I nuzzle my face against the horse’s soft neck. The gritty, earthy scent of the animal wafts around me.

“Good girl, Daisy,” I tell her, pulling back.

I rub her nose and wonder if I’ll ever be able to look at her without thinking about Nash and Clay.

It’s not likely. They’ve been on my mind all day and night. What happened in Nash’s truck blew every fantasy I’ve ever had out of the water.

It also made me realize how deep into all of this I am.

I only set out to lose my virginity. Clay seemed like the perfect prospect, not only because I had the hots for him but also because I knew he wouldn’t turn me down.

I didn’t expect to start feeling something for him. Or for Nash.

And the longer this all goes on for the higher our chances are of getting found out.

I’m my parents’ only kid. They don’t think I’m perfect, but there are certain expectations in our family. One of those involves keeping the family name clean.

It’s a task Clay Murphy hasn’t exactly fulfilled.

Clay.

A tight knot forms in my stomach. I’ll never find anyone else like him. I was stupid to think I could have sex with him and not get attached. The way he touches me, the way he makes me feel safe and protected…

The only other man who has ever done the same is Nash.

I’m shit out of luck.

“Goodnight girl,” I tell Daisy. I leave her stall and close it for the night. The rest of the horses are snug in their spots. The occasional snort fills the barn, each one comforting me. At least I have my home. At least I have my parents.

And maybe I’ll see Clay and Nash next time they come into town. Whenever that is.

How many towns will they visit between now and then? How many women will they sleep with?

I know I’m not the first one they’ve shared. I just kind of wish I could be something special to them.

I turn the lights off in the barn and shut the doors tight. I picked the wrong men to get involved with. In between Clay’s reputation and his and Nash’s lifestyle, it’s impossible to believe I’ll ever get anything more from them than the occasional romp.

Darkness covers the yard. I tilt my head up to look at the sky. Stars sparkle like gems, the familiar constellations stretching across the horizon. It’s the perfect night to sleep outside. All you would need is a thin blanket.

The protective arms of two cowboys wouldn’t hurt either.

A branch cracks nearby. I turn and peer at the trees in between the house and barn. “Hello?”

I step a bit closer towards the area the noise came from. There’s nothing there, but I can’t shake a feeling of not being alone. My heart starts to beat louder. I slowly walk toward the house, inspecting the yard all around me as I go.

The unmistakable sound of footsteps hit the dirt behind me. I whirl around. A dark figure rushes at me from around the side of the barn.

A choked cry leaves my throat but it’s barely more than a gurgle. It’s just like in the nightmares where you open your mouth to scream but no noise comes out.

“Don’t make a sound,” a female voice snarls.

The woman steps closer to me. Just the outline of her face shows in the moonlight, but I don’t think she’s anyone I’ve met. She juts her hand out to show me something. A click fills the yard.

“I have a gun. Make a sound and you’re done.”

“What do you want?” I ask in a small voice.

She steps closer and moonlight washes over her face. I nearly collapse. It’s the girl who gave me a ride home the other night. Her mascara is smeared around her eyes and her hair hangs in strings around her jaw.

Her upper lip curves into a snarl. She’s the opposite of the cheery stranger who helped me out.

“It-it’s you,” I choke out. “What are you doing?”

“Take an educated guess.”

I search her eyes, looking for a shred of humanity. I need something to connect with. I need a piece of the kind person I met the other night.

“Turn around and walk for the driveway.”

Adrenaline pulses through my veins. Fighting’s not an option, and neither is flight.

But I can’t let this stranger take me somewhere. If she’s willing to shoot me right here in the yard she’s willing to do worse things to me.

“I have money,” I evenly tell her. “I can get you some money if you need it.”

“I don’t need your money! Get your ass going.”

I don’t move. “Tell me what you need.”

Her eyes fill with tears. “Revenge.”

“I didn’t do anything to you. I’m sorry if you think I did. Look, the ranch hands will be out here any minute. They’re armed. If they see you with a gun they’ll go ahead and shoot and ask questions later.” I try to make my words strong, but my voice shakes.

