Page 6 of Whiskey and Wildfire

My chest swelled with relief, but also a strange sense of disappointment. Part of me had hoped Logan might push a little further, might somehow intuit the truth I couldn’t bring myself to say out loud. But of course, he wouldn’t. Why would he?

“Thanks,” I managed, my voice rougher than I intended. “I appreciate that.”

Logan nodded, shoving his hands back in his pockets. He rocked back on his heels, looking up at the star-studded sky. “Beautiful night,” he murmured.

I followed his gaze upward, drinking in the vast expanse of twinkling lights. “Yeah,” I agreed softly. “It’s why I love it out here. You can see every star.”

“Must get lonely though,” Logan said, glancing at me.

I shrugged, not meeting his eyes. “I prefer it this way. People just disappoint you.”

He just sat there, staring. And I realized, once again, I’d given away too much. But then his eyes softened, a look of understanding crossing his face.

“I know what you mean,” he said quietly. “Sometimes it feels like the whole world is just waiting to let you down.”

I nodded, surprised by his empathy. For a moment, we stood in companionable silence, both lost in our own thoughts. The night air was cool and still, broken only by the chirping of crickets and the distant lowing of cattle.

“Listen,” Logan said suddenly, turning to face me. “I know we don’t know each other that well, but... if you ever want to talk, or just have a drink and not talk, I’m here. Sometimes it’s nice to not be alone, even if you’re not saying anything.”

His offer caught me off guard. I searched his face for any sign of insincerity but found only genuine kindness in those green eyes. Something inside me longed to say yes, to ask him to spend some real time with me. But I knew that was a dangerous and slippery road to travel. If I let him close now, pretty soon I’d be wanting more.

“Thanks,” I said at last. “I’ll keep that in mind.” I made a big show of stretching as I turned my face back to the sky. “Well, it’s been a long day. Time to turn in, I guess.”

“Right,” Logan nodded, looking a bit dejected as he headed back toward the house. “Good night, Dakota.”

I watched him go, feeling the guilt twist in my stomach for rejecting him so openly. “Night.”

Chapter 3

Logan

“What do you mean you’re not coming?” I growled at Caroline after she cornered me in the barn. “I’ve already got the horses all saddled up and ready to go. We’re supposed to be on the trail before sunrise.”

“I know, I know,” she replied, holding up her hands. “And I’m sorry. It’s sorta last minute.”

“Ya think?!”

“Come on, little brother. You can’t deny me my first client.”

I let out an exasperated sigh, knowing she was right, but I was still gonna try to be mad at her, anyway. After all, I never wanted to go on the cattle drive to begin with. I only did it as a favor to Daddy and Caroline was always the one in charge. Sure, I knew what I was doing, but she lived in it every single day. She and Dakota knew the details. I was just along as another body to keep the cattle in line.

“Fine,” I sputtered, unlatching the saddle from her horse and pulling it off with a huff. “But no more cracks about me drinkin’ on the roof, ya hear? Unless you want me to go spreading your business to the family.”

“Alright, alright,” she said, hands up again. “I’ll do my best.” She took the saddle from me, hefting it back to its stand. “I’llkeep it to myself, but you gotta try to get Dakota to go out with me.”

I stopped dead in my tracks. “Dude, he said no. That’s the end of it. Find someone else to fuck.”

“I know…” she sighed, doing a little frustrated dance. “I just… he’s so freakin’ cute!”

“Yeah, he’s handsome. But he doesn’t want you. Move on.”

“Do I sense a tinge of jealousy, little brother?”

I glanced up at her, scoffing. “No? I don’t even know the guy, Caroline.”

“But you said he’s handsome.”

“Lots of people are handsome. Doesn’t mean I want them.”

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