Chapter Nine

The second week of December arrived with a vengeance, bringing a massive snowstorm that essentially paralyzed the area. The streets were buried under two feet of snow, with more still falling from the dark, cloud-covered sky. The temperature had plummeted to a frigid twenty degrees, with a biting windchill of nine below.

Chelsea sat in the cozy living room, gazing into the crackling fire in the hearth. The flames danced and flickered around the logs, emitting a comforting warmth that enveloped her. She longed for Colt’s company, but he had left after working in the barns earlier. She had sent him a text, urging him to come back to the house instead of venturing out to his own place, but he had replied saying he needed to finish up payroll at home.

As she pondered what Colt might have planned for Christmas, she got up from the plush sofa and made her way to the kitchen to make herself a hot cup of tea. While it steeped, she ventured to the door to take a peek outside. She gasped at the sight of heavy snowfall blanketing everything in sight. The barns were barely visible through the thick curtain of white.

Opening the door, Chelsea smiled as she listened to soft thuds as snowflakes landed on the ground. She didn’t mind snow as long as she could stay warm and cozy indoors. Her thoughts drifted to Colt, and she hoped he was safe and warm. Just then, her phone buzzed, and she picked it up to see a message from Colt.

Are you staying warm?

A smile spread across her face as she quickly responded,

I’d be warmer if you were here.

Me too. Just wanted to check up on you.

Miss you.

Same here, darlin’.

Stay warm.

Talk to you later, baby. Goodnight.

Night.

Chelsea set her phone down and finished making her tea. She then headed to her bedroom, feeling content. After drinking her tea, she indulged in a long, relaxing bath before settling into bed with a smile on her face. Despite the storm raging outside, she felt warm and peaceful, knowing that Colt was thinking of her too.

The week before Christmas, she entered the barn and searched for Colt. Her boots kicked up hay and dust as she walked, the scent of horses and leather filling her nose. She knocked on the door and he called out for her to come in. She opened the door and stepped inside. He sat at his desk, surrounded by paperwork and the faint smell of coffee.

“Hi,” she said.

He looked up from his papers, a slight frown crossing his features, as he stood. “Hey. Is something wrong?”

Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, dressed in a plaid flannel shirt and jeans that hugged his muscular frame. “No. Can’t I come out here to see you?”

He grinned, walking toward her. “Of course.”

“I did want to ask you what you’re doing for Christmas.”

“Nothing. Why?”

“Can we spend it together?” she blurted out, feeling nervous all of a sudden.

Colt leaned back against his desk, studying her carefully. “Aren’t you going to see your parents?”

“Yes, but we can get together later, can’t we? I can bring some food home. Mom makes a ham for Christmas.”

“Alright.” His tone was guarded as he spoke.

“Maybe you could go with me?”

His answer was immediate. “No.”

“Why not?” she asked, feeling frustrated.

“Because,” he replied firmly.

“That’s not an answer,” she argued.

“It is for me. I’m not going to go with you to your parents for Christmas.”

“Why are you being so stubborn about it?” she demanded.

“Chelsea, Christmas is for families,” he stated firmly, his jaw clenching.

“But you went with me on Thanksgiving,” she pointed out, feeling hurt.

He stood up straight, his expression unyielding. “It’s not the same.”

“Why not?” she pressed, tears stinging her eyes.

He let out a frustrated sigh. “Because it’s not. Let it go.”

“Fine,” she snapped, turning to leave.

Colt blew out a laugh, but there was no humor in it. “Yeah, okay.”

“You have got to be the most stubborn man I have ever met,” Chelsea muttered as she stormed out of the office and slammed the door behind her. She strode through the barn, ignoring the curious looks from the ranch hands, and walked out into the cold winter air. The snow had started falling lightly and she pulled her coat tighter around her body, trying to ward off both the chill and her emotions. She stomped toward the house, frustration and hurt burning inside her.

****

Colt made his way down the barn aisle, his boots crunching on the straw as he checked on each horse. He wanted to ensure their stalls were properly cleaned, having already reprimanded John for neglecting his duties. As he approached one stall, he cursed under his breath at the sight of dirty and wet straw scattered on the floor with the horse standing uncomfortably in the corner. Letting out a heavy sigh, Colt retrieved a wheelbarrow, rake, and entered the stall to clean it. He then led the horse out to the indoor corral before returning to finish cleaning, muttering curses all the while.

