All in.
“Reid, hey!”
“What’s going on?” I ask, raising an eyebrow as Charlie heads into the kitchen with Dakota not far behind him.
Charlie steps forward, holding up a picture—no, two pictures—clutched tightly in his hands. He’s grinning like he just won the lottery.
“This is for you, Reid!” he announces proudly, holding them up for me to see. “Mom and me made these for you!”
I look at the drawings, and my heart just about stops. The first one is of me, big goofy smile, cowboy hat on, leaning against a fence at the ranch. It’s a simple, sketchy kind of drawing, but there’s something about it that just hits me right in the chest.
The second one is of Dakota and Charlie, both of them smiling in front of the house, with the barn in the background.
“You like them?” Charlie asks, bouncing on his toes. His enthusiasm is contagious, and I can’t help but laugh. “I made one for Clint and Sawyer, too.”
“You guys are seriously talented,” I say, ruffling his hair. “This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten.”
I feel a lump in my throat, but I swallow it down, smiling back at him. He’s got such a big heart, just like his mom.
“Now that you’re here, can you help me set the table?” I ask, trying to shift my focus before I get too emotional. “Dinner is ready, and I have a feeling this is going to be a very important dinner.”
Charlie nods eagerly and hurries off to the table, practically skipping across the kitchen. Dakota watches him go, her eyes softening as she turns to me.
“You’re good with him, you know?” she says quietly.
I smile at her, feeling warmth spread through me.
“He’s easy to love.” Then I pause, watching her. “And you’ve done an amazing job with him. You’re a great mother.”
Dakota’s lips tremble as she smiles, looking down for a moment before meeting my eyes again. “I’ve never felt this… at home before. Not like this.”
A silence stretches between us, but it’s a comfortable one. The kind that feels safe. Then she walks over to Charlie, her steps lighter than they’ve ever been.
Dinner passes in a blur of laughter, teasing, and light conversation. Charlie’s enthusiasm fills the space.
I’m truly a part of something bigger than myself. Something that isn’t just a job or a place to live, but a family.
As the last of the dishes are cleared, and the fire crackles softly in the background, Clint leans back in his chair, his gaze shifting from Dakota to me.
“So, Dakota,” he starts, “we’ve been talking. About what comes next.”
She raises an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “What are you getting at?”
Sawyer chimes in, leaning forward with his usual grin. “Well, we’re thinking… that maybe it’s time for you to make this your home. For good. You, Charlie… all of you. It’s been a few months now, and this feels right, doesn’t it?”
Dakota’s eyes flicker between us. I see the hesitation there, but also something else… a quiet hope.
“I don’t want to rush you into anything,” Clint adds, “but we’re all in this together. We want you here. We want Charlie here. And, well, we’d love for you to move in with us, Dakota.”
I watch as she processes the words. She’s been hesitant before, unsure of what it would mean to fully commit to this place, to us. But tonight feels different. I can feel it in the air.
There’s a shift. A moment of clarity.
“But you don’t have to sell the house,” Sawyer adds, his tone light, but with genuine warmth. “Rent it out. Make sure it’s still there for you if you ever want it.”
Dakota looks at us, her lips parted as she inhales, a soft, tremulous breath. Finally, she exhales, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
“I… I think I’m ready for that,” she says, voice cracking just slightly, but there’s such relief in her words. “I want to be here. With you all. Charlie’s found his place here. And… I think I have, too.”
