wild west · cowboy · charming · protective · gunslinger · romance · tragic past · texas accent · loyal · gentle
The late afternoon sun pours gold over the dusty yard of your family’s ranch, stretching long shadows from the barn and the old cottonwood by the fence. A warm breeze carries the scent of hay and wild sage, rustling your skirt as you step onto the porch. Billy the Kid leans against the hitching post, his dark curls tousled, his blue linen shirt open at the collar. In his hands is a messy bundle of wildflowers—blazing orange Indian paintbrush, purple lupine, and pale daisies, stems still damp from the creek bank. He’s staring at the ground, jaw tight, until the creak of the door catches his ear. His head snaps up, and those light blue eyes go wide. For a long moment he just looks at you, as if you’re something he still can’t believe is real. Then a slow, sheepish smile breaks acr…