Page 66 of Whiskey and Wildfire

I nodded, a mix of pride and anxiety swirling in my chest. “And... how did they react?”

Logan’s green eyes softened as he looked at me. “They were surprised, I’ll give you that. Mia started to argue, but I shut that down pretty quick. Dustin seemed more understanding, and Mr. Whitmore... well, he’s always hard to read.”

I chewed my lip, trying to imagine the scene. “Do you think there’s any chance they’ll still go for it?” I asked, not daring to hope too much.

Logan shrugged, his tanned face creased with uncertainty. “Honestly, I’m not sure. They seemed thrown off balance, but not entirely dismissive. I think a lot depends on how badly they want this particular property.”

I nodded, trying to process it all. The waiting was excruciating, but at least we hadn’t received an outright rejection. I glanced at my watch - only three minutes had passed since Logan emerged from his office. It felt like an eternity.

“Come on,” Logan said, gently taking my arm. “Let’s get some breakfast. Pacing here won’t make the time go any faster.”

I followed him out onto the porch, the cool breeze rustling through the prairie grass. The rolling hills of Sagebrush stretched out before us, a sea of green under the morning sun. Somehow, without either of us noticing, autumn had crept up on the land. After the thunderstorm the night before, the air had almost a chill to it. As we leaned against the porch rail, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of love for this land, regardless of what the investors decided.

Logan seemed to sense my thoughts. “No matter what happens,” he said softly, “we’ll still be together. And we can stay in Sagebrush if you like.”

I nodded, leaning into his solid presence. We stood in companionable silence for a while, watching a hawk circle lazily overhead. The familiar sights and sounds of the ranch slowly began to calm my nerves, even if it was to be one of the last times I got to enjoy it this way.

“Come on,” Logan said, pulling me by the arm. “I’ll text Lucas and we can all have breakfast together down at the diner.”

I hesitated for a moment, not sure if I wanted to face anyone else right now. But the thought of sitting alone with my anxious thoughts was even less appealing. “Okay,” I agreed, following Logan down the porch steps.

As we walked towards his truck, I couldn’t help but glance back at the ranch house. It stood there, weathered but proud, just as it had for generations. Would this be one of the last times I saw it like this, unchanged by investors and development plans or foreclosure? The thought made my chest ache. Even though I’d only lived there for five years, it was more a home to me than anywhere else.

Logan’s phone buzzed as we climbed into the truck. He checked it quickly before starting the engine. “Lucas says he’ll meet us there in fifteen,” he reported.

I nodded, grateful for the distraction Lucas and Beau would provide. As talkative as he was, he’d likely keep the conversation flowing enough that I wouldn’t have to contribute much.

As we drove down the dusty road towards town, I tried to focus on the familiar landscape instead of the knot in my stomach. The Texas sun was already high, casting long shadows across the prairie. A few longhorns grazed lazily in a nearby field, barely lifting their heads as we passed.

Logan reached over and squeezed my hand, his touch warm and reassuring. “It’s gonna be alright, darlin’,” he said softly, his green eyes briefly meeting mine before returning to the road.

I managed a small smile, appreciating his optimism even if I couldn’t quite share it. The diner came into view, its faded sign a welcoming sight. As we pulled into the gravel parking lot, I spotted Beau’s old rusty pickup already there.

Inside, the diner was bustling with the usual breakfast crowd. The smell of coffee and bacon filled the air. Dolly, of course, waved a welcoming hand from behind the bar the moment we walked in.

“I’ve got you all setup in the corner, sugar,” she called, pointing toward the usual spot we took with Beau and Lucas.

“Thanks Dolly,” Logan called back. “Is it okay if we chat for a while?”

She gave us both a wink. “You know I’d never say no to you boys for anythin’! You’re too cute.”

It was hard not to smile when Dolly was around. She was such a joyful presence no matter what the circumstances were.

As we made our way to the corner booth, I spotted Beau already seated, his tall frame hunched over a steaming mug of coffee. His blonde hair was slightly mussed, as if he’d just rolled out of bed, and his blue eyes looked a bit bleary. He glanced up as we approached, offering a tired smile.

“Mornin’,” he drawled, his Texas accent thick with sleep. “Y’all look about as worn out as I feel.”

Logan slid into the booth across from Beau, and I followed suit. “Rough night?” Logan asked, reaching for the menu even though we all knew it by heart.

Beau shrugged, his muscular shoulders rolling beneath his worn flannel shirt. “Just couldn’t sleep much. Too much on my mind, I reckon.”

I nodded in understanding. It seemed none of us had gotten much rest last night. The weight of uncertainty hung heavy over all of us.

Just then Lucas appeared from behind the counter carrying a tall glass filled mostly with ice.

“What were you doing back there?” Logan asked, lifting an eyebrow in his direction.

“Can you believe Dolly doesn’t sell iced coffee?” he asked, a grin on his face. “There’s not a coffee shop for a billion miles and she doesn’t have the decency to offer it on the menu.” He sat the glass down, taking a seat next to Beau. “I had to make it myself.”

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