Jesse pulled up on the reins when we were a couple hundred yards back, and Sunny slowed to a walk. Of course, it was a fast walk.

Neil stood in the bed of Old Bessie, closing the cooler back up, and gave us a wave when he saw us coming. No one else seemed all that interested in the two of us. Or else, like Jesse said about the whole rumors firing off the moment we left, they were just feigning disinterest.

Oh, well. Neil didn’t seem to care that his son and I had ridden off into the lunchtime sunset, showed up fifteen minutes later with silly smiles on our faces, and Jesse’s arms were cinched around me in such a way that wasn’t necessary to keep me steady in the saddle.

“Why is it you don’t look like a single person in your family?” I said lightly, taking in Neil. Other than the way they dressed, Jesse and he couldn’t have looked more different. “Surely there’s got to be a reason.”

I waited for him to reply with something that had to do with consuming mass quantities of Wheaties or DNA took a day off when Jesse was conceived, but he shrugged. “There’s a reason for everything, Rowen.”

A person wouldn’t have to be especially perceptive to catch the whole flood of meaning beneath Jesse’s words. “Why, thank you, Aristotle,” I teased. “And now I’ve seen it all. A cowboy philosopher.”

His soft laugh vibrated against my back. “I’m much deeper than I look. I’m not the dumb hick you’d think I’d be.”

It was my turn to laugh. “Jesse, I could tell after two words with you that you were not a dumb hick. Not in this life or any of your former or future lives.”

“That is the sweetest, most strange compliment I’ve ever been given.” He pulled up on the reins one more time, and Sunny came to a stop. We were back with the others, and I could tell from the sideways looks everyone threw our way that Jesse had been right. He and I just “slipping” away unnoticed had been a whole lot of wishful thinking. Then again, when their employer’s son started paying attention to the new girl with a questionable past, I suppose rumors were an expected side effect.

“Jesse,” Neil called over, “I need you to head out with Walt and Justin as soon as you get Rowen back on solid ground.” Neil gave us both an amused smile. “A few of the cows have already crossed the river and the calves didn’t feel so brave. They’re making one heck of a raucous and are going to worry themselves into a fit if they don’t get to their mamas soon.” Neil’s smile grew. “I hope you and Sunny weren’t planning on staying dry today.”

“I learned not to hope to stay wet, dry, hot, or cold a long time ago, Dad,” Jesse replied. “I’m on it.”

Neil nodded in acknowledgement before leaping out of the truck bed and heading over to his horse.

“You’re going to swim the babies over to their moms?” I asked, trying to picture it. I couldn’t.

“Well, Sunny’s going to swim. I’m going to just throw the calf over my lap, hold on real tight, and hope the current doesn’t whisk us away.”

My face blanched. Now that, Jesse, Sunny, and some poor baby calf being tossed and rolled under the waves of a raging river, I could imagine.

“I’m just messing with you, Rowen,” he said, pinching my side. “The river’s deep, but the current’s nice and slow. So slow it shouldn’t even be called a river. I’ve done it hundreds of times. It’s a piece of cake. There’re a few calves every season that need a little help crossing.”

“Okay,” I said, feeling a little better. But only a little. It still sounded dangerous.

“I’ve got baby calves to save. So I’d better be on my way.” His mouth came dangerously close to my ear again. “As much as I’d rather stay.” He pulled back into the safe range when he spoke next. “Just swing your leg over Sunny’s neck, and I’ll make sure you land upright and not on your backside.”

“I won’t hold my breath,” I said. I swung my left leg over Sunny’s neck—thank goodness it was down since he was munching on some grass—and, sure enough, found myself landing on the ground on my feet a moment later. “You’re good,” I said, turning around.

From the gloat on his face, I guessed he already knew that. “I know my way around a horse.”

I looked around before replying. “And me?”

The gloat was gone, but his smile became more pronounced. “I’m learning.” Tilting his hat at me, he made that clicking sound again and turned Sunny around.

“Be safe,” I called after him. “And don’t forget to strap on a life jacket or something.”

Even from where he was, I heard his laugh. “Hey, Rowen?” he called back. “Why did the calf cross the river?”

Really? What was next? Knock-knock jokes?

“To get away from you!” I yelled. That earned me a few curious stares. Well, a few more.

Another laugh. That one was accompanied by a shake of his head as he and Sunny broke into a trot.

“What? Because you threw it on your saddle and swam it over? Because of Jesse Walker?” I yelled after him.

Both rider and horse came to a stop. Jesse reined Sunny around. Even from that distance, I saw the flash of intention in Jesse’s eyes. It made my stomach drop. “Nope,” he replied. “The calf crossed the river because that scared little thing wanted to.” Jesse met my stare for another second before whipping around and charging up to the couple of riders ahead of him.

Even after he’d disappeared from view, I stared at the space where he’d been.

Jesse Walker was telling me something I wasn’t so sure I was ready to hear.

You can feel some people’s presences before you even lay eyes on them. Some of those presences are peaceful and put you at ease. Like Jesse’s. And some make you every shade of uncomfortable and disarm you. Like Garth’s.

The trouble with me, or one of the troubles with me, was that my what-was-good-for-me compass was seriously screwed up. I’d always known that to a certain extent, but only after coming to Willow Springs did I really notice it in a big way. I didn’t know what I wanted to do about it, if anything, but I was acknowledging it in a way I hadn’t before.

A dark, few-noted chuckle sounded from behind me.

Speaking of presences . . .

“What are you doing still lurking around?” I said, spinning around. “All the guys left a few minutes ago.” I hadn’t stopped staring at the spot I’d last seen Jesse and Sunny until the man in black interfered.

Garth smiled that dark one of his that would have made me shiver had it been any cooler out. “I’m good at . . . lurking,” he said in that deep, thick voice. “And yeah, the guys did leave a few minutes ago. One guy left even a few minutes before that.” Garth walked toward me, his horse following him. His horse had a dark mane and tail. Like owner, like horse. “But that sure hasn’t stopped you from staring at that same spot like you’re hoping if you look long enough, Jesse fucking Walker will magically reappear.”

My whole body tensed. I hadn’t heard such a harsh word delivered in such a spiteful tone in so long that it caught me off guard.

“Where did you come from?” I asked, shoving the cooler farther into the truck bed. The sooner I got into the cab, the sooner I could get away from Garth Black. I still hadn’t forgotten what he’d said to me at the rodeo or how he’d said the words with such cruelty. “I didn’t see you earlier. Do you just decide to show up for work whenever the hell you please?”

I heard him and his horse move closer. I didn’t flinch. I didn’t shy away. I knew guys like Garth, people like him. They got off on knowing they intimidated others. I wouldn’t give him that pleasure.

“I was here. I’ve been here all goddamned day, rounding up dumb cows and riding alongside dumber cowboys.” I slammed the tailgate closed, and when I turned around, I found Garth not even two feet from me. I came close to squirming, so I crossed my arms and stood my ground. “But I guess it’s no big surprise you didn’t notice anyone else just now. Because you, my infatuated little girl,”—I bristled at the little part. He didn’t mean my height.—“had eyes for no one but that golden boy atop his golden steed. Riding off to his golden tower and his golden family.”