Page 21 of Chasing Bandit

“Only one time until you and Jovie tie the knot in less than two months.”

He laughed gently, “How are you holding up?”

"I'm doing well. Staying busy with finalizing plans for the co-op's grand opening. Today, I’m heading out to meet with a few more ranches to secure agreements for yearly produce supply. If all goes well, we might be able to open sooner than the October date Jovie committed to."

He nodded. “I know Jovie appreciates this a lot. She’s got so much her plate with the new job and pregnancy; I'm glad she realized she couldn't take on the co-op without you. And I’m glad we got you down here.”

“She’s managing it very well," I said smiling.

Nash nodded gently again, and I could see the love and concern he had in his eyes for my sister. If there was any doubt in my mind about Jovie moving hours away from Houston on to a ranch in the middle of nowhere, getting to know Nash better this past month while living at Ashwood ranch eliminated those concerns. He’d been attentive, gentle, protective and his love for her was always evident.

“How’s my big brother treating you?” He reached down and grasped the middle of one of the new, heavy, all oak tables that had been delivered to the co-op today and helped me move it in place in the middle of the packing room.

“I haven’t seen him since the wedding.”

He quirked a brow, “you haven’t seen him in three weeks?”

I shrugged, “I figured he got what he wanted so he was giving me my space. There isn't really any need for us to interact anymore outside of preparing for your wedding.”

Nash hummed like he wanted to say something more but instead turned and grabbed the second, large table and lifted it again while I pointed to where I wanted it positioned.

“What else you got heavy for me to lift?” he asked.

I brushed my hands down my jeans and glanced around the space. "Most of the heavy lifting is done. The place is really coming together. Clay said he’d come over tomorrow to help hang the artwork that’s getting delivered tonight. The appliances are installed, so now the main focus is spreading the word in the community to get signups and securing our donors."

He nodded again. “You have any plans for tomorrow night?”

“Nothing after Clay and I hang the artwork. Figured I’d maybe watch a movie and stay in. I heard there’s going to be another storm. Hopefully, just rain this time.”

He smiled warmly, “It’s Friday night, Stevie, and you’ve been living here for a whole month now, yet we haven’t taken you out. I know Jovie’s itching to see people now that she’s almost out of the first trimester and feeling better. Let’s go out to Rex's Rodeo House bar and give you a proper welcome.”

I shrugged, “That sounds fun.”

After another hour of tidying up the co-op building, I left to head out towards the next ranch on my list of potential donors. Clyde’s ranch was about forty miles from Ashwood, situated down a long, winding dirt road.

Last night, Jovie and I had stayed up late, marking a map with all the ranches and farms we wanted to contact. This morning, I spent hours calling and confirming appointments. Clyde Hart, an older gentleman in his late sixties, had managed the ranch for over forty years after his father passed away in a tragic accident. Nash mentioned that Clyde had three children, and two of them I’d be meeting today.

As I pulled up to the picturesque home at the end of the secluded road, I couldn’t help but gasp. Unlike the sprawling ranch-style houses at Ashwood and Cameron, Clyde’s home was a modern-day log cabin, completed with large, floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked a shimmering pond in the front yard. A mama duck and her ducklings were bathing under the shade of several trees, adding to the quaint and private charm of the place. I instantly loved it.

Grabbing my paperwork and tablet from the seat next to me, I glanced down at my bare, left hand. I’d never been one for jewelry, though I always thought I’d wear a wedding ring when I got married. When Wylie surprised me mid-ceremony by slipping his mom’s ring onto my finger, it felt too important, too sentimental to be worn for a fake marriage. I didn’t want to disrespect her memory, so I had linked it to a chain necklace and stored it in my bathroom back at Ashwood ranch.

Oddly, my hand felt bare even though I’d worn it for a total of four hours and solely for the photos. I twisted my thumb around the space where the ring had sat as I stared out the window aimlessly.

“Hi!” A pretty young woman who looked to be in her late 20s with bright red hair and a splatter of freckles across her nose waved at me from the front door. “You must be Stevie Vector, Nash’s fiancé's sister?”

“I am. It's nice to meet you.” I said smiling as she shook my hand.

“I’m Amelia but my friends call me Millie. Come on inside. My brother, Franklin, is finishing some paperwork for our dad.”

She led me inside the beautiful log cabin that looked even more incredible on the inside than it did from the outside. The interior was a masterpiece of rustic elegance, with high, vaulted ceilings adorned with exposed wooden beams that added a touch of grandeur.

The open concept living space was bathed in the warm glow of sunlight streaming through large, strategically placed windows that offered panoramic views of the sprawling ranch outside. A grand stone fireplace commanded attention in the center of the room, its hearth inviting and cozy, perfect for the cooler nights.

The scent of pine and cedar filled the air, a natural, soothing aroma that made the whole place feel like home. I loved the warm, and country textures of the Cameron and Ashwood ranches but there was something about this home, the attention to detail and the handcrafted furniture that took my breath away. Before I could express my appreciation of the details, another sight left me breathless.

Franklin Hart strolled into the living room with a pen tucked behind his ear and a smile on his face showcasing perfectly straight teeth. He was about as tall as Wylie, but a bit leaner, with long muscles that rippled underneath his shirt and shaggy, light blonde hair with deep brown eyes. He smiled as he flipped his baseball cap from forwards to backwards and extended a hand.

“Stevie Vector. Nash told me his future sister-in-law was visiting this summer to help with the wedding and co-op, but he sure didn’t tell me she was as beautiful as you.”

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