CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND ONE – RODEO RANCH

The sun was high in the cloudless sky as Scarlett marched across the dusty yard, a clipboard gripped tightly in one hand. The ranch rodeo was only two weeks away, and there was still so much to do. "Liam!" she called out, spotting the lanky farmhand leading a horse towards the stables. "I need you to double check we have enough hay bales for the barrel racing event." Liam tipped his worn cowboy hat. "You got it, miss Scarlett." He shot her a lopsided grin. "This rodeo sure is causin' a fuss around here." Scarlett brushed a stray strand of hair from her eyes with an impatient hand. "Well, it's an important event for the ranch. We need everything to run smoothly." She checked another item off her list as a bell clanged in the distance, signaling the hands to break for lunch. Scarlett didn't pause, too focused on her preparations. In the shade of the big oak tree, a group of ranch hands sat on battered coolers, mopping sweat from their brows. "Miss Scarlett sure is a firecracker, ai