Page 47 of When The Dust Settles

“You know how I mean.”

And I did. “Josie?”

Her gaze met mine.

“If I move, where will you live?”

“Mr. Joss said that there are many small one-room cabins on the ranch, and he would be willing to let me stay in one, under your supervision, in exchange for me watching his adorable little boy certain days of the week.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. He said that he’s teaching different classes next semester and Wyatt can’t go with him every day anymore.”

“And that’s where you come in.”

“Yes, but only as long as you’re on the ranch too.”

I was going to say something else, but the door opened and Rand was the first one through.

“You all should go,” he announced, and even though they all worked for me and not him, the exodus was fast.

It could never be said that Holloway men couldn’t clear a room.

Chapter 8

I WASN’T expecting Rand to stride over to the bed, lean over, and hug me even before the last person was out of the room.

“Is this us?” I teased, seeing Stef holding Wyatt right behind him.

“You saved my family, Glenn,” he answered gruffly, and I could hear the shudder in his tone. “This is us from now on.”

I chuckled into his shoulder as he held me close, hand on the back of my head for only a moment before he let go and straightened.

He was passed his son, who went from Stef to Rand eagerly, and then I had my arms full of the guy who might have given me my happily ever after because he made me start—though I didn’t even finish—a cattle drive.

“It’s okay,” I told Stef as I patted his back and held him tight.

“I was so scared.”

“I know.”

“And if Wyatt hadn’t been there—”

“I know that too,” I assured him because people didn’t know, but Stef was a brawler. He looked all sweet and pretty, but he knew how to defend himself. Just because he was small in comparison to Rand didn’t mean Stef didn’t know how to throw a punch that could put someone on the ground. But Wyatt had been there; dependent on Stef for his life, for his safety, and that had not allowed Stef the freedom of either fight or flight.

“If you hadn’t been there… I don’t even want to think what could have happened.”

“Or what’s going to happen on the Red.” I snorted.

He tugged free and would have smacked me, but Rand warned him off.

“Just please don’t lose your mind,” Stef begged. “It’s an isolated incident, Rand.”

“People can tell you’re a rich man,” Zach—I hadn’t heard him enter the room—pointed out as he slipped around Stef, bent over the bed, and hugged me.

“I’m fine,” I told my brother. “I swear.”

“I don’t want us to fight no more.”