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WITH IRRESISTIBLE QUARTERBACK. To write the second generation of Powerful Friends, I needed to bring the Scott Rhodes Brothers to life. I love writing about cowboys and Logan Clarckson was a gift to me, it is the continuation of a family that I love very much, the Clarcksons and the Dawsons, they are all part of the Dawson Western series. And yes, we will have the continuation of this family...

many characters were born in this book. I hope you enjoy having this contact with the Scott Rhodes family once again. I wish you a great read. Thank you for your love, support and encouragement to continue writing. Gratitude to God for the honor of giving me enough creativity to create new worlds, stories that leave my heart warm. Good reading. With love, Flávia Padula. Chapter 1 I still have access to Jayden's house, my ex-boyfriend. He didn't prevent my access, because he had no reason to. I'm not a psychopathic ex-girlfriend who stalks him, on the contrary, since I discovered his betrayal with the pop singer we've never spoken again and he hasn't sought me out to explain. It was as if the scandal that surrounded us in the first few weeks was the warning he wanted to give, but didn't have the courage to look me in the eye to say. And it hurt, like a knife. It still hurts, and I'm only here because I have no choice. Unfortunately, the situation has gotten out of control and there are certain things I cannot do alone. I mean, I can, but it's not fair to have a child without the father knowing that he is also responsible for a human being on the face of the Earth. It's the least I can do for the eight-week-old baby growing in my womb. How Jayden will receive this news is another condition and I have no power over it. Discovering that I was pregnant was a hard blow, because it wasn't planned, I'm twenty-six years old and I thought about having children only after I was thirty when I was ready to start a family. And the other part of the pain is because Jayden and I are no longer together after years of dating and a six-month engagement. I met him through a mutual friend, he owns a modeling agency, one of the biggest in the world. I don't know exactly what enchanted me about him, but I fell in love and love came. Or I thought it was love. Maybe it was on my part, because on his I'm sure it never was. Whoever loves does not betray. If he loved and respected me, he would have ended the relationship before moving on to someone else, it's the least he could ask for in the name of a good relationship. But people like Jayden don't know the meaning of thinking about others, they're too selfish for that. I hear the sound of guitars and drums. Now Jayden has decided that he is a rock star and has put together a band to start recording some songs, certainly influenced by his new girlfriend with whom he is completely in love, at least that's what the tabloids say. They increase, but never invent. However, he is a terrible singer, I have always been honest with him in this regard. Maybe, it drove us apart and he found someone who would lie to him just to please him. I don't please anyone. My agent says this is a flaw because people don't want to hear the truth. My heels resonate across the marble floor of the balcony towards the room where they are playing, I stop at the door and adjust my black dress, tube style. My red hair is tied back in a ponytail and I'm wearing my sunglasses. Beautiful as hell, I would never go there to tell him that he's going to be a father with bags under his eyes from crying and for him to feel sorry for me. I stop and look around. I hear horrible music, it could be anything but rock. The musicians stop playing when I appear. Jayden has his eyes closed screaming into the microphone and opens his eyes without understanding anything. That's when he sees me and gets scared. In a corner, a tall, thin woman stands up and walks towards him, staring at me. She wears tight jeans, a white top and a fur coat in the heat of the Los Angeles summer. Ridiculous. All women who date committed men have their place in hell. I think and keep myself full, while she asks Jayden: - What is this bitch doing here, Jay? Oh, I forgot to mention. The thirty-year-old adopted the nickname Jay because he is more commercial for the music industry. If only he knew how ridiculous it is. And I'm not saying this because he cheated on me, but because it finally dawned on me how I fell in love with such an idiotic and personalityless man. Who needs to be flattered to believe he is loved. - Calm! - he asks. - I'll take care of it. He comes towards me. - What are you doing here? – His voice sounds dry, indifferent. It's painful to think that you loved someone so much and now they treat you like you're worthless. How horrible it is to think that all the vows of love and everything that happened behind closed doors was a farce, just to satisfy the unhealthy ego of a narcissistic son of a bitch. - Do you have a minute? I need to discuss something serious with you, it's going to be quick – and