“Colt?”

He turned to see Chelsea standing in the doorway.

“What are you doing cleaning this late? Did something happen to one of the horses?”

Colt shrugged and continued shoveling dirty straw into the wheelbarrow.

“Your new employee is doing a half-assed job. I told him about this last week and yet he still skipped over it.”

“Do you want me to talk to him?”

“You’re the boss,” he grumbled.

Chelsea let out a frustrated sigh. “What’s wrong with you?”

Colt shook his head. “I’m just annoyed with this joker you hired.”

“He had references, otherwise he wouldn’t be here.”

“He must have had them lie for him because he’s useless.”

“Then fire him.”

“You do it. You keep telling me you own this ranch, so do it yourself. I’m too busy doing someone else’s job.”

“Then find him and send him to the house.”

He tossed the rake down and stared at her. “I am not your lackey. I have my own work to do.”

“Don’t speak to me like that,” she snapped.

Stepping toward her, Colt narrowed his eyes. “Then fire me.”

Chelsea gasped. “Of course, I’m not going to fire you!”

“Well, I’m too damn busy right now to talk to him. If you don’t have the guts to do it, it’ll have to wait until I’m done.”

He picked up his rake and got back to work, ignoring her presence.

****

Tears pricked at the corners of Chelsea’s eyes as she stormed out of the barn, her boots thudding against the packed snow. She could still feel the heat of their argument burning inside her chest. Fire him? No, she couldn’t bring herself to do that. She loved him too much. He was so angry about John not doing his job, and took it out on her.

But as she crossed the yard, determination set in, and she changed course toward the middle barn. The scent of hay and animals filled her nostrils as she strode down the aisle, searching for John. He needed to know that if he couldn’t fulfill his duties, he would have to leave.

But when Chelsea didn’t spot him anywhere, she made her way to the back of the barn, hoping he was working on something else. As she passed by the tool shed, a faint noise caught her attention and she stopped to listen. Her jaw clenched in frustration as she realized that someone was most likely having sex in there. The last thing she wanted to do was open that door and catch them in the act.

Quickly turning back toward the barn where Colt was working, Chelsea saw him emerging from one of the stalls. He glanced up at her and let out a heavy sigh before pushing a wheelbarrow toward the direction of the shed.

“Colt,” she called after him.

He turned to face her with an expectant look on his face.

“I think someone is having sex in the shed in the middle barn,” Chelsea whispered to Colt.

“You just think they are? Did you check?”

Chelsea rolled her eyes. “No, I’m not going to barge in on two people having sex.”

Colt’s lips quirked up in a smirk. “So, you want me to do it then?”

“Well, you’re a man,” Chelsea stated matter-of-factly.

“Great observation,” Colt replied sarcastically.

“Look, I don’t know what your problem is, but please just check it out for me.”

He set down the wheelbarrow and took off his gloves, narrowing his eyes at her. “You don’t know what my problem is?”

“No, I don’t,” Chelsea shot back.

“I hate it when I have to do someone’s job. This should have been done hours ago, but your new employee thought it was fine to let it go. I do not need the extra work,” Colt retorted before storming off toward the middle barn.

Chelsea followed closely behind, watching as he reached the door to the shed and pulled it open. The sound of a woman’s scream filled the air.

“Put your clothes on and get back to work. We’ll discuss this later,” Colt yelled.

Without hesitation, Chelsea marched over to them, her voice shaking with anger. “You’re both fired. Gather your things and leave this ranch immediately. And don’t ever come back.”

She turned to face Colt, who was now staring at her with his hands on his hips. His expression showed that he was furious.

“What’s wrong?” she asked defensively.

“What’s wrong?” he repeated. “What do you think is wrong, Chelsea? You went against my authority… again. Am I or am I not the manager here?”

“Well, yes.”

“Yes, so I make the decisions when it comes to my employees—”

She took a step forward. “I am the owner of this ranch.”

“Yes, but I run it. I have always made the decisions ever since I became manager. Walt trusted me.”

“I know he did, and I trust you too, but they deserved to be fired. They were having sex on company time.”

“And so did I,” Colt murmured, causing Chelsea to gasp in shock.

Colt shook his head, walked around her, and out of the barn.

