Chapter Twenty-Four
Jovie
Saturday mornings are always for coffee and quiet. It’s my lazy time. When I stay in my comfy loungewear and catch up on laundry.
At least, that’s the plan.
Instead, I wake to the rumble of a diesel engine outside my cabin and the unmistakable sound of my brother’s voice.
I grin and practically bounce out of bed.
Two minutes later, I step out onto my porch with a messy ponytail, wearing jeans and a Raintree-Storm Rodeo Academy T-shirt.
Sure enough, my father’s truck is parked in front of my cabin.
Daddy leans against the driver’s door with my brother, Devon, beside him, both holding travel coffee mugs.
The second they see me, they both smile.
“Well, look who’s finally awake,” Devon says.
I roll my eyes. “It’s seven thirty.”
“Exactly.”
Daddy opens his arms, and I walk straight into them. His hug is warm and familiar, smelling faintly of cedar, coffee, and sawdust.
Asbury Timber Company.
The scent of my childhood.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” he says as he kisses the top of my head.
“Morning, Daddy.”
Devon pulls me into a bear hug next. “Miss me, brat?”
“No,” I say, pushing him away.
He grins. “Liar.”
We spend the next few minutes catching up while Daddy tells me about a logging contract they’re finishing outside Jackson, and I steal some sips of his coffee.
That’s when the door beside mine swings open.
Axle steps out onto the porch, wearing faded jeans, work boots, and a gray T-shirt stretched across his shoulders, and his smile is unfairly broad this early in the morning. Being as he snuck out of my cabin only a few hours ago, sometime after I fell asleep.
His dark hair is still damp.
His gaze lands on me first, then on the two men standing beside me, and he starts walking over.
Daddy follows my line of sight and smiles. “Well, I’ll be.” Dad nods toward Axle. “I know that boy.”
Boy.
Axle reaches us. “Morning.”
“Morning, Axle,” I say.
Daddy points at him. “Cabe’s brother.”
Axle smiles. “Yes, sir.”
“I thought so.” Daddy sticks out his hand. “Delmar Asbury.”
They shake.
“I remember you.”
Axle looks surprised. “You do?”
“Sure do. Haven’t seen you since you were running around these ranches, getting into trouble.”
A laugh escapes me. “He’s still doing that.”
Daddy chuckles. “You and your brothers were a handful back then.”
Devon steps forward.
Unlike Daddy, my brother looks like he’s meeting a celebrity.
His hand shoots out. “Devon Asbury.”
Axle shakes it. “Good to meet you.”
“I’m a big fan,” Devon says.
Axle looks slightly uncomfortable. “Is that right?”
“Absolutely. I saw you win in Cheyenne last year.”
Axle’s eyebrows rise. “You were there?”
“Sure was.”
The two launch into a conversation about bulls, riders, events, and their favorite arenas.
I understand about half of it.
Daddy doesn’t seem surprised. He’s witnessed Devon’s rodeo obsession for years.
Finally, Devon says, “I’m hoping to travel and catch some of the Challenger Series events next year.”
Axle nods.
“Especially now that my sister’s going to be working for the Boy Zoo.”
I close my eyes.
Oh, for the love of—
Axle looks at me. “Boy Zoo?”
His mouth twitches.
Devon starts laughing.
“Don’t,” I warn.
Devon laughs harder. “When she was little,” he tells Axle, “she thought rodeos were exactly like zoos.”
Axle folds his arms.
“You go to the zoo to look at animals in cages. So, she thought rodeos were where people went to look at boys in cages.”
Axle bursts out laughing.
My face heats.
Daddy says, wheezing from laughter, “She called them Boy Zoos for years.”
“For years?” Axle asks.
“Hell, she still does,” Devon says.
I shrug. “They act like wild animals. Especially the bull riders.”
Axle’s grin widens. “You know what, Doc? That’s fair.”
The laughter settles, and Daddy glances toward the truck.
“Well, we’d better get moving.”
“Where are you headed?” I ask.
“Meeting Matty and Harleigh over at the proposed guest ranch site,” he explains.
“We’re looking at lumber estimates.” Dad gestures toward himself and Devon.
“Asbury Timber handled a lot of the materials for the academy. We harvested the raw lumber, milled it, and transported it for the contractors.”
Axle nods. “I heard that.”
Daddy turns to me. “You want to ride with us, sweet pea? Afterward, we’ll grab lunch in town.”
“Sure.”
He looks at Axle. “You want to come too? Grab some food with us so Dev here can talk your ear off.”
Axle shakes his head. “Can’t. I’m working. Cabe’s got us all on ranch duty, tagging the new herd today.”
Daddy winces. “That sounds like a long day.”
“It probably will be.” His eyes drift toward me. “Have fun. I’ll see you tonight.”
Something about the way he says it feels personal.
“You too.”
His mouth curves slightly.
Then he tips his head. “Nice to see you guys again.”
