Page 68 of Whiskey and Wildfire

Everyone leaned in, not a breath between us as we waited for him to speak. Logan turned to me, his eyes filling with tears as his expression finally cracked.

“They passed,” he said, his voice trembling. “They aren’t going to invest.”

Chapter 26

Logan

“This still feels weird,” I said as Dakota and I headed out onto the plains. I swayed back and forth in the saddle, following the movements of my horse. “Like we should be packing or something.”

“There’s plenty of time to pack tomorrow,” Dakota replied, pulling Sogwili up next to me. “Besides, you can’t just go, go, go all day long. You need to breathe.”

I let out a long sigh. “I know. Maybe… Maybe I’m just trying to get it over with as fast as possible, so it hurts less.”

“I don’t think it’s ever gonna hurt less,” he replied, a sad smile on his face. “But we can at least make some memories before we leave. Ones we can keep forever.”

“You’re right,” I nodded, shaking my head. “Sorry I’m being such a downer.”

He gave me a soft smile, reaching out and patting my thigh. “You’re fine, Logan. Just try to enjoy the night.”

“So, what are you dragging me out here for? A picnic or something?”

“Or something.”

The look in his eye was mischievous, much like the one his mother got when she was up to no good. However, I’d seen himpacking food into the saddlebags. And I was pretty sure I saw a lube bottle slip in there as well. Not that I was complaining. Getting fucked under the stars didn’t sound like a bad way to forget the challenges of the past few days. Or the fact that we were losing everything we called home. Even if the bliss only lasted for a moment, it would be a well-deserved reprieve.

We rode in comfortable silence for a while, the gentle rhythm of hoofbeats and the soft whisper of prairie grass the only sounds. The sun was sinking low on the horizon, painting the sky in vibrant oranges and pinks, the chill of the night setting in already. I found myself stealing glances at Dakota, admiring how the fading light caught in his dark hair and made his bronzed skin glow.

As if sensing my gaze, he turned and caught my eye, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Almost there,” he said softly.

We crested a small hill, and I saw where he was leading us - a secluded grove of cottonwood trees nestled in a shallow valley. A small creek burbled nearby, its quiet song mingling with the rustle of leaves.

Dakota smoothly dismounted Sogwili, then came over to help me down. His strong hands gripped my waist, and I felt a shiver run through me at his touch. As my feet hit the ground, he didn’t let go right away, his thumbs tracing small circles on my hips.

“This is beautiful,” I murmured, looking around at the peaceful grove. The last rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the grass. “I didn’t know it was here.”

Dakota nodded, his eyes never leaving my face. “I found this place a couple years back. Thought it might be nice to share it with you before...” He trailed off, but I knew what he meant. Before we had to leave my childhood home.

He led me to a spot near the creek and laid out a blanket. As we sat down, he pulled out containers of food from the saddlebags - fried chicken, potato salad, and slices of Dolly’s famous pecan pie, the very recipe Lucas and I had tried to steal from here only three months ago before we came back to Sagebrush permanently. It felt like a lifetime had passed since then.

My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Dakota chuckled, handing me a plate. “Dig in,” he said softly.

We ate in comfortable silence, the sound of the creek and the gentle rustling of leaves providing a soothing backdrop. As the last of the sunlight faded, Dakota pulled out a small lantern, casting a warm glow over our little picnic spot.

“This is perfect,” I said, leaning back on my elbows and looking up at the stars that were beginning to appear in the darkening sky. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

Dakota’s hand found mine, his pleasantly rough fingers intertwining with my own. “I wanted to give you something good to remember,” he said, his voice low. “Something just for us, before everything changes.”

I turned to look at him, my breath catching at the intensity in his dark eyes. Without a word, he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. The kiss was soft at first, tentative, but quickly deepened as I responded eagerly. His hand came up to cup my cheek, fingers threading into my hair as he pulled me closer.

We broke apart after a long moment, both slightly breathless. Dakota’s eyes searched mine, a question in their depths. I answered by surging forward to capture his lips again, my hands gripping his strong shoulders.

He gently lowered me onto my back, never breaking the kiss. I could feel the solid warmth of his body above me, pressing meinto the blanket. His lips trailed from my mouth to my jaw, then down my neck, eliciting a soft gasp from me.

“Kota,” I breathed, running my hands down his back. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Logan,” Dakota murmured against my skin, his breath hot on my neck. “More than I ever thought possible.”

He reached up, pulling off my cowboy hat and sitting it gently to the side. Then he took off his own, leaning it against mine. It was a simple gesture, but it meant a lot to me. A cowboy’s hat was his pride and joy. Allowing someone else to touch it or to sit with another was more than just a casual accident. It meant something.

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