All five of my brothers are sitting at the dining table, and every single one of them is smirking.
"Well, well," Rhett says, leaning back in his chair. "Look who finally decided to join us."
"Shut up," I mutter, but I can feel heat creeping up my neck.
"We were starting to worry," Tucker adds, his eyes twinkling. "Thought maybe Sierra's ankle was worse than we thought. You two were in that guest house for hours."
Sierra's face goes bright red. "We were just... talking."
"Talking," Colt repeats. "Right. Very loud talking."
"Jesus Christ," I groan, running a hand over my face.
Mason stands and pulls out chairs for both of us. "Leave them alone. What they do is their business."
"Thank you, Mason," Sierra says gratefully.
"That said," Mason continues with a slight grin, "the walls aren't that thick, and the guest house is only fifty yards from here."
"Oh my God." Sierra covers her face with her hands.
Boone, quiet as always, speaks up. "We're happy for you both. Genuinely. It's good to see Wade actually living instead of just working."
"And getting laid," Colt adds helpfully. "That's probably good for him too."
"Colt, I swear to God—"
"Alright, alright," Tucker interrupts, still grinning. "But seriously, Wade. You voted yes on the partnership this morning, spent the day with Sierra, and now... this. That's quite a turnaround from the guy who was ready to send her packing yesterday."
I look at Sierra, who's peeking at me through her fingers. She looks mortified and adorable.
"She proved herself," I say simply. "Showed up, did the work, didn't quit when it got hard. And..." I take a breath. "And I believe in her good intentions for the ranch. For all of this."
"You really mean that?" Rhett asks.
"Yeah. I do." I reach over and take Sierra's hand. "She's not here to exploit us or turn this place into something it's not. She's here because she wants to build something meaningful. Honor her father's memory the same way we're honoring Frank's. I was too stubborn and scared to see it yesterday, but I see it now."
Sierra's eyes are shining with unshed tears. "Wade—"
"We're going to save this ranch," I continue, looking around at my brothers. "All of us together. We're going to honor Frank's legacy while building something new. Something sustainable. And we're going to prove that tradition and innovation don't have to be enemies."
"Damn," Colt says softly. "Wade Turner giving speeches about the future. Never thought I'd see the day."
"Change is good," Boone says quietly. "Frank would approve."
"Frank would definitely approve of you finally getting laid," Rhett adds, and the serious moment dissolves into laughter.
Even Emma, who's been coloring at the end of the table, pipes up. "What's getting laid mean?"
"Nothing!" Tucker says quickly. "Eat your vegetables, sweetheart."
The rest of dinner is filled with easier conversation. Plans for the ranch, ideas Sierra has for marketing, Mason's thoughts on which equipment repairs should be prioritized. It feels natural having her here, like she's already part of the family instead of someone who just arrived.
After we eat, Sierra and I walk back to the guest house together, her hand in mine. The Montana sky is putting on a show. Orange and pink and purple bleeding together as the sun sets behind the mountains.
"Thank you," she says softly. "For believing in me. For giving me a chance."
"Thank you for not giving up when I was an ass." I stop walking, turning to face her. "I meant what I said in there. We're going to make this work. The ranch, us… All of it."
