Page 57 of Whiskey and Wildfire

I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. We sat in silence for a while, watching as the last remnants of daylight faded from the sky.

“You know,” Mom said finally, her voice thoughtful, “your grandfather would have had a thing or two to say about this situation.”

I managed a weak chuckle. “I bet he would. He never did mince words.”

“No, he certainly didn’t,” Mom agreed. “He always said that our people have been bending for too long. That it was time to stand tall and proud, to demand the respect we deserve.”

I nodded, feeling a spark of my grandfather’s fire ignite within me. He had always been a force to be reckoned with, never backing down from a fight when it came to protecting our people and our culture. I missed him terribly.

“You’re right,” I said, my voice growing stronger. “Grandpa wouldn’t have stood for this. He would have told those investors exactly where they could shove their stupid ideas.”

Mom chuckled softly. “That he would. But he also would have understood the complexity of the situation. He knew that sometimes, we have to pick our battles carefully and that not everything is so black and white.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I know. And that’s what makes this so hard. I want to fight, Mom. I want to stand up and tell them all to go to hell. But...”

“But you care about Logan,” she finished for me. “And you care about this ranch.”

I nodded, feeling tears prick at my eyes again. “I do. More than I ever thought I would. And that’s what makes this so painful. I feel like I’m being torn in two.”

Mom squeezed my shoulder gently. “Love has a way of complicating things, doesn’t it?”

I let out a watery laugh. “That’s an understatement.”

We sat in companionable silence for a few moments, watching as the first stars began to twinkle in the darkening sky.The night air was cool against my skin, carrying the scent of sage and prairie grass.

Mom shifted beside me, her voice taking on a thoughtful tone. “You know, Kota, sometimes the hardest battles are the ones we fight with ourselves. It’s easy to be angry at Logan, at those investors, at the whole situation. But the real question is, what are you going to do about it?”

I turned to look at her, seeing the wisdom in her eyes. “What do you mean?”

She smiled softly. “I mean, are you going to let this define you? Are you going to let it push you away from the things - and the people - you care about? Or are you going to find a way to stand up for yourself while still holding onto what matters?”

I let her words sink in, feeling a spark of something - determination, maybe - ignite in my chest. “I... I don’t know. I want to fight, but I don’t want to lose everything in the process.”

Mom nodded, a knowing smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “That’s the tricky part, isn’t it? Finding that balance.”

I sighed, plucking absently at the grass beside me. “How do I do that, Mom? How do I stand up for myself without pushing Logan away?”

She was quiet for a moment, her eyes distant as she gazed out over the darkening prairie. When she spoke, her voice was soft but firm. “You talk to him, Kota. You tell him how you feel - all of it. The hurt, the anger, the love. You lay it all out there and give him a chance to understand.” She gave me a long hard look. “I know you, Kota. You haven’t told him you love him, have you?”

I felt a flush creep up my neck at my mom’s words. She knew me too well.

“No,” I admitted softly. “I haven’t told him.”

Mom sighed, shaking her head. “Kota, you can’t expect him to read your mind. I know you’ve always been the quiet, guarded type, but if you want him to understand how deeply thisaffects you, you need to be honest with him. About everything. Especially your heart.”

I picked at a loose thread on my jeans, avoiding her gaze. “What if... what if telling him doesn’t change anything? What if he still chooses the deal over me?” I paused for a moment. “What… What if someday he decides he doesn’t want me anymore?” I glanced up at her, tears forming in my eyes. “Like dad did.”

Mom’s eyes softened with understanding. She reached out and took my hand, squeezing it gently. “Oh, sweetheart. Your father’s choices were his own. They don’t define you, and they certainly don’t predict your future.”

I swallowed hard, fighting back tears. “But what if-”

“No ‘what ifs’,” Mom interrupted firmly. “Listen to me, Kota. You can’t let fear of what might happen stop you from living your life. Yes, there’s a chance things might not work out with Logan. But there’s also a chance that they will. And you’ll never know if you don’t take that leap. Are you gonna just sit out on this prairie for the rest of your life dreaming because you’re scared? Or are you actually going to live it?”

I sat there for a long moment, letting my mom’s words sink in. She was right, of course. She usually was. I couldn’t let my fear of getting hurt hold me back forever. And I couldn’t expect Logan to understand how I felt if I never told him.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed myself to my feet. “You’re right, Mom. I need to talk to him.”

She smiled up at me, pride shining in her eyes. “That’s my boy. Remember, you’re strong, Kota. You come from a long line of warriors. Whatever happens, you can handle it.”

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