Chapter One

Daisy's trouble started with a blown tire.

Unfortunately, it only escalated from there once she stopped for help.

The building that housed the bar was made of thin, frail, graying wood. The structure looked more like a ramshackle shed in a farmer's backyard than an actual tavern.

The sign out front read JOE'S EST. 1973.

The ensuing fifty-one years had not been kind to the building. Or maybe it was a lack of upkeep that caused the wear and tear. Whatever the case, the thing appeared to be barely hanging on.

Daisy's blown tire was already making her car loud and wobbly. By the time she pulled into the bar's gravel-strewn parking lot, the vehicle's steering wheel vibrated ferociously in her hands. She breathed a heavy sigh as she killed the engine. She could feel tears mounting behind her big blue eyes, but she fought hard to keep them at bay. What good would crying do?

Now is not the time for pity, she told herself. She followed up the admonishment with a stern stare in the rearview mirror.

"Now is the time to assess the situation and make a plan," she said aloud. "If you had a Daddy, that's exactly what he'd tell you to do."

She nodded in satisfaction. Being brave was sure tough sometimes. But she wasn't going to let a little thing like a blown tire stand in her way. She had to make it to Florida. And by golly, she was going to get there.

She looked at her stuffie in the front passenger seat. The plush bear had its seatbelt fastened, the sight making Daisy giggle. "It's okay, Hedy. We'll be back on the road in no time!"

She patted the plush doll's head before sliding from the car. She walked around to the passenger side and studied the front tire.

It was shredded. She didn't know much about cars, but she knew enough to know that driving too long on a flat could damage the wheel's rim. She prayed she hadn't done that. It looked fine. But then again, she was no expert.

She'd just have to cross that bridge if and when she came to it.

Right now, she needed a plan.

She turned and looked at the bar. It appeared as if a strong wind could blow the thing over! But that wasn't why she was afraid to go in.

It was the men she saw staggering out the door toward a beat-up old pickup that gave Daisy pause.

She thought about getting back in her car. Of course, she couldn't drive away, but she could at least lock the doors.

She told herself not to judge them. They might be great guys. They might even help her change that tire.

One was a big man, his body thick with muscle but also a bulging beer gut. He had a coarse black beard that jutted down from his chin. Matching hair spilled out of a tattered ballcap. He wore a tee with a long-sleeved flannel shirt over it. His jeans were ripped and greasy.

His two friends were dressed much the same. One was clean shaven while the other had a scraggly beard that was the same color of red as his straggly hair.

They were talking and didn't notice her for a few seconds. She was just about to turn and scurry back into the safety of her car when the big man said, "Well, well, boys. What do we have here?"

The guys were eager to investigate the pretty young woman who appeared helpless in the bar's parking lot.

They strutted toward her.

"Looks like you could use a little help, girlie," the big one said. He seemed to be the trio's leader.

"I'm fine. Thank you."

He looked at that ruined tire and shook his head. "Don't look fine. Maybe we could throw on a spare for you."

He turned his focus back to her and lingered with a leery gaze. His two buddies looked her up and down, too, clearly liking what they saw.

"I've already called someone," she lied. Her voice trembled slightly, a fact she hated. It couldn't be helped, though.

"You did?" the leader said. "Who?"

"Roadside assistance," Daisy said.

"Hey, boys, look," the redheaded one said after peering into the passenger window. "She's got a toy!"

He laughed as he pulled open the door and yanked the stuffie out.

"Had the damn thing wearing a seatbelt, too."

"Well, ain't that cute?" the leader said.

The men jeered.

"Give that back!" Daisy said, rushing toward her stuffie.

"Or you'll what?" the redhead said.

Just when she was almost to him, her arms thrust forward grasping for her bear, he tossed it over her head and to the big man.

He caught it and then tossed it to the third guy.

"Looks like we have us a game of keepaway," the big guy said.

"Give me my bear!" Daisy cried.

The men just laughed as they continued to throw it back and forth. Finally, the leader said, "Hey, I got an idea. You want this bear?"

"Yes!"

"Do you really want it?"

She sniffled and nodded, hating the fact that she was showing such weakness to the bullies.

"Well, girlie, maybe we could work out a little trade."

Tears were welling in Daisy's eyes. She couldn't stand the thought of losing Hedy.

"A t-trade?" she said with a sniffle.

"That's right," he said. He wore a crooked sneer, a line of tobacco juice spilling from his cracked bottom lip. "We give you your little toy back. And in return, you give us your ass and let us take turns with you. Me first, of course."

The men laughed.

"Why do you get to go first?" Red said.

"Because it was my idea," the big guy said, jerking his thumb at his chest. He looked rather proud of the plan he'd concocted.

Daisy was terrified. She tried to inject as much confidence as possible, saying, "Give me my bear back! You have no right to take her! And I'm not going to do… that !"

"Oh really?" the leader said. "And who's going to stop us if we just rip your little toy up and then grab you anyway?"

"I am," a new voice said.

Everyone stopped dead in their tracks and looked toward the tall, strong, handsome cowboy who stood just a few feet way.