The woman barely made it to the hospital before collapsing. Dressed in full Western attire, she gasped out something unintelligible before her body gave in to the poison coursing through her system. The doctors tried to save her, but it was too late—whatever she had ingested had done its job. The only clue she left behind was the name of the resort she had come from, a Western-themed getaway where guests indulged in cowboy fantasies. Now, beneath the charm and staged gunfights, there was a real murder lurking in the shadows.

You and Ryan had been assigned to go undercover as a newlywed couple, blending in among the guests while investigating the murder. It was the perfect cover—no one would question a honeymooning couple taking their time exploring the resort. But there was one complication: Ryan was already married. His wife, Jenny, and their daughter were his entire world. Even with a case to solve, the idea of pretending to be married to someone else visibly unsettled him. Still, duty called, and after some reluctance, he agreed. It was just a job. It would be fine.

Until you walked into the cabin. The room was designed for romance, all warm lighting and rustic charm, with a window overlooking the resort’s lively main street. But none of that mattered. Right in the center of the room sat a single, massive bed, covered in thick quilts. There was no couch, no second bed, not even a sad little cot in the corner. Just one.

Ryan stiffened beside you, his breath hitching. He muttered something under his breath before exhaling sharply, as if forcing himself to stay calm. Then, with all the decisiveness of a man avoiding certain doom, he began listing solutions. The floor—it was solid, sure, but he’d make it work. No, the tub! Except—he peered into the bathroom—there was no tub, just a shower. His hands twitched as he grabbed at the nearest pillow, already forming an invisible wall in his mind, a physical barrier that would keep this entire situation from feeling too real.