My Cowboy Prince (*unedited)

Chapter 8

A perfect blend of pink and yellow outlines the distant hills as dawn slowly spreads out across the sky. Seeing the view across from these open fields is nothing short of amazing. Sunrise is beginning to be my favourite part of the day.

As I walk towards the barn, fresh morning air fill my lungs and lift my spirits. It's now my fifth day here on the ranch and I'm loving every second of it.

Yesterday had been a whirlwind of activity as Luke and the ranch hands showed me how they rear cattle. In the past two days we had filmed everything, from the early morning roundup to the evening feed. So far, we've managed to engage a small but enthusiastic audience. A huge chunk of which drools over Luke but it's progress nonetheless.

One of the massive red doors of the barn is slightly ajar. With a gentle push, I swing the door open wider and the hinges creakes softly in protest. The familiar aroma of the barn immediately fills my senses. It's a blend of fresh hay, animal musk, and the faint, sweet smell of old wood. The artificial light shining from above illuminate the dust motes dancing in the air.

My gaze however drifts over to the infamous cowboy who is crunched down in a corner. He's preparing the milking equipment for our scheduled TikTok live. The way his hands move with such practice ease, it's hard to look away. Today we're gonna tackle another essential task: milking the cows.

"Mornin', City Girl," his Texan drawl greets me warmly. His voice has that husky, just-rolled-out-of-bed quality that sends a slight shiver down my spine, making it hard to ignore the subtle attraction I feel. He doesn't look up though as he finishes adjusting the milking equipment.

I nod, feeling a sudden dryness in my throat. "Ready to film some cow milking?" I manage to respond, trying to keep my tone casual. The combination of his voice and the early morning atmosphere is unexpectedly intoxicating, making it difficult to focus.

"Absolutely. Let's do this." Luke finally looks up, his eyes meets mine with a warm, slow, confident smile. He then stands and walks over to me, carrying the milking equipment with ease. His presence fills the space, and I can't help but notice how good-looking he is, especially under the harsh light that lights up the whole barn. As he reaches me, he flashes a charming smile and nods toward the door. "C'mon,"

We step out of the barn and into the cool morning air. The world seems to be waking up around us, with the faint sounds of birds chirping and the distant lowing of cows. As we walk towards the pen where the cows are kept, Luke turns to me, his expression softening with concern.

"You okay?" The man asks, his voice carrying a note of genuine care. "I know it's early. Didn't mean to drag you out of bed at the crack of dawn."

I offer a reassuring smile, shaking my head. "I'm fine, really. Not hungry yet either." The truth is, the early start is a small price to pay for the experience. Plus, being out here with him is more invigorating than any breakfast.

Luke chuckles, the deep and warm sound fills the morning air. "Well, if you start feelin' peckish, just say the word. Got some snacks in the truck."

I nod grateful for his usual concern.
There's something effortlessly charming about how he makes the early hour feel worth it.

As we reach the cows greet us with soft, curious moos. The pen, a sturdy structure of wooden rails and gates, is designed to keep the animals contained yet comfortable. Some of which goes back to grazing calmly, unaware of the day's agenda. Luke sets down the equipment and begins setting up straight away. Meanwhile, I position the camera, ensuring we capture the scene just right. I then start the live, the screen lights up with notifications as a few viewers join in.

Luke comes around to glance at the screen. Noticing the slow influx of comments, he smirks, turning to me. "Looks like we got quite an audience this morning."