Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Sawyer
I’ve never been good at family dinners. Not that I don’t love them. It’s just… a lot.
Maggie’s finger twirls the spoon in her coffee, her brow furrowed, eyes glued to the swirling liquid as if the answer to some deep mystery lies just beneath the surface.
She’s always that way. Thinking, calculating, dissecting. As if she’s got a permanent equation running in her head.
Mom’s not looking up from her phone, her thumb tapping the screen, scrolling through something practical, probably Googling “best ways to save money on grocery bills” or some other real-world problem.
She’s the one who plans.
The one who’s always got the practical answers to everything.
Dad’s across the table, his hands folded neatly on his lap, his posture straight but relaxed. The quiet anchor in this chaotic little family. You could set a bomb off in here, and he wouldn’t flinch. He’s been the rock for so long that he might as well be made of stone.
Rover’s sprawled out on the rug, tail thumping lazily against the floor, syncing himself to the rhythm of the conversation. His eyes are half closed. He’s just content to be in the middle of it all.
Every now and then, his tail gives another lazy tap, as if he’s got his own commentary to add, though none of us are really paying attention to him. But that’s fine… he doesn’t care. He’s living his best life.
“How’s the ranch going, Sawyer?” Dad asks, wiping his mouth with his napkin. “I’ve heard it’s been a struggle this year. Is that right?”
I give him my best “everything’s fine” smile. “Same as usual. Cattle, hay, numbers. Nothing new. Nothing to worry about.”
Mom looks at me over the top of her glasses. “You know, you’ve always been so good with numbers, Sawyer. Maybe you should be doing something bigger with that. Outside the ranch. Outside this town.”
I take a slow breath, but I keep it casual as I respond to the statement I hate the most. “I’m good where I’m at, Mom. It’s not about bigger. It’s about what needs to be done. I like it there.”
I can feel the shift in the room. It’s always the same thing. I think they want me to take this massive leap, but I can’t tell if they know what that leap is. Or maybe they think I should be somewhere else entirely.
I’ve been out here long enough now to know what they really mean: They want me to leave Colter Creek. Leave the ranch, leave the people.
But that’s never going to happen.
“I just think you’ve got more potential than balancing books, you know?” Maggie chimes in. “You could do more with your skills. You could run something bigger… well, important.”
I raise my eyebrows. “You mean like a corporation?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. Something that’s more, I guess. There’s a lot of potential out there. You’re stuck in the same place.”
I try not to clench my jaw. “I’m not stuck. Colter Creek’s where I belong.” It comes out sharper than I meant, but I don’t apologize for it. “High Ridge Ranch is where I want to be.”
Dad looks at me for a long moment, then nods, trying to make up his mind about something.
“You know, your mom and I only want what’s best for you, Sawyer.
We’ve always supported you. But you’ve got to be honest with yourself.
You’re still doing the same thing you were five years ago, even though you’re older now. ”
I feel my chest tighten, but I don’t show it. The thing is, I am trying. I’m doing everything I can to keep High Ridge Ranch afloat. But it’s not easy. The land is barely making any money, cattle sales are down, and we’re sinking slowly with every passing month.
I want to scream at them, “You have no idea what it’s like. How hard I’m working to keep everything together.”
But I don’t. Instead, I just nod, picking at the food on my plate. “I know, Dad. I’ll figure it out.”
Maggie’s eyes are still locked on me, and I can feel her thoughts swirling as fast as her spoon in that coffee cup. She doesn’t let it go, not when something’s on her mind.
“You know,” she says, “it’s not just about the ranch. You’re not exactly a kid anymore, Sawyer. You’re not stuck in this bubble, either.”
I shrug, trying to ignore whatever is about to come. “I’m not in a bubble. Just… taking care of things.”
She raises an eyebrow, setting the spoon down in the cup and folding her arms across the table. “Taking care of everything except your own life. You know what I mean.”
I force a grin. “No, I don’t.”
She looks at me, eyes softer than usual. “I mean… when was the last time you actually did something for yourself? Not for the ranch, not for Dad, not for anyone else. Just for you.”
I feel a slight flush creep up my neck, and I shift in my seat, suddenly uncomfortable. I know exactly what she’s getting at.
It’s the same thing she’s always getting at.
“You mean, like, dating?” I ask, trying to keep it light.
Maggie’s mouth quirks up a little. “Well, yeah. That too.”
I huff out a short breath. “I don’t exactly have time for that.”
“Come on,” she presses. “I’m not talking about jumping into a whirlwind romance. I’m talking about taking a chance. Asking someone out, putting yourself out there. Is there anyone out there who has caught your eye?”
I blink, caught off guard by how straightforward she is. There’s no hesitation in her voice, no games.
Thank goodness Mom and Dad have started to talk among themselves about something else so I can be a little more honest.
“I…” I stop myself, the truth hanging between us. “I do. I met a woman recently. Dakota Fletcher. But it’s complicated.”
Maggie rolls her eyes. “It’s always ‘complicated’ with you. Make it simple.”
I offer her a one-shouldered shrug. “I think Reid might like her. Clint too.”
Maggie nods slowly. “Hmm, yeah, that’s a little complicated. But no one’s married yet. No one’s locked in. You’re allowed to put yourself first for once.”
I rub the back of my neck, feeling the tension there. “I don’t want to mess things up, especially with Clint and Reid. They’re—”
“They’re your friends, Sawyer. They’ll understand.” She leans back, giving me a small, knowing smile. “And if you’re really waiting for the ‘perfect moment,’ well… it might never come. You’ve gotta take a risk sometimes.”
I stare at her for a long moment, her words sinking in. She’s right. I’ve been so focused on everyone else’s needs, so determined to keep things controlled, that I haven’t even looked at what I want. What I deserve.
“You’re saying I should just ask her out?” I ask, half in disbelief, half in relief that it might actually be this simple.
She shrugs. “Why not? What’s the worst that could happen? You should at least give it a shot. See if there’s something there.”
I let out a breath and rub my jaw, thinking about it. There’s a knot in my chest, the fear of rejection, the possibility of upsetting my friends.
But Clint hasn’t said a word, has he? I might be reading into nothing. And Reid… he’s never serious about anyone. He might only like Dakota because she’s the shiny new toy in town.
If I gave us a chance, me and her might actually have something. And I don’t really want to turn my back on that.
“I’ll think about it,” I say finally.
Maggie’s smile widens. “You should. Just remember: Sometimes, taking the risk is the only way you’ll find out if it’s worth it. If you want me to give you a ride once we’re done eating, instead of taking you home, you could make your move right now…”
I look over at my dad, his presence a reminder of the quiet stability he’s always been. But as I meet his eyes, I wonder… maybe it’s time to stop playing it safe. Maybe it’s time for me to take that risk.
To see if there’s any chance she might just say yes.