Chelsea took a deep breath. Oh, God! He was right. She ran after him and reached him before he entered the other barn.

“Colt,” she said, making him stop and face her. “What happened with us wasn’t planned.”

“Which time?” He smirked.

“Uh, in the loft. That just happened. Our emotions took over.”

“And who’s to say theirs didn’t? That’s why I was going to give them another chance. The heat of the moment can affect anyone. Just because you own the ranch, doesn’t change the fact that it happened. You can’t fire people on a first offense, unless it’s for something like stealing or hurting an animal.” He tightened his jaw. “And I make the damn decisions. Not you. If you wanted to fire them, then you should have been the one to open the door and catch them. You got me because you couldn’t do it, so it was up to me how to handle the situation.” He stepped closer to her. “I will not have you changing my decisions, Chelsea.”

“I have that right—”

“No, you don’t. If I’m going to manage this place, I do. If you can’t agree with that, then maybe it’s time I moved on and you can run it.”

Chelsea could feel her temper rising. “Don’t threaten me.”

“Oh, it’s not a threat. You like challenging me way too much. Does it make you feel big that you can do that? That you can tell me what to do? That you can talk down to me in front of our boarders? That you can override my decisions on employees?” he snapped.

“I don’t run this place like Walt did. I want to be hands-on.”

“You’re sure as shit right that you don’t run this place like he did.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“That you’ll stop overriding my decisions. What the hell is the sense in being a manager if you won’t let me do my job?”

Chelsea shook her head. She had no clue what she could say to him. Maybe she did need to leave it up to him. Afterall, Walt had and trusted Colt completely.

“Never mind. I need to get back to work.” He turned away from her and continued cleaning the stall.

Chelsea sighed, walked out of the barn, across the yard, and entered the house.

****

The sound of papers being shuffled around filled Colt’s office. He had been sitting at his desk for hours, pouring over paperwork and trying to distract himself from thoughts of Chelsea. They hadn’t spoken for two days, since their argument over firing Kim and John.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Colt sighed, wondering if it was Chelsea finally deciding to talk to him again. He called out for them to come in and saw Brian enter instead.

“Hey, Brian. Is something wrong?” he asked with concern.

Brian didn’t speak as he walked over to a chair and sat down. Colt raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to say something.

“Colt,” Brian finally began, “we all know about you and Chelsea.”

Colt stared at him, unsure of where this conversation was going. He leaned back in his chair, trying to appear nonchalant.

“And?” he prompted.

“And isn’t that why John and Kim were fired?” Brian continued.

Colt’s jaw clenched as he fought to keep his composure. “John and Kim were fired because they were caught having sex while they were supposed to be working.”

“I see,” Brian replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“What is it that you see?” Colt asked sharply.

“That you can break the rules, but no one else can, or is it because no one actually caught you?” Brian stated bluntly.

“Watch how you speak to me. I’m your boss,” Colt warned, his patience wearing thin.

“It’s the truth,” Brian persisted. “I’d love to ask Christine out, but I’m afraid I’d lose my job because I’m just a ranch hand. But you’re the manager.”

Colt got to his feet and placed his hands on the desk, leaning forward as he glared at Brian.

“You’re pushing it,” he snapped.

Brian stood his ground. “I’m being honest, Colt. For years, you’ve always followed the rules. But as soon as Chelsea comes along, they fly out the window. The rest of us wouldn’t get away with it.”

Colt resumed his seat, feeling a knot tightening in his stomach. “The rules are simple, no fooling around with clients or other employees while on the clock or on the ranch. There’s nothing wrong with dating Christine, if you want. You just can’t fool around on the clock.” Colt replied wearily. He tilted his head. “Why the attitude?” he asked, struggling to maintain his authoritative tone.

Brian let out a heavy sigh. “Chelsea comes along and suddenly the rules don’t apply anymore, at least, not to you. The rest of us would be fired immediately. If John and Kim were sneaking around, how can you fire them when you’re doing the same thing? You and Chelsea are sneaking around, but the rest of us would be fired,” he repeated.

“It’s no fooling around while at work,” Colt growled through gritted teeth.

“But yet, you did,” Brian retorted. “I know what went on in the hayloft.”

