25. Dakota
Chapter 25
Dakota
I ’d been standing outside Logan’s office for quite a while now. The moment we’d woken up that morning, he was out of bed, saying he needed to call the investors for the ranch. All three of them were still at their hotel, awaiting our reply to their proposed contract. I knew Logan was going to give them an ultimatum, but I couldn’t bear to be in the room when he did it.
My stomach churned as I paced the floor. I was too worked up to eat breakfast or touch the coffee my mom had brought me from the kitchen. A tiny spark of hope clung to my insides. Would they still want to invest even if I wasn’t going to be their token Cherokee? It seemed like a long shot, but worth a try, nonetheless. Maybe, by some miracle, they’d still be interested.
I heard Logan’s voice rise and fall through the closed door, his words muffled but his tone clear. He was laying out our terms, firm and unyielding. My heart raced as I strained to catch any hint of the investors’ response. But I couldn’t hear anything.
A few minutes passed before I heard the creak of the office chair. Suddenly, the door swung open. Logan stood there, his tall frame filling the doorway, his green eyes intense. I searched his face for any sign of the outcome, but his expression was unreadable.
“Well?” I managed to croak out.
Logan ran a hand through his short sandy hair, a habit I’d seen a thousand times when he was stressed. “They’re thinking it over,” he said quietly. “They want a few hours to discuss.”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. It wasn’t a ‘no,’ at least not yet. But it wasn’t a ‘yes’ either.
“What exactly did you tell them?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Logan leaned against the doorframe, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. “I laid it all out, just like we discussed. Told them we appreciate their interest, but that we won’t be using your heritage as a selling point. I made it clear that if they want to invest, it has to be based on the merits of the ranch itself.”
I nodded, a mix of pride and anxiety swirling in my chest. “And... how did they react?”
Logan’s green eyes softened as he looked at me. “They were surprised, I’ll give you that. Mia started to argue, but I shut that down pretty quick. Dustin seemed more understanding, and Mr. Whitmore... well, he’s always hard to read.”
I chewed my lip, trying to imagine the scene. “Do you think there’s any chance they’ll still go for it?” I asked, not daring to hope too much.
Logan shrugged, his tanned face creased with uncertainty. “Honestly, I’m not sure. They seemed thrown off balance, but not entirely dismissive. I think a lot depends on how badly they want this particular property.”
I nodded, trying to process it all. The waiting was excruciating, but at least we hadn’t received an outright rejection. I glanced at my watch - only three minutes had passed since Logan emerged from his office. It felt like an eternity.
“Come on,” Logan said, gently taking my arm. “Let’s get some breakfast. Pacing here won’t make the time go any faster.”
I followed him out onto the porch, the cool breeze rustling through the prairie grass. The rolling hills of Sagebrush stretched out before us, a sea of green under the morning sun. Somehow, without either of us noticing, autumn had crept up on the land. After the thunderstorm the night before, the air had almost a chill to it. As we leaned against the porch rail, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of love for this land, regardless of what the investors decided.
Logan seemed to sense my thoughts. “No matter what happens,” he said softly, “we’ll still be together. And we can stay in Sagebrush if you like.”
I nodded, leaning into his solid presence. We stood in companionable silence for a while, watching a hawk circle lazily overhead. The familiar sights and sounds of the ranch slowly began to calm my nerves, even if it was to be one of the last times I got to enjoy it this way.
“Come on,” Logan said, pulling me by the arm. “I’ll text Lucas and we can all have breakfast together down at the diner.”
I hesitated for a moment, not sure if I wanted to face anyone else right now. But the thought of sitting alone with my anxious thoughts was even less appealing. “Okay,” I agreed, following Logan down the porch steps.
As we walked towards his truck, I couldn’t help but glance back at the ranch house. It stood there, weathered but proud, just as it had for generations. Would this be one of the last times I saw it like this, unchanged by investors and development plans or foreclosure? The thought made my chest ache. Even though I’d only lived there for five years, it was more a home to me than anywhere else.
Logan’s phone buzzed as we climbed into the truck. He checked it quickly before starting the engine. “Lucas says he’ll meet us there in fifteen,” he reported.
I nodded, grateful for the distraction Lucas and Beau would provide. As talkative as he was, he’d likely keep the conversation flowing enough that I wouldn’t have to contribute much.
As we drove down the dusty road towards town, I tried to focus on the familiar landscape instead of the knot in my stomach. The Texas sun was already high, casting long shadows across the prairie. A few longhorns grazed lazily in a nearby field, barely lifting their heads as we passed.
Logan reached over and squeezed my hand, his touch warm and reassuring. “It’s gonna be alright, darlin’,” he said softly, his green eyes briefly meeting mine before returning to the road.
I managed a small smile, appreciating his optimism even if I couldn’t quite share it. The diner came into view, its faded sign a welcoming sight. As we pulled into the gravel parking lot, I spotted Beau’s old rusty pickup already there.
Inside, the diner was bustling with the usual breakfast crowd. The smell of coffee and bacon filled the air. Dolly, of course, waved a welcoming hand from behind the bar the moment we walked in.
“I’ve got you all setup in the corner, sugar,” she called, pointing toward the usual spot we took with Beau and Lucas.
“Thanks Dolly,” Logan called back. “Is it okay if we chat for a while?”
She gave us both a wink. “You know I’d never say no to you boys for anythin’! You’re too cute.”
It was hard not to smile when Dolly was around. She was such a joyful presence no matter what the circumstances were.
