Page 135 of Wildest Dreams

Tripp is dancing with my mom and Lainey, Conrad is dancing with Sunny and Austin is dancing with his mom, Blue.

Me? I am sitting alone on a bale of hay whilst nursing a whiskey.

I know I'll get my happily ever after, but for now, I have too much to do to save my ranch, to save all the ranches.

I haven't wanted to stress Riggs and Tripp out with the news that I have heard, but the sale of land is moving forward, along with the second biggest ranch, Cottonwheel Ranch, just outside of Lovelock Bay.

I have a meeting with Mr Wheeler at the beginning of next week and I am hoping we can work together to finally squash these suits once and for all, because it seems this runs much deeper than just Clay and his lot.

We have a much bigger problem.

Shaking my head from side to side, I drain the rest of my glass and push myself to my feet. Slightly missing my footing, a hand reaches mine.

“Careful there, sheriff,” and my eyes connect with hers.

Dirty blonde hair hidden under a cowgirl hat. Beautiful green eyes. And a smile to drag you into her soul.

“I don't think we've met,” she holds her hand out for me to shake. “I am Morgan Wheeler.”

“Pacey Rivera...” and just as our hands clasp, the ground begins to tremor before a loud bang echoes around the ranch followed by screams.

“I don't think we caused that,” her eyes widen.

I whistle, calling the cowboys and Marty. Rushing towards the stables, I grab my horse, Morgan hot on my tail as she grabs one of my boy’s horses. I kick my horse on, following the still echoing bang and it doesn't take me long to find out what caused it.

“Shit,” I groan as I look at the old back entrance of the gold mine that runs under the ranch blown, smoke coming through the ground.

“What's happened?” she whispers, just as Marty and the boys catch us up. I look at them before my eyes find hers, and I honestly could lose myself in them.

“They've started a war,” I tilt my head, before opening the rein to my horse and kicking him down the field towards Riggs and Tripp.

And I know this is going to be the biggest fight of our lives. The breeze dances around me as I gallop towards the party and I hear my dad's words echo around my head.

Live by the ranch, die by the ranch.

The End