My Cowboy Prince (*unedited)

Chapter 17

The morning sun is warm against my skin as we walk down the gravel path toward Luke's truck. The remnants of last night's storm have left the earth damp which is evident by small puddles that glisten in the morning light. The smell of wet soil along with the scent of fresh hay and wildflowers is carried through the crisp air.

Luke is walking beside me, his hands are stuffed into the pockets of his jeans as he strolls leisurely. He's traded that thick hoodie for a simple grey t-shirt that clings to his muscular frame. His blue eyes are bright reflecting the sky above, and a small smile tugs at the corners of his lips as he glances at me.

"So, a celebratory breakfast, huh?" I tease, nudging him playfully with my elbow. "Was it because of the viral video or something else?"

Luke chuckles. "A bit of both, thought we deserved it after all the hard work we've been putting in. Plus, Grandma Bea was pretty excited about the video blowing up. She insisted on making her famous biscuits and gravy."

I smile at the memory of the hearty breakfast we'd shared with Grandma Bea. Her eyes had sparkled with pride as she talked about the surge in views and the positive comments flooding their social media pages. It was a small victory, but it felt monumental. For the first time, it seemed like our efforts were truly starting to pay off, not just in terms of attention but also financially. The potential for online monetary gains was now within their reach, and the thought makes me excited. I am happy that Luke stuck with his morals and trusted me.

"She was so proud," I say softly, my voice tinged with affection for her. "It's nice to see her so happy. She deserves it."

Luke nods, his expression is thoughtful. "Yeah, she does. She's been through a lot, especially after Grandpa passed. This place means everything to her. To us."

His words hang in the air, heavy and with meaning. Everytime he says it I feel the weight of his responsibility. The pressure of keeping the ranch afloat while honoring his family's legacy must be a rough one. It's a burden I can't fully understand but it's one that I respect deeply. We walk in comfortable silence for a moment with the sound of gravel crunching beneath our feet. The truck comes into view and I can see the sun reflecting off its clean windshield. It's down parked down near the barn.

"Do you think we can keep up with the content?" I ask, breaking the silence. "Now that you have an audience, there's a lot of pressure to keep them engaged long after I am gone."

Luke glances at me, his expression softening. "I think we can handle it. You've been doing an amazing job with the editing and filming. Watching you have taught me a thing or two."

I offer him a shy smile. "I... I am sorry to put that burden on you."

Luke shakes his head. "Nonsense. Ya helped us find a way out, a way to keep this place goin'. This has... it's given us hope. I can't thank ya enough."

I reach out and squeeze his arm. "No need and I'll always be a phone call away."

As we reach the truck, Luke opens the passenger door for me with a small, chivalrous gesture that makes my heart flutter. I climb in and settle into the worn leather seat, watching as he rounds the front of the truck to get behind the wheel. He starts the engine, and the truck rumbles to life, filling the cab with a comforting vibration.

"Ready for a trip into the city City Girl?" The cowboy asks, glancing over at me with a grin.

I nod earnestly as pure excitement bubbles up inside me. "Yeah, it'll be nice to get off the ranch for a bit. Plus, we urgently need to stop by the pharmacy."

"You got it," he agrees, shifting the truck into gear. "Let's get going then. We've got a long day ahead of us."

As we pull out of the ranch, the landscape shifts from open fields to dense woods. The long trees cast dappled shadows across the winding road that leads to the city.