Page 6 of Ransom Ranch

“It’s amazing the community that’s here,” I admitted, still leaning against my hand. “I’ve only had my café open for about a month, and I already have a steady flow of customers. Even if I was set up in a place like Austin, I don’t think I’d have had the level of success I’ve had here.”

“Well, your food is amazing,” Sheriff Hewitt said, leaning back in his chair. “But also, that’s just the kind of town this is. Everyone wants to see everyone succeed, and we support the people who live here.”

“Yeah, it’s been humbling. I didn’t grow up here—like Lily—but everyone just accepted me like I belonged.” It was the truth, too. I hadn’t felt like I fit somewhere in a very long time, and it was nice to feel at home here. I thought that maybe it was just Lily, but I was starting to realize the whole town was full of kind and caring people.

“New people move here some, and as long as whoever it is doesn’t roll in like they’re going to take over the place…” I paused. Like developers. “Then we’re very accepting of them.”

“That’s good to know. Are you thirsty? I saw that there was a chest of beer by all the food. I’m not going to lie, this whole thing has me feeling beer vibes.”

“Vibes,” he burst into laughter. “That weird, hippy word again.”

“It’s not a hippy word,” I teased, shaking my head. My hair bounced on my shoulders. I had softened my curls to more of waves for the evening, and it was the reason I was late…

My hair had always been difficult to tame.

“It is a hippy word, but I could use a beer, yeah.” He pushed back from the table, grabbing up his plate.

“Hey, who’s this?” a blonde cowboy appeared, furrowing his brow at me before his gaze bounced to the sheriff.

“This is Emma Fisher,” he introduced me, clearing his throat. “Emma, this is my best friend, Lucas Lowe. He’s the one who started all this.”

“Nice to meet you.” I shook the hand he held out. “This is a really cool event. I’ve never been to anything like it.”

“Well, welcome to Millfield. You can come once a year,” he shot me a wink, and I could already see the difference between the two friends. “But yeah, you’re the one who opened Sweets and Eats, right?”

“Yeah, that’s me.”

“Some of my hands are always bringing food from there to the barn. I keep telling myself I ought to go into town and try whatever else is on the menu. I’ll definitely make sure that I do now. I take it Mason is showing you around?” He eyed the silent sheriff beside me.

“Yeah, we were just going to grab some beers,” I said, smiling over at him.

He stole a glance over at me before looking back to Lucas. “Yeah, here, you should probably eat.” He thrust the plate at Lucas, who gave him a smirk that made me nearly laugh out loud.

“You have yourself a good time, bud.” He chuckled, patting him on the shoulder. “Enjoy the evening, Miss Fisher.”

“Thank you,” I said to him, letting Mason lead the way to the ice chest. He flipped it open and grabbed two Coors.

“Is this okay?”

I nodded. “I don’t think there are any other options.”

“Ah, you’d be correct then.” He popped the top off them, tossing the caps into the trash and holding mine out.

“Thanks,” I said, taking it from him and taking a swig. I wasn’t a huge fan of Coors, but honestly, it fit the atmosphere of the entire event, so I didn’t mind it. “Do you wanna dance? Show me around the place, maybe? I’ve never been to a ranch like this.”

He thought for a moment, sipping his beer, before nodding. “Do you like horses?”

I hesitated. “I took some lessons as a kid and enjoyed them, but I haven’t been around them since. I don’t think I want to go like… ride, tonight.”

He burst into a deep, husky laugh that made my thighs clench. “Oh, there’s no way we’re going riding, but my horse, Jett, stays in the horse barn. I can show him to you? My daughter’s rodeo horse, Bay, is here as well.”

“Yeah, that actually sounds nice. I’m not really a big dancer—or big about these kinds of gatherings.”

“Me either.” He nodded in a direction away from the large gathering outside a large red barn. I didn’t figure it was a horse barn since it was immaculate and open.

Oh, and there were no horses.

“He’s got a massive house,” I pointed to the mansion of a ranch house across the clearing.