Status Updates From The Rebel Rancher (Cadence ...

Love it so much more than "The last real cowboy".
Have been tiptoeing around this for a while now because I didn't warm to Sam Diamond (too Alpha to my taste) but Tyson really builds up to be the kind of character I love to see in a romance.

Also, thus far I think the general topic of domestic abuse is getting better handled in this story.

He tells her straight out he doesn't love her? In a way? But they are going to get married anyway? What?

He paused, then got down on one knee while her mouth fell open. No, no, no! This couldn't be happening. He couldn't possibly be proposing. It would ruin everything! She didn't want to get married. Didn't want to lose herself in another relationship where she wasn't loved in return. Why couldn't he just be reasonable?

This poor schlub.

This poor guy. Oh, well. Dating an abuse survivor isn't easy.

WHAT?!?!!?

Frustration simmered. Why did he have to make this so hard? He should just let her go, right? What was one night to a man like Ty? He'd broken hearts before, she was sure of it. Had each one been entitled to this touching goodbye? The sarcastic words sat on her tongue.

I don't understand how his sexual past is being twisted into "he has no feelings."

The kindest thing was to let her go, wasn't it? To let her have the life she'd worked so hard for?

This just doesn't make any sense. Alward can't convince me that Clara and Ty have to break up, no matter how hard she tries.

He had taken something that had made her so afraid and made it beautiful, relaxed and liberating. But to explain meant she'd have to admit that she had feelings. She couldn't have made love to him otherwise.

Why is she being so cruel? I just don't understand.

She tries to sneak out while he's sleeping, but he wakes up and there is a confrontation.

They have off-page sex.

Maybe Ty was a different man but she still doubted she was the woman for him. He was the rodeo star with the belt buckles and a wagonload of experience. She'd only ever been with one man, and it had been enough for a lifetime.

I don't know what his number of sexual partners have to do with anything.

...she asked him, pouring herself a cup of tea. She took a sip and blinked. It was strong enough to dance the Hornpipe on...

o.O

OMG

"I'm sorry I misled you. You're probably used to women who are more confident."

She couldn't make herself look him in the eye.

"I'm not mad. Frustrated? Maybe?" His voice was rich and seductive. "But you didn't mislead me, Clara. Not ever. And I wouldn't want you to change one hair on your head. You're worth far more than any of those other girls."

UGH. Why do you have to ruin this with MISOGYNY?!

Awkward and more realistic kissing scene in which we tackle how difficult it is to move forward sexually with a woman who is an abuse-survivor. Awkward, but good on Alward for including it.

She had been pregnant.

He stepped into a domestic dispute three years ago with predictable results.

She cuts things off with Ty.

KISSING

There was not a soul out here with them in the barn. It was incredibly intimate. What was surprising was that she hadn't even had a second thought about being out here with him. She hadn't required a public situation for support. She hadn't needed a buffer between them. Goodness, she trusted him, didn't she? And other than Angela, she hadn't truly trusted anyone in years.

She keeps spelling it 'hairbrained.' I use 'harebrained.'

Nerves bubbled through her. She couldn't let herself get too familiar with him, or start relying on him either.

"You asked me a while ago about being wild. I guess I was, but I always try to be upfront and honest. I never make promises I don't intend to keep. I always try to treat people with respect."

"Even the buckle bunnies?" She felt quite daring bringing up such a thing, but Ty was turning all her preconceptions upside down.

He frowned. "Even them. Don't worry, Clara. They got exactly what they were after. They

His chivalry made it feel like a date. Only most of the guys she'd dated hadn't bothered with the niceties either. "You don't have to do that stuff, you know," she said, folding her hands in her lap.

"You realize those days are gone now, right?" His voice was quiet and his knee rubbed hers. "No one is going to hurt you here, Clara. I promise."

"I'm sorry for what happened to you," he replied, putting down his fork. "I might not see eye to eye with my dad, but I think we can agree that a man should never hit a woman. I hope you know you're safe with me."

Clara studied his face, debating whether or not she should reveal any bits of her story. It was so intensely private. So painful. And yet by keeping it inside like a dirty secret, she was giving it

Did he just tell her there were benefits to bull-riding, implying to her that fucking a lot of women was a benefit? Ugh. That's very tasteless. It's gross.

He can fix cars. He gets an extra hotness point.