Page 1 of Untamed

Chapter One

MILA

Stepping out of the black sedan, I inhale deeply, letting the crisp Montana air fill my lungs. A slow smile tugs at my lips as I take in the view. Towering mountains, the endless stretch of pasture, the dense line of trees. The scent of wood, fresh grass and the unmistakable musk of animals drifts through the air, wrapping around me like a familiar embrace. It’s been too long since I was last home. And now that I am here, I don’t plan on leaving until I am forced to—until college. Truthfully, if I had my way, I would never leave.

“Mila?” the deep voice booms, breaking me from my thoughts. My head snaps toward the sound, and the moment I spot him my grin widens.

Lincoln Becker. My father.

He strides across the porch, moving quickly down the steps. He is an imposing figure—tall, with sharp features and a large presence. With his crisp plaid button down and intimidating demeanor, he looks more like the CEO of a Fortune 500 company than a rancher. But make no mistake. Oakridge Ranch is his empire, his life. With one hundred thousand acres of land, it makes it one of the largest and most profitable ranches in the state.

My parents divorced when I was ten. While my mother moved on, marrying a wealthy businessman and settling into a different kind of life of luxury, my father never did. He stayed here, pouring himself into the ranch which he has now inherited. My brother, Maverick—eight years my senior—chose to stay with our dad, while I was taken to Georgia to live with my mother and her new husband. By most standards, my new life was a dream. A sprawling mansion, designer clothes, extravagant vacations. But I never cared for any of it. Give me fresh mountain air and horse shit over stuffy country clubs and high society any day. Because this ranch is home. And it always will be.

Before I can say a word, my father’s arms wrap around me in a hug, holding me so tightly it’s as if he is afraid I might vanish. My chest tightens, warmth spreading through me. Despite our phone calls, video chats and the occasional visits over the years, nothing compares to being here.

“Hey, Daddy,” I laugh, squirming in his hold.

Chuckling, he finally releases me, though his hands stay planted on my shoulders. He holds me at arm’s length, taking me in. His brown eyes crinkle at the corners, his expression soft with disbelief. “Hey, Sweetheart. It’s so good to finally have you home,” he says, his voice thick with emotion.

My throat tightens. He’s always put on a brave face, but I know my mom leaving and taking me with her, left him broken.

“It’s good to be home,” I reply honestly, my voice barely above a whisper.

He studies me a moment, then clears his throat. “I’m surprised she let you come for the whole summer,” he says, a trace of resentment in his voice. “She usually likes having you by her side.” He’s not wrong. We have lost so much time together because of my mother’s choices. But I am eighteen now—nineteen in about a month—and legally an adult. She doesn’tget to dictate where I go anymore. His features soften slightly. “How’s she doing anyway?” he asks, and this time the sincerity is clear.

Rolling my eyes, I grin. “She’s fine. Living her best life. And honestly, she didn’t have much of a choice about me coming here—I’m eighteen.” I shrug. “Not that she’ll have time to worry about what I’m doing. She and Jimmy are heading to Europe for the next couple of months. I wasn’t about to stay in Georgia alone, and truthfully, I didn’t fancy island hopping around Europe with them. So, the second I had the chance to come spend time with you, Mamaw and Maverick, I took it…” I trail off, my brows furrowing at the mention of my brother. “WhereisMaverick? I figured he would be out here by now, annoying me.”

Dad lets out a bark of laughter, shaking his head. “He had to take a crew out on a last-minute cattle drive. He’ll be back in the early hours of the morning. Someone had to manage the ranch hands and cowboys and it sure as shit wasn’t going to be me. I had to be here when my princess arrived.” His eyes flash with amusement. “Maverick already has a list of jobs waiting for you, so don’t think you’re here on vacation,” he jokes playfully.

I chuckle, sighing. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I can’t wait to get back into ranch life. Cleaning stalls and taking Clover on trail rides.” A familiar pang hits my chest. I swallow. “This life is in my blood. I’ve been itching to get back to it.”

Dad smiles softly, pride radiating from him as he drapes an arm over my shoulders as we turn toward the lodge. “It sure is, Sweetheart. And Clover’s been waiting for you. But first let’s get you settled inside. Mamaw can’t wait to see you.”

