Chapter 48
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Sawyer
“What do you think about this?” Clint asks me as he peers over the wooden bed we’ve been working on for the past few days. “Do you think Charlie will like it?”
I glance up from the hammer in my hand, wiping a bead of sweat from my forehead. The house is quieter than usual today, just the steady rhythm of our work filling the air.
It feels… good. Different, but good.
I study the bed, taking in the craftsmanship. The wood is a dark oak, polished smooth, with a rustic charm that fits the ranch’s vibe.
It’s the kind of thing that could make a kid feel they’re getting their own little world.
“Charlie will love it,” I say, offering Clint a quick nod. “He’ll feel like a cowboy living here. And I have to say, the horse carved into the side… genius.”
Clint grins, but it’s the kind of grin that says he knows exactly how much thought went into this. He’s proud of it, even if he won’t say it out loud.
“Glad you think so,” he says, soft, almost talking to himself.
I step back and look at the bed again. It’s good. Hell, it’s better than good. But there’s more to this than just Charlie’s room.
And I think we all know it.
It’s about creating a space for Dakota, too. One that’s welcoming, comfortable, a place where she can settle in.
“Where do we want this?” Reid calls over the set of drawers he’s carrying through the hallway. “These are for Dakota’s room, right?”
I know, I know, this might not be the best financial decision for the ranch. Building bedrooms for people who might not even be moving in.
But I’m not worried about the money right now.
Our future is way more important. The rest, we can gradually rebuild.
I catch a glimpse of Reid, moving with more confidence than I’ve ever seen. It’s funny, because not long ago, I couldn’t imagine him being the one to handle the finer details of this project.
But now, he’s holding his head a little higher, taking things more seriously, and I can tell he’s proud of it.
“Yeah, that’s Dakota’s,” I answer, grabbing one of the drawers from Reid’s pile and moving it into place. “She’ll need storage for her stuff. She’s got a lot of artwork. You know, the kind of stuff that takes up space.”
“For when she’s staying over, right?” Reid shoots me a playful wink.
“Sure… for now.”
But as I say it, I can’t shake the thought that lingers in my mind. The idea of Dakota and Charlie actually living here. Not just visiting, not just staying for a night or two.
I think we’re all starting to imagine it. It’s there, in the back of our heads, waiting to take shape. I mean, we’re building rooms, right?
We’re building a home.
Clint slaps a piece of wood into place and catches my gaze. “You think they’ll actually stay?” he asks, testing the waters, not sure if he’s ready to hear the answer.
I don’t hesitate. “I think they will.”
It’s not just the rooms we’re building. It’s everything around them. A life. A family. Hell, even the idea of it feels real now.
We’re doing this, and it’s scary. But it’s also exciting in a way I didn’t think was possible.
The sound of hammers hitting nails and boards floods the room, but there’s a different rhythm now, one that’s us moving us forward. We’re not just putting together furniture. We’re putting together a future.
I can’t help but picture it. Dakota coming down the stairs in the morning, Charlie running around the yard, the three of us getting along as if we’ve always been a family.
Reid tosses a rag over his shoulder, wiping his hands. “So, what’s next?”
He’s clearly trying to keep the mood light, but I can hear the question in his voice. What happens after this?
I look at him, then at Clint, and nod toward the doorway.
“Next? We finish this room. And then…” I let out a breath. “Then we start thinking about what comes after that.”
Reid smirks. “Throw pillows?”
I chuckle. “Sure. But no frilly curtains.”
Clint, as always, stays quieter than us, but there’s something in the way he moves now. Slower, with more purpose.
And as we work, putting this room together piece by piece, I wonder what it’s gonna feel like when it’s all done. When it’s not just about making space for them, but about having them here.
Really here.
And that? That’s a thought I can’t quite shake…
We finish up the last touches on Charlie’s room, and even though the sun’s low in the sky, the work feels good. Feels right.
There’s something about putting in the effort, knowing that it’s all for something, someone, that makes it all worth it.
