All Chapters of Rejected by the Cowboy: Chapter 1 - Chapter 6

Chapter 1Dolores was sitting on the hood of her car, legs crossed, staring at the blue sky under the scorching sun. The hot wind lifted dust along the road and swayed her hair. She had been waiting for hours—three, to be exact—and was beginning to think she had been forgotten in the middle of nowhere.“Damn it. They’re never going to find me…” she muttered, discouraged, wiping the sweat off her forehead.The sun felt even hotter when a loud, distant sound cut through the vast vegetation. A deep, powerful engine noise, steady and approaching, made her heart beat faster.Dolores straightened instantly. Her phone vibrated—miraculously, considering the terrible reception in the area.“Hello?” she answered, breathless.“Miss Dolores!” It was André, her assistant, sounding relieved. “Have they found you yet? I managed to track your phone and asked for help at the Carter ranch.”She looked toward the road and saw a pickup truck approaching, raising a cloud of dust behind it.“Yes, someone’s

Chapter 3Maurício said goodbye with a tap on his hat and left, leaving Dolores alone in the kitchen.She let out a sigh, grabbed the aluminum mug again, and filled it at the faucet. The fresh water flowed freely, unlike anything she was used to drinking.“At least the water is good,” she muttered, taking another sip.Suddenly, she heard a low sound behind her. Light steps. It didn’t sound like a person. Dolores froze. She turned slowly, and her eyes widened.There, standing in the doorway, was a tall creature with golden fur and black spots, pointed ears, and an alert gaze.Dolores’s heart almost stopped.“M-my God… a leopard!” she exclaimed, stepping back and spilling water on the floor.Nyra tilted her head, curious, as if amused by the visitor’s fear. She walked up to Dolores and sniffed the hem of her pants. Dolores held her breath, completely still.“Zacky…” she whispered, her voice coming out thinner than she intended.A low chuckle came from the door.“Oh, you’ve already met N

Chapter 5Dolores stayed quiet, observing. Zacky took the chair beside her.Maurício appeared first, a friendly smile spreading across his face the moment he saw her.“Good evening, Mrs. Dolores.”She returned the smile.“Good evening.”Right behind him came three other workers. Each one, upon seeing her seated at the Carter family dining table, did the exact same thing: straightened their posture, removed their hats, and greeted her.“Welcome,” Pedro said.“It’s a pleasure to have you with us, ma’am,” Tião added.Billy didn’t even try to hide his admiration.“Wow… I mean… good evening, ma’am,” he corrected himself, turning red.Dolores let out a soft laugh, finding the whole thing adorable.Zacky, on the other hand, only grunted.“Maurício, tell Pedro to let us know when dinner’s ready. They keep talking and it delays everything.”“I already told him, boss,” Maurício replied, sitting at the corner of the table. “It’s just that someone new here has everyone excited.”Zacky lifted a br