Colt ran a hand down his face and wondered where he’d lost control of the conversation. If he ever had it…

“You’re a damn good boss, Colt, but it shouldn’t be, do as I say, not as I do,” Brian stated firmly.

Colt stood. “You know, I don’t have to explain myself to you or anyone else.”

“Still, I bet if any of us were caught, even off the clock, we’d no longer have a job.”

“As long as it’s not on the ranch.”

“You were on the ranch, Colt. It doesn’t matter if you were off the clock or on the clock. You broke the rules, but you’re still here.” Brian shook his head. “How do you think Mr. Cotton would have dealt with you doing that?”

“You need to get out of here. Now.”

Brian narrowed his eyes at him, then left the room, leaving Colt to sit back in his chair and grapple with his conflicting emotions.

“Fuck,” Colt muttered under his breath, feeling the weight of responsibility bearing down on him.

As the clock struck quitting time, Colt stood up from his work and stretched out his sore muscles. He knew he needed to talk to Chelsea, even though he dreaded her reaction. But he couldn’t ignore the situation any longer.

With a heavy heart, he left the barn and made his way across the yard to her house. The crisp winter air nipped at his cheeks as he climbed the steps of her porch and knocked on her door.

When she opened it, he resisted the urge to pull her into his arms and instead spoke in a somber tone.

“I need to speak with you,” he said.

She crossed her arms defensively. “About what?”

“It’s too cold to talk out here. Can we go inside?”

Sighing, she opened the door wider and waved him in. Shaking off the chill, Colt removed his hat and coat before facing Chelsea. He motioned for her to take a seat.

As they both sat down at the kitchen table, Colt took a deep breath.

“This isn’t going to work with us,” he blurted out.

Her eyes widened in shock. “What? Why?”

“Because the men know about us, and they’re not happy. I’m breaking the same rule that got John and Kim fired.”

“That’s not true,” she argued.

“Oh, it’s very true. We had sex on the ranch. I was even on the clock…”

“It was a moment of passion, Colt. It wasn’t planned or premeditated.”

“Maybe not the time in the hayloft, but other times, it was. Maybe that’s what happened to John and Kim. That’s why I wanted to give them another chance. The rules are clear and I’ve broken them. With you.”

Chelsea stood up abruptly. “So, it’s my fault? You’re blaming me?”

“It’s my fault,” he replied firmly. “And I can’t expect my workers to follow the rules if I don’t lead by example.”

“You’re just going to end things like that?” she cried out in frustration.

“I’m not sure what to do,” he said with a heavy heart. “You have no idea how pissed the men are, and I don’t blame them.”

“But we have something special,” she argued, tears starting to fall down her cheeks.

“I know, but I can’t let my personal feelings get in the way of running this ranch successfully. Walt would be so disappointed in me if he were here.”

“Well, Walt isn’t here,” Chelsea shouted.

Colt stood up, his own frustration building. “I know that, but he instilled in me the importance of following rules, and I have… until now. Until you. It’s fine off the clock, but if I can’t follow the rules, how do I expect my men to? Brian wants to go out with Christine. I told him if it was off the clock, and didn’t fool around at the ranch, he could, but he reminded me that I was also on the clock. It’s not just off the clock, it’s not on the ranch. He’s right. I did it, but he knows he’d be fired if he did.” Colt sighed. “I’m not sure what to do, but I know it can’t continue like this.”

“Fine,” she said with a defeated sigh. “How about we just end it altogether? I am not going to… schedule time with you. Get out. Just go,” Chelsea shouted, her voice cracking with anger and hurt. She walked out of the kitchen and into the living room.

Colt followed her, gripped her arm as he spun her around and slammed her against the wall, their bodies pressing together in a heated battle of wills. Their eyes locked in intense gazes, filled with both rage and desire. Suddenly, Colt roughly grasped her hair, pulling back her head and exposing her neck as he fiercely claimed her lips in a demanding kiss.

Chelsea put her hands on his shoulders and pushed, making him step back. Both breathed hard as they stared at each other.

“Damn it,” he swore.

Chelsea looked at him and shook her head. “Please go, and stay away from me,” she whispered.

“It’s best if I leave the ranch. You have my two-week notice.”

After staring at her for a few seconds, he entered the kitchen, picked up his coat and hat, and stepped onto the porch. Looking around at the familiar surroundings that he loved so much, Colt couldn’t help but feel conflicted about his decision. But ultimately, it was for the best.

