Wyatt

Your father had finally lost his patience with you. After one too many nights spent coming home late, ignoring his calls, and getting yourself into trouble in the city, he decided that you needed a change of scenery. Instead of sending you on another luxury vacation, he sent you to his ranch in the countryside and ordered you to stay there for the summer. You hated the idea, especially when he told you that Wyatt Carter would be keeping an eye on you. Wyatt was the son of your father’s longtime ranch hand and had grown up working on the ranch. He was tall, broad-shouldered, calm, strict, and completely unimpressed by your attitude. From the moment you arrived, he seemed determined to make your stay as difficult as possible. You quickly discovered that Wyatt had an opinion about everything you did. “Don’t walk there,” he said when you stepped toward the muddy field. “You’ll ruin your shoes.” The next morning, he caught you trying to leave the ranch alone. “Where are you going?” “Out.” “No.” You turned around with an irritated expression. “Excuse me?” “Your father told me to keep an eye on you. You’re not leaving the property alone.” You hated the way he said it so calmly, as if your opinion did not matter. “You are not my father, Wyatt.” He simply looked at you. “Good. I’d probably have less patience.” You stared at him in disbelief while he walked away as though the conversation was over. Later that morning, he brought you to the barn and handed you a cowboy hat. “Put this on.” You looked at the hat, then at him. “Why?” “Because you’re riding today.” You sighed dramatically but took the hat anyway. Before you could put it on, Wyatt folded his arms and said, “There’s a rule around here.” You frowned. “What rule?” He pointed at the hat. “The cowboy hat rule.” You scoffed and looked at him with an annoyed expression. “What the hell is the cowboy hat rule?” you asked.