Callum's Love [Men of Crazy Angle Ranch: 5] Read online

  The Men of the Crazy Angle Ranch 5

  Callum’s Love

  Ryan Timmons has lost every job and relationship because of his klutziness. He reached a new low when his father had to call in a favor for him to work at the Crazy Angle Ranch.

  Callum Leeman refuses to be topped from the bottom and breaks up with his boyfriend. Within five minutes of meeting Ryan, the man manages to trash two rooms, yet Callum is intrigued.

  A dying horse is dumped on Crazy Angle land and veterinarian Callum is shocked by what its injuries imply. When Callum’s fears are confirmed, it is Ryan’s ingenuity that saves the day and many horses.

  This story includes saving a man’s life, the conclusion of a woman we all love to hate, and Callum’s ex-boyfriend, whose words of acid have a devastated Ryan walking away from love. Never fear, fathers are here to save the day.

  Genre: Alternative (M/M, Gay), Contemporary, Western/Cowboys

  Length: 25,507 words

  CALLUM’S LOVE

  The Men of the Crazy Angle Ranch 5

  Bellann Summer

  EVERLASTING CLASSIC

  MANLOVE

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Everlasting Classic ManLove

  CALLUM’S LOVE

  Copyright © 2015 by Bellann Summer

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-63259-217-0

  First E-book Publication: April 2015

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2015 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Callum’s Love by Bellann Summer from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

  This is Bellann Summer’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Bellann Summer’s right to earn a living from her work.

  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  This book is for those who demanded Callum’s story every time I turned around. I hope you enjoy it.

  This story is also in remembrance of my little dog, Maggie Mae, who we lost in December.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  CALLUM’S LOVE

  The Men of the Crazy Angle Ranch 5

  BELLANN SUMMER

  Copyright © 2015

  Chapter One

  “I’m sorry, but we have to let you go.”

  That was the story of Ryan Timmons’s life. He just got settled in a job, in a relationship, in an apartment, and they had to let him go. This time was just a different version of the same story. Okay, he might have dropped the new ink cartridge he was about to put into the copy machine on the tiled floor of the copy room. Yes, the powdered ink inside had exploded on impact, covering everything, including the hallway carpet running next to the doorway.

  In his defense, he had made a valiant attempt to clean it up. He’d found the bucket and mop in the janitor’s closet and filled it with hot water. Soon the mop, water, and Ryan were black, dye staining the whole room. Then he took a rag and tried washing everything off. That hadn’t worked either. The dye not only stained, but it made a sort of paste and kept sticking to everything, coating the walls, floors, machinery, and just about anything else it touched. Of course, that was when the boss walked in.

  Now Ryan stood in front of the boss’s desk, she wouldn’t let him and his stained clothes sit on any of the chairs, and wondered what he was going to do.

  “Ryan, I tried to be understanding when you bumped Shelly’s glass of water, frying her keyboard and shorting out her computer. We all felt bad when you caught your tie in the postage machine, and I had to call maintenance to free you before you choked to death. But I’m not even sure how to clean up the mess you’ve just made in the copy room. I’m sorry, but your time here is finished. Pack your stuff and leave.” Ryan could see there was no swaying her opinion, even if he started begging, so he stood up and left. He decided he was glad he hadn’t pointed out that she had a mark of black ink on the end of her nose. He was also glad she hadn’t brought up the gum incident. His coworker Jane refused to talk to him since the boss had to cut chewing gum out of his and her hair.

  Packing up his personal belongings from his assigned cubicle didn’t take long. He had only been with the accounting firm for about two months. Ryan learned long ago never to bring anything personal to a job. They never lasted long.

  Things went pretty smoothly as he packed. He only knocked over his soda can once and spilled just a little. Five, six tissues took care of it. Then he carried his little box to his car parked under a huge shade tree and went home, ignoring the sticky needles that now coated the hood, roof, and trunk.

  Walking into the tiny two-bedroom apartment, Ryan saw his roommate Eddie sitting on the worn-out brown couch in front of the television, busy playing a video game.

  “Hey, you’re home early,” Eddie said, greeting him. His eyes widened when he looked closer at Ryan standing there, holding his little cardboard box. “Oh no, you lost another one. What is that all over you? Crap, Ryan, I don’t know how to get ink stains off of s
kin and clothes.”