With a heavy heart, he walked back to the barn and gathered his things before heading home for the day. It was a bittersweet feeling as he rode away from the ranch, knowing that this day would change everything between him and Chelsea. But sometimes, life was just unfair like that.

****

Chelsea collapsed onto her bed; her body wracked with sobs. It was unbearable to think that she would have to face every day without him, knowing that he didn’t want her anymore despite how much she loved him. She loved seeing him anytime she wanted, and if there was sex, that was a bonus, but now, he was leaving. Because of the men. What about her? Didn’t she have a say in this?

The pain she felt now was more intense than when she found out Ron had been unfaithful. Colt meant more to her than any man ever had, even her ex-husband. And now, she had lost him too.

How could she possibly move on from this? But if it was what he wanted, she would have to learn to live with it.

As she rolled over onto her back, tears streaming down her temples, Chelsea gazed up at the ceiling and wondered why life had to be so cruel at times. She had finally found a love that consumed her completely, and now it was taken away from her. The thought of getting over Colt was daunting and overwhelming.

With a heavy heart, Chelsea forced herself out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. A relaxing bath and some hot tea seemed like the only solace in this moment of despair. Maybe if she cried herself to sleep, things would feel a little better in the morning.

The next day, Chelsea decided to venture into town. She needed to distract herself from thoughts of Colt, and perhaps meeting the new owner of the coffee shop would do just that.

But as she stepped out of her car and walked toward the shop, Chelsea couldn’t help but feel exposed and vulnerable after a sleepless night. She tried to push thoughts of Colt out of her mind, but it seemed impossible.

“Welcome! We’ll be right with you,” a friendly voice called out as Chelsea entered the bustling coffee shop.

A sense of familiarity washed over her as she scanned the crowded room. For a moment, it almost felt like old times. But then she remembered that she was no longer a part of this place.

“I’m looking for the owner,” Chelsea said with a small smile, trying to mask her inner turmoil.

A pretty blonde behind the counter smiled back at her. “That’s me. I’m Celine Nelson.”

“Nice to meet you, Celine. I’m Chelsea Kennedy, the former owner. I just wanted to stop by and say hello.”

Celine’s face lit up. “Oh, it’s so nice to meet you! And don’t worry about interrupting, business has been great.” She gestured toward the bustling shop.

As they sat down at a small table together, Chelsea couldn’t help but feel grateful for this new acquaintance. They talked like old friends, and Chelsea was happy to make a new friend.

“The pastries here are amazing, aren’t they? We sell out every day,” Celine remarked with a laugh. “But working across the street from that bakery could be dangerous.”

Chelsea chuckled in agreement. “Yes, Sloane is an incredible baker.”

“I love this shop, this town, and the people in it. Oh, the apartment upstairs was a wonderful bonus. It’s a great place.” Celine smiled.

As their conversation continued, Chelsea found herself relaxing and enjoying Celine’s company. Before she knew it, it was time to leave.

“Thank you for the coffee, Celine. It was so nice to meet you.”

“My pleasure, Chelsea. Please come back anytime.”

Chelsea promised to do so before leaving the shop with a sense of contentment. It was reassuring to know that despite everything that had happened, the coffee shop was thriving under new ownership.

But as she pulled into her driveway and looked toward the barn, her heart sank again. She couldn’t bring herself to go in there and risk seeing him. It would only make things harder for her. And yet, she couldn’t bear the thought of not being near him at all. With a heavy sigh, Chelsea resigned herself to the difficult situation she was in.

****

Colt grumbled and swore as he mucked out one of the stalls in the barn. He had gone into the house last evening with the intention of making sure they stayed away from each other while the ranch was open for business, but instead they ended up almost having sex against the wall, and she tells him to just leave and stay away from her. He knew it was time to buy a place of his own because being close to her and not having her would kill him.

“You fucking idiot,” he muttered to himself, feeling a mix of frustration and desire.

“Colt?” a voice interrupted his thoughts.

He looked toward the gate and saw Joey.

“Yeah?” he responded, trying to compose himself.

“I was wondering if I could ride the fence today.”

Colt leaned his rake against the wall and pulled off his gloves.

