Chapter 15 #4
“He’s been up since five, making calls and arranging deliveries.” Saxon took a sip of coffee. “Turns out when you save a town from a criminal conspiracy, people are pretty eager to help with construction projects. Even on a Sunday.”
Sierra stepped onto the back porch. She recognized faces from church, from the rodeo, from years of living in a small community where everyone knew everyone else’s business.
Dolly directed the food station with military efficiency, her graying hair covered by a bandanna as she kept coffee flowing and plates full. Bailey waved from behind a table loaded with egg sandwiches and homemade cookies.
Mike stood at a cement mixer, with a shovel.
And there was Mack, working alongside other young men to frame what would become the new barn’s foundation. His presence here, helping rebuild, spoke of healing that went deeper than construction.
“Mom!” Huck’s voice cut through the morning air as he spotted her on the porch. He bounded over with Bandit at his heels, both of them radiating excitement.
“Look at all these people! They’re building us a new barn!” Huck’s words tumbled over each other in his rush to share the morning’s wonders.
“I see that.” Sierra ruffled his hair, her throat tight with emotion. “Pretty amazing, isn’t it?”
“The best. And Dad says maybe we can build a bigger stall for Jasper, and maybe get another horse, and maybe—”
“Maybe you should let your mom have some coffee before planning the entire ranch expansion,” Rowan’s voice interrupted, warm with amusement.
Sierra looked up to find him approaching, sawdust in his hair and a satisfied smile on his face. He looked completely at home directing the organized chaos, every inch the natural leader who could coordinate complex operations and make them look effortless.
Of course he was. He was still Hammer, former Delta Force operator, somewhere under all that cowboy.
“Morning, beautiful.” He leaned down to kiss her cheek, the casual intimacy of the gesture turning her warm to her bones.
“You did all this?” Sierra gestured toward the bustling activity.
“We did this.” Rowan’s hand found the small of her back, steering her toward the porch railing, where they could survey the work. “Amazing what people will do when they’re grateful.”
“But how—”
“Actually, I started it a few days ago. The blueprints are from that barn at the Collins place—and I got Bobby St. Claire to clear the permitting, and Raol Martinez hooked me up with the lumber. Saxon talked Dolly into the food, and Bailey showed up to help. Apparently she, um, knew some secrets?” He raised an eyebrow.
Oops.
He grinned. “Turns out Mike Martinelli knows every contractor in three counties, and Bailey has the phone numbers of every ranch family between here and Denver.” Rowan’s eyes crinkled with satisfaction. “Plus, Saxon has surprising logistic skills for a private investigator.”
“I heard that,” Saxon called from across the yard. “And I’m going to need more coffee if we’re going to keep this pace up.”
“There’s a whole pot in the kitchen,” Sierra called back.
“Already tried it. It’s not strong enough. I need the industrial-grade stuff Dolly makes.”
She laughed, then turned to him. “How are we affording this? I haven’t gotten my insurance check yet.”
“Babe. Have you not heard? I’m rich.” He grinned.
Then, Rowan perched a hand over her head. “I figure we needed to get started on that barn if we are going to make any more of those.”
His gaze shifted meaningfully toward Huck, who was demonstrating Bandit’s trick to a group of appreciative teenagers.
Sierra’s pulse quickened at the implication. “More of…?”
“Children. Lots of them. Running around this ranch, learning to ride and rope and carry on the family traditions.” Rowan’s voice dropped to a whisper. “What do you think?”
“I think there are better places than the barn for making children.”
“Me too.” His mouth moved closer to hers, close enough that she could feel his breath against her lips. “You still haven’t said yes.”
Oh. She put a hand on his chest. “Yes, Rowan Sean Wallace. I’ll marry you.”
“Attagirl,” he growled and leaned in.
“I still need coffee!” Saxon’s voice cut through the moment. “Real coffee! The kind that can wake the dead!”
“And I’m going to need you to back off,” Rowan called without taking his eyes off Sierra.
But Sierra was laughing, the sound bright and free as it carried across the yard. She put her hand on Rowan’s amazing, perfect chest and pushed him away.
“I’ll make a fresh pot,” Sierra called to Saxon. “Dolly style.”
“Good!” Saxon called. “I have a feeling this is going to be a long day.”
Sierra headed for the kitchen, but paused at the door to look back at the scene unfolding in her yard.
Rowan was crouched beside Huck again, both of them laughing as Bandit performed his trick for an audience of construction workers.
Mack hammered nails with steady precision while Mike scooped out cement. Dolly organized food with the efficiency of someone who’d been feeding crowds her entire life.
Her ranch. Her community. Her family.
Sierra wasn’t alone anymore. She never had been, really—she’d just been too scared to believe it.
She had her men—both of them, the boy she’d raised and the renegade man who’d come home to claim them both.
The love that surrounded her wasn’t fragile or temporary.
And outside her window, the sky stretched out over the city of Renegade, bright and wide with possibility.
Thank you for reading Renegade.