The marrying kind, p.1
The Marrying Kind, page 1
Table of Contents
The Marrying Kind
About the Book
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Acknowledgments
The Marrying Kind
Copyright © 2023 Kendall Ryan
Copy Editing by Pam Berehulke
Formatting by Uplifting Author Services
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes only.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
About the Book
Welcome to Kodiak Canyon, where the men outnumber the women, the beards are impressive, and the beer is home-brewed. You’re invited to sit back and relax, enjoy the wood-burning fire and the company. Friends become family here, and everyone’s willing to pitch in and help when needed.
Ella Westover and Austen Hart are about as different as they can be. After losing her parents in a tragic accident, Ella is determined to live her life to the fullest, and so she sets off on an adventure, complete with a hand-written bucket list tucked safely in the worn pages of her journal. Her first stop? Kodiak Canyon, elevation nine thousand feet, population just over six hundred. The views are breathtaking, the mountain air is sweet, and the pace is slow . . . it’s everything she’s dreamed of.
Austen is a real-life mountain man. A local with a knack for surviving in the toughest of climates, he’s got everything a man could need . . . almost. The only thing he doesn’t have is a wife, a pretty maiden to warm his bed at night, someone to share his homestead with. Kodiak Canyon has a lot to offer, but female companionship isn’t one of them. He isn’t about to let the beautiful and strong-willed Ella get away so easily.
Ella might take him up on his room to rent, but she’ll never be someone’s wife. She’s got a plan. A life to live.
But as she starts ticking off items on her bucket list . . . one that she never imagined starts to take center stage.
Fall in love.
1
* * *
HOMELESS, PARTY OF ONE
Ella
“I don’t understand.”
I stood in the parking lot of the apartment building and glared at my real estate agent—a woman named Samantha I’d hired over the internet. I’d driven straight to her office upon arriving in town, just as we’d agreed. She seemed nervous as she shuffled me out of the office and on the chilly walk over here, just a few blocks down Main Street.
“I’m sorry,” she said slowly, choosing her words carefully. “I didn’t know how to tell you. You seemed so set on coming here . . .”
“You didn’t know how to tell me? How about with words? Four of them, in fact. The inn burned down. It’s really quite simple.”
Dread settled in the pit of my stomach as I looked at what used to be the most luxurious accommodations Kodiak Canyon had to offer. Granted, I know that’s not saying much for a town with a population of barely six hundred. These days, it had been turned into rental apartments and was the only place in town that was available for rent. And this was supposed to be my home for the next few weeks.
The three-story historic building was blackened and crumbling on one side. The turreted tower that had looked so charming in all the online photos was lopsided and caved in.
“I’m sorry,” Samantha said again, giving me a sincere look.
“I torpedoed my entire life to get here. I gave up my lease for this.”
She didn’t need to know that I was between jobs and had nothing of a romantic life to speak of.
“I’m going to get this all straightened out.” Samantha offered me a weak smile, but I had zero confidence in her at this point.
I had literally just begun my big adventure, and my plans were already crumbling.
“There’s a little bar at the end of this block,” she said. “Unless you’re opposed to this idea. Why don’t you go get yourself something to eat, and I’m going to go back to my office and brainstorm. I’ll call you in one hour.”
I glanced in the direction she had pointed. In the distance, there was a two-story brick building that had a painted sign out front—Velma’s Tavern. “You’ll call me in one hour?”
She nodded, smiling again.
“Okay,” I said, on a deep sigh, surrendering. After all, I had little choice.
Turning for the end of the street, I tried to focus on the positives.
The town was every bit as charming as I’d imagined it would be with a single stop sign, quaint little shops lining the main street, and huge, towering pine trees and mounds of fluffy snow. It was like being inside a snow globe, or on the set of a Christmas movie.
Inside Velma’s Tavern, I found an open stool at the bar. There were only a few other patrons, and country music played low in the background. I wouldn’t have thought country music would be popular in Colorado—we were quite far from the South—until I remembered that this area was originally home to ranchers and real, authentic cowboys.
The bar was a single slab of hewn pine, the lighting was dark and moody, and the bartender was prompt. In under a minute, I had a glass of red wine sitting in front of me. But it did little to improve my mood. I was feeling a little hopeless at the moment, and a little homeless.
“Can I get you anything else?” the perky bartender asked, stopping in front of me. Her blond hair was cut in an angled bob, and she had a full sleeve of tattoos on one arm. Her nametag read CJ.
I glanced at my phone. It had only been about fifteen minutes since Samantha had told me to give her an hour. But could she really come up with someplace else for me to stay? I knew how limited the options were here. I’d chosen this town specifically because of how isolated and remote it was.
“Is there a hotel nearby, by chance?”
