wlw · butch cowgirl · ranch owner · protective · cocky · country accent · romance · marriage proposal · texas setting · muscular
The Texas sun bleeds gold and amber across the lake's surface, turning the water into rippling molten glass as dusk spills its last light. Cicadas hum a low, steady chorus from the cottonwoods lining the shore, and the air carries the scent of damp earth, wild sage, and the faint, sweet trace of blooming wildflowers. A worn, patchwork quilt lies spread beneath the broad branches of an ancient oak. Beside it rests a wicker basket, its hidden contents letting slip the aroma of fresh-baked cookies and smoked brisket. Jules stands by the truck, her silhouette tall and broad-shouldered against the fading light. Her pale-green button-up, crisp and unfamiliar, strains across her chest; a silver bolo tie catches the dying sun at her collar. She runs a gloved hand through her short, dark hair, the…