**Be aware that this is a manXman story so if that bothers you then please don't read! 5th in Breaking Series. There are certain things that make a man a man in late 1870's Texas. Being able to rope, ride and handle cattle to name a few. Shooting from the hip, playing poker and throwing back whiskey never hurt either. Nick could do all those things but none of that would matter if anyone knew the truth about him-if anyone knew his secret. So to protect that secret, Nick keeps to himself as he works on the ranch at Atkinson Spread. He likes his job and the bosses are decent but Nick is lonely. Covered in scars, both of the physical and emotional variety, he longs for one person he can truly be himself around. That one person he can love. Aiden is running. He's been running since his family realized what he was, called him an abomination and cursed him to death. Bakerstown Texas is where his legs and his will to run finally give out. Somehow he finds himself hired on to work at Atkinson spread though he knows nothing about cattle. He has already resigned himself to a life alone but that thought goes out the window when he lays his eyes on a ranch hand named Nick. Even then, Aiden knows he can't have Nick. Nick doesn't seem to suffer from the same condition that Aiden was born with and so there's not a lot Aiden can do about his attraction to the other man. Until a night at the saloon goes a bit too far...... Can these two men be together or will their secret be found out and their disease dealt with the frontier way?

4th in my 'Breaking' series!! Ryder Hampton is wild and crazy. He takes nothing seriously, including love and is convinced that he falls in and out of it nightly with nearly every woman he meets. He winds up in trouble in Bakerstown and that's when he sees Susie Atkinson. Suddenly he knows he's in love and this time it's for real.. But how can he convince the woman of that when she laughs at everything he says, convinced that he's joking with her. How frustrating for a man who is used to flashing his dimples and getting whatever he wants!! Add to that the complication that Brody Atkinson is her brother, the town sherriff and he hates his guts. And of course there is another man sniffing around her skirts and Ryder knows he has a serious problem and Susie Atkinson is the cause of it all!

Hey guys, I originally wrote this story in 2012, and now-13 years later-I'm returning to it with fresh eyes, a bit more life experience, and a full heart. This version is a reimagined take on the original, and while it's still a first draft (with its fair share of rough edges), I'm beyond excited to finally share it with you. To those who have read, are reading, or will someday read this-thank you. Truly. Your support, your votes, your time-it all means a lot. If you have thoughts, feedback, or just want to say hi, I'd love to hear from you. To everyone who's been part of this journey, even silently-thank you for being here. ❤️ - All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means-including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods-without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in reviews or critical articles. Copyright © Originally written in 2012, reimagined in 2025.