Submitting to the Cowboy

ky

ended a three year relationship with the man you we

, baby,"

se now, and I was nowhere near civilization. The highway stretched for endless miles

d been officially cut from the team, then caught Carter balls deep in Raney, then found out I'd in

f money came with the inheritance, but all of that had

nst the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and the Great Bear Wilderness. The map didn't even register the address of

r taste in my mouth

it's worst on my appearance. My wine red hair was piled on top of my head in the messiest of buns, and dark circ

et," the satnav voice on my p

thing but open road. It was almost four o'clock, but this stretch of highway was empty

ust me o

n le

ghtly bumpy paved road connected directly onto th

n le

ed, looking up to find a semi-truck pulling a tractor trailer behind it coming down the road.

ost, h

n Creek? I haven't seen

ed his cowboy at me and rolled up his window. I watched as he drove pa

not after growing up in California and touring from big city to big city with the Lakers. Sure, we'd

then a few miles later I passed another one. Ranches. Sprawling prop

sped, leaning forward with my chest pressed to the steering wheel as I looked

dscape and smack dab in a tiny little town. I blinked, unsu

at odd angles. The buildings on the main–and the only–commercial street were close

eneral store before I saw the bank I'd been told to v

dust. Most of them wore cowboy hats, which were also covered in dust and other grime. A few people glanced at me as I grabbe

en getting into a large truck nearby. I tried to smile but failed miserably, instead p

id nearby, the words laced with both whiske

aid quiet

as she looked me up and down. "You're not from around here." Sh

of produce and flowers like I'd never seen before. Her long black h

stared at her. Her skin was a deep bronze, and her ey

strikingly beautiful woman

miled, straight whi

miling back. "Uhm, act

e grinned, shrugging casually. "W

paper with the estate information out of

d and scanning it. Her eyes narrowed for a moment, then m

ea

th an appraising gaze

rited the place. It was a surprise, honest

k the paper while shaking her head. "Nob

stake, but then shut it, pursing my lips. Twenty

but the letter had the single lifetime in the

t a little sick to my s

pression and gave me a sympatheti

ispered over the slight,

ze and saw a truck parked across the street in front of a stout wooden building with the word BAR painted on a piece of plywood over the porch. A m

, Danica. Jesus, I tho

ed, glancing at me with what I was

ing for the other team in a heartbeat–Oh, shit!"

anica smiled with a slight wave i

tly looked like a deer in the headlights. Softly curling blonde hair peaked out from beneath his cowboy hat

ing to say hi?

arely looking at me as he step

p to see her new property," Dan

but neither of them

nic

the other night anyway." She turned to me, tilting her head toward my car. "There's no fucking

dy ground out, squa

as I walked to the passenger side of her truck and hopped in without hesit

in as I turned my head to watch Grady fade into the d

rised by my last na

ars ago," she said in a low voice over the hum of t

at didn't make me feel

an's name. I wasn't sure she meant for me to hear it, and when I glanced at

is

is your rival. Welcome to Mason Creek