“Hey.”
It’s a single word. But it’s the only word Colt has spoken to me in weeks. Fucked up as it sounds, that feels like progress. Wonder if he heard me just now? Did he see how I’m wholeheartedly supporting his sister? How I’m trying my damndest to make her dreams come true?
Because the friend I know would respect the hell out of that.
Then again, Colt is hurting. He’s not exactly in the right frame of mind. Who knows what he’s thinking.
“Billie and Ryder here were just making a very convincing argument that we should set up an animal therapy program here on the ranch,” Dad says.
Colt’s eyes flicker. I can’t read them.
“Ryder helped me come up with the idea,” Billie says. “He’s been with me every step of the way. My accident—it made me realize that I needed to make some changes.”
Mrs. Wallace grabs the presentation deck and holds it up. “Look at this pitch they put together. Thirty pages!”
Colt’s shoulders rise on a deep, aggrieved sigh. “Seems kinda out of left field, no?”
“Read the deck, and you’ll see a program like the one I’m proposing is beautifully aligned with our values as a family,” Billie replies. “I’d be happy to make the full pitch to you if you’d like.”
“And I’d be happy to chime in if you need help,” I add.
Billie looks up at me. “You’re the best. Thank you.”
“Anytime. This is exciting stuff. Just grateful to be a part of it.”
I glance up to see Colt looking at us. There’s a tug in my center when it hits me that the look in his eyes is sadness.
Of course. He misses Abby.
Despite the shit they went through, he loved her with his whole heart. There were times when I thought losing her might destroy him if her infidelity didn’t.
Deep down, Colt’s a romantic. He may swear off marriage—relationships in general—but I know he misses being in love.
I get it now, because loving someone and being loved by them in return is pretty much the best thing ever. Duke was on to something when he said Colt might be jealous of Billie and me. I know he doesn’t wish us ill. I also know he’d like to have a partner in life again, even if he does come off as surly and standoffish.
“Maybe later,” he says at last. “I gotta get home to Dean.”
Mr. Wallace pins him with a look. “You really should stay and hear what your sister has to say.”
“Dad, I was with Lainey all damn day. I’m tapped out, all right?”
Mrs. Wallace frowns. “Did it not go well with Lainey?”
“It never goes well with that woman. I’ll… Yeah, I’ll see y’all later.”
Then he disappears out the door.
That weekend, I’m pulling the biggest lasagna I’ve ever seen out of the oven in the Wallace’s kitchen when Lainey strides in.
“Well, hey there, honey!” Mrs. Wallace smiles warmly as she drops a handful of freshly grated parmesan cheese into the salad she’s making. “I’m thrilled you’ll be joining us for supper tonight.”
I met Lainey not long after Billie and I told everyone we were in a relationship. She’s young, but she knows her shit, and I’m well aware of how a rebrand can take an operation to the next level.
I’ll never forget when Mollie made her pitch to combine Lucky and Rivers Ranches. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. I think we all fell in love with her that day, just like we fell in love with the idea of Lucky River Ranch.
Mr. Wallace is a smart guy. I think he’s seen the progress we’ve made on our property since the rebrand, and now hewants a piece of the action. I also know he’s eager to honor his family’s legacy by having his ranch in tip-top shape before he hands it over to his children.
The Wallace kids pretty much run the place already. But Old Man Wallace still pulls the reins—or pulls the strings, if we’re being grammatically correct—and I know he’s itching to retire.
