“Nah, man, I’m gonna stay until close to hang out with your sister.” He elbows him. Riley lets out a groan. A roar of laughter escapes Diesel, and I can tell he’s getting a kick out of rubbing this in his best friend’s face.

“I’m probably only going to stay for a drink, then go home, if that’s cool with you,” he tells me.

“That’s fine. I gotta be up early for work in the morning anyway.”

“See,” Riley says with a finger to his chest. “Some of us are responsible adults.”

Diesel laughs. “I’m responsible, ask my girlfriend.”

Riley’s ready to punch him in the face but doesn’t. I tell them both goodbye and get in the truck and leave. I replay my day, and I realize I’m tired. By the time I walk up the steps and enter the cabin, I’m more than ready to wash off the sweat of the day.

I’m not used to being here yet, but I’m sure it will eventually feel like home. On the walls are photographs of horses and fences, rolling hills and old tractors. The décor is exactly what one would expect to see on a ranch. I go to my bedroom, grab some clothes, then take a shower.

By the time I’m finished, I still have a few hours before Riley arrives. I could have driven myself, but he’s not staying that long anyway, so it’s not a big deal. My eyes are tired, and I end up falling asleep on the couch until knocks tap on the door. I get up, and Riley’s standing there with a smile. “Ready?”

“Yep,” I tell him, grabbing my keys and walking out with him.

We drive over to the saloon, and Maize comes to mind. She was drinking her worries away, looking so goddamn gorgeous. I’m tempted to ask Riley if he knows her since this is a small town, but I don’t. If we’re meant to see each other again, we will.

“So how’d you end up here, considering you used to ride professionally?” he asks on the way.

“After I won a few championships, I was ready to get out of Houston. Eldorado seemed like the perfect place to settle down and not be in the hustle or bustle of a big city. It's the exact opposite of what I’m used to, and I love training horses.”

“Oh, so you’re from Houston. I didn’t realize people were into riding and stuff there,” he admits.

A lot of people think that, especially if they don’t know the landscape.