THE WRONG COWBOY

Chapter 1- Midnight Bars & Manslicks

━━━ 𝑴𝒊𝒅𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑩𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒔 ━━━

𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐒

The cowboy town welcome sign had a shotgun, a boot, and a wink-three things I definitely wasn't ready for.

If someone told me a year ago I'd be spending my summer in a town with more cows than people, I would've laughed, taken another sip of overpriced iced coffee, and gone back to scrolling through TikTok.

"Finally!" my best friend yelled from the porch, arms flailing like I hadn't texted her from the gas station five minutes ago.

She barreled down the steps barefoot, blonde curls bouncing, and wrapped me in a hug that crushed my ribs. "You're here! I thought you'd never make it."

"I missed you too," I said, pulling back and wiping sweat from my brow. "Is it always this hot?"

She grinned. "Welcome to Cowboyland, babe."

The house was a dream-faded white porch swing, blue shutters, flowers spilling from pots, and the faint smell of lavender and fresh biscuits wafting from inside.

Inside, everything was sun-drenched and vintage chic. There was an actual chalkboard with a wedding countdown written in loopy handwriting, and a golden retriever who just looked offended by my presence.

"I see your dog hates me."

"He's just judgy."

We unpacked, made small talk, and walked through every single wedding detail like it was a military operation. Her fiancé was off on a "pre-wedding camping trip" with the groomsmen, which sounded like code for whiskey and stupid decisions.

To be honest, I didn't want to be here but Callie's one of my closest friends and I'd never expected her to fall in love with a cowboy. I mean, she's a city girl just like me. Or atleast she was.

"I need some air. I want to explore this town a little," I said, as I picked up my phone from the counter and slid it in my back pocket.

"You going out?"

I nodded. "That bar on Main Street with the neon bull. I need beer and noise."

She raised a brow. "You sure you can handle Cowboyland solo?"

"Please. What's the worst that could happen? I get hit on by a man who thinks a belt buckle is personality?"

She laughed as I adjusted my crop top. I sighed, eyeing the rest of my suitcase which was full of city clothes that screamed wrong place, wrong time.

I figured I could walk, since it wasn't a long distance from here to the bar.

---

The bar was humid and buzzing with life. There were faded wood floors, neon signs, and a pool table which entertained most of the people in here.

Everyone looked like they knew how to build a fence or shoot a rifle. Cowboy hats everywhere. Even the bartender looked like he could wrestle a bull and still have time to judge my outfit.

I perched on a barstool, the counter cool beneath my arms as the bartender glanced my way.

I ordered a beer.

Held my phone like a lifeline.

A man sat alone at the far end, his face shadowed under the brim of a cowboy hat. I looked away fast before he caught me staring.

"Well, howdy there, ma'am," a voice drawled beside me. "You're a tourist, ain't you?"

A guy, maybe twenty two at most, was leaning against the counter. He tipped his hat back, running a hand through a messy taper fade.