Seventeen-year-old Chloe Matthews is done with guys, done with her ex, and done with the cowboys of the Grand Teton Mountains. She refuses to get hurt again.
All that matters now are the horses. Every horse Chloe helps is another piece of herself pu...
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One of the four antler arches surrounding the Jackson Town Square. Male elk shed their antlers each spring, so no elk were harmed to create these beautiful arches.
*
It wasn't until a break in my shift later that evening that I realized Jack had said 'we' will get the mare out. But we weren't a team. We were competitors. And in way over our heads. It was time to call the sheriff.
Just as I picked up the phone, Gabi slipped into the café and headed toward me. I grabbed her elbow and pulled her into the back room. "I need to talk to your dad."
"Did you get the mare? Why didn't you text me?"
Hotness spilled into my eyes. "Miller wouldn't take the money."
"Why not?"
"Said they sold her."
"Lying sack of-"
"I know." I squeezed my right hand into a fist. "Jack dragged me out before I could slap the smug smile off his face."
Gabi tilted her head and chomped her gum. "Jack dragged you out?"
I watched her jaw pumping up and down, and tried really hard not to roll my eyes. She leaned over the trash can, pursed her lips, and mercifully let the gum fall out.
"I need your dad," I said. "It's the only way to get the mare out before that idiot hurts her again."
"Uh huh?" Her eyes got wide. "He'll look into it as soon as we cough up Penny."
"If we tell him how horrible it is out there, he'll have to look into it."
She shook her head. "Not without evidence."
"That's what Jack said."
"He's right."
Why was Jack always right? "You're the sheriff's daughter. Doesn't that give you special treatment?"
"Not when I'm on his crap list."
"Why is everything so complicated?" My mare didn't have time to wait for evidence or grudges.
"I thought I heard voices back here." Cash peeked into the back room and devoured Gabi with his eyes. "Your horse is a pig. She eats a full flake every night."
Gabi's eyes narrowed. "Why are you feeding her?"
"Just helping out."
"Don't do me any favors." Gabi flicked her hand.
Cash grinned. "I like doing it."
"Fine." She stepped up to him. "But this means nothing. Got it? You got nothing on me."
He set his jaw without breaking her gaze and nodded. "Maybe you'll feed my horses sometime. When I go out of town."
"Right," Gabi said. "When do you ever go out of town?"