I still have to say that I won't get in the way so he can hear me. The guy must be an asshole. If it weren't for our son, because, unfortunately, he is the father, I certainly wouldn't be here. - Tell me, I have nothing to hide from my band... or my girlfriend... I take a deep breath, controlling myself so I don't freak out. The slut comes walking towards us and hangs on his shoulder, looking at me with a taste of victory. Does she really believe she won? That by taking it from me, she is happy? With me, it lasted two and a half years, we'll see how long she can bear to satisfy his narcissistic personality, and when she can't do it anymore, he'll discard her and find someone else to start this vicious circle again. Of course I feel angry at her! How could she not? But, at the same time, it hurts. It will be nice to see her fall one day. I will not lie. But I am more than that. I'm more than a man who sucks and a woman who doesn't value herself. - Okay... – I force a smile -, I'm pregnant... I'm taken by surprise by the slap I get in the face and it makes my glasses fall off. Jayden grabs his crazy girlfriend by the waist and lifts her, moving away from me, while she stretches her arms to try to pull my hair and screams, hysterical, calling me a liar and a slut. This attitude is so low and ridiculous

question. One of them brings a bottle of water and hands it to me. - Don't you want to sit down? - To sit? – I appreciate it when the other person opens the bottle for me and gives it back to me. I take a long drink of water and shake my head. - I'm leaving. I spin on my heels and get out of there. The message has been given and I'm not going to be beaten again, especially because I don't know how to hit. In fact, I didn't fight because I didn't want to cause discomfort among everyone, especially at the risk of hurting my baby. He is mine.

It's not Jayden's, he just had a small role in this story, and we all know how this film will end: he won't admit his son and will say it's not his, after all, we've been separated for two months. The message is given. - Sara! – I hear Jayden's voice behind me as I go down the stairs towards the main garden. - Sara! I can't stop, I feel a mix of anger and frustration, nothing that's easy to describe. Being pregnant and feeling contempt is frustrating, it causes an emptiness in the soul. It's as if I were to blame for getting pregnant with golden rosemary. And it's not, because I'm a Scott Rhodes and I'm rich and I don't need him. It's not that. The question is that with so many men in the world, why would I choose to get pregnant by the one who cheated on me? He grabs my arm and pulls me back. I let go of him. - Let me go! - shout. - You let her hit me! She did what you wanted to do! Jayden looks at my face, which must be red, and frowns. He doesn't defend himself, we know that's exactly what it is. That crazy woman is the spokesperson for his cowardice. This makes me angrier. - I'm sorry about what happened in there – he seems to be sincere -, I swear I didn't expect you to say that. - That one? Are we talking about the child we are going to have? – I ask in disbelief. - Or something you're ready to discard? It hurts when he doesn't answer my question, because we know the answer would be yes. - You should have said it differently... – he accuses me. What could I expect? We women are wrong even when we are right... - I asked to talk alone – I respond and take another sip of water -, but you treated me as if I were the one who had abandoned you, and not the other way around! I was received as if I had provoked you these months and we never spoke. What did I do to deserve this? This type of treatment... - You didn't do anything... the problem is me... What a cliché answer. Even in B-class films they have improved this type of dialogue. The man now shouts that he didn't want to and hits the woman. Here it was almost that. He falls silent and takes his hands to his jeans, sticking his thumbs in the pockets. He looks at me from below, this cowardice irritates me a lot. - You cheated on me and I found out about it in the magazines! You didn't have the courage to break up with me or at least look for me to explain yourself! – I let go without being able to contain myself. - Sara, I didn't know... - I'm sure you didn't know - I cut him off - you're not the kind of man capable of knowing how to treat a woman well... how could I not see the fraud you always were? I must have been very blind... I turn my back and walk along the stone path as fast as I can, trying not to fall on those stones. - The way you say it, it seems easy to finish and... – he argues idiotically. I stop at once and turn to him: - It's not easy to find out that your fiancé is dating another woman when he hasn't even broken up with you! It's hard to wait for him to at least call you to apologize! It's hard to find out that she is pregnant with an idiot! I take a step toward him and Jayden doesn't react. He stands there looking at me as if to say: say what you want, I can handle it, I deserve it. Oh what an idiot! - I