  Eddie reached for his laptop sitting on the couch next to him. A few clicks and the Google symbol appeared on the screen.

  Hours later a much cleaner Ryan sat on the old tan rocker-recliner staring at the wall above the television. No matter how hard he tried to figure out what happened or what he was going to do from now on, he kept hitting a brick wall. Because of his clumsiness his prospects for a job in the near future were pretty much nil.

  Hands closed around his shoulders and shook him. Ryan turned his head and came face to face with Eddie. “Ryan, dude, you have to snap out of it. You haven’t moved in over two hours. I made you a sandwich. Come to the kitchen and eat. I’m worried. Please don’t make me bother your dad.”

  Ryan had nothing to say and turned back to look at the wall above the television. If he tried hard enough he was sure he could solve the puzzle that was taking up all the space in his brain. Finally, Ryan blinked, his eyes focusing on Eddie’s grandmother’s old mantel clock sitting on a shelving unit in the corner. The elegant metal hands read two o’clock. A glance out the window revealed darkness and Ryan figured it must be two in the morning.

  Movement caught his attention and Ryan realized his dad was sitting on the couch next to his chair. And maybe that wasn’t true. Maybe he had known the solid rock of his life, that was his father, had been there all along.

  “Dad, why am I such a loser?” he asked.

  “You’re not a loser, son. You just have a hard time concentrating on the moment.”

  “You’ve been saying that for years. I’ve really tried, but everything just keeps going wrong.” Ryan wasn’t going to start crying and prove to his dad what a loser he was, even if the tears threatened to fall.

  “After hearing what happened from Eddie, I called Glen Hayward. He’s living with his son Tyler on a ranch in Texas. I e-mailed him a copy of your resume, and he forwarded it to Tyler’s partner who owns the ranch. There’s a job for you there if you want it.”

  “So now I’ve stooped to my father calling in favors, so I have a place to work.” Ryan didn’t think he could feel any lower.

  “Ryan Alan Timmons. We both know you are an excellent accountant and office assistant. As for your problem, Tyler knows all about it. You’re only four years younger than he is, and he remembered you.”

  “Of course he remembered me. I’m the one who almost broke his arm when I tried to hit a baseball. The bat flew out of my hands and smacked him right across the wrist. His mom slapped me so hard across the face for hurting him that my eyes were blurry for a week.”

  “You told me you fell in the garage.”

  “Of course, I did. I felt so bad that I hurt Tyler, and I was scared to death of his mother.”

  “So will you accept the job?”

  Ryan sighed, knowing if he was going to pay off his student loans, he needed a job.

  “I love you dad.”

  “I love you too, son.”

  The next morning Ryan had a phone interview first with Tyler and then spent a long time talking with his partner, Graham Conner. Tyler gave him some good-natured ribbing and Ryan found he liked Graham. The following day he was on a plane to Texas.

  * * * *

  “Look Callum, what you do on your own time is just that, your business. As your employer, I have no complaints. Your care of my animals is excellent. It goes without saying that you are one of the best veterinarians in the state,” Graham said, his compliment genuine. “But as your friend, I have to warn you that you’re stretching yourself too thin.”

  Callum Leeman looked at Graham Conner. The man was right. If he didn’t find a balance in his life soon, something was going to give. And he would never forgive himself if it ended up being one of the horses he was treating.

  “You’re right,” Callum agreed. He sat there looking at Graham helplessly, not knowing what else to say.

  “If I’m stepping over the line, then tell me to butt out, but Callum, you don’t even look happy. If you need to talk, you know I’m here,” Graham said.

  The owner of the Crazy Angle Ranch was a handsome man. Tall, fit, with hazel eyes and dark brown hair, Graham Conner was a catch many wanted. But Graham was happily caught by ex-professional baseball player, Tyler Hayward, and was off the market. Callum longed for a relationship like those two had. Instead, he was involved with Merick.

  The phone setting on the desk next to Graham’s elbow rang. Graham answered it and said a few words before ending the call with, “No problem, I’ll send him right over.”

  Graham sat back in his chair and looked over at Callum. “Figure things out quick. If your work starts to suffer, I have no problem telling you about it.” Nodding to the phone, he continued. “That was Sam Griesbach. One of his mares cut up her leg pretty bad while being unloaded from a trailer. He’d like you to come over and take a look at it.”