A few minutes later, we’re climbing into Daddy’s truck.
As we pull away, I glance back, and Axle is still standing beside his cabin. Watching us leave.
The south side of Wildhaven Storm Ranch is breathtaking.
Not that the rest of the property isn’t. But this section feels different somehow. Untouched. Peaceful.
Daddy parks beside the gate, where Matty and Harleigh are already waiting by an old blue truck.
The second Harleigh sees us, she waves enthusiastically.
She’s clearly excited.
“Morning!” she calls. “Welcome to the future home of the Wildfire Guest Ranch.”
“Morning.”
We all gather near the gate.
Then Harleigh launches into presentation mode. I don’t think she even says hello before unfolding a giant set of plans.
“Okay, so here’s what I’m thinking.”
And just like that, she’s off.
The proposed guest ranch acreage extends over rolling green hills. A crystal-clear brook winds between towering cottonwood trees. Wildflowers scatter across the landscape. In the distance, the Tetons rise against a bright blue sky. The view alone feels worth a vacation.
Harleigh turns in a slow circle. “The guest cabins will sit here.” She points toward the hillside. “Six total.”
Another point.
“There will be a general store right there, where we’ll sell essentials and some local artisan items.”
Another.
“The pavilion with an outdoor kitchen will be in this area with long family-style picnic tables. Where we will serve chef-prepared ranch cuisine. Everything from farm-to-table dinners to cowboy cookouts. It’s where we’ll host live music some evenings.”
Then she turns.
“Firepits will be over there with lots of seating. And behind them will be the barn and stables for the trail horses. An outdoor arena for mini rodeo shows. And staff housing.”
Another.
“Main office and the lodge. It’ll be a central gathering place, where guests can grab a cocktail, play pool, and just hang out. The office will also be where guests pick up gear for fly fishing, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, and other activities.”
Another.
“There will be a path that leads into the wooded area, and that’s where the spa will be located. There will be on-site massages, wellness treatments, and private outdoor mineral baths.”
She takes a breath.
Then immediately starts again.
By the time she’s finished, I feel like I just watched someone describe an entire small Western town because that’s basically what she’s creating.
I glance at Matty.
She’s standing quietly beside her sister, listening and observing. Letting Harleigh run the show and present her vision.
Daddy studies the blueprints carefully. Devon helps him spread them across the hood of the ranch truck.
For the next hour, they discuss lumber quantities, milling schedules, fencing, access roads, and construction phases.
I understand enough to know this project is enormous.
Harleigh really isn’t thinking small.
Daddy tucks copies of everything under his arm. “We’ll get with the contractors.”
Matty nods. “Sounds good.”
“We should have rough estimates for phase one next week.”
Devon grabs a measuring wheel. “Let’s get perimeter numbers.”
The two of them head off toward the property line. Leaving me standing beside Matty and Harleigh.
Harleigh watches them go. “You can see it, right?”
I smile. “Are you kidding me? After that impressive presentation? Oh my God, yes.”
“I know everyone thinks I’m crazy,” she says, cutting her eyes to Matty.
“No, they don’t,” Matty says.
“Yeah, they do.”
Matty smiles. “Maybe a little bit.”
I look around again.
The brook. The trees. The mountains. The endless Wyoming sky.
“I think it’s going to be spectacular. You’re going to give guests a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
I envision families sitting around firepits. Couples walking trails. Kids learning how to fish. People escaping busy lives to unplug and commune with nature. It’s actually kind of perfect.
Harleigh exhales. “That’s the dream.”
Matty wraps an arm around her shoulders. “It’s going to be incredible. Expensive. But incredible.”
Harleigh beams.
Then her attention shifts to me. “What are you doing tonight?”
I blink. “Tonight?”
“Yes.”
I think about it.
“Nothing. I’m having lunch with Daddy and Devon. After that, I have no plans, except maybe laundry.”
Harleigh grins. “Perfect. You’re coming with us.”
“Us?”
“Me, Porter, Cabe, and Micah. Maybe Charli.”
“Oh, right. You guys are going to see a band in town. Cabe mentioned it.”
“Yes. The town is hosting a Summer Concert Series, and Wildhaven Junction is playing in the park.”
“I don’t know. The clinic was so busy this past week. I told Cabe I just wanted to relax this weekend.”
“Ugh. You can relax when you’re dead,” Harleigh whines.
Matty rolls her eyes. “Don’t let her bully you.”
Harleigh ignores her. “You don’t have to stay late if you aren’t having a good time; Cabe can take you home.” She pauses. “Come on. There will be music, dancing, and funnel cake.”
That actually sounds fun.
“Fine. You had me at funnel cake.”
She hooks her arm through mine. “It’s gonna be fun.”
A smile pulls at my lips.
Daddy and Dev return with the numbers they need, and we say our goodbyes.
Harleigh points at me. “See you tonight. No backing out.”
I shake my head. “No backing out.”