“Hey, Abby, this is Luke. Sarah’s asleep right now.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Luke. Can you wake her? I’ve got a few items that can’t wait.”

“They’ll have to, because she literally collapsed from exhaustion and I’m not waking her for at least eight hours.”

“Luke, seriously, we’ve got a lot going on right now.”

“I get that. But there can’t be anything that can’t wait a day. If there is, I’m sure someone else, or you, can handle it.”

“But Sarah—”

“Deserves a few hours of uninterrupted sleep after working her butt off for months,” he interrupted. “You’re the gatekeeper at work. I’m doing it today because she needs someone to take care of her physical and mental health.” He wanted to make that his job permanently.

“No one knows better than me that she needs to get some rest—”

“Then let her.” He pulled into Margaret’s driveway. “Listen, I’ve got the boys and we’re at their grandmother’s. I’m sure she’ll be up soon,” he said to reassure Abby and the boys, but he was still concerned about Sarah.

“You’re right. Okay. But tell her to call me as soon as she wakes up.”

“Will do.” He’d probably wait until Sarah ate a decent meal, then tell her.

He said goodbye to Abby and helped the boys out of the truck. They beat him to the door. He knocked and waited.

He wondered if Margaret had gone out, but then a couple minutes later she finally answered. “Luke. Boys.” Margaret’s eyes narrowed. “Where’s Sarah?”

Luke didn’t think Margaret would take this well.

Jack beat him to the punch. “Mama’s sleeping at Luke’s.”

Margaret raised a brow and gave him a disapproving look. “Really?”

“Yes.” He touched the boys’ backs. “Go upstairs and get your homework out.”

Jack and Nick took off.

Margaret stared at him, waiting for an explanation she probably wouldn’t receive well.

“Sarah is exhausted. She collapsed at the ranch. I’m going to let her sleep as long as she wants, because she definitely needs it.”

“Do you see? She doesn’t take care of herself. Anything could have happened if she was out with the boys.”

“But she wasn’t. She was with me. And I don’t think she would have gone out in her condition if she hadn’t promised the boys and knew that I was right there to watch over them.” He didn’t give Margaret time to harp on it and got to his point. “The boys just had breakfast. They need to do their homework.”

Margaret glanced at the stairs. “I suppose they could bring it down and I can help them.”

“Okay. I expect Sarah to sleep most of the day.”

“What?”

“I’m pretty sure she was up all night finishing her project.” Even if she woke up before dinner, she could use a little time doing nothing.

Margaret looked confused and irritated at the same time. “We’ll be fine.”

“Great. Then I guess I’ll see you later when I bring Sarah back.” He wanted to check on Sarah as soon as he returned to the ranch.