The Cowboys Heart

New Threat

The morning sun filtered through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow over the rustic wooden table. Harper was already up, lost in thought as she stared at the cup of coffee in her hands. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions. She and Colton had grown closer, yet the lingering doubts about her future and the ranch continued to weigh heavily on her mind.

With a soft sigh, she set her mug down and moved to the window, gazing out at the sprawling land her grandfather had left her. The cattle grazed peacefully in the field, and the barn stood strong against the backdrop of the mountains. It was beautiful, but the responsibilities that came with it felt daunting.

"Hey, Harper!" Colton called from the barn, his voice breaking through her thoughts. "We need to check the fence line today. Come on!"

"Yeah, I'll be right there!" she shouted back, forcing a smile onto her face as she turned away from the window. Today would be another day of hard work, and she needed to focus on that, even as her mind churned with uncertainty.

As they worked side by side, Harper tried to keep the conversation light, but she could sense a shift in Colton. He seemed distracted, more reserved than usual. The playful banter they had enjoyed so much was replaced by a tense silence that hung between them, heavy with unspoken words.

"Is everything okay?" Harper asked, breaking the silence as they finished mending a section of the fence.

Colton paused, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, just tired, I guess."

"Really? You've been saying that a lot lately," she replied, concern etched on her face. "If something's bothering you, I'd like to know."

Colton shifted his weight, his jaw tightening. "It's nothing, Harper. Just the usual ranch stuff."

But Harper knew it was more than that. There was a restlessness in his eyes, a worry that seemed to deepen with each passing day.

"Alright," she said softly, not wanting to push him. "But you can talk to me if you want."

As the afternoon sun began to dip toward the horizon, they wrapped up their work for the day. Harper felt a sense of accomplishment, a small victory that made the long hours worth it. But as she and Colton headed back to the house, the weight of his silence pressed down on her.

That evening, after dinner, Harper decided to tackle some paperwork she had been putting off. As she sat at the dining table, sorting through her grandfather's old documents, her heart sank at the thought of the impending decisions she had to make.

She was deep in thought when a knock on the door interrupted her.

"Harper, you in there?" It was Sarah, a local friend she had made since moving to the ranch.

"Yeah, come in!" Harper called, grateful for the distraction.

Sarah entered, her face lit up with excitement. "You'll never believe who I just saw in town!"

"Who?" Harper asked, intrigued.

"Jason Mills—the Mills Ranch owner. He was talking to some developers about the old Smith land," she replied, plopping down in a chair. "They're looking to buy up some of the smaller ranches in the area."

Harper's heart raced. "Really? What for?"

"Probably to develop into some fancy resort or something. You know how these people are." Sarah rolled her eyes. "But what's even more interesting is that he mentioned your ranch."

"My ranch?" Harper echoed, feeling a knot form in her stomach.

"Yeah. He said something about you being a city girl and might be open to selling. Apparently, they think they can convince you to part with it for a good price."