Page 15 of Careless Hope

Gray hadn’t done much with it when Mama insisted on moving out to the small house across the lake from mine. He just moved in and kept on keeping on. But once Eryn was in the picture, things changed. I had to admit, it was for the better.

Eryn came from money—her father was a billionaire—but she had good, relaxed taste. She wasn’t fancy or uptight. So when she and Gray decided to renovate the home, it wasn’t a surprise it came out a perfect blend of their two personalities.

They incorporated a lot of ranch history, which made me smile every time I walked in. Reclaimed wooden beams lined the two-story ceiling of the main living area combined with the now open kitchen, and refinished barn doors lined the wall leading to the pantry.

Old black and white photos of ranchers and horses lined thewalls, showcasing the history of not just the ranch, but the people who lived it, worked it. Edison lights hung from the ceilings and oversized plants added a bit of welcome greenery to the space.

It felt bigger, brighter. But still Red Downs.

The timbre of family voices, all layered over one another in that comfortable cacophony, made a grin spread across my face before I could step through the threshold. I moved past the foyer and into the living area, which bustled with my loved ones.

“Hey there, cowboy,” Gran’s voice cut through from her perch at the kitchen island, her eyes crinkling with mirth beneath silver waves of hair.

“Gran,” I greeted, tipping my hat her way as she waved a wooden spoon at me like a wand bestowing blessings. She was the undisputed queen of our clan, the kitchen, her throne room to countless memories. It had once been her home, too, after all.

“Thought you might’ve gotten lost between here and the stables,” Mom teased, her smile softening the edges of her words. She stood by the stove, stirring something that smelled like heaven in a pot.

“I needed to shower up, I know you wouldn’t have wanted me to come over smellin’ like muck.” I chuckled, walking over to give her a peck on the cheek.

“You got that right,” Gray grumbled from where he sat, legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles, looking every inch the ranch owner that he was. His blue gaze flicked up from his phone, a teasing glint hidden under that perpetual stubble.

“I am the more desirable of the two Anderson brothers. Gotta keep my rep.” I shot back, giving him a playful nudge with my elbow as I passed by.

“Boys.” Mom’s warning came with a smile that said she enjoyed the banter just as much as we did.

“Hey, Walk,” Eryn greeted as she wrapped her arms around my shoulders in a hug. I stooped down to give her a kiss on the cheek too. As the future matriarch of our little clan, I respected her. But as my future sister-in-law, I loved her like my own.

Straightening back up again, I grimaced at the strained muscle in my back. It didn’t go unnoticed.

“Looks like you’ve been wrangling more than just cattle today,” Our cousin Damon remarked, leaning against the doorframe with arms folded, his broad shoulders taking up what seemed like half the space. The former Marine always had this air about him, like he’d seen it all twice and lived to tell about it.

“Yep, wrangled a stubborn old mare who thought she’d take a run at being wild again.” I grinned, shaking my head at the day’s memory.

“Sure it wasn’t the other way around?” Sutton piped in, her small frame not limiting the weight of her wit. “That horse probably led you on a merry dance.”

“Seems everyone’s a comedian tonight,” I replied, tossing a mock glare her way.

“Only because you make it so easy, Walker,” Gray added, earning a chorus of laughter.

I grabbed a beer from the fridge, feeling the familiar comfort of home settle around me like a well-worn saddle. It was these moments, full of good-natured ribbing and the warmth of family, that reminded me why the ranch wasn’t just land and livestock—it was legacy, hard work, and a shared history that ran deeper than the roots of the oldest oak on our property.

“Alright, y’all, dinner’s ready. Let’s bless this mess,” Gran announced, standing up with the sort of authority that had us all moving to our designated seats around the dining table. My stomach growled in anticipation. The clinking of silverwareagainst plates mingled with chuckles and banter, the familiar sounds giving me a sense of comfort.

“Excellent spread, ladies,” I complimented, eyeing the dishes of steaming food before us. The sight of mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and a perfectly cooked pork loin made my mouth water.

“I think we make a good team in the kitchen,” Mom replied, her eyes sparkling with pride as she glanced at Eryn and Gran, who beamed in acknowledgment. I knew Mama loved having Eryn here now, a daughter to dote on and teach. Eryn was a good student, eager to learn all the family recipes that Gran had passed down, and the ways of the ranch.

She was still an independent woman too, running her own business and social media empire. But the way she took to ranch life was inspiring.

I knew Mama wanted me to settle down too and bring a girl around. That woman wanted grandbabies in the worst way. It’d have to be Gray and Eryn that gave ‘em to her, because I sure as shit wasn’t close to that stage of my life.

“Eryn, are you excited for your first foaling season?” Sutton asked as she scooped a mound of mashed potatoes onto her plate.

“Oh, more than you know. I finally got to see a foaling the other day and it was magical.” Eryn sighed, her eyes dreamy like an old Disney cartoon princess.

“It sure is something. Every time. But especially your first time,” Mama said.

Gray leaned back in his chair at the head of the table. “We’re on track to have our biggest year yet. Every single mare we have is in foal.”

---