Page 32 of Roaring Fork Wrangler

“Wait. You can’t see the driveway from here.”

“I hurried and sat down when I saw you get out and walk up the steps.”

I rolled my eyes.

“So, what happened?” she repeated.

“You were also right about Ross. I never should’ve agreed to have dinner with him. It was like he expected us to just pick up where we left off.”

“He’s smitten.”

“He’s obsessed.”

“That may be a better word for it.” She paused. “So, connect the dots for me. How is it that Cord brought you home?”

I closed my eyes and rested my head on her shoulder. “He saw me walking and gave me a ride.”

She leaned away, and her eyes scrunched. “You walked home?”

“It wasn’t that far, and it’s nice out.”

“Nice?”

“For January. Yes.”

“Ross made you walk home? I’m going to give that boy a piece of my mind.”

“Stop. He’s not a boy; he’s a man. And I’m sure he would’ve driven me home had I not stalked out on him at the restaurant.”

“That bad?” she asked, resting her head againstmine.

“Worse.”

“What about Cord?”

“He said Miss Cena left the estate to someone named Samantha Marquez.”

She sat up straighter. “What?”

I shrugged. “That’s what Cord said anyway.”

“My goodness. Jimmy Rooker must be fit to be tied.”

I shrugged again. “It’s not our business, Mom.”

“My darling Juniper, we live in a small town. Everything is our business.”

10

CORD

Earlier tonight, I was about to head out to grab some dinner when an SUV pulled up to the barn.

“Hello, can I help you?” I asked when a man and woman got out and walked toward me.

“This is Samantha Marquez, and I’m Beau Barrett.”

I tipped my hat to the lady and shook the hand of a man with a British accent.

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