Page 136 of The Wayward Son

Sage ran her hands through her hair again. “Oh my gosh.”

He took her hand again. “Go find Sawyer.”

She nodded, then turned and went down the steps. At the bottom, she turned and looked up at him. “Do you really think I’m beautiful?”

“Yes, Ranch Girl. You’re the prettiest woman I ever laid eyes on.”

She blushed. “That can’t possibly be true.”

“I’m afraid it is. Now get out of here before you forget I have five crazy kids in the house.”

“It could be ten.”

He laughed. “I’ll see you around, Sage.”

Chapter thirty-eight

"Why am I cleaner than you are today?"

Sawyer was in the barn mucking out Houston’s stall when his phone rang. He leaned the rake against the gate and took the phone from his pocket.

“Little Sis. Why are you calling me?”

“I love you too, Big Bro.”

He smiled. “Sorry. How are you? I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“You’ve been busy with Jade, I believe.”

“Yeah. I have.”

“Do you think you can spare some time with your lovely sister?”

“Hmm. Let me think. Mucking stalls, or hanging out with my annoying sister. That’s a hard decision.”

“Sawyer.”

He laughed. “When and where?”

“I’m already in town. Can I buy you a burger at Cathy’s?”

“I just need to change my boots and pants. Unless you don’t mind me smelling like horseshit.”

“Please change.”

“I’ll be there in thirty.”

When Sawyer got to the restaurant, Sage was sitting at a table with a cup of coffee. She gave him a smile as he sat down.

He checked out what she was wearing. “Why am I cleaner than you are today?”

“I left the house in a hurry, not really thinking about the fact I’d spent the day in the garden.”

“How’s that coming along?”

“Good. Like I thought it would be, the soil is wonderful.”

He nodded. “Somehow, I don’t think you asked me here to talk about the garden.”

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