Tonight’s the night. Jaxson and I will finally leave this town behind to start our forever.

I’ve had my bag packed for weeks. He got his scholarship and has an apartment lined up for us to live with three other people. I’m terrified of what my father will do when he finds me gone, but I love Jaxson and want nothing more than to be with him. I’ve loved him since I was a little girl when he’d pick on me and put dirt in my hair.

I’m supposed to meet him at the barn then we’re walking to town to catch the first bus out in the morning.

At dinner I can’t stop fidgeting. My knee bounces up and down uncontrollably. My stomach’s been in knots for weeks. I’ve been afraid my dad will know something is up. Mom keeps asking me if I have ants in my pants. I lie and tell her I’m nervous because I haven’t heard from any of the schools I applied to. Dad shoots me a weird look, like he knows something I don’t. The way he grins makes me want to vomit. It’ll be hard leaving my family behind. I love them, but Jaxson is my life. I can’t live without him.

I ask to be excused and start pacing the second I walk into my room, waiting for the right time to slip out of the house. Every night after dinner Dad goes into his study to have a drink.

It isn’t long after that he goes to bed. That’s when I’ll make my escape.

Taking a look around my room I wonder if this is the last time I’ll see it. Dad will probably cut me off when he finds out what I’m doing.

I don’t need his money though. I wish he’d give Jaxson and me his blessing.

I don’t know why he hates him so much. He hates Jax’s father too, even though he has them living in a guesthouse on the far end of the ranch.

I look at the clock. Dad should be in bed by now.

An unexpected knock sounds at my door.

It’s my mom, and her face is pale. I’ve never seen her look so—frightened.

“What’s wrong?”

“Your father wants you in the study.”

My stomach drops.

He knows.

I’ll play dumb, and when he’s satisfied I’ll make a run for it.

When I walk into the study there are three men I’ve never seen before.

Dad sits behind his desk smiling.

“Daddy?”

He looks up at me like he’s won. In his own way, I know he loves me. But he loves business more than anything, even my mother. It’s something everyone knows but never says.

“Princess, I have someone I’d like you to meet.”

“Umm, okay.” The men eye me up and down like I’m cattle at an auction.

The youngest of the three has a devilish grin spread across his face.

I want to turn and run. Bolt straight into Jaxson’s arms.

He’s probably wondering where I am by now.

“This is Mr. Reyes, his son Leonard, and one of their associates.” Dad nods at them.

My body tenses. Something seems very wrong about these men. “What’s going on?”

“Sweetheart, you and Leonard are going to be married. It’s been arranged.”

My world flips upside down, and a cold sweat breaks out along my hairline. “What?”

Leonard steps forward. “I know you don’t know me. But, you’ll learn to love me. I promise.” He winks.

My stomach curdles, and I fear I might lose my dinner. What is this? The nineteenth century? This can’t be happening.

I pull my hand behind my back and shake my head. “I won’t marry you.”

“It’s for the best, sweetheart. We’ll merge the two ranches.”

I shake my head, tears stinging the corners of my eyes. “So, it’s about business? I’m a business transaction?”

Dad stands up and scowls. “Did you think I’d just let you run off with that derelict piece of shit?”

I look away at the wall and wipe the tears from my eyes. This can’t be happening.

“You think I didn’t know.” He walks over and looms above me. “Did you think I didn’t know?” He scoffs. “You’re marrying Leonard. This is happening.”

“I won’t do it.”

He grins as Mom shakes behind him. Why won’t she stand up for me? It’s my life, not theirs.

“Oh, yes you will.”

“You can’t do anything to me. You don’t own me.”

Dad glances to Mr. Reyes and back at me. “No, I can’t. But I can throw your little boyfriend’s family out on the street. And I can make sure they never work in this town again.”

Horror floods my body. I can’t move. It’s like I’m paralyzed, stuck in a nightmare where I can’t scream or run.

“That’s what I thought.”

Leonard walks over and leans in next to my ear. “Like I said, you’ll learn to love me.”

“Is there a problem?” Mr. Reyes glances at Dad then over to me.

I have to go through with this. I love Jaxson too much. His family will be homeless and out of work if I don’t.

I glance around at all of them, then stare at the floor. “Okay. You win.”

Dad smiles. “That’s my good girl.”