Page 1 of A Montana Fake Marriage (Sagebrush Ranch Sweethearts #1)

CHAPTER ONE

Sunlight shone through the newly budded trees that lined the paths on campus. Tulips bloomed in the flowerbeds surrounding Caleb as he leaned against the brick wall sign reading Auburn University . His cowboy boots were crossed at the ankle, his head dipped as he stared at the numbers on his phone.

Just as he’d expected, the market had skyrocketed. He’d made nearly ten times what he’d invested. His heart thrummed with excitement at seeing those numbers. It was more money than he’d ever thought he’d see in his lifetime. As soon as he hit five-hundred-thousand dollars, he was going to pull out.

That had been his goal.

His cousins at the ranch had always made fun of him for being a little nerdy.

Bo especially gave him big trouble for liking math and science in school.

His stock portfolio said they should have followed his lead.

His degree in agriculture science had been a ton of hard work, but so worth it.

He’d have his dream job at the ranch when he went home after college.

Being so far from home had been difficult at times.

He wasn’t able to just take aa quick drive home on the weekends.

Alabama to Montana was a major trip. But Auburn had been the perfect school for him and he loved it there.

But Sagebrush Ranch was home for him and he’d never love any place more than home.

“Whatcha got there?” Sammie peered over his phone, her long, blonde hair slipping from her shoulders.

With a click of the button on the side, Caleb shut off the screen. The family he grew up in didn’t talk about money. It was one of those taboo subjects. No gloating if things were going well, no complaining if things were a bit tight.

Caleb slipped the phone into his back pocket and grinned at her. “Nothin’.”

Her blue eyes glittered with amusement, and she placed a hand on her hip.

She was a walking, talking billboard for the university with her hair tied in ribbons—blue and orange, to be specific.

Even her white Converse shoes had the mixed matched laces.

Today was game day. She snatched his Stetson from his head and placed it on her head.

“Fine, don’t tell me. But if you’re scoping out girls on that dating app, I get veto power. ”

He snorted, retrieving his hat and returning it to his own head. “I never agreed to that.” Once upon a time, he’d thought about asking her out. Sarah Ann Michaels was the kind of girl a guy brought home to meet his parents. She was bright and bubbly—and beautiful.

Unfortunately, when they first met, she had been dating someone. Then he’d been unavailable. Their timelines never really lined up. Eventually, they realized they were really good friends. Caleb threw his arm around her shoulders. “You said to meet you thirty minutes ago, Sammie.”

She rolled her eyes at his nickname for her, but he didn’t miss the slight curve of her lips. She loved it. The nickname was something shared just between them. Caleb poked her in the ribs, and she jumped, a squeal slipping from her lips. “Hey!”

“Hey is right! I could have gone to get coffee with how long I waited for you.”

She grimaced. “Sorry!” The word sounded more like a laugh. “I got held up.” Sammie bit her lips and gave him a look he knew all too well. “Josh asked me out.” Another squeal, but this time, it was stifled.

“Josh? The football player in your English lit class?” His brows rose. It wasn’t until last year that Sammie got really interested in the game. And now she didn’t miss a single one. He had a feeling it had to do with a certain football player.

Sammie nodded, bouncing on her toes. “Can you believe it?”

He tightened his arm around her shoulders in a squeeze. “Congrats.”

This time, she elbowed him in the side. “What about you? Any girls on that app of yours?”

He shrugged. This past year, he hadn’t really been interested in dating much—too caught up with his options trading and finishing his degree. He had his whole future planned out. Right now, a girl didn’t fit in that plan. “No one is as good as you,” he teased.

She snickered. Thiers was the kind of friendship that made others jealous. Neither one of them were interested in the other —less drama that way. She could vent to him about the guys she dated and also tell him if the girls he liked were worth his time.

Spending time with Sammie was just really fun. She could make him laugh. And her smile could brighten any room. One day, she’d make a lucky guy very happy.

They strolled down the sidewalk toward the cafeteria, walking beneath the trees with budding leaves that barely shut out the sun on the path before them. The sweet scent of blossoms would cling to them far into the afternoon.

“Are you going to the A-day game tomorrow? Josh says he’s been working hard to have a good spring exhibition game. Coaches are paying attention to everything even though it’s really just a fun day for students.”