As we made our way to the corner booth, I spotted Beau already seated, his tall frame hunched over a steaming mug of coffee. His blonde hair was slightly mussed, as if he’d just rolled out of bed, and his blue eyes looked a bit bleary. He glanced up as we approached, offering a tired smile.
“Mornin’,” he drawled, his Texas accent thick with sleep. “Y’all look about as worn out as I feel.”
Logan slid into the booth across from Beau, and I followed suit. “Rough night?” Logan asked, reaching for the menu even though we all knew it by heart.
Beau shrugged, his muscular shoulders rolling beneath his worn flannel shirt. “Just couldn’t sleep much. Too much on my mind, I reckon.”
I nodded in understanding. It seemed none of us had gotten much rest last night. The weight of uncertainty hung heavy over all of us.
Just then Lucas appeared from behind the counter carrying a tall glass filled mostly with ice.
“What were you doing back there?” Logan asked, lifting an eyebrow in his direction.
“Can you believe Dolly doesn’t sell iced coffee?” he asked, a grin on his face. “There’s not a coffee shop for a billion miles and she doesn’t have the decency to offer it on the menu.” He sat the glass down, taking a seat next to Beau. “I had to make it myself.”
“I heard that, Lucas Greene!” Dolly called, a tone of playful warning in her voice. “I’m only one woman! I can’t do it all!”
He flashed her a brilliant smile. “I forgive you I suppose.”
Their banter lifted my spirits a bit, lending an air of normalcy to the situation. As he sat down and we all started to carry on as usual, I almost forgot that our entire future was up in the air, that a single phone call could mean the beginning or end of the ranch.
As we settled into our usual routine of banter and breakfast orders, I felt a momentary sense of calm wash over me. The familiar clinking of silverware and the hum of conversation in the diner provided a comforting backdrop to our own quiet chatter.
Lucas took a long sip of his homemade iced coffee, his gold earring catching the morning light. “So,” he said, his east coast accent a stark contrast to Beau’s drawl, “any word from our potential investors yet?”
I tensed slightly, but Logan answered smoothly. “They’re still deliberating. We should hear back in a few hours.”
Beau’s blue eyes flickered between us, concern evident in his rugged features. “Y’all okay?”
I forced a smile, not wanting to burden our friends with the full weight of our anxiety. “We’re hanging in there.”
There were a lot of unspoken words between us, but he understood my meaning, nonetheless.
“I did try calling the other investors last night after we talked,” Lucas said, turning his attention to Logan.
“Any luck?”
His smile faded as he shook his head.
“It’s okay,” Logan said, patting the back of his hand. “We knew it was a long shot anyway.”
Dolly bustled over with our usual orders - pancakes for Logan, eggs and bacon for me, and a hearty stack of French toast for Beau. Lucas, on the other hand, received a skillet full of fried potatoes topped with beef, cheese, and eggs.
“You boys let me know if you need anything else, ya hear?” Dolly said with a wink before heading back to the counter.
I glanced over at Lucas’s plate, and he caught my eye. “I… uh… I’m a bit of a stress eater,” he said, taking a big bite. “Happy to share though if you want some. In fact, you’d probably be doing me a favor.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, pushing my bacon around that had suddenly lost its appeal. “You and I have opposite problems.”
“Lucky you,” he replied sarcastically, giving me a wink. “Hot and doesn’t like to eat. The gay man’s dream.”
“I still think you’re hot even if you like to eat, darlin’,” Beau said smoothly, wrapping his arm around Lucas. “All them other boys are missin’ out.”
It felt so strange to watch Beau be open about his sexuality, especially in public. He’d come a long way from the stoic cowboy I used to know. In fact, we’d all changed a lot. Never in a million years did I think I’d be sitting at a table with not only my male lover, but his gay friends, eating breakfast like it was the most normal thing in the world.
But maybe it was normal. I just had to learn to accept that for myself instead of fighting it. I reached down, squeezing Logan’s thigh just to make sure he was real. Despite everything going on, my life still retained its sweetness.
We fell into an easy rhythm of eating and casual conversation, carefully avoiding the elephant in the room. Beau regaled us with tales of his latest rodeo adventures, while Lucas chimed in with amusing anecdotes from his marketing days in New York. For a little while, it almost felt like any other morning at the diner.
But as our plates emptied and the conversation lulled, the weight of our situation settled back over us like a heavy blanket. Logan’s phone sat on the table between us, silent and ominous.
At least it was until it suddenly buzzed, startling all four of us at once. A name flashed on the screen. It was the investors. Logan grabbed it, hitting the green button and heading out the front door of the diner without a word.
My heart leapt into my throat as I watched Logan’s retreating form through the diner window. The cheerful chatter of the other patrons suddenly felt distant and muffled, as if I was underwater. I gripped the edge of the table, my knuckles turning white.
Beau and Lucas exchanged a worried glance. “You okay, Dakota?” Beau asked softly, his blue eyes filled with concern.
I nodded mechanically, unable to form words. My gaze remained fixed on Logan’s silhouette outside. He was pacing back and forth, one hand gesticulating as he spoke into the phone. I strained to read his body language, searching for any clue about the conversation’s direction.
“Hey,” Lucas said, reaching across the table to gently touch my arm. “No matter what happens, we’re here for you guys. You know that, right? We’ll figure something out either way.”
Just as I opened my mouth to respond, the front door dinged again. I watched as Logan stepped inside, his face expressionless. He came back to the table and sat down next to me, placing his phone on the table.
“Well?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “What did they say?”
Everyone leaned in, not a breath between us as we waited for him to speak. Logan turned to me, his eyes filling with tears as his expression finally cracked.
“They passed,” he said, his voice trembling. “They aren’t going to invest.”