Cowboy Strong

by Stacy Finz

  “Only if it’s what you want.”

  “It’s what I want. And you, Sawyer Dalton, is who I want.”

  He held her so close he could hear the beating of her heart. “Right back atcha, baby.”

  “Shall we take a walk and tell everyone?”

  “Soon.” He lifted her off the couch. “First, I want you all to myself.”

  She stared into his eyes and his pulse picked up, doing that two-step again. Forty-two days ago, Gina DeRose had taken over his house and now she owned his heart.

  “How soon can you move your stuff here?” He carried her inside the bedroom.

  She touched her hand to his chest. “Soon as I can hire movers. Do I get dibs on the closet?”

  “As long as I get dibs on you.” He started to undress her. “At some point, though, we’ll have to discuss your choice in luggage.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Oh shut up, Sawyer Dalton, and kiss me.”

  “Will kiss for food.” He laid her gently on the bed and came up alongside her.

  “You’ll get plenty of both. Now love me, cowboy.”

  “With pleasure.” And with that, Sawyer did what he was told.

  Epilogue

  Six months later

  “There.” Gina pointed to the space where her new ovens would go, then turned to the far wall. “That’s where I’m putting the grills and griddles.”

  As the new brand ambassador for Supplycrafters she was getting all her restaurant equipment free. In return, the appliances would be featured in her new FoodFlicks reality show, Restaurant Chronicles, which would document the start-up of DeRose Steak House.

  Only two more months until they started taping. Two months after that, the restaurant’s soft opening.

  Sawyer turned in a wide circle. “Wow, it’s huge. You think we can actually fill this place?”

  “I don’t think it, I know it. We’re booked solid the first month. The local hotels are going to love us.”

  The sound of electric tools floated through the space. Since September, there’d been nonstop construction. First, the flower shop and Tuff’s saddlery went in and now they were finishing the build-out of a small sarsaparilla and pie stand next to the restaurant. Laney came nearly every day to boss around the workers.

  The complex, a series of rustic buildings that mimicked Charlie and Aubrey’s old barn and a group of landscaped trails with benches and picnic tables, had a bird’s-eye view of the creek, the mountains, and the cattle pastures. The parking lot, cordoned off with a low split-rail fence and hitching posts, also mirrored a Western theme.

  A general store and butcher shop was next in line. And who knew what would come after that?

  Gina’s steak house announcement and the national press it received had been good for publicity. So far, they had a stack of applications from companies that wanted to set up shop on Dry Creek Ranch, including a proposal to put in six EVgo charging stations for electric cars.

  Sawyer liked that venture the best. While road-weary travelers juiced up, they’d spend time eating and shopping.

  Cha-ching.

  Gina spray-painted a series of X’s on the wall.

  “What’s that for?”

  “I changed my mind about the location of the walk-in cooler. I want it to go here.”

  While she’d put Aubrey in charge of designing the dining room, she was micromanaging the hell out of the configuration of her kitchen.

  “You’re driving the contractors crazy, you know that, right?”

  “I want everything to be perfect.” She gazed up at him, her eyes twinkling.

  “It will be.” He bent down to taste her lips and let the kiss linger. “Because you’re perfect. But if we don’t get going, we’ll be late.”

  “You’re the one making out with me in my restaurant.” She squeezed his butt and kissed him one more time before grabbing her purse off one of the sawhorses. Then she led the way outside.

  In Sawyer’s Range Rover, they took the new paved lane that bypassed their homes and emptied out at Dry Creek Road about two miles from the ranch gate. The new entrance would be used by diners and shoppers, while the old gate was solely for family. In the end, everyone had decided that privacy was worth the cost of a separate road.

  Sawyer snuck a quick glance at his watch. “They’ll all beat us there.”

  “Sorry.”

  He reached over and squeezed her knee. “Nothing to apologize for.” The fact was, he didn’t know how she managed to organize her time so well. Between getting a new restaurant off the ground, prepping for a new television show, and juggling her other business interests, she still made plenty of quality time for them.

