Page 28 of Saddle and Bound

I see her face contort into a grimace of irritation. "Oh, really? At least I don't smell like I've bathed in a mud puddle."

"Touché," I reply with a smirk. "But at least I know how to tell a cow from a bull. Or do you need Google for that?"

Her eyes flash with anger. "I don't need Google to figure out that you're an idiot, Alex.”

I’m an idiot. And this... this really hurts.It hurts to hear what she thinks of me, even if she’s saying it in a moment of irritation. But it’s just another reminder that someone like Rosie could never see anything good in someone like me. And I’m the idiot who’s obsessed with her, the one who’s bound to end up with a broken heart.

What stings even more is the look of disappointment in her eyes.

Well, Rosie, if you thought there was something different about me, you were wrong.There’s nothing good here, and the sooner you realize that, the better it’ll be for both of us.

I throw back a theatrical remark, but it’s all a mask. The truth is, I just want to disappear.

"Ouch, that hurts," I say, bringing a hand to my chest in feigned pain. "Almost as much as it must hurt to walk in those heels in the fields. Oh wait, you've finally abandoned them?"

"You know what, Alex?" she finally says, her voice sharp as a razor. "At least I have a life beyond this ranch. What will you do when you're too old to play cowboy? Tell stories to the cattle?"

Her jab hits me harder than I'd like to admit. "Better to tell stories to the cattle than live an empty life in a big city, right?"

"Empty?" she hisses. "At least my life has a future, Alex. What do you have beyond this land and a few horses?"

Her words wound me deeply, but I try not to show it. "I have freedom, Rosie. Something you'll never know the meaning of, trapped in your golden cage."

I see a flash of pain in her eyes, quickly replaced by anger. "You know what? You're right. I'm not a cowgirl, and I don't want to be one. I prefer my 'golden cage' to a life wasted playing tough guy with cows!"

With these words, she turns and leaves, leaving me with a mixture of bitter satisfaction and deep regret. I got what I wanted: I pushed her away. But the pain in her eyes, the hurt in her voice... it makes me feel like I've made a terrible mistake.

I watch her walk away, her determined stride betraying her anger. A part of me wants to run after her, but I remain motionless, paralyzed by the inner conflict that's consuming me.

I run a hand over my face, suddenly feeling exhausted. What am I doing? Why am I so attracted to a girl I barely know and who belongs to a completely different world from mine? It's as if we're two planets in different orbits, destined to brush past each other but never truly meet.

I think back to the moments we've shared: the night swim, dancing under the stars, even our bickering. There's a spark between us, undeniable and powerful. But is it enough to bridge the chasm that separates us?

"Hey, cowboy," a familiar voice calls from behind me. I turn to see Chris standing there, his brow slightly furrowed, concern etched into his rugged features. His hands are stuffed into his jeans pockets, but his posture is loose, casual—like he’s trying not to push too hard. "I saw everything. You alright?"

My brother steps closer, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. His piercing eyes, a striking mix of amber and green, lock onto mine, reading me the way he always does—like I’m an open book. A wave of gratitude swells in my chest. Chris has always been my anchor, the one person who can see through the layers of bullshit I try to wrap myself in.

And for once, I don’t bother pretending. I let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. "I don’t know, Chris. Everything just feels... complicated."

Chris nods slowly, his face softening as he gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "What’s the real problem?" he asks, his tone steady but probing, his voice as calm as a still lake.

What’s the real problem? Hell, I wish I knew.

One moment, I’m burning up with desire, scanning every corner of the ranch just for a glimpse of Rosie, craving the way her presence lights up the air around her. Every move she makes, every subtle shift, seems designed to set my blood on fire. But then, just as quickly, I’m furious—at her, at myself—because I can’t stand how completely she’s taken over my thoughts. She’s everywhere, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t push her out of my head. It’s maddening, this tug-of-war between wanting her so badly it aches and resenting her for making me feel this way.Chris waits patiently, but I can feel his eyes on me, tracking every flicker of emotion that crosses my face.

"It’s a good question, bro," I mutter finally, the words heavy on my tongue. Because what else can I say? I’m as lost as he is.

Chris nudges me gently toward the low stone wall nearby, his hand briefly pressing against my back. "C’mon, sit," he says, his tone light but firm. He hops up to sit beside me, boots scuffing the dusty surface, and I follow suit, our shoulders almost touching. It’s like when we were kids, sitting on the barn roof, hashing out life’s problems over cans of soda.

"Listen," he begins, resting his forearms on his thighs, his hands dangling loosely between his knees. He glances at me sideways, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I think this girl’s got you more twisted up than a barbed wire fence. And you know what? That’s not a bad thing. I’ve never seen you lose your cool over anyone."

I scoff, shaking my head, but before I can argue, Chris raises a hand, cutting me off with a playful look that says,Don’t even try it.

"Bro," he says, his voice dropping an octave, more serious now, "I know letting people in scares the hell out of you. It’s been that way since... you know. I’ve seen it. I’ve seen you. So don’t waste your breath denying it." His gaze softens as he nudges me lightly with his elbow. "Maybe you’re losing your head over her. Or maybe," he adds, his smirk returning, "you just need to get laid. Either way, live a little."

I huff out a laugh despite myself, shaking my head at his audacity.

"If you want to joke around with her, do it. If you want to flirt, try it. See where it goes. But don’t do this, man." He gestures at me with a small wave of his hand, like he’s trying to encompass the mess I’m in. "Don’t sabotage everything before it even has the chance to be something."

---