Page 14 of Wrangle Me

CHAPTER 12

BOOTS AND BITCHING PODCAST

Hey,y’all. Sagebrush Creek, I’ve got some extra sweet tea for you today. It’s your favorite secret podcaster, back with another boots-on-the-ground update. You know the drill—I’ve got my ear to the ground and my fingers on the pulse of this town’s messiest secrets. So pour something with a little kick, sugar, because this one’s bigger than the Texas sky.

And when I say big, I mean… baby big.

That’s right, folks. Following my last report, the rumor has only grown. Word is there’s a new bun in the oven right here in Sagebrush Creek. The only problem is, I don’t have all the details just yet. And you know me, I’m not one to gossip...

But here’s what I do know. There’s a little cowboy—or cowgirl—on the way over at Kingridge Ranch. And the two names floating around? None other than those new horse-training sisters… Rosalie and Maisie.

Now, I don’t have confirmation on which of these lovely ladies is about to become a mama, but let’s just say the evidence is piling up. Rosalie’s been keeping a low profile ever since she rolled in from Misty Mountain, Colorado.

Then there’s Maisie… Let’s just say she’s been skipping the bourbon at The Velvet Spur. My money’s on the older one,Rosalie. Some of us were around during her first rodeo at the ranch, and honey, it’s gonna take more than a few years to make those memories fade into the sunset.

Now, I know some of y’all are yawning because technically, the Reagan sisters ain’t from around here...

But the daddy? Oh, the daddy just might be.

That’s right. This baby might be the next heir to the ranching throne. Could it be one of the Kingridge brothers? Because let’s be honest—those boys have been dodging commitment like a bull in a rodeo arena for years.

But lately? Lately, we’ve seen some lassos flying. Or maybe—just maybe—someone else in town is about to get the surprise of a lifetime.

I’ve asked around, and mum’s the word… for now. But think about it, sugar. There ain’t too many cowboys in this town who are smooth enough to knock the holy boots off the Reagan sisters. If the whispers are true, this could be the biggest scandal to hit that ranch since Pa Kingridge’s third divorce.

If I were a betting woman, I’d keep my eyes locked on Kingridge Ranch. After all, nothing says legacy like an unexpected heir.

One thing’s for sure, Sagebrush Creek—this little secret won’t stay hidden for long. And you know I’ll be the first to spill the tea when it all comes out. I’ll be watching. And trust me, so will the rest of this town.

Until next time, darlins... this is your bitch with boots on the ground, signing off.

CHAPTER 13

CALLUM

It’s beentwo days since I messed things up with Maisie, and it’s killing me.

I’ve seen her in passing at the stables. We’ve even shared space and exchanged a few words. I’ve apologized one hundred times for my brash comments, and she seems to accept it, but something is off.

I feel it in the way she won’t quite meet my eyes. In the way her voice sharpens when she talks to me. It’s clipped and professional, like we’re just coworkers again and nothing more. I don’t know what to make of it, but I fucking hate it.

Her sister is gone, and maybe that’s part of it. I know they’re close. Maybe she’s worried about Rosalie, or the shift in their routine could’ve thrown her off. But this feels like more than that. Like whatever changed is personal.

Every time I reach out, she keeps it short and all business. She’s still herself, but there’s no warmth. No spark. Worst of all, there's been no alone time. Maisie is always busy and always somewhere else before I can get a real read on her. She’s avoiding me while being right next to me, and I’m going to put a stop to it today.

By the time I bring my group back from the trail ride, the thought’s been gnawing at me all morning. I don’t even bother heading back to the lodge. Instead, I tie the horses, make sure the guests are taken care of, and then lean against the fence outside the stables and wait. This is where I was the first time I laid eyes on her. Now it’s where I stand to lose her. The irony makes my chest tighten.

I know her schedule by heart. She’ll be finishing her training session any minute now. And I’m not leaving until we get to the bottom of this, for better or for worse. I’ve fallen for a few who didn’t fall back over the years. I’ve misread the signs. I hoped for things that weren’t mine to have. But this thing with Maisie doesn’t feel like any of those situations.

Maisie is different from anyone I’ve ever known. She’s the first woman I’ve ever looked at and seen not just a future but my home. I don’t know what’s pulling her away from me, but I’m not letting it happen without a fight.

I’m not going to lose her before we even get a chance to start.

Finally, the family filters out of the stables, making their way toward the front of the ranch. I spot Maisie in the mix, walking a few steps behind them, murmuring something to the staff as they peel off one by one.

I bide my time. When she turns back toward the stables, we lock eyes, and there isn’t any avoiding it now. I move toward her before I can second-guess it and reach for her hand.

“Hey,” I say gently. “I’ve been missing you. Is everything okay?”

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