27. Dakota
Chapter 27
Dakota
A shroud hung over the entire ranch as Logan and I prepped for the auction. In the end, it was the only efficient way to sell off everything on the ranch all at once and try to alleviate some of the crushing debt Logan’s family was about to be in. And it would be mine too in a way. If Logan and I were going to be together, I’d have to help him pay it off. Honestly, it was the least I could do for his family after giving me a home for all those years.
It was hard to go through the barn, making sure tags were all in the right places and the horses looked their best. We knew what kind of people showed up to these foreclosure sales. They’d try to take everything as cheaply as they could get it, like vultures circling a dying cow. And I didn’t have any false hopes that the people of Sagebrush would show up en masse to buy our things at top dollar. They weren’t fond of me anyway and the rumor had already spread in the past few days that it was my fault that the ranch was going under.
I knew it wasn’t true, but that didn’t stop me from feeling like it was. If I’d just allowed me and my culture to be trampled, we wouldn’t be in this predicament. But Logan would hear nothing of it. In fact, out of everyone, he seemed the most chipper. He was constantly reassuring me that none of it was my fault, that he loved me, and that we’d always have each other despite it all. My heart swelled each time he said it.
As we finished up in the barn, Logan caught my eye and gave me that reassuring smile of his. “Hey,” he said softly, walking over to me. “It’s going to be okay. We’ve got this.”
I nodded, trying to believe him. “I know. It’s just... hard to see it all go.”
Logan wrapped his strong arms around me, pulling me close. I breathed in his familiar scent of hay and rich cologne, feeling some of the tension leave my body. “I know it is,” he murmured. “But remember, it’s just stuff. What matters is that we have each other.”
I pulled back slightly to look up at him, marveling at the warmth in his green eyes. How did I get so lucky to have someone like Logan by my side?
“You’re right,” I said, managing a small smile. “We’ll figure it out together.”
Logan leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. “That’s my cowboy,” he said softly. “Now, let’s finish up here and head back to the house. We’ve got a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
As we walked out of the barn, the setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink. The beauty of it all made my heart ache. How many more sunsets would we see over this land that had been our home for so long? It wouldn’t be many if the bank had their way about it. The foreclosure was less than three days away and they were already breathing down our necks.
We made our way across the yard, our boots crunching on the gravel. The house loomed before us, its windows dark and empty. It seemed to be mourning along with us. Caroline had gone back to Amarillo to help with her father and my mom went back to the motel. Neither of them had the heart to watch us lose the place.
“You know,” Logan said, breaking the silence, “I’ve been thinking about what we could do after all this is over.”
I glanced at him, curious. “Oh?”
He nodded, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice. “I’ve been talking to Caroline, and she has a rodeo friend down in Amarillo. He says there’s good work out there, and he might be able to get us both jobs at the ranch that sponsors him.”
I felt a mix of emotions at his words - hope, fear, excitement. “Amarillo? That’s... that’s quite a change.”
Logan squeezed my hand. “I know it’s far and it’s a big city compared to Sagebrush, but maybe that’s what we need. A fresh start, away from all the gossip and judgment here in this little town. At least for a while.”
As we reached the porch steps, I paused, looking out over the land that had been my home for five long years. The idea of leaving was both terrifying and oddly freeing.
“What about your family?” I asked softly. “Your roots are here.”
Logan turned to face me, his green eyes serious in the fading light. “You’re my family now too, Kota. And my roots? They’re wherever you are.” He cupped my face gently, his soft hands warm against my skin. “We can always come back someday, if we want. But for now, I think we need to go somewhere we can both breathe easier and heal from all… this.”
I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of the situation still heavy on my shoulders. “You’re right,” I said, not truly believing what I was saying. Maybe if I said it enough times it would eventually be true. “A fresh start might be exactly what we need.”
We stood there for a moment, the twilight deepening around us. But just as we were about to turn and head inside, the crunch of gravel caught our ears. We both turned and saw a sleek black car swing its headlights into the driveway.
“Who’s that?” I asked, shielding my eyes.
Logan shrugged. “No idea. Must be lost.”
The car came to a stop, and the engine cut off. The driver’s door opened, and a tall, well-dressed man stepped out. Even in the dark I could see his slicked black hair and the sharp angles of his face. He cut a handsome figure. And for some reason, he looked familiar. It wasn’t until he approached, and I felt Logan tense beside me that I realized who he was.
“Mr. Baker?” the man called out, his voice crisp and professional. “May I have a word with you?”
Logan stepped forward, his stance protective. “That’s me. Can I help you Mr. Corvus?”
“Please,” the man sighed, an exhausted smile pulling at his lips. “Just call me Dustin. I hate being called mister.”
“Well, Dustin, I’m afraid we don’t have much to talk about,” Logan said, puffing his chest out a bit. “I told your company that I wouldn’t let them turn this ranch into a circus and I stand by that. I know you showing up at the eleventh hour might make us reconsider, but our minds are made up.”
Dustin stared at us for a long moment, his gray eyes catching the starlight. “I’m glad to hear you stand by what you said,” he replied at last. “But that’s not why I’m here.”
Logan and I exchanged a puzzled glance. If Dustin Corvus wasn’t here to make another pitch for his company’s offer, what could he possibly want?
