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her—staying up long enough to film everything but falling asleep sprawled across the bed editing the video together.
    She just couldn’t post anything and it was driving her mad.
    And then things got worse when the barrel racers started to show up.
    Early Friday morning, she stood on the front porch with her cup of coffee loaded with cream, sugar, and ice cubes—the closest she was getting to an iced latte—sipping the drink and blinking against the rising sun, trying to wake up. The air was cooler than it would be in the day and she was starting to finally feel like she was fitting into the part she’d come to play. Her skinny jeans were scuffed around the knees but clean, boots worn in and comfortable. A short-sleeved, blue plaid shirt was tied at her abdomen to reveal her navel and white tank top. The Stetson hung on her back from the strap around her neck and she’d started to get used to it there. Her nails were a damn mess—she’d broken down, removed the nail polish, and not repainted them—and she’d stopped wearing makeup, but it was sort of fun being a farm girl.
    When she wasn’t shoveling manure. Or being dragged by horses. Or stepped on. Or touching gross horse tongues for the purpose of medicine.
    Light glinted in the distance, early morning sun striking metal as a vehicle turned down the long driveway. Behind the gleaming red truck was a black horse trailer, wheels spitting up dirt and gravel as they went.
    Dani stiffened, her stomach twisting. The show was tomorrow—why would people be arriving now?
    As the truck turned in a half circle, putting it three yards from the ranch porch, the door behind Dani opened and Cooper stepped out with a grin.
    A real grin. One lighting his whole face—crinkling the skin around his eyes and lips, brightening his expression. He almost looked like an entirely different person.
    Her heart thudded hard as she watched him step off the porch, not giving her a second look, to go to the idling truck.
    The driver turned off the engine and stepped out. She was tall—taller than Dani, though not Cooper’s height—with a head of lustrous, poker straight brown hair that reached her elbows. She was dressed similar to Danyiah though looked far more at ease in it.
    The Hot New White Chick rounded the truck, mouth in a huge smile, and leaned against the hood. “Hey! Good to see you!”
    Cooper stopped a few feet in front of her, still grinning.
    Irritation flickered in Dani while they made eyes at one another.
    So he has a girlfriend. Or something. Are you surprised? No. Do you care? No. So stop being jealous.
    Besides, she wasn’t jealous. Not at all .
    She swallowed a mouthful of her iced coffee and it tasted sour.
    “He took the ride well,” the woman was saying as she led Cooper toward the trailer.
    The porch door opened and closed behind Dani; she glanced over her shoulder to see Dewey, Jenny racing past him to sniff out the new truck. He came to stand next to her and whistled low between his teeth. “Well. She’s early.”
    “Who is she?” She forced her tone to be casual but it wasn’t convincing.
    “Carlee Birch. Barrel racer. One of the best around here.”
    Wonderful . “And she’s here early because...?”
    Dewey shrugged. “A few just do. You’ll see them arrive throughout the day, get their horses settled and a tent set up—a few of them that come early all camp out there.” He gestured over his shoulder to a spot between the outdoor arena and the ranch house. “She’s, uh, very early, though. Must’ve been driving since five this morning.”
    Dani swallowed dryly and eyed her coffee but didn’t much feel like taking a sip. “Why would she do that? Excited for the show?”
    “Or about seeing someone.” Dewey winked at her.
    Her stomach turned.
    “She’ll be staying until Tuesday, too—helping at Riding Camp, teaching some of the kids basic stuff.”
    Oh joy of joys .
    He waved at Carlee, then returned to the house, screen door swinging