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“Well, usually people come to the front door of a man’s home, not go sneaking around. What do you want, Mr. Cawthorne? This is my day off.”
“Is it?”
He narrowed his eyes, glancing nervously at my truck. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means I’m curious when you used the chainsaw last.”
“Why the hell do you want to know?”
“Because an incident occurred on the ranch last night. Someone purposely cut the rear fence with a crude saw. Like a chainsaw. As you might imagine, some of the horses got out.”
“And you think I had something to do with that? Are you insane? I cut up some downed branches at the ranch.”
His anger was increasing rapidly, his face was turning bright red. In my world that usually indicated guilt. “I’m only going to say this once to you, George. If you dare attempt to fuck with the ranch or the people who work here in any way, you will learn what I’m capable of. And I assure you that you won’t like that very much. I’m not the kind of man who looks kindly on threats.”
His jaw remained clenched as he stared at me. Even his hands were fisted. Hopefully, this was the only point I’d need to make with him. As suspected, when he threw a single punch, I caught it with my hand, twisting his arm until I was able to force him to his knees.
“That wasn’t very nice of you, George. I’ll use that as a reason to fire you.”
Panting, he glared into my face, the large man huffing and puffing. But he remained quiet. I pushed myself away, headed back to my truck. My work had been done.
“Be careful, Mr. Cawthorne. Your grandfather did have enemies, those who’d go to every length to take away what he so carefully built. And they’ll use any method, including fire.”
I stopped long enough to see if he had anything else to say. When he didn’t, I simply climbed inside and started the engine. Didn’t he know fire was the great cleanser?
As I headed back to the ranch, I purposely took a detour, driving by the caretaker’s house. I’d taken a significant risk in overruling Jess and her desires to handle everything herself. In leaving the note, I’d put myself out there, but it had felt like the right thing to do. Now I wasn’t so certain if anything made any sense any longer.
The new truck wasn’t parked in front of her house. Maybe that meant she’d accepted the gift. Or maybe she’d returned it to the dealership. It was her choice to make. She wasn’t mine. That had been made clear. I slowed down, studying the small house that she’d made feel like the home I’d never known, warm and inviting.
That was something I wanted in my life, and I wasn’t going to accept anything less. If only the beautiful redhead with the infectious smile could be the one by my side. That obviously wasn’t in the cards.
I moved on, trying my best not to stare into the rearview mirror with some crazy level of hope. “You fucked up, asshole,” I muttered to myself. More than once.
Maybe I should consider my entire life nothing but one huge fuckup. I’d been so enthralled by becoming wealthy in my own right, living in the finest neighborhood and owning the six cars Jessie had accused me of that I’d lost sight of everything I’d wanted to be as a boy.
I couldn’t help but laugh at myself. I’d wanted to be a cowboy and it’d had nothing to do with my grandfather. Well, I wouldn’t be that, but I’d at least be able to say I owned a ranch. I had one last surprise up my sleeve for Jessie, but that wouldn’t come until this sordid business was finished.
And after the funeral.
As for tonight, Jackson and I would solve the riddle. We were a good team together. Then we’d drink because I needed it to try to get over her.
I turned down the driveway, glancing at my watch. Hopefully, my brother would be here soon. I’d check the app on my phone and it would seem his plane was on time, due to touch down at any time. I was eager to get to work, getting a fresh mind on what few details I knew. I had a feeling the boys from Canyon Industries would soon grant me a personal visit.
As the automatic headlights drifted through the tree-lined pathway, I noticed I had a visitor. I craned my neck, trying to keep from bristling. There was no way Jackson had made it to the ranch that fast. I reached into the glove compartment, pulling out the recently purchased weapon.
But as I got closer, a moment of elation filtered through me, my cock immediately twitching.
Jessie.
I barely managed to park the truck and cut the engine before I was out the door. She stood from where she’d been waiting. In her hand was the note I’d written. After closing the door, I walked closer, terrified I’d scare her off.
She inched toward me, her chest rising and falling from her irregular breathing. When we were only inches apart, she glanced down the length of me. It was impossible to read her emotions or her face, her eyes hidden by the shadows as twilight approached. But there was no denying the electricity remained, the sharp crackle of current adding to the tension between us.
When she lifted the note, I half expected her to rip it in half then smack me across the face. The moment she threw her arms around my neck, I crushed my hands on the back of her head, tangling my fingers in her long hair.
“God, I’ve missed you,” I managed, pulling her head back seconds later.
“I’m angry with you. The truck. The furniture. The toys and clothes and food and… Why?”
