“Wow.”
“We have one stipulation though. We want to reserve two weeks of the summer for families to visit the ranch. That way, the people who have been coming for years can still spend time at Silver Sage, and hopefully we can attract new families, too.”
I tried to wrap my head around his proposal. “And you would stay on and run the ranch, I assume?”
“Our roles would be written into the contract,” he said. “I was thinking we’d have a leadership team consisting of all five of us, and we can each focus on a specific area, like expeditions or guest relations. I’d like to keep on as many current staff members as possible—Tyler, Walt, Raelynn.”
“And what about Chef Damon?”
Matthew shifted in his seat. “He’s at a rehab facility in Denver where he’s getting the help he needs. I told him that, assuming we stay open, I’d try to keep him on staff. Maybe that makes me a soft touch, at least according to Bowie, but I feel for the guy, and he cooks outstanding meals. Let’s give him a chance to redeem himself.”
He looked like he was waiting for me to disagree. “I think you’ve got a kind and loyal heart, and that’s one thing I like best about you.”
He let out a long breath, as if he’d been holding it. “Thank you. I think he’s going to be okay, I really do. When I visited him at the treatment center, he told me he’s committed to the program. Hopefully, this is his turning point.”
I opened the file again and looked down at what the ranch was worth. The number was big and a little scary, but my heart already knew what it wanted to do. Still, I had other questions that needed to be answered before I said yes.
“What about us, Matthew? I’m not saying my answer hinges on that, but I need to know where we stand with each other. Is this just business?”
“That depends.” A smile twitched on his lips. “Do you think you could stand at least part of a bitterly cold winter shacked up with this old rancher? I can’t promise you exciting nightlife, but we’ve got warm fireplaces, cozy beds and pretty views. I’ve also ordered a kit so you can make matcha lattes at home, although I had one this afternoon at a cafe near my hotel, and it tasted like a mug full of grass.” He flared his nostrils to show his distaste for my favorite hot beverage. “I think I could make you some of that tea from what we have out in the meadow.”
I laughed, imagining him puckering at the taste. “And if I move to the ranch, would you take me out two-stepping, sir?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He reached across the table and took my hand again, interlacing our fingers. His warm, firm grip reassured me that our story might not be perfect, but it was going to be beautiful. “I’ll take you two-stepping and to bingo night, and all the other exciting events Three Rivers has to offer. What do you say, Mrs. Wagonblast? Are you in?”
I gazed into his eyes, the color of faded blue jeans, and then I grabbed hold of the reins, steering my life onto a new path. “Mr. Hart, it looks like you’ve got yourself a deal.”
MATTHEW’S EPILOGUE
THREE MONTHS LATER
“Good morning!” Lauren padded into the kitchen in her bare feet, wearing one of my flannel shirts and a pair of sleep shorts. Unlike those of us raised on a ranch, our new Director of Finance and Marketing didn’t always get up with the sun. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her hair. How did she always smell so good?
“Good morning, sweetheart.” Man, it felt good saying that to her. Every time Lauren walked into a room, I lit up inside. At some point, the shine on our relationship might dull a little, but I still couldn’t imagine that happening. The more I got to know her, the deeper I fell in love.
“Hmmm…” She hummed as she pressed up against me. “You smell like…horses.”
“Just for that, I’m waking you up early tomorrow and making you go on the morning ride.” I gave her behind a squeeze, eliciting a delighted squeal from her, right as Bowie appeared in the doorway.
“Excuse me,” he grumbled. “I thought the kitchen would be a safe space.”
Lauren’s cheeks turned pink as she pulled away from me. “Sorry, Bowie.”
“You don’t need to apologize to him,” I said. “We live here too.”
Over the past three months, so much had changed in my life. First off, we’d signed the contract to make Lauren half owner of Silver Sage. Then Bowie, our new Director of Expeditions and Maintenance, moved down from Alaska and into my house—our house now—and we got started on ranch renovation projects. My new title was Director of Operations and General Manager, which sounded like a big job, but now that I had Lauren and my siblings helping out, they’d actually taken a lot off my plate.
Adjusting to our new roles at the ranch came with some challenges, and the biggest one for me was cohabiting with Bowie. Even when Lauren was back in New York, he and I butted heads as roommates. We had different temperaments and were both largely set in our ways; however, I had a plan to rectify that situation soon enough.
Bowie opened the cabinet and pulled out a frying pan. “I’m making second breakfast, and then I’ll get out of your hair.”
Bowie’s first breakfast, before he and I went out to the stables to help Walt, looked like something you’d eat in Scandinavia—strong black coffee, weird looking dark bread with smoked fish, and a bowl of fruit with plain yogurt. His second breakfast, after we’d done our chores, was always a cheese and spinach omelet. Although my eating habits were less quirky than his, I’d had to increase my calorie intake, too, so I could keep up with chopping wood, shoveling hay and tearing out rotted drywall. At least I was in good shape for a guy my age.
“I’m sorry we don’t have much privacy right now,” I whispered to Lauren.
Right on cue, another Hart brother strode into the house.
“Good morning!” Sam, now our official Director of Veterinary Services, entered the kitchen with Jake trotting at his side. Ella was right behind them.
