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“Was he successful?”

She chuckled gently. “Oh no. We used to get the late Mr. Larsen to come by and help out. His son Colton now tends to do those sorts of things. But we haven’t had horses now for many years. Steve had a motorbike he would use to bring the cows in. He couldn’t get up into the saddle after he broke his hip, you see.”

The thought of Ryder’s father being a horse whisperer too made me smile. From what he had told me about Colton’s skills, I could only imagine how talented his father had been if he taught Colton everything he knew.

Arriving back at the house, I let Myra out beside the steps, helping her to the front door before driving her car back into the garage. I even made sure to reverse it in for her, so she could leave easier next time. Once the vehicle was locked, I closed the garage door and headed back toward the house, stopping at the garden bed and bending down to pull a couple of weeds.

I knew it wasn’t a monumental effort, but I could tell that these gardens were once well tended, and it showed. The beds were spaced apart by a couple feet, allowing me to move freely within them. There were bricked borders around each one, defining them. Though there weren’t many flowers in there now, the thought of them once overflowing with color comforted me.

As I stood and looked around the wide-open space around me, I considered the possibility of ever living in a place like this. It didn’t horrify me the way I thought it might. Instead, I considered the benefits of living in the country. The chance to be far away from Momma and Daddy. Perhaps get a horse that I could ride from time to time. I could see it.

Then there was the fact that a certain cowboy would live only a few minutes away. I smiled at the thought of him dropping by after a hard day’s work. Maybe with a home-cooked meal from Savannah that we could enjoy with a bottle of wine and good conversation.

Heading back inside, I saw Myra was already looking over the contracts, an empty liquor glass on the table in front of her. “Would you like another?” I offered, pointing to the glass.

Looking up at me, she smiled. “That would be wonderful, dear.”

I headed to the kitchen counter and collected the bottle to pour a small amount into her glass before sitting back down in the seat I had occupied earlier.

After a few hours of reading, negotiations and a couple glasses of Southern Comfort. Mrs. Jackson was happy with the agreement. We shook hands and I promised to return in a few weeks with the revised contracts. I jotted down a quick note to remind myself to send an email to Ethan Sanderson later today, to ascertain his thoughts on the contract we discussed a couple of days ago.

She seemed lighter at the thought of spending time with her family, and waved at me happily as I got back into Savannah’s car and headed back to Larsen Ranch.

My arrival back at the ranch after the meeting with Mrs. Jackson was more welcome than I should admit. Almost like coming home. That is, if my home was filled with loud voices, laughter, and the smell of an incredible meal wafting out the windows. I sat in the car for a few moments, simply enjoying the atmosphere the Larsen family created within themselves before grabbing my briefcase and getting out of the Prado.

After checking the four-wheel drive was locked for the second time, I headed towards the house. My heels dug into the gravel of the drive and after another step, my foot landed on a larger stone that shifted with my weight and movement. My ankle tweaked a little and I halted my steps. After a brief look around, I was glad to see no one had caught sight of my misstep, and thankful that I hadn’t ended up on my backside in the dirt.

Continuing on, I reached the steps and climbed them, halting at the door to once again soak up what a real family sounded like. It really made it hit home how sterile the environment I grew up in truly was.

A male voice reached my ears. “I can take you in an arm wrestle.” He sounded stern, but there was also laughter behind it.

A smile spread across my features when I heard the response, the voice that had become all too familiar now. “I’m not disagreeing with you. But I can guarantee you can’t take Logan.”

“That’s because no one can take Logan.” It seemed Colton was trying to prove himself but had conceded defeat. Colton was muscular but his physique paled in comparison to the sheer number of muscles that Logan seemed to have.

“You know I saw him lift a car the other day when I was at work. I mean, it didn’t have an engine or anything, but still,” Savannah added, laughing at the same time. And for some reason, I didn’t doubt her words.

Raising a closed fist, I rapped on the door three times in quick succession. It seemed that no matter how far away I was, Daddy’s expectations were still met. “Come in,” one of the sisters called out.

I shook my head at their trusting nature. I could be anyone at all and they were happy enough to just invite me in without even knowing who I was. Momma and Daddy would never do that. Then again, they wouldn’t even know someone was at the door to begin with. One of the members of the household staff would answer the door for them.

Admittedly, though, I’d seen those Larsen boys and Logan too. Considering the noise coming from inside the house, they probably felt sure that any unwelcome visitors would quickly be subdued. I knew I certainly would feel safe if that were me.

Pulling the screen door open to step inside, I bent to take my shoes off, hooked my fingers in them, and carried them with me into the open area where everyone was gathered.

I saw mostly familiar faces; it seemed the whole Larsen clan had gathered in the main house tonight. But a smaller person caught my attention. “Hey there.”

Cocking her head to the side, she looked up at me as a handsome cowboy with a five o’clock shadow came forward. “Sienna, I take it?”

I gave him a small, polite smile. “That’s me, and you are?”

“Wyatt.” He offered me his hand and I took it in a firm handshake. “I’m the oldest brother, and that’s Aria, my daughter.” I waved at the young girl, but then it clicked.

“Wait. How many of you are there?” Honestly, three brothers were enough. I didn’t think Bob could handle the increase in use if there was a fourth. I didn’t even think to bring his charger.

“Five and a half,” Ryder announced as he opened a beer.

“Half? How exactly do you get half?” The number confused me.