The Front Runner By Elsie Silver · Recent

When a prized mare dies at Gold Rush Ranch, leaving behind an orphaned foal (Loki) that desperately needs a surrogate mother, Mira is forced to ask Stefan for help.

The story features a significant mid-point plot twist involving Stefan's biological father, later confirmed in the epilogue to be Hank , a central figure from the Gold Rush Ranch community. Main Characters The Front Runner (Gold Rush Ranch, #3) - Goodreads The Front Runner by Elsie Silver

As they spend time together, Mira discovers that Stefan is not the "bad guy" everyone claims. He is protective, fiercely loyal to his younger sister, Nadia, and carrying the weight of a tragic family history. Their "simple transaction" quickly evolves into deep emotional and physical tension. When a prized mare dies at Gold Rush

Stefan agrees to let his mare nurse the foal, but only if Mira agrees to three fake dates with him. Though Mira’s friends and the community despise Stefan, she secretly accepts the transaction to save the foal. He is protective, fiercely loyal to his younger