“If you think you’ll be alright. It’s damn cold out there, Joey, and you’ll need to have one of the others go with you.”

“Why?” Joey frowned.

“Because of the weather. We can’t risk something happening to you out there alone. Trust me, it’s not just you, it’s the same for all of us.”

“Yes, sir. I understand. I really like riding in the snow.” Joey smiled eagerly.

Colt couldn’t help but smirk. “I thought you didn’t like snow?”

Joey laughed. “I didn’t, but there’s something about being on horseback that makes it fun.”

“I agree. How about I go with you? I could stand to get out of here for a while.”

“I’d like that. I’ll go saddle my horse.”

“Alright. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Joey nodded and ran off to prepare his horse. Colt sighed, grateful for the distraction. Joey started working at the ranch on weekends, since school was back in session. He was here today because school was closed due to the snow. Joey’s enthusiasm for ranch work was infectious, and Colt appreciated how reliable and hardworking he was.

As he waited for Joey to return, Colt took out his phone and called Brian.

“Yeah?” Brian answered after a couple rings.

“Come finish the middle barn. I’m going to ride the fence with Joey,” Colt instructed.

“Uh, yes, sir,” Brian responded hesitantly.

“Is there a problem?” Colt snapped, tired of Brian’s attitude ever since their relationship took an unexpected turn.

“No, sir. I’ll be right there,” Brian quickly replied before hanging up.

Colt put his phone back into his pocket and finished tending to the stall, then put away the wheelbarrow. When Brian entered the barn, Colt was just finishing saddling his horse. He refused to meet Brian’s eyes. Colt hated the tension between them. But there was no going back now.

He mounted his horse and waited for Joey to join him. Once they were both ready, they left the warmth of the barn and headed toward the west pasture where they would ride the fence line.

The air was crisp and cold, but Colt welcomed it. Maybe it would cool his temper down. He had been seething with anger ever since Brian confronted him about what happened between him and Chelsea. Damn, he knew it was a stupid move on his part, but he couldn’t help himself. The thought of losing her completely made him snap.

How was he supposed to stay away from her? He wanted her every day. She was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, but if it meant going against everything, he knew was right and risking his relationships with the men who worked for him, then it could never happen.

When they agreed to see each other in secret, he warned her that they needed to keep it quiet because of how it would affect everyone else at the ranch. He knew it would piss off the employees, especially when they were abiding by the rules, and he wasn’t. It wasn’t fair to them, but he couldn’t seem to resist her pull.

Even though he missed Chelsea, there seemed to be no other option for Colt. He couldn’t afford to lose any more workers. Bobby had left, and John was fired, leaving them short-handed once again. Now, he had to go through the process of hiring someone new and all before his two weeks were up.

“Colt? Everything okay?” Joey asked as they reached the end of the fence.

“Yeah, Joey. I’m fine.”

“You seem quiet.”

Colt stopped his horse, and looked at him.

“Are you saying I’m not quiet?”

“Uh…”

“Just messing with you, Joey.”

“Okay. It’s really cold out today.”

“The wind will cut right through you. Let’s head back.”

“I’m more than ready.”

Colt smiled. He was grateful that Joey had stayed on after his community service was over. He enjoyed working on the ranch and hoped Joey would stick around longer. However, Colt wasn’t. With the money he had now, he could easily build himself a nice home and raise horses.

Shaking his head, he didn’t know what to do. He’d spent twenty-six years on this ranch, and it was killing him to know he had to leave it. It was his home.

Once they returned to the barn, they took care of the horses and Joey went back to work. Colt put his horse in its stall and headed to his office. As he walked toward it, he saw Brian entering the barn. Ignoring him, he entered the office.

After closing the door behind him, Colt sat down at his desk to print copies of the checks for the men. They all had direct deposit, but they were given non-negotiable checks for their records.

Once they were printed, he put each check in an envelope with their names on them and left his office to distribute them.

When he entered the bunkhouse, everyone fell silent and looked at him. Colt tossed the envelopes onto the table.

“Hand these out, Steve.” He glanced around the table. “I’ve given my two weeks’ notice. I’m sure Chelsea will hire a new manager or maybe choose one of you.” Then he walked out.

He hated that some of the men had lost respect for him, and he was sure he was a topic of conversation when they were all together. But, for now, he was still their boss, and if they didn’t like it, they could leave.

