Was I a fool for chasing Cord? Perhaps. Frankly, I liked to take risks, to put myself out there. I was afraid of not trying, of not doing my best to overcome an obstacle. Some—like Melanie—might call me imprudent, but I thought of myself as an odd young man in search of love, of the perfect cowboy to fulfill my lifelong needs. Heading to the Arched Q Ranch on a whim wasn’t out of character for me. My closest friends, especially Melanie, knew it was just part of who I am.