CJ’s eyebrows shot up. “In Kodiak Canyon? No.” When I frowned, she asked, “I take it you need someplace to stay?”
I swirled the wine in my glass and released a long exhale. She didn’t know the half of it. Something in my expression must have told her, though, because CJ gave me a small, sad smile.
“I might know someone who can help you. See that guy at the end of the bar?”
My gaze drifted to my left, and I took in the two men seated together at the far end of the bar. They appeared to be deep in conversation, ignoring the pint glasses of dark beer in front of them.
“The cute one,” CJ said to clarify.
The cute one was tall with broad shoulders and a five o’clock shadow. He was wearing a gray flannel shirt and had on a baseball cap turned backward.
“He and his family own a bunch of cabins up on the mountain. Rental cabins,” CJ said helpfully.
My gaze returned to hers as hope lifted in my chest.
A cozy cabin in the woods all to myself? My Hallmark-movie Christmas might still be within reach. I’d learned to deal with disappointment, but that didn’t mean this kernel of hope wasn’t welcome.
“But . . .” CJ frowned. “I don’t know if they’re open yet. Last I heard, they were still building them. It’s worth a shot, though. I could introduce you. It would be better than sleeping in your car.”
I checked my phone. Nothing from Samantha. “That’s okay. I’m hoping to have things figured out in another half hour or so.”
CJ nodded. “Can I get you anything else then? Something to eat? The brisket sandwich isn’t half bad.”
I shook my head. If Samantha didn’t come through and the rental cabin didn’t pan out, then what? Maybe I’d get a tent and camp.
I must have said this part out loud because CJ made an uncertain sound.
“You could. But you’ve got to be safe when you’re camping in bear country. Take some extra precautions.”
My fingers tightened around the stem of my wineglass. “Like what?”
“Well, for starters, it’s cold this time of year. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t still predators out looking for a meal. Mountain lions are another thing to watch out for.”
I’d wanted an adventure, but bears and mountain lions? That was a hard pass.
My gaze returned warily to the cute stranger at the end of the bar.
2
* * *
STRANGER IN TOWN
Austen
“I’m not kidding,” I said.
Tripp scoffed. “Did you fall down and hit your head?”
He placed the back of his hand against my forehead as if he were checking for a fever before I pushed it away.
“Don’t be an ass. I didn’t say I had it all figured out yet. I’m just saying it’s time I thought about settling down. My brothers have found wives. You’re married now. It’s time. I need a good woman.”
He shook his head. “N ever thought I’d see the day Austen Hart was telling me he was ready to call it quits and find himself an honest to goodness wife.”
I took another sip of my beer and ignored the pointed and somewhat confused expression my friend was directing my way. I was pushing thirty. Was it so crazy that I’d eventually want to settle down?
Tripp scoffed. “What are you going to do, marry the next single woman you see?”
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
I hadn’t figured he would give me a hard time. I thought if anyone understood this . . . this sudden desire for female companionship I had, it would be Tripp. The guy was happily married to his college sweetheart. They were stupid happy and perfect for each other. Sure, I might have given him the impression over the last dozen years or so that I had no interest in being tied down to the same woman, but people can change.
Can’t they?
Tripp scratched at the back of his neck like he was deep in thought. “In case you hadn’t noticed, there’s a terrible male-to-female ratio in this town.”
He wasn’t wrong. Kodiak Canyon had a lot to offer, but female companionship wasn’t one of them.
I’d lived in Kodiak Canyon my whole life, and there was no place better, as far as I was concerned. My family and I had figured out a way to make mountain living work for us.
My younger brother, Noah, and I had started a brewery a few years ago, and Kodiak Canyon Ale was now a regional favorite. Nationwide distribution was next on our agenda. We were making a decent living selling our beer and had even won a couple of awards. It was a labor of love, for sure. I loved living here, and despite the lack of available single women in this town, I wasn’t going anywhere. My family was here. My business was here.
“The right one will turn up,” was all I said.
“That’ll be a damn Christmas miracle.” Tripp chuckled under his breath.
Just then, something captured my attention at the other end of the bar. A very pretty woman was perched on a bar stool—an attractive out-of-towner with no wedding ring on her finger. Not that I could see from here, anyway, as she swirled the ruby-colored wine in her glass.
Long dark hair. Pale skin. Blue eyes. Feminine build. A festive sweater and jeans. She wore thick bright pink socks with her snow boots. Damn, she was cute.
Tripp elbowed me in the ribs once he spotted her.
“Hush,” was all I said as I rose from my seat.
“You just gonna leave me here?” he said with a chuckle.
I threw down a couple of bills, more than enough to cover both our beers. “Absolutely, I’m going to leave you here.”
