Page 48 of When The Dust Settles

“Agreed,” I sighed, happy with the new place we were in, a place that could be better than any ever had been. We’d been raised together by Rayland Holloway, and because of that, because it had always been us against our father, having to bond together, especially after our mother died, we’d been close at one time. I wanted that back, and now, finally, we had a chance for a do-over and it seemed like we were both ready to try. I, for one, was willing and able to have my family back, starting with Zach.

“And I don’t wanna be a dick to you, and I just want it to be like it was before I left home because I thought I needed to have a ranch just like Dad.”

“Okay.”

“Yeah?” he asked, pulling back to look at my face.

“Fuck yeah,” I replied, grinning at him. “Life’s too short, right?”

“It is,” he agreed hoarsely before smiling at me. “You know, I went into the stable this morning and your horse bit me.”

I grinned up at him. “She’s got a thing for Holloway men.”

He chuckled.

I turned back to Stef then. “Thank you again for making sure she was all right. That horse means the world to me.”

He nodded. “Well, as I said before, I think she’s where she should stay.”

“I agree,” Rand concurred. “We’ll take care of both of you, or the Red Diamond will.”

“Rand.” I began. “You don’t need to feel like—”

“I want her on my ranch and I want you on my ranch,” Rand said flatly, so there could be no question.

“Yeah, but—”

“I don’t expect you to cowboy anymore, be a rancher anymore,” he said solemnly. “I know that ain’t your dream. And if something happens with the resort, it would be Stef’s and my honor and privilege to relocate The Bronc onto the ranch, but Glenn… more than all of that… I want you on the ranch just like I want Zach there.”

“Why?”

“’Cause y’all are my family,” he said like I was stupid, which was par for the course with Rand. “I want you with us.”

I would never make him say it again. “I won’t live in the house with you and Stef, Rand.”

“That’s right you won’t,” he agreed. “And I expect someone else might have something to say about where you’ll be hanging your hat.”

“I hope so,” I said softly.

“Well, he was right behind us when we left the Red, but he stopped for something, though I expect he’s parking his truck by now and then he’ll be on up.”

I nodded.

“I know he was eager to come check on you, and he already told me that tomorrow he plans to take you back to the ranch—back home with him so he can watch over you a bit.”

My throat went dry just thinking about seeing Mac. “That sounds good.”

“And so you know,” Zach said brightly. “So you can tell the folks that work for you as well, the ranch is gonna be real secure from now on.”

Stef flipped him off and I chuckled.

“We’re getting us a closed-circuit television system put in; it’ll be all state of the art.”

“It’s better than I thought,” I teased Stef.

He groaned.

“Aww, c’mon,” I told him. “It’s not a small ranch, Stef, and you and Rand are not just everyday people living your lives. You have money, and as such, you have to take care. You can’t fuss at Rand for wanting you and your son safe.”