Reid steps back and surveys the room. He’s practically glowing, a look of pride on his face that’s almost impossible to miss.
“Well, that’s one way to make a kid feel like a cowboy,” he says, grinning. “I mean, look at this place. It’s like a Western dream come true.”
I chuckle, wiping the sweat off my hands on my jeans. “We should’ve gotten him a mini cowboy hat to top it off.”
“Not a bad idea,” Clint adds, standing with his arms crossed, his eyes scanning the room. “Maybe we should get him a horse to go with it, too. Gotta complete the whole ‘ranch life’ package.”
Reid snorts. “A horse in the bedroom? Not sure that’s a great idea, man.”
“I don’t know,” I say, leaning against the doorframe, taking a last look around. “If anyone could handle it, it’d be Charlie.”
Clint smiles, and for a moment, it’s just the three of us, taking in what we’ve done. It’s simple, but it’s perfect.
There’s something about the way the wood glows in the soft light, the little details we’ve added, a carved horse, a stack of old Western books, things that’ll make it feel all for Charlie. His room.
He won’t have to crash in Clint’s room again.
“I’m telling you, he’s going to love this,” Clint says, his tone a little softer than usual. “You guys did a hell of a job.”
“Yeah, well,” Reid says, tapping his fingers on a nearby dresser, “we had a good team. Plus, Sawyer here’s been getting into the swing of things. Maybe too much.”
I glance over at him with a grin. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Reid laughs, holding up his hands in mock defense. “Nothing. Just saying you’ve been enjoying yourself a little too much with that hammer. Almost like you’re thinking of the next project.”
I roll my eyes, but can’t help the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “I’m just making sure everything’s perfect. No big deal.”
“Yeah, I can tell,” Clint says with a smirk, walking over to Charlie’s new bed. He adjusts the pillows, making sure everything’s neat. “I think you’ve found your calling as a carpenter.”
“I’ll stick to the books, thanks.” I chuckle, then pause. “You think Dakota will like it?”
Clint looks up, meeting my gaze. “She’ll love it. You kidding? It’s perfect for Charlie, and for her. It’s… it’s a start. For all of us.”
I nod. The idea of them here, living here, really living here…. we’re close. Damn close.
Reid grins. “So, when are they coming over again?”
I glance over at Clint, my hand resting on the edge of the bed. “Tomorrow. They’ll be here around noon.”
Reid perks up. “Oh man, tomorrow? We should be planning something big, right? I mean, they’re coming to check out the new room. It’s gotta be a big deal.”
Clint raises an eyebrow. “Big deal? What do you have in mind?”
Reid shrugs, feigning innocence. “You know, a little welcome party, maybe some cookies. Maybe even a horse parade, if we’re feeling fancy.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “A horse parade? Seriously?”
“Why not?” Reid grins. “We could have Charlie leading it, looking all proud and cowboyish. It’d be great.”
I roll my eyes. “Maybe we just stick to the basics. A nice lunch. Get them comfortable. Make sure they know they’re welcome here.”
Clint’s quiet, then speaks. “We’ll make sure she knows, yeah. That this… this is home. For her and Charlie.”
I look at him, catching the weight in his words. It’s there. We all know it. This is more than just a room. It’s a start. A home. A family.
Reid claps his hands together. “Alright, alright. Let’s get some food lined up, and I’ll make sure there’s plenty of coffee. Dakota’s probably gonna need it.”
Clint shakes his head, grinning. “You’re not wrong. She’ll probably need a whole pot to herself.”
I watch them both, the banter filling the space. It’s easy. Comfortable. And it feels good. We’re building something real.
A life together.
“Tomorrow,” I say. “It’s a start.”
Clint nods, his gaze lingering on the bed before he turns toward the door. “Yeah. Tomorrow’s a big day.”
We laugh, heading out the door together, already talking about what we’ll do when Dakota and Charlie walk through the door.
This is what it feels like to build something that matters. And tomorrow, it all starts to take shape.