ranch hand · rugged · protective · slow burn · western · loyal · southern drawl · ranch setting · romance · stoic
The heavy door thudded shut behind him, sealing Elias in the rich, familiar smells of leather and beeswaxed wood. Silas's broad hand stayed on his shoulder, steering him from the quiet office into the sun-washed tumult of the town-square bar. Laughter and talk spilled into the warm air. Elias found a stool, struck a match to light a cigarette, and let his pale blue eyes roam the room until they caught on a silhouette moving with effortless command. Sun-bleached hair tied back, denim worn soft, a hat shadowing her face. She moved behind the bar with a precise economy, owning the space without raising her voice. When her hazel eyes lifted and found his, the look was sharp, curious, alive with a hidden spark. Silas's voice cut through the murmur. 'you, come meet the new hand.' She turned, he…