“Good luck,” Toby says mockingly. “You’ll need it.”
“No,” I say. “I think you will.”
Calista’s eyes narrow before they turn away, pretending not to care. Cole watches them leave with a muscle ticking in his jaw.
“Hey,” I murmur. “Eyes on me.”
He turns. I squeeze the folder in my hands, resisting the urge to reach out and touch him. “You deserve to be here,” I say. “Your work is good. Your proposal is good. You’re good. Their opinions don’t matter.”
He exhales slowly. “You sure?” he asks quietly.
“One hundred percent.”
He nods, throat bobbing. “Okay.”
The presentations begin. The first company is a huge corporate firm from Dallas—polished, expensive, and impressive. Their renderings are clean, futuristic, and have absolutely no soul.
Beck loves it. Zane looks indifferent. Jace is bored, and Dad raises an eyebrow but says nothing.
Next is a smaller company from San Antonio. Charming, thoughtful, but not practical for a long-term ranch. Then Calista and Toby present. Their work has modular builds, strong concepts, but too industrial for Iron Stallion.
Finally, it’s Cole’s turn. He walks up to the front like the ground might swallow him. His hands are shaking slightly as he opens the laptop Quinn set up for him. His voice catches on the first sentence.
He clears his throat. I clench my fists. Come on, Cole…
Then something shifts. Maybe it’s the way Dad leans forward, or how Daisy waves excitedly at him, maybe it’s Ava smiling encouragingly, or maybe it’s me, sitting in the second row, staring at him like he hung the moon.
But he breathes in… straightens… And suddenly, he’s steady.
“Good morning,” he greets, voice strong, deep, and confident. “My name is Cole Dawson.”
The room quiets.
“I’ve known the Morgan family my entire life,” he continues. “I’ve worked on fences here, barns, the bull pens. I helped install the irrigation system when Beck was still trying to ride six days a week.”
“Hey!” Beck complains.
Cole smiles, and the entire room softens.
“I know this land,” he says. “And I know this family. So when I thought about designing homes for each Morgan sibling, I imagined a community, not just five houses. A place that keeps the heart of this ranch intact.”
He clicks the remote. The screen shifts to a stunning rendering. Gasps fill the room. Five homes, all placed around the private lake behind the main house, linked by walking trails, connected by shared gardens and outdoor hearth areas. It’s a quiet, beautiful circle—symbolic and functional.
A family village.
A Morgan village.
My throat tightens. Oh… oh, it’s perfect.
“This lake is one of the most peaceful parts of the ranch,” Cole says. “It’s sheltered, quiet, scenic, and large enough to give each family its own privacy without isolating them from each other. Each home can be customized based on the siblings’ needs, but the foundation, the structure, and the community remain connected.”
He clicks the next slide. “Zane and Ava’s house would sit on the west side, on higher ground for safety and easy access to the corrals and stables.”
Another click. “Jace and Tessa would sit closest to the security station—strategic, but discreet.”
Another. “Beck and Quinn would sit near the northern ridge—ideal views, extra privacy. We all know about Beck and his wild side.” He teases, and the family laughs while Beck grumbles, but he can’t deny he finds it funny too.
One more click. “Ryder… wherever he wants.”
