Page 28 of Falling Hard for the Billionaire Cowboy

Call me whatever you want alright, but you weren’t the one being caught on a fence stealing vegetables. So, I can basically do what I want, like learn Austin's schedule – or at least, I think I do – and plan my movements accordingly.

But as the days pass, I find myself becoming more and more tired and cranky. The constant vigilance, the creative ways I come up with to avoid detection – it's exhausting. I start taking evening walks, the only time I feel safe venturing out without fear of running into him.

Chapter twelve

AUSTIN

For the past three days, Hayley avoids me like I'm carrying the plague. It's almost comical how she ducks behind trees or suddenly finds urgent business on the opposite side of the ranch whenever I'm around. I pretend not to notice, but each time, my eyes follow her back, my lips twitching up in a smile.

Day after day, the same thing happens, and on the fourth day, I spot her peeking out from behind an old oak, thinking she's being stealthy. And once again, I pretend not to notice, biting back a smile as I continue my work, checking the fence line. Her hair catches the sunlight, and for a moment, I'm tempted to call her.

"Boss, what should we do about the new stock?" Sebastian's voice calls out to me from the opposite side, bringing me back to the moment.

"I'll be there soon," I yell back, looking in his direction.

By the time I turn back, Hayley’s long gone.

Sighing, I get down to check what's happening, immediately swamped with more work, but at odd moments throughout the day, the image of Hayley stuck on that fence pops into my mind, and I can't help but chuckle. The ranch hands have started giving me strange looks whenever they catch me grinning to myself. I can only imagine what they're thinking.

"Boss, you feeling alright?" Sebastian asks after catching me chuckling at nothing in particular.

"Never better," I reply, trying to school my features into something more serious. "How's that pregnant heifer doing?"

Sebastian scratches his chin. "She's progressing well, boss. Doc thinks she'll be ready to calve in about a week or so. We've been keeping a close eye on her."

I nod, satisfied with the update. Suddenly, we hear a ruckus that draws both our attention. Shouts and the sound of something crashing echo from the direction of the barn.

"…Catch these hands!"

"She will never be with you. You can dream on!"

"Stop! The boss ain't gonna be happy with you!"

"Call Sebastian!"

Sebastian turns to me, a frown forming between his brows as he hears his name. "I'll go check it out, boss."

"Alright," I agree, "but be careful."

I stay back, intending to give Sebastian a chance to handle the situation. But as the noise grows louder, followed by angry shouts, I decide to investigate myself.

As I round the bend, I come across complete chaos. Two of my ranch hands, Mike and Tony, are locked in a fistfight, their cowboy hats long since knocked to the ground. Sebastian stands between them, trying to separate the brawling men, while other ranch hands are also attempting to pull them away.

It's a complete mess.

I begin to walk towards them, and soon I break into a jog, heading right into the chaos. The closer I get, the louder their conversations are. "You think you can just waltz in here and take what's mine?" Mike yells, his face red with anger.

Tony pushes against Sebastian, trying to get at Mike. "It ain't yours if she doesn't want you, you drunken fool!"

"Cut it out!" I yell, my voice carrying over the commotion. The fight stops abruptly, all eyes turning to me.

I stride forward, my boots kicking up dust. "What in tarnation is going on here?"

Sebastian steps back, wiping sweat from his brow. "Girl problems boss. It also seems Mikey here has been drinking on the job"

I turn to Mike, not hiding the disappointment in my voice. "Is this true, Mike? You've been drinking on the job?"

Mike hangs his head, swaying slightly. "I... I'm sorry, boss. I just couldn't take it no more. Seeing Tony with Sarah..."

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