Book excerpt: After thirteen years, roving rancher Eli Coulter had finally returned home to the Triple C. He was glad to be back with his brothers; less so to revisit the dark memories that had driven them all away. Intrepid reporter Amanda Blake insisted she meant no harm. Her persistent prying into Eli's past made him edgy, though. Or was it just her closeness that had him unnerved? After working with Eli for several weeks, Amanda had to admit it: she was falling for her research subject. She knew it was foolish to pin any hopes on the gruff bachelor. But as the holidays approached, the sensitive writer couldn't help but dream of her own happy ending with the sexy cowboy….