My face splits into a wide grin. “I actually spoke to Mamaw on a video call yesterday. She finally figured out how technology works.”

He chuckles, leading me toward the porch steps. “Yeah, your brother’s been giving her iPadlessons. Now we can’t get her offthe damn thing. I caught her the other night, gossiping about half the town on a video call with Mavis. That’s some shit I don’t want to hear,” he grumbles.

The image of my seventy-year-old Mamaw perched in her big armchair by the fireplace, chatting away while Dad glares from the couch has a laugh bubbling up inside me.

Dad pins me with a look, shaking his head. “I’m serious. It was something to witness. Damn near had a heart attack when she started in on Byron Clemons and his young mistress, who, by the way, he knocked up.” He sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. “I was off that couch, across the room, and hitting the red button before she could say another word. Then I had to explain why shecannotgo around running her mouth about the governor. Right now, I have him in my pocket, and I’d rather not have my own mother screwing that up. I don’t care if what she’s saying is the truth or not.”

Nodding, I sober. My dad may hold a lot of power in this town, but Byron Clemons—being the state governor—outranks everyone. Getting on his bad side would be a big problem. A comfortable silence settles between us as we hit the steps, but then I remember something.

“Wait. My bags.” I try to pull away, ready to grab my luggage from the SUV.

Dad grunts, waving me off. “Gavin will get them.” Without another word, he ushers me forward.

Climbing the stairs, I sigh, turning my attention to the towering lodge before me. A smile spreads across my face as I take it all in. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a Montana ranch house. Though it is grand, it’s welcoming with its wraparound porch, and thick oak and brick pillars that match the rich wood cladding. From the top, it looks like a massive log cabin, rustic and warm, while the lower level is built from red, blue, yellow and orange brickwork, adding an unexpectedcharm. Floor to ceiling windows make the entire structure feel even more extravagant, reflecting the endless greenery and mountains beyond. It’s stunning and belongs here, nestled in the land like it was always meant to be here.

Mom hated it. It was one of the reasons my parents’ marriage fell apart. She felt abandoned, which led to her seeking attention elsewhere. Oakridge Ranch has been in my father’s family for generations and, despite my mother’s belief that she could change my dad’s mind, there was never a chance he’d walk away from it. This land is his legacy, just as it will one day be my brother’s. Ranching is in his blood, in all of ours, and Mom knew that from the start. But she still thought she could change him. That she could pull him away from his birthright.

They were high school sweethearts, dating since they were sixteen. When she found out she was pregnant with my brother at eighteen, they married in the backyard of this very lodge, under the big oak tree. For years they were happy. But that all changed when Mom realized she wanted something different. When she saw that my father would never leave this place, she started looking elsewhere—for excitement, for attention, for men who lived a life she thought she deserved. Eventually she served him with divorce papers when I was ten.

Not long after that, she met my stepfather, Jimmy. He had been in town on business and, though no one believed their relationship would last, they proved everyone wrong. He visited her nearly every week until, eventually, she packed us up and moved us to Georgia. I never wanted to leave Montana. I never wanted to leave my father, my brother, my Mamaw, or friends. But my mom made that choice for both of us. I was too young to remember much of that time, but I remember the heartbreak, the tears, of being torn from the only home I had ever known. From what I’ve gathered over the years, my dad believed letting me go with Mom was the right thing to do. He didn’t fight forme to stay, but there were conditions for me to visit three times a year. It was never enough. The ranch was in my veins, a part of me no matter how far away I was and the ache of missing it never really faded.

“Come on, Sweetheart, let’s get you settled.” My father’s voice breaks into my thoughts. Shaking my head, I exhale as he takes my hand and leads me across the porch to the front door.

He pushes it open and gestures for me to step inside. The moment I do, a warm sense of familiarity washes over me. The big open entryway is just as big as I remember—rustic, open and filled with a comforting scent I have always associated this place. Oak and leather. Padding across the hardwood floor, I pause in the open doorway to the lounge, my eyes roaming over the space that has always been one of my favorite rooms in the lodge.

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