Page 40 of Timber's Line

“And what does he think about you?”

“I don’t know. One minute, he’s hot, and the next, he’s cold.”

“He went through a big breakup.”

“I know.”

“Follow your heart. Time to voice your opinion, it sounds like. Just do me a favor? Let him have a few days. Meet some of the other guys first. And then let your heart do the talking.”

I think about it for a minute. “Okay.”

“We don’t want you to get your heart broken.”

“I know. Thank you.”

“Let me tell Ralston that I’m taking you home and will be back in a minute.”

“Where’s Lincoln?”

“Helping Mason get ready for the next rodeo.”

“Where’s it at?”

“Sal is putting it on in town. Friday. It’s going to be part of the show, even if the guys don’t know it yet.”

“Oh no, another bull riding?”

“No, this will be calf wrestling. Don’t tell anyone I told you. You’ll have time to meet the rest of the guys and then that’s an elimination event.”

“Oh great. Sal has it all figured out.”

“Just go with the flow,” Skye snickers. “Sal is an enigma.”

“You got that right.”

She drops me off, and Ever rushes over to me. “Are you okay?”

“I am.”

“We’ll be here tonight,” Skye tells Ever before driving off.

“Time to get dressed.”

I just follow. I actually can’t wait to put on my dress. It’s beautiful and I know it will make me feel like a princess.

“Jump in the shower and I’ll go get your dress and shoes,” Ever says, and I hurry. I want to erase the day and Ashton. How many more people will try and ruin this for me?

By the time I get out, Ever is waiting.

I slip into the dress, and she zips me up. When I turn around, she has tears in her eyes.

“Ever?”

“You look so beautiful.” She wipes her eyes, just as Skye and Ariel enter the room. They both gasp.

“Holy shit,” Skye mutters.

“Let’s get your hair done. The guys won’t know what hit them,” Ariel beams. They’re all smiling at me as Ariel sets my hair in a high elegant bun.