Page 24 of Roaring Fork Wrangler

“Juni, I’ve been thinking about something.”

I moved the pillow to the side and rolled to face her. “What?”

“Christmas is one week from today. It seems like maybe Cord will be alone for the holiday.”

I shook my head. “No.”

“It isn’t like you to be callous, Juniper.”

“Giving the guy a break from the Chance family isn’t callous, Mom.”

“How do you know that’s what he wants? Maybe he appreciates knowing someone here.”

I cringed. “You know that thing I don’t want to talk about?”

“Which one?”

“What happened when I walked into the tavern.”

“Yeah?”

My eyes filled with tears that I blinked away. “Let’s just say I know for a fact he wants nothing to do with us. Or at least with me.”

My mom moved my hair from my face. “I find that hard to believe.”

“I don’t, but can we please drop it now?”

“Of course.” She got up. “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”

“I feel like all I’ve done is eat today. I’m really not hungry.”

She nodded. “There will be leftovers in the fridge if you change your mind.”

I thanked her, and she shut the door behind her when she walked out. I grabbed the pillow again and put it over my face, then reached over to my phone on the nightstand. After swiping the screen, I hit delete on the text exchange between Cord and me, which meant I also deleted his number.

I lay there, feeling sorry for myself for longer than I should’ve, when something dawned on me. Maybe it was time I flew the nest, as they say, before my parents chucked me out of it. Not that they would. I was sure it wouldn’t bother them if Grayson and I lived here a few more years. And how pathetic would that be?

I opened my laptop and scoured job postings. Those I found had been up for a while. A couple of them were from places that had offered me a position after graduation. While they might not have that exact post open any longer, perhaps they’d be willing to let me interview for another.

It seemed unlikely many people would be in the office this close to Christmas, but I filled out the online applications anyway. Maybe after the first of the year, I’d at least have interviews scheduled.

Nothing I did distracted me enough to stop thinking about Cord. The man set my pulse racing. But more, he made me laugh. I’d never been with a guy like him. Someone who wasn’t from here. Even the guys I dated when I was at Syracuse were all from New York, not somewhere as intriguing as Colorado.

The last words I heard him say resonated more than all those we’d said to each other between last night and this afternoon. If I was involved, he wanted no part of whatever Pete had proposed.

Why not? I mean, I’d admitted to being a nerd who was also über competitive. Then he’d had the pleasure of meeting Ross, a guy as “small town” as I was. As soon as Mr. Reynolds mentioned he’d been trying toget me to come work for the five-and-dime, I was sure Cord figured it was what I’d do, eventually. He probably thought I’d end up taking Mr. Reynolds’ offer, then I’d marry Ross, stay in East Aurora for the rest of my life, and breed the next generation who would ultimately take over for us when we retired.

The whole scenario turned my stomach. It wasn’t like I thought I was above spending the rest of my life in my hometown. I just couldn’t see myself with Ross or working for his family’s business. If I did stay, I’d much rather work for mine.

When my phone buzzed with a text from a number I knew all too well—Ross’—I deleted it, then removed him as a contact. I didn’t go as far as Cord had when he blocked Sandy, though. If he actually had. After hearing he wanted nothing to do with me, I doubted he was even telling the truth.

8

CORD

When I contacted Hoss the next morning, he told me to report to the Lilacs on Wednesday. I was in a near panic, remembering the document the lawyer had sent via email stated I had to “maintain residence” there for a period of one year.

The next call I made was to Six-pack. When I reiterated what Hoss had said, he assured me he could adjust the date of my arrival. I asked him why the hell I’d had to get here so fast and miss Christmas if that were the case, and he repeated that he had no control over the stipulations in the codicil. While he clearly did, since he could adjust a date, I didn’t argue with him. If I had, maybe he’d refuse to do as he said and, two days after arriving in town, our family would’ve lost everything because of me.

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