Briar: How are you holding up?
Walker: I’m fine. Just here for whatever she needs.
Briar: She’s lucky to have you.
Walker: I’m the lucky one.
I set my phone on the dash, start the engine, and pull out of the parking lot. No doubt when I get to Birdie’s, I’ll be greeted by a yard full of hangry animals eager to complain about having to wait all day for their next meal.
On my way, I replay the events of this morning. After Birdie overheard her dad and me talking, there was a gut-punching instant when I thought I’d lost her—just as a life together finally felt within reach.
Yet instead of the anger and frustration I expected, she met me with nothing but grace. In hindsight, I should’ve told her the truth sooner, her father’s wishes be damned, but I can’t change the past. All I can do is focus on the future. One where we’re together and I earn back her trust.
Whatever comes next, Birdie will have me by her side through every high and low—celebrating her successes as if they were my own, wiping away her tears, and building a life together filled with laughter, joy, and endless happiness.
When I finally pull up to her house, I’m not expecting to find Heath’s truck parked out front. He’d called earlier, and I planned to check in once I got the animals taken care of, but it appears he might have beat me to it.
He’s sitting on the edge of the porch, attempting to feed Logan. The little menace is swatting the bottle away and hissing like Heath has personally offended him. Nugget stands close by, clucking in warning, clearly suspicious of the burly cowboy manhandling one of her babies. Meanwhile, Rory is draped over Heath’s other thigh, fast asleep. Nothing fazes that one.
“Hey there, brother. The ranch not keeping you busy enough?” I smirk.
Heathnevertakes time away, not even when he’s sick, so I’m beyond shocked to find him here.
He glances up, grunting as he adjusts the bottle in Logan’s mouth. “Figured you and Birdie would be at the hospital all day and could use someone stopping by to take care of the animals. I’ve already made the rounds and am just finishing up by feeding this little troublemaker.” He nods at Logan, who’s finally settled down long enough to guzzle some milk.
I lower myself to the porch beside him. “How’d you get inside?”
Birdie locked up the house when we left and gave me the key before I left the hospital.
“Briar was tied up picking up Caleb from summer camp, so I had to call and ask Charlie if there was a spare key hidden somewhere. That stubborn woman wouldn’t tell me where the damn thing was until I admitted that Peaches likes her more—which, obviously, isn’t true,” he mutters with a wry grimace.
“You’ve got to give Charlie credit—she got you good, considering you went along with it,” I taunt him.
Heath shoots me a playful glare. “Maybe, but she won’t be so smug the next time she asks me for a favor, and I make her work for it.”
Nugget waddles over, ruffling her feathers before settling beside me to bask in the sun. I run a hand over her back, and she closes an eye, clucking softly. Apparently, she’s decided Heath can be trusted with the kittens without her supervision.
“Well, I appreciate you coming out to help. You didn’t have to do that.”
Heath raises a brow. “Hell yeah I did. Birdie’s your woman, which makes her part ofourfamily. That means taking care of her animals when you’re tied up handling emergencies.”
I gape at him. “Who are you and what have you done with my grumpy-ass brother?”
He rolls his eyes. “Don’t be so melodramatic. It’s not that big a deal.”
“Heath, the only time you ever leave the ranch is for supplies or a late-night drink at the bar.” I motion to Logan, who’s back to swatting the bottle in his hand. “The last place I’d ever expect you to be is on Birdie’s property cuddling with kittens, yet here we are.”
“I don’t mind the kittens.” He nods to Logan. “I’ve just been thinking it’s time for some changes around the ranch.”
I reach over to rest my palm over his forehead. “Seriously, are you sick?”
He grumbles, and bats my hand away. “Will you cut that shit out? There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m not doing anything drastic like retiring or shutting down the ranch. Just considering bringing on a foreman to handle things when I’m not around. With the business growing so fast and you splitting your time between the ranch and the sheriff’s office, I could use the backup.”
My mouth falls open in shock as I process what he’s said before replying.
“Youwant to hire a foreman? I thought you hated the idea.”
The last time I brought it up was two years ago, and Heath had flat-out refused, insisting we could handle the ranch on our own. After my conversation with Birdie, I planned to revisit the idea soon, but I never expected Heath to raise it himself.