  “I still can’t believe it,” she said. “Do you think your parents are crazy?”

  Sawyer laughed. “Crazy doesn’t begin to describe it. But definitely crazy in a good way. I just wish my grandfather was alive, but I know he’s looking down, smiling his ass off.”

  He hung a left at Beals Ranch, drove through the gate, and continued up the private gravel road. A collection of vehicles was parked in front of the ranch house, his mother’s Mercedes standing out among the pickup trucks and his aunt and uncle’s SUV.

  He and Gina let themselves into the house to be greeted by his entire family. Even Travis, Grady, and Ellie were there.

  The place looked bare without the Bealses’ furniture. Someone had dragged in an old picnic table and two benches. Aubrey, so pregnant she looked ready to burst, sat on a folding chair. Cash stood over her, his hand on her shoulder. While Charlie was nowhere near as round as Aubrey, she too had started to show. Sawyer figured Jace had knocked her up on their honeymoon.

  “We ready to do this?” Sawyer’s dad held up a bottle of Dom Pérignon.

  “Oh, Dan.” His mother searched the kitchen counter. “I forgot the flutes. We have no glasses.”

  Uncle Jed laughed. “I could probably scrounge up a few Solo cups in my trunk.”

  He started to go out to his SUV but Jace stopped him. “Let’s just pass around the bottle.”

  “Works for me,” Jed said, though Cash’s mom pulled a face.

  Sawyer’s dad popped the cork and held the bottle in the air. “To our family. May this new venture of ours flourish and may my late father, Jasper Dalton, smile down on his legacy.” Dan tilted his head toward the ceiling. “Pop, we know you’re up there, looking down, proud as hell of your grandsons.”

  Dan swiveled around and found Jace. “Son, more than anything, we wish your folks and baby brother could be here too. We loved them and miss them every day. But we know they’d be especially proud of you and Charlie.” He zoomed in on Charlie’s belly, then glanced across the room to Aubrey and smiled “Well done, kiddos. Sawyer and Gina, we expect someday soon you’ll be next. To more Daltons and to Dry Creek Ranch!”

  “Hear, hear,” everyone shouted.

  Jed grabbed the bottle from Dan and again raised it. “To my brother and Wendy. Without them this couldn’t have happened.”

  There was another raucous round of “Hear, hears.”

  Cash turned to Jace. “Do you have the sign?”

  “Right here.” Jace held up a large package wrapped in brown paper. “Let’s do it!”

  On cue, everyone followed Jace outside, got into their respective vehicles and drove the mile to the ranch gate, where they parked on the dirt shoulder.

  One by one, they filed out of their trucks and SUVs and gathered around the entrance. Jace climbed on top of the cab of his Ford. Cash got in the bed and handed him up the package. With a pocketknife, Jace made quick work of the wrapping. Down came the iron Beals Ranch logo that hung from the wooden crossbeam of the gate and up went a beautifully carved Dry Creek Ranch sign with the Dalton brand.

  Gina snapped a few pictures with her phone. “I’ll post it to social media.”

&nb
sp; Jed hauled out the opened bottle of champagne and they took turns passing it around. When everyone had had a sip, even the kids, Sawyer smashed the bottle against the gatepost to christen their new property.

  Somehow, his parents had cobbled together a sizable down payment to purchase Beals Ranch and Randy had made good on his promise to give the Daltons first dibs. The hope was that the restaurant, Aubrey and Charlie’s business, and the rent from their new tenants would keep them afloat. With the extra land, they also planned to increase their cow-calf operation.

  Worse came to worst, they could always develop a piece of the land with a few ranchettes and put them on the market. Not ideal, but a hell of a lot better than a gated golf-course community.

  In the meantime, they had a renter for the Beals old ranch house and a nearby winery had signed a lease to plant a section of the property in Barbera grapes, though the bulk of the land would be used for livestock.