“Didn’t Josh start this year?” Their junior year would be wrapping up in a few weeks, and then he’d be off to Rocky Ridge to work for his family for the last summer before he took on full-time responsibilities at Sagebrush Ranch. The clock was ticking—for all of them.

She nodded. “He did, but he doesn’t want to lose his spot. So, you wanna go with me?”

He lifted a brow. “You think Josh will appreciate you showing up with another guy?”

Sammie laughed and shoved him hard enough, he moved a few steps from her. “I don’t think a single person on this campus believes we’re anything more than just friends. We’ve been best friends since freshmen year.”

He chuckled along with her and held up his hands in surrender. “I just don’t want to get jumped.”

She eyed him, her gaze sweeping over him from top to bottom. “I think you could handle yourself. I don’t know why you never went out for the team, you’re fit enough.”

“I’d rather not get a concussion.”

They entered the cafeteria and together got their food.

She was probably right. Somehow, most of the people in their social circle and some outside of it knew just how close they were and just how unromantic the relationship was.

Sitting across from her at a table while they ate, he smiled.

He couldn’t ask for a better friend. If he’d ever needed anything, she was there—she’d drop everything to be there for him. And he’d do the same.

Beside him, Sammie screamed. She jumped up out of her seat, her hands to her mouth. “Go, Josh!”

Caleb smirked at the energy she put into the games. Southern girl through and through. He’d loved her accent from the first moment she spoke. It made him feel comforted and like they’d been friends even before they met, which was ironic due to their differing backgrounds.

A girl with a trust fund and access to anything she could ever dream up, and a cowboy who was raised to understand how valuable a good coupon could be.

She was definitely spoiled, but she didn’t rub it in anyone’s face.

The only thing that showcased just how different she was was in her lack of budgeting.

Anytime they went out, all she had to do was pull out Daddy’s credit card.

She turned her bright smile to him. One day soon, she’d go off and marry some rich dude, and he’d go back to Montana to help his family. He’d miss her.

Sammie dropped down on the bleachers with him and bumped her shoulder into his. “Thanks for coming with me. My roommates think I’m just boy crazy.”

Caleb chuckled. “I would tend to agree.”

She gasped. “How dare you?”

He laughed again and turned his attention to the game.

Football was okay. He’d been to his share of nailbiters, but it wasn’t where his heart was.

Real entertainment came from watching a guy riding a bull and holding on for dear life.

It came in the form of seeing how fast a cowboy could wrangle the calf.

There were events that were more dangerous and more exhilarating than football, in his humble opinion.

He was careful not to say this too loud in the south.

Football was in just about everyone’s blood down here.

He had to admit he liked their dedication to their college sports.

Sammie startled and pulled her phone from her pocket. She plugged one ear, and her brows pinched. “Hello? Dad?”

Caleb glanced over her at the exact moment the color fled from her face. The phone slipped from her hands and clattered to their feet. He scooped it up, but when he turned to face her, his heart stopped.

Her lips trembled, and she stared at nothing.

He lifted the phone to his ear, barely able to hear the voice on the other end.

“Sarah Ann? Sarah Ann, are you there?”

“Hello?”

“Hello? Who is this?” Sammie’s father demanded. “Where’s Sarah Ann?”

Caleb’s eyes cut to his best friend, and that sinking feeling inside him grew heavy. “She’s here. I don’t know if she can talk right now.”

Her father let out a curse. “Will you tell her she needs to call me back? We have to make plans for the funeral.”

“The…” Caleb’s eyes narrowed, and his throat went dry. “The funeral?”

Sammie’s father sighed, impatience and sadness lacing his tone. “Her mother just passed away. Look, I’m at the hospital right now. I can’t deal with this. Just tell her to call me back so she can get the details.”

The ringing in Caleb’s ears made it impossible to hear the rest of what he had to say. Sammie had never been close to her father. She didn’t mention much about him besides that she never lived up to his expectations. She adored her mother, though. And now her mother was gone.

Caleb registered the sound of the phone call ending, and he shoved the phone into his pocket with shaking hands. “Sammie?” he whispered.

Her eyes cut to his, red. Tears streamed down her face.

“Do you want me to take you home?”

She didn’t answer. Her body looked limp, like she wouldn’t be able to get to her feet even if she wanted to.