A new woman in town? A new, gorgeous woman in town? Was this seriously a question? What did he expect?
“Crazy bastard,” I heard him mutter under his breath as I set off for the other end of the bar.
The woman was chatting with CJ, which might be a problem. CJ wasn’t my biggest fan . . . for reasons. But let’s hope in the span of time in which CJ had served her a single glass of wine that she hadn’t spoiled this for me.
“Austen . . .” CJ looked up at me and grinned, drawing out my name once I got close. “Speak of the devil.”
3
* * *
WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU MUSTARD
Ella
“Maybe this is karma,” I muttered.
CJ lifted one eyebrow. “How do you figure?”
“It’s too long of a story to get into now. But, yeah, me finding myself homeless right now is a message from the universe.”
“You really believe that?”
Since I wasn’t sure what else to say, I grabbed my glass and drained the last sip of wine.
“Another?” she asked.
I shook my head. “I’d better not.”
There was still nothing from Samantha, but I wasn’t going to wait around any longer. I decided I was going to march myself down to her office and demand some answers. Or maybe just find a way out of this town and admit defeat.
“Austen,” CJ said as I picked up my purse. “Speak of the devil.”
I placed some bills on the bar and then rose to leave. Lack of sleep, stress, and maybe the wine had caught up with me in a big hurry. I swayed on my feet. Or maybe it was the mess of my current situation making my head spin.
“I’ve got you,” a deep male voice murmured near my ear.
As I stumbled, a solid male body collided with mine, and two firm hands righted me before I had a chance to fall over.
“You okay?” he asked, his deep voice rumbling out the words.
When my gaze lifted to his—he was quite a bit taller than me—I realized this was the cute guy from the end of the bar.
Wow. He was even better looking up close. And he smelled really good. Like pine needles and soap. I wanted to lean in and sniff him, but thankfully, I resisted.
“You’re new here,” he said.
I nodded and gave him a weird little wave, like I suddenly had no idea what to do with my hands. Fantastic. “I’m Ella.”
“Austen Hart. It’s nice to meet you.”
CJ cleared her throat. “She’s looking for a place to stay. Are any of those cabins ready yet?”
Austen’s dark eyebrows rose, and he adjusted the ball cap on his head. “Not yet. They’re close, but none of them are ready to be inhabited. No running water or anything.”
While he and CJ spoke, it gave me a moment to really take him in. He was more than cute. He towered over me at well over six feet, and his shoulders were broad and muscular. He had a five o’clock shadow dusting his jaw, and bright, intelligent eyes. He looked . . . normal. Kind, even. And he’d kept me from falling on my ass.
“How long were you planning to stay?” Austen asked.
It took me a second to realize those words were meant for me.
“Just a few weeks.”
Enough time to explore. Not so much time that I’d get bored. Or attached to anyone. He didn’t need to know any more than that.
“You don’t have anywhere to be over Christmas?”
I guessed he was realizing that Christmas was only nine days away, because those dark brows were pushing together again as he studied me.
“No.” I didn’t elaborate.
“No family?” He sounded genuinely perplexed.
I shook my head, not ready to get into the entire saga right now with a virtual stranger.
CJ was also totally still listening to us, even though she pretended to be wiping down glasses at the drink station.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and relief flooded through me. Samantha.
“Excuse me for just a minute,” I said to him.
He nodded for me to go ahead and gave me some space while I paced in front of the bar, listening while Samantha apologized again and again, confirming what I already suspected. There were no other rooms for rent in town, especially not this close to the holidays.
I placed my phone back in my pocket and drew in a fortifying breath.
CJ gave me a hopeful look. “Well?”
Austen seemed to wait for my answer too.
“I guess I will stay for dinner, after all. The brisket sandwich is good, I think you said?”
She smiled at me. “I didn’t say it was good. I said it wasn’t half bad.”
Austen nodded in agreement. “She’s not lying.”
“Okay, well.” I shrugged. “One brisket sandwich. A side of fries with mustard, please, and an iced tea.”
CJ shot me a curious look.
“What?” I asked.
She lifted one shoulder. “Austen is the only person I know who dips their fries in mustard.” She suppressed a full-body shudder.
Austen smiled at me, and my stomach did a weird little flip.
“Two for dinner, CJ.” Austen’s gaze cut over to mine. “If you don’t mind me joining you, that is.”
I shrugged. “I don’t mind.”
It was a free country, after all. And this was his town, his local bar—not mine. Plus, these people were trying to help me. My grumpiness shouldn’t be directed at them.
“I’ll have what she’s having.”
Over brisket sandwiches and fries dipped in yellow mustard, Austen peppered me with questions.
“So, what brought you to Kodiak Canyon?” He wiped his mouth with a napkin before placing it back across his lap.
