Lahat ng Kabanata ng Rejected by the Cowboy: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

Chapter 11Dolores entered the room, grabbed her phone, and saw on the screen that there was no signal.She sighed, annoyed."It can't be..."She walked to the window, raised the device, stood on tiptoe, turned her body to the left, to the right...Nothing.She huffed and decided to go outside.She walked to the porch, looked at the sky, at the screen, at the signal bars as if they could grow by the force of will.She went down the porch steps and kept walking. She passed the vegetable garden. The parked feed truck. The barns.With every step, a glance at the phone. And nothing. Zero bars."What a hellish technological silence..."She wandered farther than she realized; the sounds of the ranch were growing distant. The wind there was stronger. Until, suddenly: 1 bar. And then 2.Dolores raised her phone higher."Come on, come on..."3 bars."ALLELUIA!"She quickly pressed the call button and waited.After two rings, she heard her assistant's voice:"Wow, finally! I was starting to thi

Chapter 13The wind was still strong when he walked down to the outdoor kitchen area. Pedro was at the stove, stirring something over the wood fire."How is she?" he asked, worried."Frightened… but she’ll be fine."Pedro handed him a steaming bowl of chicken soup."I made it with care. It’ll help her warm up."Zacky held it with both hands, the heat spreading through his fingers."Thanks, Pedro."He went back upstairs. When he entered the room, Dolores was awake and looked at him curiously."I brought this for you," he said, sitting at the edge of the bed.The scent of the soup reached her."Hmm…"She tasted it and closed her eyes for a moment."It’s perfect…" she whispered.Zacky smiled."Pedro went all in."With each spoonful, her color slowly returned.When she finished, he took the bowl and adjusted her pillow."Now sleep. Your body needs it."Dolores watched him, her eyelids heavy."Are you… going to stay?"He hesitated. Only for a second. Then he pulled the armchair close to th

Chapter 15The nurse left the office, but before going, she stopped at the door and looked at the doctor in a different way. He noticed it, tilting his head slightly."Jessica. Everything alright?""Yes, doctor. Maybe one day it will be even better…" she said with a sweet, almost affectionate smile before leaving, practically skipping down the hallway.The doctor picked up his pen and began clicking it repeatedly, trying to ignore the uncomfortable — yet pleasant — sensation that her gaze had left behind. He wasn’t in a relationship, didn’t have anyone, and if he thought logically… she would be perfect. Polite, fun, dedicated, and yes, very young."No. That wouldn’t work. I’m forty… and she’s twenty. Better not," he murmured, as if trying to convince his body more than his mind.He took a deep breath, looked at the screen, and called the next patient, desperately trying to push away any thought about the nurse that now refused to leave his mind."Doctor, I can’t stop coughing. And I’m

Chapter 17They walked through the dark living room, only the moonlight slipping through the broken window. Zacky motioned with his hand."Go, girl. Track."Nyra lowered her head, her body moving like that of a trained predator. She sniffed first near the rug where the shards still gleamed, then followed the scent trail to the door, inspecting every inch. Her tail was raised and her ears stiff.She stopped. Right at the threshold, he opened the door and saw that the wood had been scratched from the outside.He narrowed his eyes."Here... someone forced their way in."Nyra let out a deep growl. The serval left the house, unhurried, to find the intruder. Zacky slipped on the rubber boots by the door.She sniffed the porch, then the mud at the entrance. And then... she went down the steps and continued forward, stopping at the fence separating the house from the fields. Her breathing changed.Zacky caught up with her."Got it?"Nyra lifted her gaze to him and then shot off across the gra

Chapter 19He picked up a steaming cup of coffee and took a big sip before asking:"Where's Cristina?""Must be in the service area," replied Pedro, drying his hands on his apron.Zacky set the cup aside and grabbed the car keys. Just thinking about the paperwork and questions at the police station was already starting to sour his mood."I'm heading out, have to go to the police station. Tell her not to go into my room. I'll be back as soon as possible."Pedro looked up, understanding everything without needing an explanation. The guest. In his room. Sleeping in his bed. Smelling like cowboy from head to toe.He held back an internal smile and merely nodded as the loyal friend he had always been."Got it, boss."Nyra appeared right behind Zacky, staring at him with her golden eyes."You stay."The serval sat next to Pedro, obedient but clearly unhappy about not going along.When Zacky went out the door, Nyra let out a low growl of frustration.Pedro crossed his arms and looked at her.