Page 4 of Fall or Nothing

“Holy shit. I guess a part of me didn’t think you’d say yes.” I ran a hand through my hair. Everything got very real all of a sudden.

“You’ll come with us to the barn dance and meet Ash tonight?—”

“Tonight? Oh, but I thought I’d head back to the city, pack my things. Be back in a couple of weeks to start.” And pack up whatever was considered ranch wear. Read up on what exactly people did to work on a ranch. Eat my last exquisite Michelin-star meal at Savoire. Say goodbye to life as I knew it, just in case none of this worked out and I ended up homeless, jobless, and penniless.

“Well, hell, let’s just pull out our schedules to see what day is convenient for you,” Chris offered.

“Really? That’d be great.” I took my phone out of my pocket?—

“No, asswipe! That was sarcasm. Either start now or don’t. Won’t matter to me. You’re the one with the ticking clock,” he scoffed.

He left me no choice. “I-I’ll take it. And thanks.”

“You sure? Because if you can’t handle this?—”

“No! I can do this.” I shouted. “I have to. It’s all or nothing, right?”

Nikki waved me in. “You’ll stick out like a foreigner at the dance tonight, honey. We probably have some boots and jeans of Chris’s you could wear. You know how to two-step, right? The ladies love a cowboy who does.”

“Dear, I think impressing ladies is the last thing Carter needs to worry about right now,” Chris said flatly.

“Come on in, meet your nieces. Courtney Blueand Everly Bell will talk your ear off,” she opened the front door wider, welcoming me.

As I crossed the threshold behind her, my head still catching up, Chris muttered under his breath, “This place will eat you alive.”

Every instinct I had told me he was right and that I should run far away. But for the first time in my life, that wasn’t an option. There was no plan B. No way to buy my way out of this.

I had to grow up and face the challenge head-on if I wanted to earn my inheritance. Even if it meant showing up at some barn dance dressed like a cowboy to start it off.

But first… I asked Nikki, “What’s a two-step?”

TWO

Dazzled

SAGE WYLDE

“Stay right here.I want to introduce you to a new cowboy in town. He’ll be working at the Off-Duty Ranch.” Ivy threw that at me and then ran off, I guess to find this new person.

I scoffed. If Ivy thought she could set me up tonight, she was wildly mistaken. I stood beside Daisy with a warm cup of apple cider cradled between my hands, letting the heat seep into my fingers while I scanned the crowd of familiar faces. The barn buzzed with practically the whole town showing up. The scent of hay and pumpkin pies hung in the air. Signs stating in big letters,“Reelect Sheriff Patrick: The Sheriff we need and trust,”hung everywhere.

It should have been a night of celebration, cheering on Gavin Patrick in his challenging race with Trevor Brewster for the office of county sheriff. But tonight, all I could think about was the fact that at every Cowboy Night Ivy hosted this fall at the Sapphire Saloon, I’d shown up and I’d smiled, and made nice conversation with all the rugged, farmer’s tanned, flannel-wearing men within a thirty-mile radius.

Ivy did her best, I’d give my sister that, as she’d introduced me to several cowboys. Not one of them had made me feel anything, not even a flicker of interest, no… wow factor. I wasn’t asking for fireworks or lightning to strike me, but a simple flutter in my belly would be nice.

I sighed heavily into my cup and took another sip.

“What’s wrong?” Of course Daisy noticed, taking on that tone of voice that reminded me of our mother, a role she’d played since our parents’ tragic accident.

“Ivy always has someone she wants me to meet. And I’ve already met them.” I gestured toward the crowd. “All of them. At least twice. The hazard of living in a small town. I hate being set up. You know that. Besides, I’ve sworn off cowboys as of this minute. Unless he’s charming to look at and stands out from most around here, why bother?”

Daisy laughed under her breath, but her eyes glazed in that way that meant she understood more than she said. “It takes time to find the right one. Just enjoy the process and don’t force it. I’ll bet when you stop trying, you’ll meet Mr. Right.”

“All of the guys around here are the same. Is it too much to ask for someone different?” I shifted my weight in my new turquoise boots—courtesy of Ivy, who believed her sisters wearing her products to an event like this was the best form of advertisement for the Wylde West Outfitters.

Daisy pushed some of my hair back over my shoulder. “Sage, you’re gorgeous, smart, and have a good head on your shoulders. You have so much to offer a special guy. Give it time. Tonight is a good night to be young and have fun and kick your heels up on the dance floor once the musicstarts.”

“Maybe. But I’m giving up on love for a while.” I’d never even been in love to know what it might feel like. Unless you count Gary Granger, the carrot-top kid who was my first kiss at the sixth-grade dance. I thought that was what love must be: a kiss, a smile, and the simplicity of holding hands. Considering every man I’d dated since then had bored me to tears, I was mistaken.