Long shadows stretched across the ranch like dark fingers slowly reaching out to consume the afternoon. A cool breeze tickled my neck, sending a shiver down my back as I stood at the fence, ready to pounce. I took a deep breath, relaxing my muscles, and emptied my mind of everything but my target. I was a bull rider in the Tennessee high school rodeo and was determined to get first place this year. It served as a good way to let off a little steam, and today I really needed it.

I couldn't believe my dad was okay with it when I first broached the subject of bull riding. But he had done it at my age and his father before him, so he seemed proud to have the tradition passed down, even if he looked like he wanted to change his mind every time I did it.

Taking one final breath, I adjusted my stance and jumped. I landed on the bull and gripped the rope wrapped around his middle. He began to buck angrily. I held on with my left hand and raised my right hand into the air for balance as he swung around. I ticked off the seconds in my head. The world around me fell out of focus, blurring as the bull spun. No names, no whispers, no laughter, just the bull, and the chord under my fingers keeping me secure. Swirls of gold and blue filled my vision, replacing the stalks and sky, throwing me into an abstract painting of bleeding paint.

I began to slip, yanking reality back into the foreground. I quickly jumped off the bull, rolled to the side, and hopped over the fence before I got into trampling territory. The bull huffed at me, irritated by my sneak attack. "Nice working with you too Hank," I said with a grin, my heart racing.

"Good riding baby girl," my dad said behind me. I turned and smiled up at his beaming face. Someone else stood close, bent over, tying his shoe.

"Thanks. I think I'll take first place this year."

"I've no doubt." My dad stepped to the side so I could better see the guy next to him. "The new ranch hand just arrived." 

The guy stood up and a pair of familiar eyes found mine. My mouth fell open. I quickly snapped it shut, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of irritating me, or worse, giving him the impression of finding him attractive, which he annoyingly still was.

"Alina, this is Orion. Orion, this is Alina."

My brain sputtered. NO. NO. NO. Not you. 

"No..." I responded. Stuck on that one word like a broken record incapable of moving past the scratch that had ruined it. This boy was the blemish of my day. Why is it him? How is it him?

I groaned internally. Of course, it's him. I'm in a strange twilight zone where a crazy guy follows me around for no good reason. I stared at Orion, processing the information. He was my age. Too young for a job away from home. "Wow... your parents must be really chill if they let you live on your own when you haven't even graduated high school yet," I said, clearly in a doubtful town.

Orion offered a halfhearted shrug, his eyes darkening. "Yeah. They're pretty hands-off. Travel a lot. Been on my own for a while."

Something about that statement didn't sit right. Like being handed a half-finished puzzle and being expected to accept the image with no further questions. "Dad I don't think we really need a ranch hand," I said, pulling my eyes away from Orion.

"What? Why on earth would you change your mind?" my dad asked, bewildered.

Because he tarnished something important to me. Because I will probably kill him if he works here. Because he's lying. 

I looked Orion up and down, doing my best to seem unimpressed, which was a challenge. "He doesn't look like a ranch boy." I gave an extra punch of emphasis on the last two words and put my hands on my hips, shooting him a glare.

Orion's lips quirked up, amused. "I have worked on several ranches."

He knew the entire time we were at school that he was going to be working here. He should have said something. "Sure..." I said in disbelief.

"He has." My dad interjected looking between us, clearly confused. "One in California and one in Arizona. I called and asked. Hard worker."

I didn't care. I didn't want him anywhere near my home. "I don't know if—"

"Honey." My dad's tone surprised me, pulling me away from my internal frustration that was focused on the strange boy standing before me. "You've been running around doing too much work as it is, and I am slowing down. I can't do as much as I used to." He sighed, looking tired, causing my heart to squeeze. I felt like a failure. I should have done more.

He ran his hand down his face. "Besides, we promised the school we'd get help. We need it." I winced. I didn't want to admit that. Especially not in the form of accepting Orion's help. "Let's give him a shot."

I stared at Orion, silent for a long moment, debating. The sun was starting to set behind me, sending rays across Orion's face, framing his features in the afternoon light, making it hard to think. "I don't know."

Orion gave me a challenging smile. His dark eyes glistened with mischief, holding a secret joke that was beyond me. "If you don't think I can handle it after one week. I'll go." He grinned, brimming with confidence, seeming to say that it would be impossible to lose.

I didn't understand how he possibly thought I would be impressed after what I was going to put him through. And... it would be fun to watch him suffer. That alone made my answer easy. "Fine," I said with a hard smile.

"Great." Relief filled my dad's posture. "Let's get him set up in the guest house. Alina, why don't you show him where that is." I gave my dad a quick nod and took off walking without waiting to see if Orion would follow. 

I heard his footsteps as he moved to walk beside me. We moved quietly through the unruly grass to the small house where extra ranch hands stayed. I opened the door and then dropped the keys into his palm, making no effort to show him around. If I had known he was the one that was going to be staying here, I wouldn't have cleaned it out. 

I finally I turned to look at him. "Why didn't you tell me you were going to be working on our ranch?"

He shrugged and gave me a smirk. "I enjoyed watching your face." He chuckled, his eyes flashing with color again. A tinge of pink sparks filtered through his dark eyes for a brief moment. 

