Golden Hour

He runs the ranch like an army. She's about to turn his whole world golden.

Deke Ramsey, 44, manages Montana's 12,000-acre Copper Creek Ranch with a schedule, a ledger, and a scowl that sends cowhands running. The last thing he needs is Poppy Lane, 29 - a sunshine-bright Austin photographer documenting "vanishing ranch life" - moving into his line shack, moving his water checks, and moving into his head.

But when Poppy's camera catches something it shouldn't - an illegal diversion headgate draining the creek at Miller's Bend - the grump and the sunshine girl are thrown together in a fight for the valley's water. Corporate developer Nolan Pierce wants Copper Creek's 1911 senior water right, and he'll buy, bully, or bury anyone in his way.

Forced into close quarters through fall roundup and a high-stakes October 28 water-board hearing, Deke and Poppy go from sparring to simmering to full wildfire. She teaches the ex-Army manager to live off-schedule. He teaches her what it means to stay.

Golden Hour is the steamy, heartwarming finale of the Copper Creek Ranch trilogy - grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, small-town stakes, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after under the Montana sky.

Copper Creek Ranch, Volume 3 — a Rusty Kane series. Digital edition (EPUB), delivered instantly after checkout. Adults only (18+).