“Yeah, right,” the woman sneers. “I know the ranch hands all left hours ago. You really must be stupid if you think I’m going to fall for that. I’ve been watching you for days, Cheyenne.”

My heart falls into my stomach. She’s been watching me and I haven’t noticed. I’ve been too preoccupied with Clay and Nash drama. And now I might die for it.

My fingers curl into fists and I desperately search for another plan. She’s not going to want to shoot the gun out here. The bang will wake up my parents, and Mom won’t hesitate to call the Sheriff’s office. She called them once a few years ago when some local kids drove onto our land during one of their drunken get-togethers. The police were here in a matter of minutes.

But a shot is the only chance I’ve got.

“What do you want with me?” I ask again. Maybe if I keep talking she’ll get pissed off and decide to take a chance by shooting at the ground to scare me.

If she doesn’t shoot my leg instead.

Or intentionally kill me. I can’t imagine the thoughts in this girl’s mind. We only met once and yet she believes I’ve done her wrong.

“To make them sorry,” she spats, the words soaked in venom.

“I think you have the wrong person. I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

“I have a feeling you do. You may be a whore but hopefully you can figure this out.”

It hits me. It all makes sense.

“You’re… are you talking about Nash and Clay?” I raise my voice with the question. Maybe if we’re loud enough my parents will wake up. “Do you know them?”

“Shut up,” she hisses, taking a step towards me. She brings the gun up to my face level.

The woman ferociously shakes her head. “You think you can just take them from me. You think you know them. You think you deserve them, but you’re nothing but a filthy slut. You don’t deserve shit.”

I push the rising panic down. The woman is crazy, which means there’s no telling just what she might do. “You’re right,” I agree. “I don’t deserve them. They’re too good for me.”

“Oh, like I’m going to fall for that.” She points the gun over my shoulder. “Get walking. The car’s right over there.”

A shadow moves over her shoulder. It gets closer, revealing itself as a person. A person wearing a cowboy hat. My heart leaps. One of the ranch hands is still here.

I turn and slowly walk in the direction of the driveway. Maybe if I comply the woman’s guard will go down long enough for the ranch hand to overpower her.

The plan works. There’s a sound of impact and a yell. I jump to the side, worried about the gun going off.

The two figures fall to the ground. The one on top grabs the gun and tosses it off into the grass. The woman yells in fury.

Another man appears out of nowhere, making me jump.

“Cheyenne!”

“Clay?” I ask.

The man on the ground gets up, pulling the woman with him. It’s Nash.

Clay puts his hand on my elbow. “Are you okay?”

The question makes me quake. “Yes.”

He wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his chest. I bury myself in his earthy scent and clutch at his shirt. My hands won’t stop shaking.

“Come on,” Nash roughly says. “Into the barn.”

He leads the way, keeping the woman’s arms locked behind her. Clay picks up the handgun and we follow.

I flip the barn lights on and blink as they flicker to life.

“Get me a rope,” Nash says.

Clay tosses him one from the pile near the door.

The woman hangs her hand, black hair falling all around her face. Nash puts her in a chair and quickly ties her up.

“It’s too tight,” she complains.

“Shut up.”

I lurk near the wall, unsure of how to act. It seems like I should go wake my parents up, but I don’t want to leave the barn. I don’t want Clay and Nash out of my sight.

Clay calls the police and reports the incident.

“They’re on their way,” Clay announces, hanging up.

I wrap my arms around myself. I’ve stopped shaking, but still feel sick to my stomach. Clay squeezes my shoulder and gives me a tight smile. I don’t know how to respond. I was almost kidnapped. I’m lucky to be alive. It’s not the kind of shock you quickly come down from.

“Cheyenne,” Nash softly says.

He comes and stands in front of me. Two strong hands cup my jaw and turn my face up. His brown eyes run across mine. “You sure you’re good?”

I nod, a lump forming in my throat. I’m not back to normal yet, but I will be soon.

Nash turns and looks at the chair. “You owe us an explanation, Emily.”

