With everyone seated and conversation picking up again, Preston tapped his glass with a piece of cutlery. “I’d like to propose a toast.”
Silence fell, at least in this one corner of the bustling establishment, and glasses were raised.
“To turning a corner.”
“Hear, hear,” voices echoed.
“To Clint and a real ranch hand,” Garret added.
“And to Mom never figuring out what we were really up to,” Rachel finished, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
A chorus of laughter went around the tables. Kade looked at the faces of his siblings, at the incredible women who had joined them, and a profound sense of gratitude washed over him. They had done it. They had pulled the ranch back from the brink.
“And,” Preston continued, “to our newest sort-of sister-in-law. With the ranch standing on solid ground for probably the first time since Dad died, and certainly since that idiot foreman bled us all dry, Cassie’s help in making rotations and a few other things more efficient, I officially pronounce the Sweet Ranch safe from foreclosure!”
His gaze landed on Cassie. Her eyes wide, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, a small, genuine smile touched her lips. She belonged here. The thought was no longer a surprise; it was a simple, undeniable fact.
The sound of glasses jostling had Kade turning to the table behind them. Jacob, the kid from the hardware store the other day, was busing the now empty table of six. His movements jerky and rushed, his gaze darted from the table to the bin of dirty glasses and silverware at his side to the patrons dispersed throughout, laughing and drinking, and even dancing. The kid’s face screamed fatigue and determination at the same time.
“It’s a shame.”
Kade turned to face his brother, realizing his gaze was on the same kid.
“Jacob is working harder than the rest of the staff combined.”
“Must want that new car pretty badly.” Rachel had followed her brother’s gazes.
“Doubt it.” Garret shook his head, sighed, and took a short sip of his drink. “I’m guessing it has more to do with his sister.”
Taking one quick glance around the room, the kid seemed almost nervous before hauling the refuse from the table across the place and into the kitchen.
Facing his brother again, Kade reached for his drink. “He seems more stressed than any teen should be. More stressed than someone working to pay for a car or some other trinket. What’s the deal?”
“Emily has some spine disorder. Poor kid has had to wear a brace for as long as I can remember. It has to be miserably uncomfortable for her.”
“And don’t forget expensive,” Rachel added. “The way kids grow, those custom fit suckers have to be redone every so often.” She sighed and shook her head. “I hate to admit it but I think you may be right. I forgot that I’d heard Jacob’s dad is working nights now at the fertilizer plant.”
“Can I get anyone another round?” Their waitress stood at one end of the table, an empty tray under her arm. One by one, she scribbled requests on a pad and then smiled up at them. “Got it. Be right back.”
The conversations flowed and Kade couldn’t help but think how right all of this felt. How much he missed his family. He loved serving his country. He truly believed what he did made a difference in the world, but he’d never missed all of this as much as he did right now. His gaze shifted to Cassie, chatting with Jillian and laughing at something she’d just said. Maybe itwasn’t just the ranch and his siblings that were missing in his life.
“Here we go.” The waitress appeared looking a bit more harried, her smile buried under the slightest of scowls.
“Everything okay, Kat?” His sister must have noticed the change in disposition.
“Oh, yeah, sorry.” The woman forced a smile. “Must be a full moon or something. We seem to be overrun tonight with cheap tippers. I mean, I know times are tough for everyone, but still.” She heaved a sigh, and shaking her head slightly, forced a wider smile. “I forgot your Shiner, I’ll be right back.”
Spinning on her heel, the waitress hurried back to the bar, pausing a moment to deal with another table.
“I know how she feels.” Cassie’s eyes were following the woman. “When you’re on your own, no real skills, so to speak, no chance for an annual bonus that will pad the down payment fund, no hopes of a key to the executive washroom, it can be tough.”
Still holding her hand, he gave it a quick squeeze. Nothing about what she’d just said sat well with him, and everything in him wanted to make sure she never felt that way again. The only problem: what was he going to do about it?
Cassie’s insides were still aflutter thinking about the wonderful toast that Preston had made, giving her more credit than she deserved. Pride filled her chest to the point of bursting. Never in her life had she been held in such high esteem by anyone.
The jukebox shifted from an upbeat George Strait number to something slower, softer—an old Alan Jackson ballad that seemed to quiet the room. Couples drifted toward the small dance floor, bodies swaying in the dim light. The evening hadflowed like the beer, easy and warm, making it almost possible to forget that this wasn’t actually her family, that her place among them had an expiration date.
Kade’s hand, still holding hers under the table, gave a gentle squeeze. When she turned to him, his eyes held a question.
