The Cowboys Heart

Setback

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the ranch as Harper stepped out of the barn, a sense of accomplishment filling her chest. She had spent the morning working alongside Colton, tending to the horses and organizing the supply shed. Each day brought new challenges, but she was learning and growing stronger with every passing moment.

Yet, as she walked towards the house, a sense of unease settled in her stomach. The vibrant beauty of the landscape felt overshadowed by a dark cloud looming on the horizon. The peaceful hum of ranch life was suddenly interrupted by a commotion coming from the direction of the main house.

Colton stood outside, his expression tense as he spoke to a man Harper recognized as Jacob, a neighboring rancher. The two men were engaged in a heated discussion, their voices rising above the gentle rustle of the wind through the grass. Harper approached cautiously, her heart racing as she caught snippets of their conversation.

"I'm telling you, Colton, this land dispute has to be settled. Your grandfather always honored the boundaries," Jacob said, his voice gruff and accusatory.

"Those boundaries aren't as clear-cut as you think, Jacob," Colton replied, his tone firm yet controlled. "My grandfather never intended to block you out. We can work this out peacefully."

But Jacob wasn't having it. "Peacefully? You think I'm going to just let you take what's rightfully mine? I've got my eyes on that grazing land, and I won't let you stand in my way."

Harper felt a knot tighten in her stomach as she drew closer, unsure of how to intervene. She glanced at Colton, who was doing his best to remain calm, but the tension radiating from him was palpable.

"Let's talk about this like adults," Colton continued, trying to diffuse the situation. "There's enough land for both of us if we just communicate."

Jacob scoffed. "Your grandfather's dead. You're just a kid playing rancher now. You don't know the first thing about managing this land."

That stung. Harper felt a surge of protectiveness for Colton, anger flaring inside her. He had worked hard to prove himself, and this man's dismissive attitude felt like a personal attack.

"Hey! He's not just 'playing rancher,'" she called out, stepping forward. "Colton has put in more effort than you know. This ranch is his responsibility now, and he deserves respect."

Jacob turned to her, surprise flickering in his eyes, but he quickly masked it with irritation. "You should stick to your city life, lady. You don't understand the complexities of ranching."

Harper's pulse quickened at the condescension in his voice, but before she could respond, Colton put a hand on her arm. "Harper, it's okay. I can handle this."

"No, it's not okay," she said, shaking off his hand. "You can't let him treat you like this. You're more than capable of running this ranch, and he knows it."

Colton met her gaze, a mix of gratitude and concern in his eyes. "I appreciate it, but this is between me and Jacob."

"Fine, but I won't stand by and let him bully you," she said defiantly.

Jacob narrowed his eyes, clearly irritated at the disruption. "You think this is a game? I'll give you both until the end of the month to settle this. After that, I'm taking matters into my own hands."

With that, he turned on his heel and stormed off, leaving a heavy silence in his wake. Harper looked at Colton, who stood rigid, his jaw clenched tightly.

"What are you going to do?" she asked, feeling the weight of the situation settle over them.

"I don't know," Colton admitted, running a hand through his hair. "This is a mess. Jacob's been after this land for years, and now he thinks I'm an easy target."