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When she hesitated, I sensed there was a story there as well. “He’s difficult but he has his reasons.”
I shook my head. This was going nowhere. “Don’t we all. And I never said the employees didn’t work hard, Jessie, but I must consider what’s best for everyone involved. I’ve had a brief chance to look over the financials. Business is down by over twenty percent, which is significant. That’s not something I can just walk away from. I’m certain you understand that making money is important to everyone. I’ve gone over the financials, and the future looks grim.”
“Grim? What I understand is that your bottom line is all that’s important to you. Meanwhile, there are twenty-two people, not including me who make a living caring about the horses. They’ve been here night and day when necessary, tending to sick horses and broken fences. There are at least thirty clients who rely on this ranch being in operation. And there are two mares ready to give birth, horses that Walter owned and adored. What are you going to do with them? Let me guess, cart then off to the glue factory. Answer the question about why the man’s own son wasn’t given the ranch. Maybe he would be a better choice at running the place and caring about the people.”
Goddamn, I’d never dealt with anyone so formidable in my life. Woman or man. “Fine. He and my father didn’t get along and Walter never met my younger brother because my parents didn’t want that to happen. And I assure you that my father wouldn’t have bothered to make this trip or to look through the employee records. You might not like me, Jessie, but you’d loathe my father. He’s an asshole.” My candor with her surprised the hell out of me. Why did I feel as if I owed her anything? “I care about this ranch because it’s the only place I was allowed to be myself.”
The admittance felt strange, something I’d done for the first time. Now I was the one to look away, staring at the drawing her daughter had done. It was something my ex had talked about more than almost anything, having a family. And I’d refused, laughing in her face.
“Why did they dislike each other so much?” she asked after a few seconds.
At least her tone had softened somewhat, her eyes no longer filled with hate.
I raked my hand through my hair, almost laughing at the answer myself. “Let’s just say their hatred goes way back, long before I was born. I don’t know the full story. What I do know is that when my grandfather interfered with my upbringing, that was it. All ties were cut. I’m sure there’s a dirty little secret in there somewhere but my father isn’t the warmest man. He certainly doesn’t talk to me about his upbringing or his past. Not his style.” I heard the bitterness in my own voice and bristled. I’d never admitted any of this to anyone in my life. Why her? Why now?
She had to think about what I was saying, once again relaxing at least to a point. “I’m sorry, Sebastian. I really am, but this ranch means a lot to me. Your grandfather was a very good man. I considered him a friend, a mentor. He treated Britta and me as family at a time in my life when I felt like I had no one.”
Her faraway look pulled on my heartstrings, even though I’d believed I didn’t have any. At least that’s what the few women I’d dated would say. I softened my tone as well.
“I have a feeling that’s exactly how he thought of you. As family. He had the ability to know when people were decent and kind. I admired that about him. It’s no wonder he left you something in his will.” By the way she narrowed her eyes, I could tell she had no idea what I was talking about.
“What did you say?”
“Let me guess. Hank didn’t say anything to you about that or give you a date for the distribution. Did he?”
“No,” she scoffed. “Why would Walter do that?”
The question she should have asked wasn’t why Walter had left her something but why the man’s attorney hadn’t called her to let her know. “You really had no idea?”
She appeared terrified, as if I would accuse her of something else. I was damn good at that, but she certainly didn’t deserve it. “I’m going to guess you’ll find it hard to believe but no. The man was generous, but he knew I refused to take handouts. He tried a couple of times, but finally resorted to buying a few gifts for Britta because he knew I wouldn’t refuse her happiness.”
“Which is why you’re living here for free. Right? You can’t afford to pay rent.”
I hadn’t intended for the question to come out the way it had. Seeing her eyes flare again, I only wished I could back pedal.
“I saw you looking at my shitty furniture. You’re right. It is. I’m poor. Very poor. I have a fucking truck that’s ready to break down on me. I have a daughter who needs medicine I can’t afford and two jobs that are barely going anywhere. You can tell by the crappy wine that I don’t make enough money to make ends meet. There are reasons and I do my best. I really do. You’re right that I’m probably a freeloader, although I would do more with the horses if George would allow me, but he hates when I’m around. Just like Hank told Walter more than once I was out for the man’s money. I’m not, Sebastian. I’m many things, including mouthy and opinionated and bossy and… I’m certain you have other adjectives to use but at the end of the day, I’m just a mother trying to keep her baby daughter from knowing the same kind of life I had growing up.”
The heartfelt exclamation was all I needed to know she was exactly who she portrayed herself to be. She was also exasperated by what she’d told me.
“What kind of life was that?”
She shook her head, scowling at me. “You really want to know? Foster care. Yeah, this girl. I was sent from family to family, finally considered unadoptable given my advanced age. I aged out of the system, but not before falling into the hands of some nasty people. Does that make you happy?”
Exhaling, I moved closer. “Not at all. I’m not trying to hurt you. I just need to figure out why Hank already tried to broker a deal with some pretty bad people.”
“I don’t know what to tell you other than this area is supposed to be the next big tourist trap. Look, I’m sorry. You have a way of causing me to spout off at the mouth. Ignore half of what I just said. I know you don’t care. How could you? What does bother me though is that you don’t know the ranch at all. You’ve been here twenty-four hours. But you really need to get a full feel for the entire place. Maybe then you’ll understand why it’s so precious.”
I laughed, daring to slide against the counter closer to her. “I did drive around.”
“In the rental truck? That’s not the way to see the place.” She tilted her head, a slight spark appearing in her eyes.
“Then what do you suggest?”
“Horseback, although I’m guessing you’ve never been on a horse in your life.”
It was apparent that Walter hadn’t mentioned me before in any real capacity. Why should he have bothered? I’d all but turned my back on him. I should feel shame, but it was too late for that. All I could do was try to make it up by using my best judgment in the choices I made. I took a gulp of wine then another. The taste was terrible, but I refused to allow her to think I didn’t accept her hospitality. I hated the fact she had nothing to her name, but business was still business.
Or so I continued to tell myself.
