AN: Hello Dearests!

Here's the chapter that all of you (or at least some of you) have been waiting for! Hope you like it:)

Happy reading!

Disclaimer: Ally Carter owns Zach, Cammie, and the Gallagher Girl universe.

Zach's POV

"Cammie!" I exclaimed, more out of surprise than objection as she punched Ryden solidly across the face. His head whipped to the side, and he stumbled. I could tell she'd held back because he wasn't splayed on the ground, but she hadn't been gentle either. I'd definitely heard the hard smack of her knuckles on his cheek over the sound of the pouring rain. I couldn't help but hiss a little in sympathy. I certainly didn't like Ryden, but I knew what those punches felt like.

As he brought his hand to his cheek and righted himself, the struggling overhead light from the nearby cattle barn illuminated his shocked expression. I wish I could say I was a better man, and that I didn't receive a rush of dark satisfaction from that moment. But I can't say that, because I did.

"Cammie," he started, "why–"

"A hand's breadth, Ryden? Really? Is that how much room you should leave between a horse and its girth?"

He must've been slow on the pick-up because he still looked confused. "What are you–"

Cammie threw a pointing hand in my direction. "When I asked you to help Zach tack Dragon yesterday, you intentionally told him how to do it wrong so the saddle would be loose." Something seemed to dawn on her, and a fresh wave of anger had her eyes darkening and her fists balling at her sides. "And that's why you suggested we race back, so the saddle would be jostled and Zach would fall."

Ryden froze and his eyes flared wide briefly. He looked like a caught animal. But then he shrugged and tried to laugh off the accusation. "It was just a joke. I thought the saddle would slip a bit while we were walking, and we could all laugh about it. I didn't think we'd be racing when he fell."

Cammie's hands went to her hips. "And yet, that's what happened. Because you suggested it, knowing his saddle wasn't secure."

"He's fine, isn't he?" He smiled irritatingly wide and looked to me. "You can handle a little fall, can't you Zach?"

Oh, he had no idea what I could handle. The tumble I took yesterday was child's play compared to much of what I'd been through. Cammie knew that, but that was hardly the point. It amazed me that he still didn't understand why she was so angry. So, I just held up my hands in the universal sign for leave me out of this. I wouldn't be the one to tell him that he was digging his own grave.

Cammie made a sound of disgust. Then she closed her eyes for a long moment. "Just tell me why." Her eyes opened into a hard glare. "I have my assumptions, but I'd rather hear an explanation from you."

Ryden's smile dropped, and his boots made small splashing sounds in the puddle at his feet as he shifted uncomfortably. "Can we please just go inside? We're all soaked to the bone, and–"

"You don't want to tell me?" Cammie canted her head to the side. "Fine. Then at least tell me if I'm right here. I think you were jealous because you want me, so you orchestrated Zach's fall so that he would be embarrassed and hurt. How's that for an explanation?"

Ryden opened his mouth but quickly snapped it shut and looked away, quiet as he scowled at the ground.

Cammie nodded. She looked determined and intimidating as she advanced a step. Ryden even backed up a bit, nervously glancing down at the hand that had struck him. But Cammie wasn't going to hit him again, instead she let her words deliver the blow.

"I won't tell Grandpa because I like your parents, and I don't want to damage the relationship they have with my grandparents. But I suggest you find a different ranch to work. I don't want someone who'd put a personal vendetta over safety anywhere near the people I love."

Ryden sputtered. "What?"

"I'm telling you to quit." Cammie lifted an unconcerned shoulder. "I could just get you fired by telling Grandpa about the girth thing, or how it was really your fault that five-three-eight got away because you left your post when we were herding, but out of respect for our past friendship—emphasis on past—I'm giving you the option to do the right thing and quit instead."

The two of them were silent for a moment. Ryden in speechless disbelief and Cammie in what almost looked like boredom. She'd said her peace, now she was just being generous enough with her time to give him a moment to respond.

And me? I was just upset that I didn't have popcorn.

When Ryden finally found his voice, he sounded incredulous. "Are you…are you seriously blackmailing me?"

Cammie shrugged.

He seemed genuinely shaken by her apathy for a moment, going as far as taking another step back, as if he couldn't help himself. But then he adopted some faux-composure and shook his head sadly, as if she were the one to be pitied. "You've changed, Cammie. You aren't the person I thought you were."

She barked a single humorless laugh. "That might be the truest thing you've said to me this entire week." She started walking to the house, but as she passed him, she said, "And for the record, you aren't the person I thought you were either."

Ryden watched her leave for a moment, then spun to me, a touch of panic in his eyes. "Zach–"

"Come on, Zach," Cammie called. "Ryden can take care of Rascal and five-three-eight. It'll be the last thing he does on this ranch."

I slid from Rascal's back and walked to Ryden, handing him the reins and the rope lead for the cow. I would've walked away without comment, but he grabbed my sleeve.

"Look, man, I'm sorry for trying to steal Cammie Ca…um, Cammie from you. That wasn't cool. But I need you to talk some sense into her."

I raised an eyebrow. "Sense?"

He nodded emphatically. "She's clearly lost it," he said, motioning to his already swelling cheek.

I crossed my arms, tucking my clenched fists away before I evened out his face with a hit to the other side. "And you don't think she has a good reason to be angry?"

He bobbed his free hand in the air in a placating way. "She does. She does. But…what am I supposed to tell Mr. Morgan if I quit? Hell, what am I supposed to tell my parents?"

Telling them the truth would've been the right thing, the honorable thing, to do. It might've even scored some brownie points with Cammie, and he could've eventually found his way back into her good graces down the road.

However, I could tell he didn't actually want to hear that. He was looking for a sneaky way to remain innocent in the eyes of his parents and employer, and I wasn't going to stop him. I wasn't jealous anymore, but I was still an annoyed boyfriend. If he wanted to ruin any chance of a future friendship with Cammie, that was fine by me.

I smiled at him in a way that I hoped he took as patronizing. "You've proven yourself to be a pretty good liar so far. I'm sure you'll figure something out."

His pleading look morphed into a sneer, and he opened his mouth to retort something that was probably angry and probably unflattering, but I was already walking away. Whatever words he yelled after me got lost in the rain and the wind…and the rushing sound in my head that I could only take as a result of nervousness. Maybe even a little fear.

Because it was time to face Mr. Morgan, and Ryden wasn't the only one who had screwed up today.

AN: Thanks heaps and loads for reading this chapter! Y'all make my heart happy:) You know the drill. If you thought Ryden got what he deserved, let me know in an encouraging comment. If you think I was too harsh (or not harsh enough), then tell me in a helpful critique. I'll be sure to take your opinions into consideration the next time I write a Ryden-ish character.

Alright guys, so here's the deal. I have a terrible habit of getting excited and posting stories before I've fully written them. And that may work for some people who can just crank quality chapters out like a rabbit cranking out babies...but I am not one of those people. I'm like the fanfiction equivalent to an elephant. It takes me almost two years to birth a healthy chapter. Okay. The metaphor is getting weird. I recognize that now. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that this chapter (the one you just read) was my last completed chapter, and I'm pretty sure it's going to take one (maybe two) more to finish the story. The GOAL (capital G, capital O, capital A, capital L) is to post on time for the next two weeks and finish out this story. The reality, however, may or may not match the GOAL, especially with Christmas approaching so fast. All this to say, if I happen to be late in posting the last two chapters, don't fret. They will eventually be written and posted. And you can rest easy knowing you were sufficiently warned.

Hope you all have a great week! And if this is the last time you get to read something of mine before the holidays, I hope you have a Merry Christmas:)

Much love, Rachel