Page 6 of Saddle and Bound

Pulling the reins as I reach the corral, I can’t help but think back to when she came here. She came to give me a piece of her mind. I’m sure of it. She wasn’t here for peace and quiet. She was looking for me.

That thought gives me more satisfaction than it should, but I try to push it away. I need to stop thinking about Rosie. Damn it, even her name excites me in ways it shouldn’t.

The sun starts to set, painting the sky with warm colors as I finish settling the horses for the night. This is the part of the day I like best, when everything quiets down, and I can reflect on what’s happened.

But tonight, I’d rather not reflect on anything. Especially not Rosie.

Doesn’t matter, though. Whether I want to or not, I can’t get that damn city princess out of my head.

Rosie Thorne is the most infuriating woman I’ve ever met. And the most dangerously tempting.

?

Tonight is our guys' night, a weekly tradition we've always had. Most of the time, we gather at the Rusty Spur, the ranch saloon, to drink, joke around, and catch up on the latest news. The name of the saloon is a historical gem from our friendship. Long before Chris and Val founded the ranch and bought this land, when we were just young men, we used to pull pranks in an old, abandoned building we had nicknamed the Rusty Spur. When Chris bought the land and expanded, building the saloon... it just felt like the perfect name. Now, many years later, it's still our meeting place, still a spot where we pull pranks, and still a place that makes us happy. And now, it's also a gathering spot for the men from the nearby ranches.

When I arrive, Chris, Diego, and Fran are already seated at our usual table with beers in hand. Everyone except Chris. He doesn't drink, he's health-conscious and takes his training and fitness too seriously. The rest of us are still in shape, but we don't mind the occasional beer or drink. Especially the beer from the Rusty Spur, which is the best I've ever tasted and is supplied directly by Rustler’s Brew.

The sound of laughter and music fills the air, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and relaxation. The bar is made of wood. There are double doors at the entrance, with the second door serving an aesthetic purpose. It's beautiful, in classic Wild West style. The style blends with the typical mountain cabin vibe, with a few (fake) bulls and deer heads mounted on the walls. There are some cowboy-style details and seating that resembles tents. There's a mechanical bull in the corner. We've had fantastic challenges with Val, Lexy and Rory on it. Those three are crazy... they know how to play and are the most fun girls I've ever met. It's no surprise that Chris fell head over heels in love with Val practically as soon as he met her. He’s always loved her, and finally, he found the courage to tell her. He’s always been the type to dream of settling down, of building a family... but Val gave him more than he ever imagined. They’re inseparable, a perfect match in every way, and I couldn’t be happier for them.

A soft rock band is playing. There's always live music. Each day of the week has something scheduled. We mainly alternate between Rock and Country.

Chris, with his long, curly hair tied back in a man bun, raises his hand in greeting. “Hey, brother, got announcements to make here too?” His striking eyes study me, their sparkle betraying his amusement. He’s laughing, but I can tell those sharp eyes are trying to read what’s going on in my head. He knows me better than anyone else, and all the guys are well aware that this isn’t like me. Normally, I’m much more reserved, taking my time to warm up to strangers. With my friends, though, I’m different—I laugh, I joke, I play pranks. But that’s because they’re my brothers.

Diego, who looks exactly like Travis Fimmel in that iconic billboard ad—the one where he lounges with long, golden hair, smoldering eyes, and an infuriatingly perfect smirk (and yes,exactlylike that)—shakes his head, letting his blonde hair sway as he flashes a mischievous grin. The resemblance irritates him to no end, which, of course, means that we—being the stellar friends that we are—have made it our mission to tease him about it constantly. Ever since Rory pointed it out, we haven’t let him forget it, and it’s become one of our favorite running jokes.

“You’re such a bastard, you know that?” he says, his grin widening despite himself.

Fran, the most reserved of us all, with his reddish hair and sharp green eyes, chuckles quietly under his breath. “Alright then, spill it. We want all the juicy details.”

I sit down, taking a beer and taking a long sip. "Well, I knew they were Rosie's. I found them while checking on the horses this morning and thought it would be fun to stir up a bit of trouble... I don't know what they were doing there. There was a lot of wind last night, they probably blew away from the laundry."

Diego laughs, giving me a pat on the back. "You're terrible. But I have to admit, it was a masterstroke."

"She didn't find it as funny... we know you, but you can't behave that way with the guests," adds Chris, with a smile that could melt anyone. I don't know how serious he is in his reprimand. After all, I don't have bad intentions, but you can't really joke with everyone. However, despite her fiery attitude, I don't think Rosie is the kind of girl you can't joke with.

Fran nods, with a mischievous smile. "So, what did she say afterward? Did she get angry?"

"She was more embarrassed than anything," I respond, remembering her flushed face... "but then she defended herself well." I admit. I want to give credit to her. She's not a lamb, and that's something I like. And despite my attitude, I don't want to seriously make fun of her. But it infuriates me that she makes me lose control. This has never happened to me before. She’s been here for such a short time, and she’s already thrown me completely off balance. I can’t get her out of my head, I can’t stop being angry, and I can’t keep my mouth shut. That part, I don’t explain to my friends. The explanation I gave them seems to be enough for now. I don’t like lying to them, but… what am I supposed to say? That I don’t even know what’s happening to me anymore?!

I know nothing will ever come of this. She’s completely off-limits. I need to get that through my head, loud and clear. I just have to stop thinking about her.

We spend the evening joking and telling stories, as we always do. The friendship I have with these guys is the most precious thing I have, and knowing they're always there to tease me and support me is reassuring. As the night progresses, our group continues to laugh and joke, enjoying our guys' night. The connection I have with these guys is unique, they’re my family. I know I can count on them for anything, and this gives me a great sense of security.

The bar continues to fill up, but we remain in our little world, sharing old stories and new laughter. Occasionally, someone throws a joke about Rosie, and everyone bursts out laughing. "Really, Alex, you should be more careful," says Chris, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "We wouldn't want her to decide to wage war on you."

"Hey, I'm always ready for a challenge," I respond with a sly smile.

Fran smiles, raising his glass. "To us. And to our guys' nights."

We all clink our glasses together, feeling the warmth of the friendship that binds us.

Chapter 5

Rosie

Lexy created the "Wild Chicks" group

Lexy added Rosie

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