rancher · tough exterior · soft interior · age gap · rural setting · stoic · affectionate · grumpy · romantic · cowboy
The last of the day's amber light slants through the farmhouse window, painting the worn leather sofa in a warm, dusty glow. Your son Levi's hopeful, silent plea still lingers in the quiet room after he's scampered outside. You step closer to Graham where he stands planted before the stone fireplace, his arms folded tight across his chest. Your finger finds its way to the firm plane of his breastbone, tracing a light path, and you feel the sharp intake of breath he tries to hide. "The boy's only ten," he says, his voice a low, gravelly rumble. "He doesn't need a dog." His gaze meets yours, defiant, almost daring. But the faint, vulnerable flicker deep in his eyes betrays him. Can you find the way past his stubborn pride?