“Then why are you here?” Logan asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.
Dustin took a deep breath, his expression softening. “I’m here to help,” he said simply.
I couldn’t help but scoff. “Help? How? By buying up the ranch at a discount at tomorrow’s auction?”
Dustin shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. “No, nothing like that. I’m here to stop the auction altogether.”
Logan and I both stared at him, dumbfounded. It was Logan who finally found his voice. “What do you mean, stop the auction? The bank’s already set everything in motion. There’s no stopping it now.”
Dustin reached into his breast pocket, pulling out a folded-up piece of paper. “I have a new contract for you to look over,” he said, holding it out to Logan. “And if you accept, the bank already has the check.”
Logan hesitated for a moment before taking the paper from Dustin’s hand. He unfolded it carefully, his brow furrowed as he scanned the contents. I peered over his shoulder, trying to make sense of the legal jargon.
“I don’t understand,” Logan said, looking up at Dustin. “What is Raven Inc? I’ve never heard of that company.”
“It’s my company,” Dustin replied with a nod. “I am the sole owner and operator.” He took a breath, letting the realization settle in. “I want to personally invest in your ranch. Privately.”
Logan stood there with his mouth hanging open. I didn’t quite believe it either. Leaning over his shoulder, I skimmed the contract in a matter of seconds. It wasn’t even half a page long.
“But…” I started. “This contract just says you’ll pay off the place in exchange for a tiny plot to live on here.” I skimmed the contract. “And half a percent of the profits?” I glanced up at Logan. “That’s nothing.”
“The profit sharing is more of a formality for the bank than anything,” Dustin nodded. “I don’t need the money, so you’re more than welcome to keep it. But the bank was being really shitty about it. They tried to come up with a million ways to deny me, but I’m a better lawyer than that.”
“But what about the cabins?” I asked. “The arena, the jacuzzis, and the shitty museum?”
“If you two want to bring this place into the twenty-first century, I’ll help with that.” He looked up at me in particular. “But I’d like to leave the luxury suites and the racism out of it if you don’t mind. This place should be celebrated for what it is, not turned into an overpriced BnB.”
Both Logan and I stared at him for another long moment, desperately trying to process everything. It was too good to be true, right? It had to be!
“Why?” was all Logan said after the long silence.
Dustin let out a deep sigh. “To be honest with you, I’m tired.” He turned to survey the rolling hills around him covered in moonlight. Stars twinkled in the sky, putting on a show like they were trying to convince him to stay. “I’ve been doing legal work for big companies for ten years now. In that time, I’ve helped so many of them do shitty things to little people like you and I just… I can’t stand it anymore.” He looked back up at us, his eyes full of remorse. “I came into some money last year and I don’t need to work anymore. And investing in this place to help people like…” He glanced between Logan and I, drawing attention to how we were pressed together. “Well, people like me. It just feels like the right thing to do. And I hope, by some small measure, it helps start to undo all the wrong I’ve done in my life.”
“How much land do you want?” I asked, glancing back at the contract. “This says a quarter of an acre.”
“We can do less if you want. I just need enough space for a tiny house. I promise to stay out of your way.”
Logan and I exchanged stunned looks. This was almost too much to process. After days of despair and resignation, here was a lifeline being offered out of nowhere. It felt surreal, like we might wake up at any moment.
“I... I don’t know what to say,” Logan stammered, looking back at the contract in his hands. “This is incredibly generous. But are you sure? I mean, you barely know us.”
Dustin smiled softly. “I know enough. I’ve done my research on this place, on your family’s history here. And I’ve seen how this community has treated you both and others like you.” He glanced meaningfully between us. “Sometimes, you just know when something is right.”
I felt a lump forming in my throat. After all we’d been through, all the judgment and hardship, here was someone offering unconditional support. It was overwhelming.
“What’s the catch?” I asked, unable to look away from him. “There’s always a catch.”
“There’s not one,” Dustin shrugged. “But if you need one, I’d like to move here immediately. I can stay at the local motel until my tiny home arrives. After that, I’d like to live here full time.” He glanced up at me in particular. “And… if it’s not too much trouble… I’d uh…” He reached up, scratching the back of his head nervously. “I’d like someone to teach me how to ride a horse.”
Logan and I exchanged another glance, a mix of disbelief and cautious hope in our eyes. The offer seemed almost too good to be true, but there was something sincere in Dustin’s demeanor that made me want to believe him.
“I... I think we can manage that,” Logan said slowly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Teaching you to ride, I mean. As for the rest...” He trailed off, looking at me questioningly.
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the decision on my shoulders. This could change everything for us. No more auction, no more crushing debt, a chance to keep the ranch and make it our own. And all from a stranger who seemed to genuinely want to help. All the hope in the world shone in Logan’s eyes as he stared at me, waiting.
“Yes,” I said barely above a whisper. Logan’s face broke into a bright smile. “Yes,” I said louder. “A hundred times, yes!”
Logan threw his arms around me, crying out with joy. I hugged him back, both our hats nearly falling off into the dust. I suddenly felt like I could fly. Disbelief flooded through me, but it wasn’t enough to stop the pure elation flowing through my veins.
The ranch was saved.