****

Chelsea’s heart ached with longing for Colt. She regretted buying the ranch, but then she wouldn’t have been with him if she hadn’t. And she wouldn’t trade their time together for anything.

She threw on her coat and beanie before stepping out of the house onto the porch. Snowflakes drifted down, but she couldn’t stay cooped up any longer. She needed to get out of the house.

Trudging across the yard, Chelsea reached the stables where her horse was kept warm in the barn. She grabbed her horse and led it out of the stall. Just as she was about to mount, Brian walked in with a wheelbarrow. Their eyes met, but he continued to the other side of the barn to clean those stalls. Chelsea’s jaw clenched at his presence, knowing he had ruined things between her and Colt.

She understood why he felt that way, but he should have just talked to Colt instead of being confrontational. Things could have been handled more amicably. If Brian had dated Christine, and didn’t mess around on the job, nothing would have mattered. But instead, he acted like a jerk about it.

Chelsea knew Brian’s accusation had hurt Colt, even though it was true. It could have been resolved peacefully if only Brian had approached it differently.

After saddling her horse, Chelsea rode out from the barn and nodded at Christine as she passed by her.

Once outside, she urged her horse into a gallop and charged through the thick blanket of snow. Flakes whipped her face and the wind howled past her, causing her hair to whip wildly behind her. She pulled her scarf up around her nose, and her beanie down lower, but the bitter cold still stung at her skin and burned her eyes.

As she rode along, tears threatened to fall, and not just from the biting chill. Her heart ached, and she felt completely lost, unsure of how to move forward.

After riding for what seemed like an eternity, she finally turned her horse around and began the journey back. The snow continued to swirl around her.

She entered the barn and dismounted, taking care to cool down the horse before leading him into his warm stall. Smiling affectionately at him as he eagerly dug into his food and water, she couldn’t help but envy his simple contentment.

Looking around for any sign of Christine, she didn’t see her, and made her way out of the barn and toward the house. As she shed her coat and hat and hung them up, she couldn’t help but take in the comforting familiarity of her surroundings. This was her home. But now, in the midst of heartbreak and uncertainty, she couldn’t help but wonder if it was all worth it to lose the man she loved so much.

With a heavy sigh, she got up, made a sandwich, locked the doors, then headed to her bedroom to watch TV. It was getting darker outside due to the heavy snow, and she just wanted to sit in her room, away from the outside world. Her heart was never going to heal.

****

Colt was feeling completely miserable. He only had one week left on the ranch, but he didn’t know what he would do after that. As he sat at his desk, scrolling through listings for places to buy, he couldn’t help but feel like starting over again would be daunting. He leaned back in his chair and ran his fingers through his hair with a heavy sigh. Leaving the ranch was for the best, even though it pained him to do so.

“Who is this really best for?” he muttered to himself.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and he called out for them to come in. Brian entered the office, causing Colt to roll his eyes.

“What can I do for you, Brian?” Colt asked, sitting up straight and crossing his arms.

“I was wondering if Chelsea has made a decision on who will replace you as manager,” Brian said casually.

Colt clenched his jaw, trying not to show how surprised he was by Brian’s nerve. It was because of him that Colt had decided to leave the ranch, yet here he was acting like nothing had happened.

“No, I haven’t talked to Chelsea since I gave my notice.”

“Really?” Brian shook his head.

“What does that mean?” Colt asked defensively.

Brian shrugged. “I just assumed that now that you’re not going to be working here, you and Chelsea would be together.”

“You mean without someone watching our every move?” Colt growled.

When Brian smirked, Colt had to restrain himself from reaching across the desk and knocking it off his face.

“I never said you had to leave,” Brian retorted.

“No, but your actions led me to make that decision,” Colt shot back.

Brian stood up suddenly, causing Colt to do the same. They glared at each other across the desk.

“You broke the rules, Colt. You fired John and Kim—”

“I wasn’t the one who fired them. Chelsea did. And as the owner of the ranch, she has every right to make decisions for it,” Colt said, his anger rising.

“So, if she asks you to fuck—”

Colt didn’t let him finish. He swung his fist and landed a punch on Brian’s mouth, knocking him to the floor. He strode around the desk, and stood over Brian, clenching his fists in anger.

