The Cowboy's Redemption (eBook) PREORDER *AVAIL. 04/01/2026*

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Chapter 1
Dalton hovered on the outside of the festivities. He’d always been on the outside. It didn’t matter if he was a kid or as he’d grown up. His family had simply been better than he ever would. It was hard to pinpoint when he’d finally realized he’d never really fit in with them. Maybe it was when he’d run away at the tender age of sixteen.
Sure, his grandfather and Paige had asked him to come home, but he knew better. He was a stain on their family and it was only proven time and time again during his adolescence.
When he’d gotten the call to come home—after his grandfather had passed—he’d expected to have to answer a million questions about his life. He hadn’t seen his brothers in a near decade, why wouldn’t they drill him for information?
But they hadn’t.
He shifted in his position leaning against the tree. The bark was rough and each movement caused it to scratch up his upper arm. He pushed into the pain, relishing the feel of it, allowing it to bring him to reality.
Dalton blamed the kid.
The boy who ran and played with his niece. Ryan.
He flinched as the name ripped through his skull with a sharp pain. It had been six years since the accident that had ripped another little boy from his life—a little boy who would have been close to Ryan’s age and who shared his name.
They weren’t the same child.
No, the toddler that Dalton had been fond of was dead.
And it was all his fault.
Dalton tore his eyes from the boy, choosing instead to watch the happy couple. Caleb and Sarah were good together. Clearly they’d found something that not many could in their lifetime if not several lifetimes.
He was happy for them. They deserved each other. Dalton had watched as his youngest brother had grown up and realized just how wonderful his life could be as long as he had Sarah in his life.
All of Dalton’s brothers had found that sort of contentment. Each and every one of them had fallen in love with a woman who brought out their strengths. All of them belonged in this magical bubble.
Once again, Dalton was hit with the realization that he would never find something so unconditional. He would never have the sort of love they shared.
One more year.
He’d agreed to stick around until the contract for the ranch was up. Then he’d disappear. It was his final gift to his late grandfather. When the lawyer had told them all that they were required to work the ranch together for five years or forfeit the whole thing, he’d been angry. How could his grandfather ask for something so ridiculous. It bordered on selfish! It was one last way for Robert Stone to control his grandsons.
Unfortunately, Dalton couldn’t shake the feeling that he owed his grandfather this last thing. The man had raised them, after all. And the fact that he’d helped Dalton out more than once even after he’d run away—well, he couldn’t walk away and let the ranch get taken from his brothers when they’d done nothing wrong.
He sighed, dragging a hand down his face as his focus shifted to Ryan’s mother.
Madison sat Sarah’s side, smiling wide and laughing with her. Not a care in the world.
How he longed for an existence where he wasn’t being crushed by the weight of his past. If he could turn back the clocks to that night he’d chosen to leave his family, perhaps he would stick around. Staying with a family where he was the one piece of the puzzle that didn’t fit was far better than the darkness that threatened to overcome him at any given second.
The woman was attractive. Her naturally tanned skin seemed to glow in the sunlight. Dark tresses fell around her face in waves that made her look as though she’d come straight from the beach. She had dark hair and high cheekbones. She was slender but with the right amount of curves to draw the eye.
No.
He wasn’t going to let his thoughts go there.
After Mallory, Dalton had given up on women and relationships. He put as much distance between himself and everyone he could. His brothers were the only people in his life that he was willing to allow get close to him—and even that was a stretch.
Still, his gaze drifted over to the beauty.
Dalton froze. His limbs and spine growing taut as he locked eyes with the woman he’d been admiring. She stared right back, unabashed. What was her problem?
He scowled and she offered him a smile.
Dalton huffed out a silent breath of frustration and tore his focus elsewhere. He wasn’t here to make friends. His attendance of this engagement party was strictly out of obligation. Dalton wouldn’t have been surprised if Luke bit off his head for not being present.
Time ticked slowly by. It had only been five minutes since he’d last checked it. How much longer did he have to be here in order for his brothers to give him a pass? He wasn’t sure but eventually he would slip away.
Glancing at the happy couple again, Dalton pushed away from the tree. Maybe if he gave them a congratulatory statement, he could take off and not have to deal with being in the same presence as the kid.
Two steps from the tree and someone small collided with his legs.
Ryan stopped and stared up at him with wide eyes. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, his head whipping around in search of his mother as if to make sure she hadn’t noticed he just barreled into someone else. Then he turned his wide, brown eyes on Dalton again.
He didn’t look anything like the three-year-old that Dalton had loved. His eyes were brown whereas the toddler sported a pair of bright blues. This Ryan’s dark hair was a stark contrast to Mallory’s kid as well.
And yet Dalton couldn’t get the small child from his mind. He would have been nine if he were still alive. Heck, he might have been running and playing with these children if things had worked out between Dalton and Mallory all those years ago.
