Page 5 of Falling Hard for the Billionaire Cowboy

Hours pass in a blur of heat, smoke, and exhaustion. But slowly, painfully slowly, we begin to gain ground. The fire's roar diminishes to a growl, then to a whisper. Finally, as the sun begins to set, casting an eerie beautiful orange glow across the smoke-filled sky, we extinguish the last of the flames.

We stand there, a group of exhausted soot-covered men, looking at the charred remains of what had once been a barn. But we have won. We have saved the rest of the ranch. And as I look around at the tired but triumphant faces of my team, I'm overwhelmed with a surge of pride and gratitude.

By the time the last of the firefighters leave, the only people left behind are my hand crew guys. "All right, everyone," I call out. "Go home and get some rest. We'll talk tomorrow. Great job men. I appreciate everyone so much!"

As the others disperse, Sebastian stays behind. I clap him on the shoulder. " I'm heading to the hospital to check on Noah. You've done good work today."

He nods, relief evident on his face. I take off my hat, running a hand through my hair. The long trek back to the main house feels even longer with my muscles aching and my clothes sticking to my body in the evening wind.

As I enter my house, a sense of calm washes over me. I'd purchased it five years ago along with farm the property, and now every inch of it feels like home. Before I bought it, this house had felt loved – and I had kept it that way, barely changing anything from the original décor.

When I drop my hat on the table, almost immediately, my two golden retrievers bound towards me, barking excitedly. Despite my exhaustion, I can't help but laugh as they crash into me, tails wagging like whips.

"Hey, boys," I say, stroking their heads and placing a kiss on each one. "Come on, buddies," I add, clucking my tongue as I head upstairs.

The dogs follow me to my bedroom, settling on the floor as I shower and change into clean clothes. Within minutes, I’m heading back downstairs, the dogs at my heels.

I’m about to feed them when I hear a sound from the doorway. The dogs hear it too, instantly alert and growling low in their throats.

"Shh, easy boys. Easy," I whisper, my hand instinctively reaching for the holster where I keep my gun. Break-ins are rare in our town, but not unheard of. It can be one of the ranch hands coming back, but I’m not taking any chances.

As I take another step, the door flies open. I am about to draw my gun when I find myself face to face with a sight that makes me freeze in my tracks.

It isn't Sebastian or any of my ranch hands. No, this person is nothing like them.

Standing in my doorway, looking disheveled but no less beautiful, is the woman I'd seen stranded on the roadside earlier.

I'll be danged.

Chapter three

HAYLEY

A few hours earlier …

I finally manage to flag down another ride, this time from an older woman named Beatrice who is headed to the outskirts of Redstone. Once again, she is someone who knows me as Martha's daughter.

But that isn't all.

I also find myself perched in the bed of yet another pickup truck, the wind whipping through my already disheveled hair. My stomach growls, reminding me just how long it has been since I'd eaten. I know that as soon as I get home, I'll be raiding the fridge and then crashing – everything else can wait until morning.

As we drive through the already dark sky, a cool breeze brushes against my skin, raising goosebumps and sending a shiver down my spine. I look up at the sky, marveling at the breathtaking array of twinkling stars. It’s a sight I've missed during my time in the city, where smog and light pollution makeit almost impossible to even see a single star. Here it feels like you can reach out and pluck the stars right out of the heavens.

"Almost there, honey!" Beatrice calls out, her voice loud enough to be heard over the rumble of the engine.

True to her words, we soon pull up to the familiar gates of my family's ranch.

"Thank you so much, Ms. Beatrice. I appreciate going out of your way to drive me out here." I thank her, knowing that hitchhiking a ride two times a day in the city would be impossible, not to mention dangerous.

People either think you're about to rob them, kill them, or worse. Well, not like I can blame them.

"Thank you again, ma'am," I repeat once more as I climb out of the truck bed on wobbly legs.

"You take care now, dear," she says warmly. "And make sure to hang on to your time here!" She says with a wink, before driving away.

I wave as she drives off, then turn to face the gates. With a deep breath, I push them open and step onto the property. Immediately, the scent of smoke hits my nostrils. I glance around, wondering if the incinerator is running. My parents had installed it years ago to help manage the ranch's waste, and the smell brings back a flood of memories.

As I make my way up the long driveway, each step feels like a punch to the gut – but in a good way. Nostalgia washes over me in waves as I take in the familiar sights. There's the old oak tree where I'd had my first kiss, the barn where I'd learned to ride, and the house itself, standing proud and barely changed. It’s as if time had stopped in Redstone the day I'd left for the city.

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