  “This is a good day,” Dan said, beaming. “Damn, would my father be strutting right now.”

  Sawyer pulled Gina closer and wrapped her in a one-armed hug. He wanted to share all the joy he was feeling with her. She gazed up at him, love shining in her eyes.

  “This is amazing,” she said, staring out at miles of pastureland. “We’re going to kick so much ass here.”

  Sawyer chuckled. “You think?”

  “I know.”

  Cash cleared his throat. “Let’s go back to the house. I’ve got a surprise.”

  The kids hopped off of Jace’s tailgate. “What is it, Uncle Cash?” Grady shouted.

  “You’ll see when we get there.”

  Sawyer scooped up the glass from the champagne bottle and tossed it in the back of his Range Rover. Together, the whole family caravanned up the hill again.

  Gina reached for Sawyer’s hand and threaded her fingers through his. “What do you think the surprise is?”

  “Beats the hell out of me. Maybe Aubrey is having twins.”

  Gina poked him in the side and he laughed. When they arrived at the house, they stayed inside Sawyer’s truck until everyone had gone inside.

  “Have I told you today how much I love you?” He pulled Gina over the console into his lap.

  “Probably.” She pressed her lips against his. “But you can tell me again. I never tire of hearing you say it.”

  “Later, when we get home,” he said and winked. “Not only will I tell you but I’ll show you. First, let’s see what Cash has up his sleeve.”

  He lifted her out of the driver’s side because he couldn’t take his hands off her, then twirled her around in the air. His dad was right: It was a good day. Strike that, it was a monumental day. He was living the dream. The ranch expansion and he had the woman he loved, all in one awesome package.

  Inside, Cash set his laptop on the table and motioned for Sawyer to join Wendy and Dan on the bench. Jace and Cash’s parents hovered close so they could see the screen.

  Sawyer turned the computer to avoid glare from the sun. “What are we looking at besides a blank screen?”

  “Be patient and you shall see.” Cash played around with the FaceTime app.

  A few seconds later, a woman appeared on the screen and Sawyer’s mother screamed.

  Angie.

  His beautiful sister beamed at them and it was like a slice of sunshine.

  Gone was her long blond hair. It had been cut into a shoulder-length bob that made her appear older and more conservative. Otherwise, she looked exactly as she had five years ago. The same Dalton blue eyes as the rest of them and that impish smile that always made his parents cave whenever she was in trouble.

  “Hi, everyone.” She gave a jerky wave and Sawyer noted that her eyes were wet.

  His too. He reached out and touched the screen as if could feel her face.

  “They’re only giving me a few minutes,” she continued. “I just wanted everyone to know that I’m fine, that I’m safe, and that I love you.”

  Sawyer’s mother began to sob.

  “When can you come home, Angie?” Sawyer’s voice cracked.

  She shrugged and flashed a sheepish grin. But this time the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Someday, I hope. I miss you all like crazy. But I’m good. I have a nice job, a cute place to live, friends. Really, it’s all good.” She stopped to catch her breath. “Mom, Dad, don’t cry. Think of it as I’m away on a long vacation.”

  “Can we come see you?” Sawyer knew it was against WITSEC rules, but so was FaceTiming. Cash had obviously pulled strings. Maybe the feds would make an exception for a visit too.

  “Nah.” Angie tried to smile again. “Let’s see what happens, okay? Enough about me, I’m dying to hear about you.” She searched the dining room for the kids and the moment she spotted them, waved. “Hi, Ellie, I haven’t met you yet. You’re so pretty. You look just like your daddy. And Grady, the last time I saw you, you were just four years old. My goodness, you’ve grown. You too, Travis. You’re almost as tall as Jace.” Angie surveyed the room again. “Where’s Gina?”

  Gina moved closer to the camera. “I’m here. It’s lovely to finally meet you, Angela.”

  “I love your show. Cash says you’re opening a restaurant at the ranch and that my brother is crazy about you.”