I think I needed to sit down. 

He was making me so angry I was starting to see things. "Do you like making me mad or something?" I shoved my balled-up fists into my jean short pockets, trying to stay calm and failing miserably.

Orion leaned on the doorframe. "A little," he admitted.

"Stupid thing to do if I get to decide how long you last here," I pointed out.

He tilted his head forward, invading my personal space. His skin smelled like a combination of citrus and pine. I took a step back feeling dizzy.

"I think I'll prove my worth." He looked confident. Too confident for my liking.

"Why would you want to work here?"

He stared at me, surprise registering in his features. "It is a great job."

I shook my head in disbelief. He had called it dirty work. I found it hard to believe this pretty boy could do much of anything. 

Swallowing, I looked away. "Do you have any idea what you did today?" I didn't wait for an answer. "Be ready to work tomorrow at 5 am. Meet me by the barn." I turned and walked off before he could respond, determined to make his first and only week here, a living hell.

...

I woke with the sun again and after tripping over my sheets for the millionth day in a row, took a quick shower and managed to tame my wet hair into a braid down my back. I hoofed it downstairs and ran right into Orion. 

He reached out and caught my left arm, steadying me as I lost my balance. "What the hell?" I gasped, pulling my arm out of his warm grasp. He took a step back surprised by the anger in my tone.

"Language Alina," my dad laughed from the other room. Orion laughed softly, his voice deep and melodic. 

"What's he doing in here?" I asked walking past Orion and into the kitchen, ignoring Orion completely. I sat down and with angry determination, pulled on my work boots.

"Mr. Brookes invited me in for breakfast," Orion said, having followed me into the kitchen.

"Well, he doesn't have time for breakfast. We have work to do," I said crossing my arms as I stood back up.

"It won't be ready for a bit. Come back before you head off to school."

I stalked out the door with Orion in tow, ignoring the fact that my work boots were still untied. Once the screen door slammed behind us, I pulled out a set of tasks I had written up the night before. 

Crouching on the porch, I smoothed out the list. He leaned down next to me, filling my nose with the smell of citrus and pine. Blinking, I cleared my head, pointing to the first task. "We will split the chores. I don't expect you to do it all before school."

He pulled the list from my hands and analyzed it. "I can do all of these. No need to split. Go have breakfast. I will be done with these in an hour." The sun caught his ebony black hair, causing it to glisten in the morning sun. I felt utterly betrayed that the sun painted this boy in an more beautiful light than he deserved.

After staring at him for a moment too long, I came back to my senses and I ripped the paper out of his hand. "There's no way."

He took the list back, giving me a cocky smile. "I can. Besides, I think you'll need a little extra time to not look like a Ranch Girl before we go to school."

All thoughts of him looking beautiful or smelling nice shattered. My face filled with angry color and I stood up. "Just take your half of the list." I ripped the list in half, crumpled up his half of the list, and threw it at his head. 

It bounced off and landed on the ground between us. Sure I was being childish, but I didn't care. "I like the way I look," I argued.

Orion picked up his half of the list and flattened it out. "I never said it was a bad look," he replied looking at me with his dusky eyes. He looked so sincere. I hated it. I hated him.

"Just do your work," I said, suddenly tired. I didn't want to talk to him anymore. I wanted to get lost in my morning work.

"How about a bet," he said, tilting his head to the side. I didn't respond, so he continued. "If I finish my half before you do, you let me take more of the list tomorrow." 

I raised an eyebrow. "What do I get when you lose?"

"IF I lose, I will quit at the end of the week like you want."

I placed my hands on my hips, liking the idea of him being gone. "Really? You're so sure you can do this faster than me, that you're willing to risk your job?"

"Is that a yes?" he asked, reaching out his hand, ready to make the bet. I stared down at it, trying to think of a downside. It felt like a trap of some kind. I just couldn't figure out how. He couldn't possibly be faster than me and didn't know where we kept half the tools for the work I had written down on the list. 

He's screwed. 

I gave him a smug look and shook his hand. It was warm, his long fingers smooth as they grazed my skin. His gentle, yet firm handshake started a chain reaction that sent my heart into a panic attack. 

Woah.

I let go of his hand, but he held it for a moment longer, continuing the strange new rhythm that my heart had decided to take up. A large grin crossed his lips and it took all of my concentration to yank my eyes away from his lips and pull my hand out of his. "Deal," I muttered as I turned and walked away without another word.

I shook my head, feeling a mix of relief and confusion. There was no way he would have it all finished before school, let alone before me. But why did he smile like that? 

It left me unsettled. I quickly ducked down and tied up my work boots faster than I ever had before, ready to get to work.

---

Thank you for reading chapter three! I hope you are enjoying the story! Or are at least curious to see where it goes!

UPDATE DAYS - A NEW CHAPTER EVERY WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY!

Orion is now working with Alina! How will this affect their relationship? Will Alina eventually grow to trust him?

How will Orion do? Will he win the bet? Or has Alina made it impossible for him to win?

CHAPTER QUESTION - Have you ever made a bet? How did it turn out?