It’s cute how happily they irritate each other. “You know you’d be lost without her.”

He grunts. “Don’t ever tell her that.”

“It’ll be our secret.”

My dad continues to fix the board, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Cooper, huh?” he asks as he climbs off the ladder.

I guess I’m not out of the woods.

“It’s not like that. I don’t know if we’ll be more, but he’s a good man. He came out here to help you on his day off.”

“Uh-huh. So, you gonna fix things with Trent?”

He walks over to the tool bench and sits. This can’t be good. He’s hunkering down for a real conversation.

“He doesn’t love me. How do you fix something like that?”

He jerks his head. “You know, it’s not always easy, but you have to fight, baby girl.”

“It’s not that simple. I can’t force him to become an adult.”

My father took it the hardest when Scarlett died. He felt like he failed his little girl, and he became extra protective of me. I think he also likes that Trent is a protector. Daddy respects the law and knows that Trent upholds it, not breaks it.

My father leans forward and touches my cheek. “I reckon you can’t. You’re a smart girl, and you’ll know who’s right for you.”

Therein lies the issue, I don’t know what’s right. My heart and my head don’t ever agree when it comes to men.

I smile and touch his hand. “I get my smarts from you.”

He winks. “I know it. You get your fight from your mama. That woman can argue herself in or out of anything. Enough talkin’, let’s get back to work.”

“I’m going to check on Cooper and help him with mending the fence. You all right in here?”

Daddy scoffs and waves his hand. “Don’t you worry about me. I’m as strong as an ox.”

He’s a mess.

I start to walk out toward the field where Cooper is working—with his shirt off—and let out a heavy sigh. Why can’t the man keep a shirt on? I think about how he didn’t hesitate to come out here. He actually offered to spend the day working on our farm. Not many men would spend their day off doing hard labor, let alone have it be their idea.

My father was right. I do know who is the right man. I don’t know if I can let go of the other one. My mind drifts to last night and this morning. How I felt being in Trent’s arms. How he said things I’ve been longing to hear.

I take my phone out of my pocket and send a text to Trent.

Me: I know you’re with your family, but we should talk about what happened today.

They do this trip every year, and one of the rules is no phones unless it’s an emergency. This doesn’t qualify as one.

“Hey!” Cooper calls out when he sees me.

I wave and start moving in his direction. “Hey, how’s it goin’?” I ask as he wipes sweat from his brow.

“Good. I’m about done here. I wanted to help your dad on gettin’ his tractor workin’. I think it might cut down on some of the other things he’s let slide. If we have some time, maybe we can get the horses some exercise?”

“You really don’t have to do that.”

Cooper tosses his shirt over his shoulder and laughs. “It’s either that or we’re workin’ here a few days a week.”

That is the last thing I want to be doing. I’m sure I can rope Wyatt and Zach into helping out once in a while. They both owe me for saving their sorry butts a time or two.

“That won’t be happening. I think Daddy and I are going to have a come to Jesus moment about needing to hire someone.”

Cooper grabs the bottle of water and chugs it. I watch in rapt fascination at how his throat moves as he swallows. The way his skin is bronzed from being out here for an hour. I try not to think about how good his body looks, but I fail.

He’s the total package.

He finishes his drink and hands me what’s left. “Here, you don’t want to get dehydrated. It’s hot as hell today.”

“Yes. Yes it is,” I mutter and take a drink. I shake my head, trying to rattle the thoughts of Cooper from my mind and clear my throat. “So, can I help you with the fence?”

“Sure.” Cooper lifts his chin and hands me the hammer. “I’ll pull the line tight if you can secure it.”

“No problem.”

We work alongside each other, poking fun at my inability to be able to hit the nail, and then at almost hitting Cooper’s hand. Sweat drips from my forehead as we move to the few poles that are left. I had forgotten how much I disliked hard labor.

After ten more minutes, we’re done with mending the fence. There’s a lot more that needs to be done so we go to the next task, my most hated chore ever, hay bales.

“I think we should leave this for another day,” I suggest.

“You would rather haul them on your own?”

“I would rather they catch on fire.”

He lifts an eyebrow. “What is with girls and hay bales?”

“What does that mean?” I ask with my arms across my chest.

His hands raise in surrender. “I’m just sayin’ all you girls complain when it’s time to move them.”

I’ll be more than happy to explain why.

“Because they’re heavy, the hay gets all in your hair no matter how careful you are, your back aches for days after, and it freaking itches.”

“Would you rather chop wood? Fish? Hunt? Or clean the stalls?” he questions with a grin.

“I would rather sleep.”

Cooper bursts out laughing and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me against him. “You’re a mess.”

“And you’re gross and sweaty.”

He crouches low, grips my legs, tosses me over his shoulder, and starts running.

“Cooper!” I squeal. “Put me down!” He doesn’t though. He keeps moving as if I’m not speaking until we reach the creek. He better not. “Do not do it!” I say as I hear the water.

“Do what?” His voice is full of innocence.

I hang upside down as the creek comes into view. I start flailing around, slapping him on his butt, hoping to deter him from what I know is coming.

Cold. Ass. Water.