts of local women. His name is Romeo. He has gorgeous hair, soulful eyes, excellent posture, and no known history of leaving dirty socks on the bedroom floor.

Jake’s jaw dropped.

“That woman interviewed my HORSE?”

Hank nodded, grinning.

“And apparently he gave better answers than you did at the county dance last year.”

“I gave perfectly fine answers!”

“Jake, a woman asked you what your hobbies were, and you said repairing fences.”

“It’s an honest hobby!”

“Then she asked what made you happy, and you said when fences stayed repaired.”

Jake folded the newspaper violently.

“Get off my property.”

Hank laughed even harder.

“There’s more. The ladies at the diner are calling Romeo the perfect man.”

“He’s not a man!”

“Well, that’s probably why they like him.”

By noon, Jake had ridden into town demanding an explanation.

Unfortunately, his arrival only made things worse.

The moment Romeo stepped onto Main Street, three women rushed out of the bakery.

“OH, LOOK! IT’S ROMEO!”

“He’s even more handsome in person!”

“Can I touch his hair?”

Jake straightened proudly in the saddle.

“Well, ladies, I suppose there’s enough charm here for everybody.”

One woman looked up at him.

“Would you mind stepping aside? You’re blocking our photograph.”

Jake’s smile disappeared.

For the next fifteen minutes, he stood beside a water trough while six women took turns posing with his horse.

One even asked him to hold her purse.

“I’m not a coat rack,” Jake muttered.

“You’re doing wonderful, dear,” she replied without looking at him.

Things became unbearable when the mayor’s wife arrived carrying a basket of homemade apple treats.

“These are for Romeo,” she explained.

Jake’s eyes widened.

“Mrs. Henderson, I’ve helped repair your roof twice. You never brought me apple treats.”

She patted his shoulder.

“Well, Jake, Romeo doesn’t complain nearly as much.”

That was the moment Jake decided he’d had enough.

He tied Romeo outside the newspaper office and stormed inside.

“I want to speak to whoever wrote that ridiculous article!”

From behind a cluttered desk, a young woman looked up.

She had chestnut hair pinned loosely behind her head, bright green eyes, and the dangerously amused expression of someone who had just discovered her next story.

“That would be me,” she said. “Emily Parker.”

Jake planted the newspaper on her desk.

“You made my horse famous.”

“You’re welcome.”

“That wasn’t a thank-you.”

“Oh. Then you’re doing gratitude incorrectly.”

Jake stared at her.

Emily smiled sweetly.

“Is something wrong with Romeo’s sudden popularity?”

“Something wrong? He’s getting love letters!”

“How lovely.”

“Thirty-seven of them!”

“Thirty-seven? Goodness. I only expected twelve.”

“And three marriage proposals!”

Emily leaned forward, suddenly interested.

“Really? Has he accepted any?”

“HE’S A HORSE!”

“I’ll put him down as undecided.”

She reached for a notebook.

Jake snatched it away.

“You’re not writing another word about my horse!”

Emily folded her arms.

“Mr. Turner, are you jealous?”

“Of a HORSE?”

“That’s what I’m asking.”

“Absolutely not!”

“Then why are you turning red?”

“Because your office is hot!”

“It’s November.”

“Then open a window!”

Emily burst into laughter.

Jake hated how much he liked the sound.

For one ridiculous second, he forgot why he’d come.

Then Emily picked up her pen.

“You know, this might make an even better article.”

Jake narrowed his eyes.

“What might?”

She smiled.

“Local cowboy loses romantic competition to his own horse.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“Perhaps with a photograph of you holding Romeo’s fan mail.”

“Miss Parker, I’m warning you.”

“Oh, and we should mention that you’re both single.”

“EMILY!”

She laughed again.

And somehow, despite his irritation, Jake found himself smiling.

That evening, back at the ranch, Jake sat at his kitchen table counting the money he’d spent keeping Romeo fed over the years.

Hay. Oats. Veterinary bills. Horseshoes.

Thousands of dollars.

And the ungrateful beast was now receiving free apples and love poems.

Then Jake looked at the newspaper again.

He noticed something he hadn’t considered before.

Women were traveling from other towns just to see Romeo.

They were taking photographs.

They were bringing gifts.

And they were willing to stand in line.

Jake slowly sat up straighter.

“Well, I’ll be…”

The next morning, he nailed a freshly painted sign beside the ranch gate.

“MEET MONTANA’S MOST HANDSOME HORSE! PHOTOGRAPHS WITH ROMEO — $5. APPLE TREATS INCLUDED. OWNER ALSO SINGLE.”

By nine o’clock, twelve women were waiting outside.

By ten, there were twenty-three.

By noon, Jake had earned more money than he’d made selling cattle the previous week.

He was just beginning to celebrate when Emily Parker arrived carrying her camera.

She examined the sign.

“Owner also single?”

Jake cleared his throat.

“Just providing useful information.”

“And how many women have asked about the owner?”

Jake looked away.

“That’s confidential business information.”

Emily laughed.

Then her expression changed.

“Jake, there’s something I haven’t told you.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“What? Romeo’s running for mayor?”

“No.”

She reached into her bag and pulled out an official-looking envelope.

“A representative from the Montana State Fair read my article. They want Romeo as the main attraction at next month’s event.”

Jake nearly dropped his coffee.

“THE STATE FAIR?”

Emily nodded.

“And there’s a five-thousand-dollar appearance fee.”

Jake stared at Romeo, who was casually eating a wooden fence rail.

Five thousand dollars.

For standing around and looking handsome.

It was more money than Jake had ever earned for doing absolutely nothing.

But before he could celebrate, Emily continued.

“There’s one little condition.”

“What condition?”

She unfolded the letter.

“The organizers want Romeo to participate in their annual charity bachelor auction.”

Jake blinked.

“A bachelor auction?”

“Yes. People bid on a dinner date with the town’s most eligible bachelors.”

“But Romeo can’t go on a dinner date!”

“Actually, they’ve arranged a beautiful outdoor picnic.”

Jake covered his face with both hands.

Emily wasn’t finished.

“And because you’re Romeo’s legal owner, they’ve entered you in the auction too.”

Jake slowly lowered his hands.

“Excuse me?”

Emily smiled.

“Congratulations, Mr. Turner. Next month, you and your horse will be competing to see who receives the highest romantic bid.”

For a long moment, Jake said nothing.

Then he looked at Romeo.

The horse looked back, chewing contentedly.

“I’m going to lose,” Jake whispered.

Emily tried not to laugh.

And then she delivered the final blow.

“Oh, Jake? One more thing.”

“WHAT NOW?”

“The auction committee has already received seventeen advance bids for Romeo.”

Jake swallowed.

“And for me?”

Emily hesitated.

“Well…”

His stomach sank.

“Emily. How many?”

She looked directly into his eyes.

“One.”

Jake’s heart gave an unexpected little jump.

“One? Who?”

Emily tucked the envelope back into her bag.

“That’s the interesting part.”

She leaned closer.

“The woman who placed that bid knows something about you that even your closest friends don’t.”

And for the first time since Romeo became famous, Jake Turner forgot all about his horse.