Alex:I think I’ve got to fire Jordan.
Me:Whats going on
Three dots appeared immediately, then disappeared. Then appeared again. I chewed on my lip, waiting.
Alex:don’t worry about it. enjoy family time.
Three dots appeared immediately, then disappeared. Thenappeared again. I chewed on my lip, waiting.
I dug my finger and thumb in the corners of my eyes and sighed. So that’s how it was. No more filling me in on what was happening in her life. Definitely on our way to “fake” break-up territory.
“Who are you texting?” Belle asked around a large bite of fruit.
“Alex,” I pocketed my phone.
“Is she pretty?” Lucas asked, biting into the second half of his sandwich.
“Very,” I leaned against the counter, picking up an apple and the paring knife—needing something to do with my hands.
“Prettier than Lou?” Jack added, earning a sharp look from his mom.
“Jackson Montgomery,” she warned.
I thought for a moment, carefully cutting and eating crooked slices out of the apple. Lou was family in all the ways that mattered—she’d grown up here, worked here, her daughter practically lived here when she wasn’t in school. Rodeo queen and gregarious to boot. But she was also the woman I’d left behind when I joined the Navy, the one who’d been dropping hints about picking up where we left off ever since my discharge—until I’d mentioned Alex.
“Different kind of pretty,” I said carefully. “Lou’s beautiful. Alex is...” I paused, searching for words that wouldn’t sound like I was comparing. “Alex is brilliant. Inspiring. Her energy fills any room she enters. She lights up when she talks about something she’s passionate about. And she’s funny. Sharp, quick wit that keeps you on your toes.”
“Sounds like she’s got you wrapped around her finger,” Claire observed, amusement laced in her voice.
“Maybe she does,” I admitted, surprised by how the words came so easy despite the current uncertainty.
Dad appeared from his office with a folder thicker than thePorterhouse ribeye I’d barely made a dent in the night before. “Hey all, we’re fixin’ to start the family meeting in about five. Kids, I think Hank could use some help mucking out stables.”
“But we just got back!” Lucas slumped in his chair.
“Get movin’,” Elowyn shooed them up. “You knew the rule was you’d do extra chores today to make up for driving that golf kart into the ditch.”
I huffed a laugh as she continued, “I swear y’all take after your uncles.”
We all gathered around dining table—Dad’s stack of papers spread across the surface. Legal documents, business records, succession planning materials representing four generations of faithful stewardship of this land.
“This isn’t about immediate changes,” he sat down at the head of the table, “but with Dom and Enzo’s wedding coming up, your mother and I figured it was time to make things more official. Put everything in writing so there’s no confusion down the road.”
Mom sat beside him, her expression shifting between pride and nostalgia. “We’re proud of all of you,” she smiled, her voice wavering only slightly. “Every choice you’ve made, every path you’ve chosen. This is just about making sure the ranch continues the way it should.”
Her words were a punch in my gut—proud of every choice. Every path. Even the ones that had led me away from this place and into a medical discharge and rapidly deteriorating future.
“Elowyn and Luke,” Dad began, “you’ve made it clear you want to continue caring for the ranch in the future. The plan is to transfer primary ownership to you over the next five years, with your mother and me retaining advisory roles and residence rights.”
Elowyn nodded, Luke’s hand finding hers on the table. “We’ve talked about it extensively. The lodge expansion, restaurantgrowth, bringing in sustainable practices. We’ve got plans.”
“Good plans,” Dad confirmed before turning to my other sister. “Claire, you and Sawyer will maintain your stake in the operation, but with the understanding that geography makes day-to-day involvement impractical.”
“Works for me,” Claire responded. “I love this place, but my life’s on the road until Sawyer’s done ridin’. As long as I can come home when I need to, I’m happy.”
“Dominik,” Dad’s attention shifted to my brother. “You’ve built an incredible career in Los Angeles. We’re not expecting you to abandon that, but we want to make sure you maintain connection to your heritage.”
Dom straightened slightly. “I don’t want to take anything away from El and Luke. They’re the ones doing the actual work.”
