Prologue

      Delaney Fortune Jones was a romantic at heart. She loved Valentine’s Day as much as she loved weddings. But it took a bit of work to convince herself that the tears she’d shed today, watching four of her siblings get married, were only the joyful kind.

      Of course she was happy for Jude, Liam, Christopher and Stacey. They’d each found the love of their lives, and Delaney had been thrilled and honored to stand up as a bridesmaid while they said their vows. The ceremony had taken place earlier on the beautiful Parthenon-inspired stage that had been built next to the barn on her parents’ ranch. Each couple’s vows had been personal to their relationship, but when the ball of emotion wedged in Delaney’s throat as she listened, there was a wistful edge to it.

      Only she and her brother Galen were single now. Delaney would be the last of Deke and Jeanne Marie’s children still living on the ranch after today. Her world had shifted, and she knew it would never be the same.

      But Delaney was a romantic and an optimist. She believed she’d find true love someday. It was only a matter of time until the right cowboy came along to share the small-town life she treasured. Horseback Hollow, Texas, wasn’t big or fancy, but it was the only home she’d ever need.

      Shaking her head, she took a breath and then a deeper breath. Her parents had transformed the barn for the reception, but underneath the flowers and candles, Delaney could still smell the comforting scent of hay and horses. The barn was