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Movean’s attention The Irish Creek cowboys werein their direction Great No one liked the Blackshaws around here Least of all Nash, the Blackshaith the loudest mouth

Like a blessing in disguise, her as when she saw Nash She was out of the car quickly, holding her typical

cal, Nash It’s so wonderful to see you,” she said, a brown grocery store bag in her ar okay?”

Yes, Megan realized Everything tense and wrong suddenly becaht with her mom there Loretta Harrison was five-foot-three with soft blue eyes and short dyed-brown hair with auburn highlights Her physique was round Her smile, quick and warm And she exuded love like sunshine on a beautiful day

Before the yelling could start, Megan explained, “The Blackshaws’ fence got cut, and the cattle escaped onto our property”

“Oh, that’s terrible,” Mom said, her eyes ith honest surprise “Do you need our help locating the cattle?” she asked Nash

Dadsound “Over my dead—”

Mo “We’ll send a few of the boys out to the east Are you good with taking the west?”

Nash nodded, only softness in his eyes for her “That works, ma’am”

Mo to protect Irish Creek against Nash “Get on those horses and find the Blackshaws’ cattle I want no trouble today, you hear me?”

“Yes,back into the barn

She turned to Nash again and gave her war the cattle up once you’ve found theot our number?”

He nodded But to her father, he glared a silent fuck you before he ain

Megan stood waiting and hoping Nash would notice her there That for one second, he would stop and give her a s She needed—no, wanted—to be more important than this bitterness he had toward her father She wanted to matter Especially to him

But that’s not what happened