don't need you, Jayden! Neither does my son! And it's not because I'm a filthy rich heiress and you'll never be... – I put my finger on his chest. Jayden's dream was always to be born into a family like the Scott Rhodes, he always said I was a lucky woman and was jealous of me. I decided to use this to end his day, like it ended mine -, it's because both of us – I place my hand on my belly making a dramatic pause –, we can find a love much better than this shit you have to offer! I walk away and remember something, then come back and raise my finger again. - It's delightful to see you singing like a ridiculously crow... – I'm serious -, did your girlfriend say you sing well? She's a liar. What a woman doesn't do for status, right? I take a deep breath and look up at the sky. - Despite everything, it's a beautiful day – I say and smile at him -, I need to go, I'm going to the police station to file a complaint against this thing you call the woman in your life... Goodbye, I hope I never see you again... And then I turn and go to the car, where the family driver is waiting for me. Clark closes the door as soon as I enter. I start crying without being able to control myself, pregnancy has made me more sensitive than I already am, I even cry at bedtime stories, what can I say when faced with something that hurt me a lot. There are attitudes that hurt more than a slap. Chapter 2 - What the fuck, Sebastian! Can't you stay upright on that fucking horse? My cousin looks up at me and huffs angrily as the groom helps him to his feet. Eros snorts and stamps his front paws on the dry earth. Sebastian puts his hat on his head and limps away. Six weeks and no one can stand on that arrogant, damned horse. I purse my lips, irritated. As my father said, may God rest his soul: if you want it done well, do it yourself. I clench my fists and feel the yellow leather of my glove. The doctor said I couldn't overdo it, but what could go wrong again? Break your leg again? Staying locked in the house for weeks? No way! I didn't stay a week and I ripped that shit off my leg. I have no patience for orders, especially medical ones. I snort once more and lift my Statson hat so I can scratch my head before making a bold decision. I'm going to ride that horse. I'm a Clarckson, not a little shit who's going to worry about a poorly healed leg and the strength of an animal. I can train this daredevil. Oh, I can do it... I jump over the fence and hear Slad calling me. He is my right-hand man, much more so than my brother, Lennon, who has been having his head turned lately because of a skirt tail. I don't know why there are certain types of men who can't stay away from a woman as if she were the only thing in the

his own shadow. It's easier for me to save his life than for him to save mine in a case of extreme need. - It's none of your business, go mind your own business! – I shout over my shoulder and hear him snort resignedly. I own this farm and even before, when my father was still there, no one bossed me around. As my Aunt Penny says, I have a difficult personality, I know what I want, when I want it, and nothing stops me from getting what I want.

I see Eros on the other side of the pen, looking at me sideways and running one of his front paws on the ground, I can hear the strong beats of his heart, of someone born to be indomitable, strong. I understand it. I also wouldn't want someone to put a saddle on my back and tell me what to do. But it's the law of nature, he's an excellent stallion and it's time to be good and stop acting like a crazy beast. I'm slowly approaching him, step by step, without stopping, towards him. He walks back and neighs in a threatening tone. And am I afraid of crazy horses? No. He should be afraid of me, because I will tame him no matter what it takes, even if we both lose skin from riding so much, but that horse will bow his head to me. When I approach, he moves away and kicks loudly, I am forced to move away too. He's really crazy, he doesn't want me to get closer. I let him fight with me until he gets tired, until his legs can no longer stand jumping in the air and he stops. Eros stops and walks from side to side. I'm not in a hurry, I'm just not going to lose to him. I approach and hold him by the bridle. He tries to move away and I touch his nose. - You're tired of fighting, aren't you? – I ask and he moves agitatedly. - I know how it is, boy. Eventually we all get tired. He moves more and when I release him, he runs to the other side and starts circling the fence, but he doesn't come closer to me. I know I'm going to win, he knows it too, he just doesn't want to give in. - Aren't you going to ride, Logan? – Sebastian's voice sounds behind me. I look over my shoulder: - He's not tired enough... – I say. He flinches. Every good tamer knows that he must create a bond with the horse before riding it. Even so, it will be overturned. Sebastian is stubborn, he wants to do things his way and then he won't achieve anything. This is what makes me angry, I say it once, twice, but it seems that these young