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Lora gave her an encouraging smile. “Good. Now, why don’t you start at the beginning.”

Chyanne nodded. “Well, I came here to the ranch because I saw an ad for a rodeo rider. I applied, and was told I got the job.” She cast a narrowed-eyed glance at Nate before turning her attention back to Lora. “And that’s what I t-thought was… well, that’s why I’m here, anyway.” She shrugged and tried to look indifferent, but from where he stood Aaron could see her lower lip begin to tremble.

“What do you mean?” Lora looked as confused as he felt.

“I just mean… I mean, I thought I was being hired for a job, but…”

She took a deep breath, and seeing she was struggling, he held her hand tighter. “That’s not true!”

“It’s not?” Lora seemed surprised.

Chyanne shook her head, and tears began to trickle down her cheeks. But with one hand in Aaron’s and Chandler’s hand on her shoulder, she didn’t even bother to try to wipe them away. “No. I… I met these guys… they’re riders… they… they’re here for the rodeo. Aren’t they?” She speared Nate with an accusatory glare.

He met it without flinching. “They are.”

Aaron was careful to keep his expression neutral, and cover his own surprise. Without thinking, he gave her hand another squeeze, and she surprised him by squeezing back.Our girl’s still in there. She still cares. Now, if we can just work through this mess…

“That’s not fair!”

Nate leaned back in his chair, maintaining eye contact. “Isn’t it?”

Seeming caught off guard by his casual demeanor, she took a minute to answer. But when she did, the word popped out in thunderous tones. “No!”

“Why?”

Chyanne turned her head to look at him, then Chandler, as if to say,can you believe this guy?

But Aaron knew that Nate had a plan. He always did. And as much as he cared for Chyanne, he trusted Nate’s judgment.

“Why isn’t it, Chyanne?”

Nate’s question drew her gaze back again. “I… just… you made me think I had the job!”

“You’ll be paid for riding, just as we discussed.”

His calm seemed to fluster and infuriate her all at once. “But… I… I thought I’d be the only one,” she finally huffed.

“You never asked.”

Aaron quickly hid his smile as his fiery sub turned a shade of red he’d never seen on her before.

“I didn’t think I had to! You… you advertise this whole western feel-good vibe here, isn’t the number one rule of cowboys honesty?”

Nate tipped his head back thoughtfully, and Aaron did not miss the gleam there. “Though I wouldn’t call myself a cowboy, yes, I agree.”

Agreeing with her only made Chyanne’s mouth drop open. “Well, then, what the heck, man?”

“Chyanne,” Lora spoke up softly. “Sorry to interrupt,” she aimed these words at her fiancé. “I just feel like this could go on forever.”

On the other side, he could swear he heard Chandler muffle a laugh with a cough.

“I think what he’s asking is for you to tell himhowhe lied.”

Aaron could tell from her rigid posture that Chyanne wanted to walk right out of there.Stick with it, baby. Say what you’ve got to say, and let’s get all of this out in the open right now.

It was the only way they were going to be able to go forward, but he’d already learned he couldn’t make her. It had to be her choice.

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