The woman lifts her head and glares at him. “I owe you an explanation?”

Clay dismissively cuts his hand through the air. “Forget it, Nash. She’s bat shit crazy.”

“But who is she?” I press.

Clay and Nash look at each other.

The woman speaks up. “I’m the one they left behind. The one they’re supposed to be with.”

The delusional words make me cringe. She really is crazy, but I also feel sorry for her. Even though she did just attempt to kidnap me.

Sirens permeate the air. Clay goes out to meet the police and I follow, eager to stay with either him or Nash.

Two police cars pull into the yard, their lights flashing against the trees. The house’s front door opens and Mom steps onto the porch in her bathrobe.

Hurried explanations follow. Nash, Clay, and I each tell our stories to the police. Mom keeps her arm around me through it all.

Once they instruct the men and I to go down to the station for questioning in the morning, the cops take Emily away. The yard is quiet again.

Mom presses her hands against her cheeks. “Honey, I can’t believe it.”

“I know Mom. I’m sorry.”

“It’s our fault.” Clay joins us on the porch. Nash hovers behind him on the bottom step.

Clay goes on. “We have some bad blood with Emily. She only tried to hurt Cheyenne because she’s our neighbor. I’m sorry, Mrs. McGee. Truly sorry.”

Mom’s shoulders slump. “Oh, Clay… Don’t feel bad. You couldn’t have known.” She wraps her arms around me and hugs me tight. “Well your father slept through the whole thing. Won’t we have a story to tell him in the morning?”

I wish I could ask her not to mention the incident to Dad. It’ll just end up being another reason for him not to like Clay.

“I’m going to bed,” Mom says, looking at me. “Do you need anything? I can stay up and...”

“No,” I quickly say. “Thanks, but I’ll be good. I’m gonna stay up for a while.” I sneak a glance over at Clay and Nash.

“We’ll watch over her,” Nash promises.

Mom nods and gives me another hug. The door shuts gently as she goes into the house.

Clay steps towards me. “Cheyenne...”

“I know.” I stop on a step between the two of them. “You guys couldn’t have known what she would do.”

“But we had a feeling,” Nash says. “That’s why we came over here to check on you. We figured since she knew our rodeo schedule maybe she knew other things as well. Maybe she’d been watching us.”

“She was watching. She flat out told me she’s had her eye on me.” A shiver goes through me. “God...”

Nash pulls me into a hug. The unexpectedness of it makes me tense. He runs his hand over my hair and I relax. My eyes drift close and I drop my weight against his chest.

What would have happened if Nash and Clay hadn’t shown up? What was Emily planning on doing to me?

Thinking about it makes me nauseous. I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight.

“She gave me a ride the other night,” I say into Nash’s shirt. “My car broke down and she drove me home.”

“Did she say anything about us?” Clay asks.

“No. She seemed… normal. She seemed nice.”

Clay hisses. “She’s crazy.”

“What was she going to do?” I ask no one in particular. “Why did she want me?”

Nash presses his cheek against the top of my head. “She wanted to get back at us, is my guess.”

I shudder against him. He squeezes me tighter.

“We would have found you,” he says into my hair. “If she’d taken you, we would have found you.”

“Absolutely,” Clay says.

I look over Nash’s arm at him. “What happened with her? Why is she angry?”

Clay pulls his hat off and slaps it against his thigh. He looks down at the steps. “She thinks we did her wrong. We had a good weekend with her and she thought it meant more.”

“Oh.”

An uncomfortable silence passes. Do the guys think I’m like Emily? That I’m going to freak out when they’re gone? And more importantly, are they right?

“I need to get some sleep,” I whisper.

“No,” Clay answers. “You’re not going to be able to sleep now.”

I purse my lips. He’s right, but I don’t want to be a burden to them. I don’t want them to think I’ve got the wrong idea, or that I’m going to chase them as they leave town.

“Stay with us,” Nash says.

Clay presses his hand into my shoulder.

Nash’s strong arms hold me tight enough to break me, but I don’t resist. Their touch is just what I need.