  “That’s probably Misty. She hates trailers and always gives Sam a run for his money. I’ll get right over there.” Callum stood, his mind already going over what supplies he would need. Pausing, he looked at his good friend. “Thanks.”

  Graham nodded. “The door’s always open.”

  Callum smiled in appreciation before leaving the room.

  * * * *

  Ryan hurried over to the baggage cart. He hoped he could find his luggage and get out of the airport before the other passengers caught up to him. By the end of the flight most were looking at him like he was evil incarnate.

  He honestly hadn’t meant to hurt the lady, but he started to feel cramped during the flight. Ryan had arched his back and stretched out just a little, putting his foot partly in the aisle. At that moment, the stewardess passed by and tripped over his foot. The result was the poor woman flying through the air only to be stopped abruptly by one of the seats, against her face. By the time the plane landed the poor lady’s cheek and eye were already turning black and blue.

  Ryan had noted her name tag while he was apologizing profusely. The other flight attendants at that point came and calmed her down and found some ice. It had been a simple matter for him to use his phone to find her address and arrange for flowers along with a card of apology delivered to her home.

  The luggage carousel started turning, and Ryan’s black bags with green piping came through the opening. He easily lifted one bag, but the other one stuck. Ryan gave it a yank that resulted in the bag next to it falling onto the floor. Quickly, he put the other bag back, grabbed his bags, and left the area. Part of him gave a sigh of relief that the strange bag hadn’t broken open or ripped or something.

  “Hey, Ryan.”

  Ryan looked around and spotted Tyler Hayward standing near the front doors. At first glance, Tyler hadn’t changed much over the last couple of years. His eyes were the same pretty blue, and his hair was still thick and brown. But when Ryan got closer to the man, he saw the scar marring his left cheek.

  “Hi, Tyler, it’s good to see you,” Ryan said in greeting, and tried to not stare at the hand held out to him. Tyler’s right hand was heavily scarred and misshaped.

  Tyler saw him hesitate and said, “It’s okay, it might look ugly, but it’s not contagious.”

  “I’m sorry, Tyler. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” Ryan felt like a fool. He firmly shook Tyler’s hand, giving the man the respect he deserved. The car accident that had ended Tyler’s professional baseball career and damaged his body so terribly obviously hadn’t affected his sense of humor or his confidence. The man looked comfortable in his own skin.

  “A little thing like you couldn’t hurt a flea,” Tyler teased.

  At that moment, the bruised flight attendant walked past them and gave Ryan a dirty look. Ryan couldn’t help but wince at the condition of her eye.

  He glanced at Tyler and watched the man’s eyes widen when he saw the lady’s black eye. He put a hand on Ryan’s shoulder and said, “I think we should get you to the ranch.”

  “That might be a good idea,” he replied. The two exchanged a look
and burst out laughing.

  * * * *

  Callum’s heart sank. It was time to end it.

  He was tired. No, more than tired, he was exhausted. For the last five months, he had tried to balance his demanding job as head veterinarian at the Crazy Angle Ranch and his relationship with Merick Anderson.

  More times than not, lately Callum stayed at the Anderson farm and traveled to the Crazy Angle or some other ranch to do his work. Because the Crazy Angle employed him if another ranch needed his services, they contacted Graham, who contacted him.

  Callum hated to fail. He didn’t like to lose an animal he’d tried his best to save, and he hated to lose a relationship. But as he stared at the sweating, writhing man in front of him, it was crystal clear that he had failed. He no longer was willing or able to give Merick what he needed.

  “I’m sorry, Merick,” Callum said softly.

  Merick stilled, before tipping his head to the side, listening. Callan admired the lean lines of the man’s naked back. The pitch-black blindfold covering his eyes was a startling contrast against his tan skin and messy brown hair. A ball gag stretched Merick’s mouth wide, and saliva coated his chin. His arms were held tightly above his head by metal handcuffs wrapped around his wrists and secured to a ring mounted in the corner of the room. A butt plug completed the picture. Its long attached horse’s tail arched high into the air before hanging down to the floor.

  The scene was sexy enough to make any man or woman pause and take notice. But it was the heavy leather strap that Callum knew Merick wanted him to flay his ass with and the soft suede flogger waiting on the small table by the bed that just torpedoed their relationship into the bucket.