  “I’m crazy about him too,” Gina said in a soft voice and swiped at her eyes. “I’m glad you’re safe, Angie. Sawyer has missed you so. Well, I don’t want to take away time from everyone else.” She rose and joined Charlie and Aubrey in the living room. Sawyer knew it was to give them privacy.

  Wendy and Dan spent the remaining time telling Angie how much they loved and missed her, how her disappearance had left them brokenhearted. How relieved they were that she was alive and well.

  Seeing her like this—so close up—but knowing she was likely thousands of miles away was maddening. The big family milestones—the births of the new Dalton babies, Travis’s high school graduation, their parents’ fortieth anniversary—she would miss them all.

  “As soon as you can, come home, Angie. I want you at my wedding.”

  Everyone around the table gaped at him. There hadn’t been a marriage proposal yet, let alone an announcement.

  Hell with it. If Angela couldn’t come home, she could at least be part of the most important day of his life.

  “Gina, come back in here for a sec,” he called to the other room.

  She rushed in, Aubrey and Charlie on her heels. Sawyer positioned the computer screen so Angie could see better, then tugged Gina closer.

  “Let’s do this, baby, let’s get hitched.” He got down on one knee. “Gina DeRose, will you make me the happiest man alive by marrying me and being my wife?”

  There was a collective round of “ahs.”

  Normally, he wouldn’t have turned something so momentous as a proposal into a public spectacle. He’d really intended to pop the question in private. Just Gina and him, somewhere on the ranch. Maybe down by the creek where he’d taught her how to skip stones.

  But as long as Angie couldn’t see him walk down the aisle and celebrate his wedding day, they would at least have this. Even if it was only on FaceTime. Even if he had to propose in front of a large audience.

  He grabbed the foil left over from the Dom Pérignon bottle and wrapped it around Gina’s finger. “Don’t say no.” He squeezed her hand. “You’ll break my sister’s heart.”

  Gina laughed as she swiped tears from her eyes. “Yes, I will marry you. And what the heck took you so long?”

  The room erupted in laughter.

  “Been a little busy. But I promise it was worth the wait. You won’t ever be sorry, Gina DeRose,” he said and got a little choked up. “Because I won’t ever stop loving you.”

  “Me neither.” Gina peered up at him through long lashes and for a long time they stared into each other’s eyes. “I’ve w
aited for you my whole life and I’m never letting you go, Sawyer Dalton.”

  “I’m so happy for you both,” Angie called from the screen, her eyes watery. “They’re telling me I have to go now. Take good care of my big brother, Gina.” And just like that she was gone.

  A hush fell over the room. No one seemed to know whether to mourn or celebrate. The silence seemed to go on forever, filling the room with melancholia.

  Suddenly, Wendy rose and gathered Sawyer and Gina in her arms. “We have a wedding to plan.”

  Everyone began talking at once, wishing the couple congratulations, slapping Sawyer on the back, and hugging Gina.

  “I presume you’ll want it on the ranch,” Wendy continued. Both he and Gina nodded, because where else would they have it?

  “Charlie’s barn,” Gina blurted. “I mean, if that’s okay.”

  “Are you kidding? We’d love nothing more,” Charlie said. “We’ll move all the furniture to the back offices and anywhere else we can find space.”

  “We can use the restaurant too.” Gina clapped her hands together. “Dinner in the steak house and dancing in the barn. The ceremony under the stars.” She drew back. “What do you think, Sawyer?”

  “As long as I get you. we can throw whatever kind of party you want.” He pulled her into his arms, pressed his lips against her ear, and whispered, “A real ring soon and a proposal that isn’t in front of everyone. Something romantic.”

  “I love you, Sawyer. And I can’t wait to be your wife. I’m glad you included Angie. It was a lovely thing to do.” She stroked his face. “Are you okay?”

  It was a mixed bag. His sister should be in the bosom of her family, celebrating their new acquisition. But six months ago he didn’t even know if she was still alive. So when he looked at it like that—hell, yeah he was okay.