Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
He starts to walk away, and I can’t take my eyes off him. He gets to the door before he turns around. “You like ranching, Sassy?”
The truth is, I don’t know anything else. But I know what he wants to hear, so I say it. “I love it.”
He smiles again. “That’s good, honey, because I don’t know what I’d do without the ranch.”
My smile falters for just a second and then I force it back onto my face. As soon as he’s out the door, I feel the pressure of it all on my shoulders, and I physically slump over. The weight is too much to bear, and I know I need to fix it. I have to. I can’t let him lose his ranch. I won’t.
I work through the morning. After I go inside to make sure my dad eats lunch, he takes a nap, and I find my way to the office at the front of our house. I pick up the documents that I received in the mail last week and read over them again. There’s no point really. I’ve read them at least twenty times, and it still says the same thing. Even though it’s a lot of words, it’s pretty simple. If I join the Breeding Bidders Auction, I will be auctioning off my virginity. I get to keep one million dollars. And there is an option that includes marriage.
I found the site a few weeks ago when I was searching online on how to make some money. It’s amazing all the sites I found that were get rich quick schemes, but this seems to be legit. I’ve had a phone conference with the owner and auctioneer, Coco St. James. She was snarky but at least answered all my questions. There’s also a private auction coming up next week in Jasper, which is only thirty minutes away from me here in Whiskey Run. The deadline to apply is closing in, and I know I have to make a decision.
I’ve tried all I know to try. I’ve gone to the bank and asked for loans, I’ve sold off all I know to sell. I’m literally at the end of my rope. I have to do something or else I’m going to be looking for an apartment for me and my dad to live in.
And that will kill him. Literally, it will kill him if he isn’t living on this ranch. I know it.
I shuffle things around on my desk, and when I find the pen, I grab it and count to ten. My mind is going crazy. All the things that could go wrong, all the risks in doing something like this, all of it is a lot to think about, but probably what’s craziest is that my mind keeps going to Cole. I know it’s stupid, but I’ve always secretly crushed on him. I know there’s not a chance in hell with him so I shouldn’t even be thinking about it, but I can’t make myself stop. If I do this, if I give my virginity to some stranger, that’s it. I won’t be saving myself for Cole anymore.
I roll my eyes in disgust. I’m so stupid and need to get my head out of the clouds. Cole and I are never going to happen no matter how much I want him. He’s a millionaire with one of the biggest ranches in Tennessee. He could literally have any woman he wanted. He’s definitely not going to want some young tomboy whose ranch is falling down around her. Nope. It’s best to get my head out of the clouds and start making things happen. The days of my dad saving the day are over. It’s my turn now.
I lean over my desk and sign my name across the dotted line. Before I can talk myself out of it, I scan the page with my phone, open the email app, and send it in.
My phone makes the sound that it was sent, and I sigh loudly. It’s done. No going back and forth anymore. The decision has been made.
My phone dings, and it’s an email from Coco St. James. “I’ve been waiting for your email. See you soon.”
I bite my lip. Doubt starts to creep in, but I shake it off. I can’t lose this ranch, and this is the only option I have left to keep it. I’m doing what I have to do.
Cole
I planned to go to the Reid Ranch early this morning, but one thing after another came up. By the time I make it over here, it’s in the evening, and all the lights are off at the barn. I pull up to the small house, and even in the dark I can tell the porch needs repaired, shutters need replaced, and the house needs a new coat of paint. My hands flex around the steering wheel knowing that Sassy is living like this. She deserves so much more.