Page 41 of Wild As Her

And then? We wait for her to kill us.

The next morning I hear her before I see her. I purposely left and went over to the Jessop Ranch before she got up. I skippedthe ride and got started because I knew she’d be livid. Several regulars claim they texted her and said they were waiting at her trailer at the ranch, so she knew it was moved.

The distant roar of an engine and the fury in the way tires grind gravel have the early morning crowd of nosy townsfolk gathered like they’ve been waiting for this exact moment. And she is understandably mad. But hopefully, when she sees the supportive crowd that has gathered, she’ll understand.

Maggie has already pulled up a lawn chair, and a lot of townsfolk have formed a line next to her trailer, waiting for her to get here and make coffee. Some have even brought her decorations and flowers. I love seeing the town like that she’s here.

Cami’s old red truck comes barreling down the ranch road, kicking up dust like she’s about to run me over on principle.

She screeches to a halt, slams the door, and stomps up to where I’m waiting next to the trailer, turning to face me with fire in her eyes. “What. The. Hell?”

I cross my arms, casual as can be, and smile. “Morning, Wilder.”

“Don’t you give me that, Jessop.” She waves wildly at her trailer. “Why is my coffee trailer parked here?”

I lift a brow and say, “Temporary relocation like we discussed.”

Cami leans in and glares. “You stole my trailer. I never agreed to move it out here.”

“You were thinking about it,” I shrug.

Walker, who’s leaning against a fence post, grins. “Relocated. Sounds more official.”

“You—” Cami makes a strangled sound, pointing a finger at me like she’s debating if murder is worth the legal hassle. “I cannot believe you did this."

“You’re welcome,” I say, smiling. "I just helped with your decision. Plus, look at all the people waiting for their coffee."

She throws her hands in the air. “Oh my God, I hate you.”

“You really don’t, though.”

“I DO.”

The growing crowd of customers chuckles, thoroughly enjoying the show.

“Cami, honey,” Maggie calls from her lawn chair. “We're all really glad to see you out here at the Jessop Ranch.”

“Traitors!” Cami huffs, glaring at the crowd.

Mrs. Fernandez shrugs and winks at Jack. “Fresh coffee and cinnamon rolls. What were we supposed to do? We go where the trailer goes.”

Cami turns back to me, fuming. “Ballsy, even for you, Jessop.”

I grin. “Nah, I think it’s great.”

Cami gasps and holds up a finger. “Oh, you absolute?—”

Before she can finish, a rancher from town steps forward, asking for his coffee. Cami glances over and sees him carrying a bag of Jessop Ranch meat that he'd purchased and a pamphlet for Jessop Ranch hanging out of his front pocket, and she softens. She knows this is already helping the ranch, her trailer being out here. We’ve already made a ton of meat sales this morning while people waited for their coffee.

“So, Jack,” he says, nodding toward Cami. “What’s she gonna do when you find yourself a wife on that TV show?”

The air shifts with the unspoken words he’s not saying.

My jaw locks so fast I almost hear it click. The easy grin I’ve been wearing? Gone.

Because suddenly, the thought of parading a bunch of women around this ranch, pretending like one of them could be my future, pretending like they could fit here?—

That doesn’t sit right at all.

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