THE COWGIRL OUTSHOT EVERY MAN AT THE FALL CONTEST — THE COWBOY WATCHING FELL FOR HER ON THE SPOT
Chapter 6
The photograph reached Emma the next morning.
It showed her kissing Cole outside the barn.
There was no message.
No explanation.
Just the photograph.
Emma stared at it.
Then her phone rang.
Voss.
“Good morning.”
“What do you want?”
“I thought you might like the picture.”
Her blood ran cold.
“You’ve been watching me.”
“I watch many things.”
“If you threaten me again, I’ll go to the police.”
“I’m not threatening you.”
“Then what is this?”
“A warning.”
“About what?”
“Mr. Tanner.”
Emma went silent.
Voss continued.
“Your father made the mistake of trusting people.”
“Don’t talk about my father.”
“You should learn from his mistakes.”
She hung up.
Cole arrived minutes later.
“What happened?”
She showed him the photograph.
His expression hardened.
“Did he send this?”
“Yes.”
“We’re going to the sheriff.”
Emma hesitated.
“Do it.”
The sheriff took the threat seriously.
Deputies began monitoring the ranch.
But Voss remained untouchable.
He had lawyers.
Connections.
Money.
And patience.
Meanwhile, Cole discovered something worse.
His own ranch had begun receiving anonymous complaints.
Environmental violations.
Livestock complaints.
Tax questions.
All false.
Someone was targeting him too.
Jake called.
“Voss.”
Cole nodded.
“Probably.”
“Why would he come after you?”
Cole looked toward the Carter ranch.
“Because I’m standing between him and Emma.”
Jake sighed.
“You’re really in love with her.”
Cole didn’t deny it.
“Yes.”
Emma heard him say it.
She had walked into the barn just in time.
Cole turned.
She looked surprised.
“You love me?”
He froze.
Jake said:
“I’ll call you later.”
The phone went dead.
Cole faced Emma.
“I wasn’t planning to tell you like that.”
She smiled.
“How were you planning to tell me?”
“I don’t know.”
“Eventually?”
“Definitely.”
She walked closer.
“You’ve known me for weeks.”
“I know.”
“You don’t know everything.”
“I know.”
“You don’t know whether I’ll save the ranch.”
“I know.”
“You don’t know what happens next.”
“No.”
She smiled.
“But you love me anyway?”
“Yes.”
Emma’s eyes filled with tears.
“I love you too.”
He stared.
“Really?”
She laughed.
“Don’t make me repeat it.”
He pulled her into his arms.
For the first time, Emma let herself stop being afraid.
Then a loud engine roared outside.
They separated.
A truck was driving away.
Cole ran outside.
On the ground lay a broken bottle.
Inside it was a note.
Leave Mercy Creek.
Emma picked it up.
Her hands trembled.
Cole took the note.
“We’re not leaving.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“We’re fighting.”
The next week became a battle.
They filed complaints.
Gathered records.
Met with the sheriff.
Contacted the bank.
They also discovered that Voss had purchased several nearby properties.
He was building something.
A large cattle-processing facility.
The Carter ranch sat directly between his properties.
If he acquired it, he could connect the entire operation.
Emma understood.
“He doesn’t want my ranch because it’s failing.”
Cole nodded.
“He wants it because it’s valuable.”
“Then he won’t get it.”
They created a plan.
Emma would enter the county’s agricultural innovation competition.
The winner would receive a $250,000 grant.
If she won, it would cover most of the debt.
The competition included cattle management, horsemanship, ranch efficiency, and shooting.
Emma looked at the registration form.
The shooting event was the final challenge.
Cole smiled.
“You’ve got this.”
She looked at him.
“What if I don’t?”
“Then we’ll find another way.”
She smiled.
“You’re learning.”
“What?”
“Not everything has to be won.”
He kissed her forehead.
“Maybe.”
But Emma knew the truth.
This time, she needed to win.
Because the future of her family’s ranch depended on it.