A lump stuck in his throat as he remained in the standoff with this kid. Then the boy ducked his head and scurried away.
Then he sensed it. Madison was staring at him.
Dalton glanced her way, finding her looking at him with what could only be described as suspicion. He should march right over there and snap at her—to tell her to watch her kid better. The boy needed to learn some manners.
But he wouldn’t.
This was Sarah’s day and she deserved for it not to be ruined by his sour mood.
With a sigh, he moved across the yard. Caleb wasn’t visiting with Sarah or Madison anymore. He’d gone inside for something. This was Dalton’s chance to congratulate his brother and take off.
He made it to the back porch by the time his brother emerged with a fresh bowl of potato chips. They nearly bumped into one another and Caleb chuckled. “Easy. The last thing I want to do right now is sweep up a mess.”
Dalton glanced over his shoulder at the children still playing. “Are you sure you can’t just blow some whistle and have all the kids come running for their snacks?
Caleb’s brow scrunched then he let out another laugh. “Somehow I don’t think their parents would appreciate that.”
He couldn’t help the way his attention shifted to Madison again. She had to be really young when she’d had Ryan. She couldn’t be much older than he was and that would mean she was a teenager when she got pregnant.
“Earth to Dalton.”
His head snapped around. Dalton stared at his brother expectantly. Had he been saying something?
Caleb smirked, jerking his chin in the direction Dalton had been looking. “She’s nice, don’t you think?”
Dalton rolled his eyes, his defenses coming up faster than ever before. “Pass. I don’t do relationships. Remember? I won that bet.”
Caleb grimaced. “Don’t remind me.” He held out the bowl of chips. “Before I forget, let me get you your winnings.”
Dalton shoved the bowl back at his brother. “I don’t want your money. Just knowing I was right is good enough.” For the first time in a while, Dalton’s smile was genuine. It felt foreign—the way his mouth curled with amusement at his brother’s flat expression.
“Nope. You won fair and square.” He pushed the bowl forward again. “And I always pay my debts.”
Stepping backward, Dalton held up both hands. “I’m not taking anything from you. The two of you have a wedding to pay for and a place to find where you can settle down. I wouldn’t dream of taking money from you. Besides, I get the feeling that Luke wouldn’t approve and it come back to bite me.”
At that, Caleb hesitated. Dalton could see the second his mind was made up and he adjusted the grip he had on the bowl in his arms. He relaxed slightly and Dalton breathed out a sigh as he did the same.
They stood in silence, watching the group of people who had come to celebrate the announcement of Caleb’s engagement. Everyone was so dang happy. They made it look so easy—to find love, start a family—really live their lives. But it wasn’t easy. Dalton knew better. He just couldn’t figure out how everyone else did it.
“I’m glad you guys found each other,” he finally murmured. It was quiet and he wasn’t sure his brother could even hear him, but he had to say it. “You two look real… good together.”
“Thanks,” Caleb nodded. “That means a lot.” He turned to face Dalton head-on. “You knew, didn’t you? Early on? You could tell that I was seeing someone and it was… special.”
Dalton didn’t even bother to toss a look in his brother’s direction, choosing instead to grin as he maintained focus on those in attendance. “I could tell.”
“I knew it.” Caleb muttered. There was a degree of amusement in his voice. “Why didn’t you just out me? Why keep my secret? You were the one who would have benefited.”
Shrugging, Dalton glanced at his brother. “Like I said. I don’t want your money. I would rather you find the person you were meant to be with and at the time, I could tell you weren’t quite sure that was what you wanted.”
Caleb seemed to contemplate his brother’s words. He didn’t respond, all he did was nod. The conversation had gotten too personal. It was making Dalton’s skin itch. This was the most open he’d been with any of them. None of them knew about his past. No one knew about how far he’d fallen and that he’d reached rock bottom years ago.
None of them needed to know. It was better this way. They could go on living their merry lives none the wiser.
“So…” Caleb’s voice burst into Dalton’s thoughts. “Are you going to ask her out, or what?”
Dalton groaned, not bothering to stick around for more of this nonsense. He headed down the steps with the intention of jumping on his bike and driving away—far away. Caleb called out to him again, but he ignored it along with the curious looks he got from everyone else who was sitting around visiting.
If he was lucky, he wouldn’t have to interact with anyone else for the rest of the day.
He made it to the front of the house and to his motorcycle before he heard that quiet voice again.
“Whoa. That’s a real cool motorcycle.”
Dalton froze, his helmet in his hands as he searched for the source. Ryan stood a few feet away, a ball in his hands as he stared at the bike. His eyes darted upward to meet Dalton’s. “Can I touch it?”

(Prequel) The Cowboy's Tattered Heart
1. The Cowboy's Second Chance
2. The Cowboy's Forbidden Love
3. The Cowboy's City Girl
4. The Cowboy's Love Bet
5. The Cowboy's Redemption