“Get your things and get off this ranch. I’m still the manager here, and you’re fired,” he seethed. He watched as Brian wiped his hand across his mouth, then looked at the blood.

“That was a cheap shot,” Brian said as he got to his feet. “You took me off guard.”

“Well, you’re ready now, take your best shot.” Colt put his arms out to his side, but when Brian swung at him, he leaned back, and quick as lightning, punched him again.

“Stop this.”

Both men looked toward the door to see Chelsea standing there with her hands on her hips, glaring at them.

“He hit me,” Brian said, sounding like a child.

Colt watched as Chelsea looked at him, then back to Brian.

“Yeah, and you probably deserved it.”

“He also fired me,” Brian shouted.

“He fired you?” Chelsea asked and Brian nodded.

“Yes.”

“Well, he is still manager here, so I guess that means you’re fired. Get your things and get off this ranch. Don’t you ever step foot on it again. Mr. Cotton would be so disappointed in you.”

Brian picked up his hat, put it on his head, and stormed from the office. Chelsea looked at Colt.

“I’m not sorry I hit him,” he said.

“Why did you hit him?” She folded her arms.

“It doesn’t matter. It got heated and I couldn’t help myself.” Colt shrugged.

“He said something about me, didn’t he?”

“Chelsea, it doesn’t matter.”

“Colt, can’t we—”

“No. It’s not right to have the men do as I say and not as I do. I respect them too much for that.”

“You do realize if you quit, there is no reason why we can’t be together. Here.”

“I know. I just need time to think and I can’t do that around you.”

“Then don’t quit yet. Take a week off and decide. You can still stay at your cabin.” She stepped closer to him. “I don’t want you to go, but it’s your decision. If you want to leave, I won’t stand in your way, but I’m hoping you’ll stay.”

Colt stared into her eyes. “I don’t want to go, but what choice do I have?”

“You can quit but stay with me.” Chelsea tilted her head.

“I can’t do that. Chelsea, I have to work. I’ve always worked and I’m not going to stop now.” He sighed.

“Okay. Please think about it.” She stared at him for a few seconds then walked out of the office, closing the door behind her.

Colt sat back down in his chair and stared at the door. He knew he had to leave, if only to make a decision. He’d love to stay, but right now, things were too heated. Now, with Brian being fired, maybe things would settle down, but that didn’t mean he was going to stick around.

The thought of staying and working with the men who no longer respected him was hard to bear. Even if he quit and lived with Chelsea, how would they feel about that? Was it really any of their business?

Colt shook his head. He knew it wasn’t, but it still felt like it was. He’d worked alongside them for years and since he’d lost their respect, he just didn’t know what he could do.

“It’s best to just go,” he murmured. Taking a deep breath, he strode from the office, across the yard, up the porch, and knocked on the door. It opened and Chelsea waved him inside.

“Is something wrong?”

Colt removed his hat, and spun the brim in his hand.

“Chelsea, I think it’s best if I leave.” He held his hand up when she opened her mouth to speak. “I know the men find it difficult to work with me now, and I can’t blame them. People want a boss they can trust, and if I’m breaking the rules, how can they do that?”

“But, if you quit, you can stay.” Chelsea stared at him with tears in her eyes.

“And do what? I’d want to work, but I know the men are…” He waved his hand. “Pissed, angry, and disappointed in me. They’re not going to want to work around me.”

“They’d get over it.”

Colt blew out a humorless laugh. “No, they won’t. When you work on a ranch together, you become a family. A very close family. There has to be trust and there’s not any now. At least, not for me. Those men count on each other every day. I lied to them. I know it doesn’t seem like much to you, but it does to me.”

“They’d still count on you, Colt.”

“Would they? Look, Chelsea, it doesn’t take long for trust to be broken and it’s even harder to get it back. I know they have lost that trust in me, so how do you expect them to just get over it?”

“So, you’re going to leave me?”

“I think it’s best.”

“I’m not talking about the ranch, Colt. I’m talking about me. You’re going to leave me.”

Colt sighed, raked his fingers through his hair, and placed his hat on his head.

“I need to get back to work. Friday will be my last day as planned.” He turned to open the door, and glanced back over his shoulder. “Jett would make a great manager.” He stepped onto the porch, and without looking at her again, he closed the door, jogged down the steps, and entered the barn.