Page 72 of Whiskey and Wildfire

Logan and I exchanged stunned looks. This was almost too much to process. After days of despair and resignation, here was a lifeline being offered out of nowhere. It felt surreal, like we might wake up at any moment.

“I... I don’t know what to say,” Logan stammered, looking back at the contract in his hands. “This is incredibly generous. But are you sure? I mean, you barely know us.”

Dustin smiled softly. “I know enough. I’ve done my research on this place, on your family’s history here. And I’ve seen how this community has treated you both and others like you.” He glanced meaningfully between us. “Sometimes, you just know when something is right.”

I felt a lump forming in my throat. After all we’d been through, all the judgment and hardship, here was someone offering unconditional support. It was overwhelming.

“What’s the catch?” I asked, unable to look away from him. “There’s always a catch.”

“There’s not one,” Dustin shrugged. “But if you need one, I’d like to move here immediately. I can stay at the local motel until my tiny home arrives. After that, I’d like to live here full time.” He glanced up at me in particular. “And… if it’s not too much trouble… I’d uh…” He reached up, scratching the back of his head nervously. “I’d like someone to teach me how to ride a horse.”

Logan and I exchanged another glance, a mix of disbelief and cautious hope in our eyes. The offer seemed almost too good to be true, but there was something sincere in Dustin’s demeanor that made me want to believe him.

“I... I think we can manage that,” Logan said slowly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Teaching you to ride, I mean. As for the rest...” He trailed off, looking at me questioningly.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the decision on my shoulders. This could change everything for us. No more auction, no more crushing debt, a chance to keep the ranch and make it our own. And all from a stranger who seemed to genuinely want to help. All the hope in the world shone in Logan’s eyes as he stared at me, waiting.

“Yes,” I said barely above a whisper. Logan’s face broke into a bright smile. “Yes,” I said louder. “A hundred times, yes!”

Logan threw his arms around me, crying out with joy. I hugged him back, both our hats nearly falling off into the dust. I suddenly felt like I could fly. Disbelief flooded through me, but it wasn’t enough to stop the pure elation flowing through my veins.

The ranch was saved.

Chapter 28

Logan

“When did you get so damn heavy?” I swore, hefting my father up the front steps. He was fresh home from the hospital and still too weak to climb them himself. “I thought you lost weight in the hospital?”

“Very funny,” he grunted, trying to help as much as possible.

I managed to get him to the porch and sat him down in his favorite rocking chair. He’d insisted on being put in it straight away, claiming it was the thing he missed most about being home.

“There,” I huffed, tipping my hat back to wipe the sweat from my brow. “Happy?”

“Very,” he nodded, breathing deeply. “Goddamn it feels good to be home.”

“Amen to that,” my mother called, carrying her bag up the stairs. “If I never sleep in a hotel room again, it’ll be too soon.”

“You and me both,” Caroline said, following right behind her. She stopped for a moment to lean down and kiss our father on the forehead. “It’s nice to have you home, Daddy,” she said. “And don’t you go doin’ a think like that again.”

“Yes ma’am,” he smiled, patting her hand as she headed inside.

“That goes double for me,” my mother added.

She hovered in the doorway for just a moment, motioning for me to go sit with my father. I nodded, letting the door fall closed behind her as I took a seat in the other rocking chair beside him.

We sat in silence for a while, the gentle creaking of our rocking chairs the only sound. Pa’s eyes were closed, his face tilted up to catch the warm Texas sun. I could see the tension slowly easing from his shoulders as he breathed in the familiar scent of home.

“Logan,” he said finally, not opening his eyes. “I want you to know how proud I am of you.”

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “Daddy, you don’t have to-”

“No, let me finish,” he interrupted, turning to look at me. His eyes were clearer than they’d been in days. “You stepped up when I couldn’t. Kept this place running. Took care of your ma and Caroline. Saved the ranch. That’s not an easy thing for a man your age.”

I swallowed hard, not sure how to respond. Daddy wasn’t usually one for heartfelt conversations. “I was just doing what was right.”

He opened his eyes then, looking over to me at last. “I… I’m sorry I let this place fall apart so bad. I left such a mess on your plate and somehow… you saved us all.”

---