people don't want to learn, they create theories in their heads and think it's right. I stay leaning against the pen letting Eros run, he keeps the pace and I don't leave. Sometimes he approaches me in a threatening way, trying to intimidate me, but I don't leave where I am and he runs away again. Just an hour and a half later, when he can't take it anymore, he stops and stands still, looking at me sideways again. - Good boy, now let's talk... I cross the space between us and to everyone's surprise, I untie the saddle they put on him. I throw it out of the pen and the animal runs again, this time at a calmer gallop. Certain ties need to be removed for trust to exist. It's fine for one day, let's see how he will act tomorrow when I get back. I jump out and Lennon approaches with his hat in his hand. My younger brother is similar to me, we are six years apart. And from him to Scarlett it is five years. My father's second wife, Mandy, left after my father died and left the children behind. So I'm more than just their older brother, I'm their father and mother. We've lived this way for five years, and I've tried to be a normal family, but it's not as easy as it seems to manage a farm the size of Paradise Farmer, and also take care of a teenager and a girl. Now they're older, but they still tend to give me trouble. Less Lennon, he's twenty-one years old and knows what he wants in life, to be a farmer like I am, like our father was. And all our ancestors were. The Clarksons of Nevada come from a long generation of Texas ranchers. Now, Scarlett is my sixteen year old little nightmare. Her dream is to be an actress and she dreams of moving to Los Angeles. But until she turns eighteen, I won't let her go. It's not because I'm overprotective, but my younger sister is a little crazy-headed. She has big ideas of having great love with a famous actor, or perhaps a singer. Her bedroom wall is full of photos of those Hollywood things. Nothing against it, she can dream and be whatever she wants, but she still doesn't have the malice to deal with these people. She was raised in a small Nevada town, Aboline Valley, and barely left the farm. How can I throw her into the lion's den when she dreams of eternal love and lives sighing, waiting for something unimaginable? - I thought you were going to ride it – Lennon comments as he follows me. - No, how could I ride a wild horse that doesn't know me? – I question him. - Didn't you learn anything from what I taught? No. Like Sebastian, who is his age, he also makes his own rules. What is happening to this generation? - I tried to ride him – he confesses. I was gone for two long weeks taking care of business in Texas. I have a cousin there, Mitchell Dawson, who has a stud farm that breeds horses. I'm moving towards horse breeding. I need to expand the cattle farm more, even though it has been our main source of trade for the last hundred years. We are descendants of Jeremiah Clarckson, there is a painting of him and his family in the farm's party room. His grandson, the son of Senator John Clarckson, John Clarckson Junior, the rebel of the Texan family, abandoned everything and came to Nevada to start his own farm and life. He married the beautiful Julia Montana and they started with a small piece of land they called Paradise. This was in 1918. Júnior took advantage of the expansion to the West and began to acquire small ranches and increased his possessions. In 1950, thirty years later, Isaac Clarckson, Junior's son, owned all of northern Nevada and owned the largest cattle ranch in the North West. Second only to its cousins ​​in Texas. And now, seventy years later, I own the same legacy he left. And I'm not allowed to fail. It's a lot of responsibility, but I like what I do, I was born in a barn because my mother couldn't get home and a hospital would be impossible. At the age of four I was already riding horses and at the age of seven I rode my first wild bull and horse. I like the smell of the earth, life on the farm, which is tiring, but even though I no longer need to do the work, I have the pleasure of experiencing some things, especially taming wild horses and fighting bulls. - I know you tried, you're limping too. – I point to the left leg. He makes a disgusted face. - It happens. - If you had more patience, this horse would already be bent, but you want everything by force. Nothing can be achieved with force or violence. - Philosophizing? – he mocks. - We are talking about history, everything that was conquered with violence was lost – I am serious and stop walking to face him. His blue eyes like mine widen slightly - tell me a conqueror who hasn't been usurped of his own conquests? He purses his lips and shakes his head. I tap the tip of your hat. - Maybe I should send you to college, study something lighter, I don't know if country life is for you, Lennon... I start walking again and he follows me. We pass by the stables and greet one employee or another who passes us. Paradise Farm is a conglomerate of sectors. Due to the arid land in Arizona, I had to hire professionals