Dear Reader,

This third book in the Sapphire Mountain Cowboys series has been so enjoyable to write. A cowboy who loves and cares about animals is rather special to me. While I was writing this novel, I remembered something that happened to my daughter’s beloved white bichon frise, Beauty.

I was at my daughter’s house making chocolate-chip cookies for my grandchildren. The pan I’d gotten out of the cupboard happened to nudge the bag of chocolate chips off the island counter to the floor on the other side. I hurried around to pick it up, but Beauty had gotten to it first and dragged it to another part of the kitchen to eat the contents before I could reach her. I was horrified and immediately drove her to the vet, whose hospital is at the end of Salt Lake Valley near the Oquirrh Mountains. He had horses in the pasture behind his office and was a cowboy with a lot of charm. Within minutes he’d pumped Beauty’s stomach, saving her! I’ve never been so grateful in my life.

I’m quite sure he’s the person I was thinking of when I decided to write Dr. Roce Clayton’s story. Roce is one of those marvelous Montana Clayton brothers—four heroes who are all adored by the women who come into their lives.

Enjoy!