Page 5 of Her Grumpy Cowboy

But tonight, the ranch is bustling with activity.

Trucks rumble up the gravel drive. Ranch hands call out to each other as they unload supplies cases of beer and hay bales for extra seating.

Tomorrow is the annual Clayton Ranch bonfire.

Every year, we invite the whole town to come out and celebrate the end of a long, hard summer. There’s live music and dancing, a mechanical bull, and more food than we could eat in a month. We roast marshmallows over the massive bonfire, tap our boots to the twang of country tunes, and catch up with friends and neighbors.

For one night, it’s like the entire ranch is transformed. It’s Maisey’s favorite night of the year.

Hell, it’s a lot of people’s favorite night.

There’s just something magical about it, something that brings the whole community together. And Lord knows we could all use a little magic these days.

I pull the truck up to the barn, and before I can even kill the engine, Maisey is unbuckling herself from her booster seat, her eyes bright with excitement.

“Is it time for the bonfire?” Maisey asks, her words tumbling out in an excited rush. “Can we make s’mores? And will there be face painting again this year? Ooh, and pony rides?”

I chuckle as I climb out of the truck, coming around to help Maisey down. “Not yet, baby girl. The bonfire’s tomorrow night.”

Maisey’s face falls for a second, but then she perks up again, her eyes sparkling with a new idea. “Do you think Miss Jasmyn will come to the bonfire?”

“I don’t know, sweetheart. Miss Jasmyn might have other plans.”

“We should invite her! I bet she would love the bonfire! She could meet Sparkles, and we could make s’mores together, and...”

“Who should we invite?” a deep voice interrupts.

I look up and see my younger brother Jace walking out of the barn. Jace strides up to the truck, a coil of rope slung over his broad shoulder and a look of amusement dancing in his blue eyes.

“Uncle Jace!” Maisey squeals, launching herself at him.

Jace scoops her up with one arm, spinning her around as she giggles wildly. “There’s my favorite ballerina cowgirl! How was dance class, darlin’?”

“It was so much fun! I did a pirouette and Miss Jasmyn said I’m getting really good!” Maisey gushes as Jace settles her on his hip.

“Well, I reckon that means we’ve got ourselves a real prima ballerina on our hands,” Jace says, tapping the end of her nose playfully.

Maisey beams up at him. “Uncle Jace, can we invite Miss Jasmyn to the bonfire tomorrow? Pleeease?”

Jace’s eyebrows shoot up and he glances over at me, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Miss Jasmyn, huh?”

I shift uncomfortably, trying to head off this conversation before it can gain any traction. “Jace, I don’t think...”

But Jace just holds up a hand, cutting me off mid-sentence. “Now, hold on there, big brother. I believe I was having a conversation with my adorable niece.”

He turns back to Maisey, his expression comically serious. “So, tell me more about this Miss Jasmyn. Is she as pretty as your daddy thinks she is?”

“Jace...” I growl in warning, but Maisey is already nodding enthusiastically.

“She’s so pretty, Uncle Jace! She has long dark hair and she smells like flowers and sunshine. And she’s really nice and funny and smart. Daddy thinks she’s pretty too, I can tell because he always gets this funny look on his face when he sees her, like he just ate a sour lemon but he still wants more.”

Jace throws his head back and laughs, the sound ringing out across the ranch yard. “Is that so? Well, it sounds like Miss Jasmyn is a very special lady.”

“She is!” Maisey agrees emphatically. “So can we invite her? Pretty please with a cherry on top?”

Jace glances over at me, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Oh, I think that can definitely be arranged.”

Chapter Three

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