THE COWGIRL OUTSHOT EVERY MAN AT THE FALL CONTEST — THE COWBOY WATCHING FELL FOR HER ON THE SPOT
Chapter 11
The drought was worse than anyone expected.
Creeks disappeared.
Pastures turned brown.
Cattle prices rose.
Small farmers began selling animals.
Mercy Creek faced its worst agricultural crisis in decades.
Emma gathered the cooperative members at the ranch.
“We have enough water for everyone,” she said.
A farmer shook his head.
“For how long?”
“Until the rains come.”
“What if they don’t?”
Emma looked around.
“Then we ration.”
Someone asked:
“Who gets priority?”
Emma answered immediately.
“Families first. Livestock second. Crops third.”
A wealthy farmer objected.
“I paid for my share.”
“So did everyone.”
“But I need more.”
Emma shook her head.
“No.”
The room became quiet.
She continued:
“The water doesn’t belong to the richest person.”
She looked toward the window.
“It belongs to the community.”
Her decision saved the town.
But it cost the Carter ranch.
Emma used more of her own allocation to help smaller farms.
Cole supported her.
“You’ll lose money.”
“I know.”
“You’re okay with that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She looked at him.
“Because my father didn’t protect this land so one family could become rich.”
He smiled.
“That’s my wife.”
Over the following months, the ranch became a center of cooperation.
Farmers shared equipment.
Neighbors exchanged labor.
Restaurants bought local produce.
Families volunteered.
The drought didn’t disappear.
But Mercy Creek survived.
Then the rain came.
The first storm arrived in late September.
People stood outside laughing as water poured from the sky.
Emma walked into the pasture.
Rain soaked her hair.
Cole joined her.
She laughed.
“Remember the shooting contest?”
“How could I forget?”
“You fell for me that day.”
“I did.”
“Immediately?”
“Completely.”
She shook her head.
“You didn’t even know me.”
“I knew enough.”
“What did you know?”
He looked at her.
“That you weren’t afraid.”
Emma smiled.
“I was terrified.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you think I wasn’t?”
“Because you did it anyway.”
She looked at him.
The rain continued.
“That’s what courage is.”
He kissed her.
Later that year, Mercy Creek held another Fall Harvest Festival.
The shooting contest returned.
Cole and Emma entered.
The crowd laughed.
“Are you two competing?”
Emma smiled.
“Absolutely.”
The announcer shook his head.
“Are we going to have another upset?”
Cole looked at Emma.
“Probably.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“You planning to lose?”
He smiled.
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“Whether you kiss me if I do.”
She laughed.
“You are ridiculous.”
“That’s not a no.”
They took their positions.
The crowd cheered.
Cole fired.
Three hits.
Emma fired.
Three hits.
They tied.
The crowd demanded another round.
This time, Emma looked at Cole.
“You ready?”
“Always.”
The targets appeared.
The wind shifted.
They fired together.
Both hit.
The crowd erupted.
The judge raised his hands.
“It’s a tie!”
Emma looked at Cole.
“Finally.”
He smiled.
“I think I prefer this.”
“Why?”
“Because now I don’t have to lose to you.”
She laughed.
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“Now you get to stand beside me.”
