Page 6 of Longhorn Findlay Farm

ARCHIE

I sawthe whole thing from the stage and by the time I put the microphone down, my heart is pounding in my chest. The way the Stanleys walked in like they own the place makes me sick. They’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here, especially Waylin.

I march through the tent in search of him. I come across Dakota standing with William and I hate the sight. “Don’t talk to him.” I blurt as soon as I’m in earshot. “He’s leaving, and his piece of shit brother is too. Have you seen Carly?”

Dakota looks up at me, eyes wide. But she can’t possibly be surprised. Our rivalry with the men of Robinson Ranch runs deep.

“Calm down Archie, William and I are just…talking and I think Carly went outside.”

William looks up at me, a sheepish expression on his face. My fists ball up without my consent and for a moment I consider laying him out across the dance floor. He’s lucky I’ve got bigger problems.

I explode through the exit of the white tent, sending the canvas flying.

When I find Waylin, he’s standing close to Carly, too close for my liking. My anger turns to white-hot rage that courses through me like fire.

“What the hell are you doing here Waylin? I don’t remember sending an invitation out to Robinson Ranch.”

He turns to face me with a slow, too-casual expression. “Who needs a formal invite when you’re practically family? News came around fast that y’all were opening some kind of dude ranch so I thought I’d come to check out the competition firsthand. It’s just business.”

“Carly, get away from him. This is Waylin—” I start, putting a hand on Carly’s shoulder and pulling her toward me, and forcing my body between the two of them. Everything this man touches gets ruined and I’m not about to put my girl in harm's way.

“Oh we go way back, isn’t that right?” He looks her up and down.

“Shut the hell up. Come on Carly let's go. You can wait inside while I find William. These two are leaving.” I usher her toward the tent’s entrance, but Carly doesn’t move.

A slow-growing grin spreads over Waylin’s face. “You didn’t tell him, did you? Well, I better do the honors. Can’t have my boy Archie left in the dark on this one.” He winks at me and my blood runs cold. “You see, we are a thing, an item. You get it, right? You know, she and I writhing against each other in an on-again, off-again kind of way.”

My head spins and my chest is swollen with rage I can hardly breathe. I glance at Carly, but she isn’t denying any of it. Instead, she’s standing ramrod straight, eyes watering, and chewing her bottom lip. “Carly, what’s he talking about?”

“I’m telling you a truth you don’t want to hear. Don’t believe me? Here.” He scrolls through his phone and pulls up a photo then shows it to me. It’s young Carly in a white bikini planting a kiss on his cheek.

I throw my head back more stunned than anything else.How deep does the deception go? Are they still together? Is she only here to collect information on the ranch? Or on me? Why did I show her my notebook? Was she curious about my project or is this a deep seeded attempt for Waylin to take my next great idea too?The rush of adrenaline subsides and it takes the fight out of me. All of a sudden, I feel like I’m going to be sick.

Carly turns to me. “It’s true. It was a long time ago and I hate him. He was awful to me and…”

“And you never mentioned it.” The words erupt out of me. “You lied to my face. You had me show you everything I’ve been working on. Why? To run back and tell him? It isn’t enough that he stole my patent now he’s sent you to spy on me.”

“Archie stop, it isn’t like that.” She blinks back tears.

Waylin lets out a laugh from behind me. “Yeah man, it’s exactly like that. I figure we’re going to own Findlay Farms soon so I might as well check out the merchandise before I make my purchase.”

That’s all it takes and my rage boils over. I'm seething with fury and drowning in rage. In an instant, my fist connects with Waylin’s face. The punches come from every angle and I wonder how many more of the boys from Robinson Ranch are here. But it doesn’t matter, I won’t stop until all of them are on the ground. I get a couple more solid swings in before Jameson and two of our guys are pulling me off of Waylin.

It takes me a minute to catch my breath. As soon as I do, I look for Carly. I want to talk things out with her. Waylin is an asshole and I’m sad she ever had to be tangled up with him. But I’m in love with her and with the heat of rage out of me, I don’t think she’d betray me. Carly is better than that. But I need to know every detail about her connection with Waylin before we move forward. Only when I look around, Carly isn’t anywhere to be found.

CHAPTER8

CARLY

I rush awayfrom the chaos in tears. The scene is heartbreaking, it’s another chance for Waylin to ruin something good in my life. I feel sick as I tear through the entrance to the tent. A hand on my shoulder stops me. It’s William, he’s standing with Dakota Findlay but I shrug away from his touch. When I hear Dakota call my name, I don’t stop.

I can’t.

As I get out into the darkness of the night sky, I inhale a shattered breath. I’m alone again and this somehow feels right. At the end of the day, it’s always me, alone. The sooner I get used to that idea, the better off I’ll be.

I’m not the kind of person who ends up in a family like the Findlays. I was only kidding myself by playing house with Archie. This is just another mistake in a line of bad choices so long, I can’t see where it starts.

Relief washes over me when I reach the door to my cottage and I rush inside. I sit on my bed in the quiet serenity of darkness. I stay there trying to convince myself that this is my destiny. But my body remembers the searing touch of Archie’s hands on me and it won’t be easily persuaded. It knows the truth, and I can’t stop shaking.

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