Fans of Ms. Odell’s Triple-D Ranch series will appreciate the latest installment, revisiting old friends like Derek and Sabrina, Cecily and Bryce. In this third installment, we take a closer look at wise-cracking Cowboy Tim.

Down on her luck and running out of options, Rebecca Morgan comes to the ranch as a cooking school student. She’s willing to sacrifice everything, including her own happiness, for her sick nephew. When she comes across one of the dirty, smelly, less than serious about anything cowboys, she’s not sure what to make of him.

Tim’s a free-wheeling, love-em and leave-em type, not ready for a real relationship and still practicing for his real life. Ex-Army, he is happy to join his other Army buddies at the Triple-D, where he can work out his PTSD herding cattle and otherwise helping out at the ranch. The new cooking school student catches his eye, but she’s clearly not interested in his brand of optimism. When circumstances bring them together, Tim recognizes Rebecca’s struggles with her learning style and offers to help.

The story deftly covers the struggles of ranch life, of being a cowboy, and the camaraderie and loyalty among men who have served together in the military. Tim’s PTSD was handled with skill. Tim’s gentleness when helping Rebecca study was endearing. Rebecca’s control issues played out well, giving us a keen insight into her motivations and personality. As a sniper, readers can see how Tim is accustomed to doing things alone, but in the end the Ranchers to the Rescue show up to rescue Tim from himself.

Ms. Odell’s writing is clean and well-edited, her characters well drawn against a beautiful Colorado backdrop.