The Runaway and the Rancher

THE RUNAWAY AND THE RANCHER (A Crash, Mud, and a Cowboy’s Chase) — by Velora Fox

Lila West didn’t plan to become a runaway bride. She definitely didn’t plan to end her escape with a smashed headlight, a face full of mud… and a brand-new ranch fence in splinters.

Beau “Huck” Miller is exactly the kind of man Lila should avoid: grumpy, brutally honest, built like hard work, and clearly allergic to drama—especially the kind that shows up on his land in a ruined wedding dress. He wants her gone. Immediately. Preferably before she breaks anything else.

But there’s no signal for miles, a storm rolling in, and nowhere for Lila to go.

So Huck offers one thing: temporary shelter—and a way to pay him back. That means chores, early mornings, burnt breakfasts, bruised pride… and the kind of slow, messy healing Lila never expected to find in a place like Miller Ranch.

Because the longer she stays, the harder it becomes to pretend this is just a pit stop.
And the more Huck sees past the satin and chaos, the more dangerous it gets to walk away.

She ran to escape a life that looked perfect.
He’s spent his life building something real.

Now they’re stuck under the same sky… and the only question is:
Will Lila run again— or will she finally stay?

Continue reading The Runaway and the Rancher if you like:

• Runaway Bride x Grumpy Rancher

• Small-town chaos + cozy ranch vibes

• Forced Proximity (stranded, no signal, nowhere else to go)

• Fish-out-of-water heroine (city girl meets mud + chores)

• Banter + “he wants her gone… until he doesn’t”

• Meddling aunt + found-family warmth

• Slow-burn tension that turns real

Steam Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

What readers are saying (swap these with your real reviews when you have them):
“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The banter is perfection and Huck is peak grumpy cowboy.”
“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A runaway bride romance with so much heart—funny, cozy, and swoony.”
“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mud, chores, storms, and chemistry… I devoured it.”