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“What, does he shoot trespassers on sight?”
“He used to. Or I guess his father and grandfather did. Modern world is a bit less forgiving of lethal property defense when you control acres of land.”
“And I’m guessing you’re not on the best of terms with your neighbor?”
“Hardly. A century-old feud between my family and his. Some pencil pusher back at the start of the twentieth century bungled the lines on a map and we’ve been dealing with the fallout of that ever since.”
“Some Hatfields and McCoys-style stuff?”
“We’re thankfully a bit less bloody than that. And besides, the end of this little turf war is something that will happen sooner than later.”
I stare at him, concerned about the format of his words. “Uh... I didn’t sign up to join in on some sort of private ranch war.”
He laughs. “No, no. And I’m not expecting you to get involved. By the end of the year, though, our lands should be well and properly merged and that 1903 surveyor’s mistake will no longer be relevant.”
“Buying him out?”
“Max’s too much of a prideful idiot to let that be the situation. No, I’m marrying his daughter.”
Hearing those words makes my heart sink, and it sinks deep. I mentally slap myself. He’s my boss. Not someone to be swooning over. Maybe I should be imagining him as some schlubby middle manager, like the last few bosses I had were.
“Of course, he doesn’t approve of our plan,” Jack continues. “But Sarah and I are adults; we can make our own decisions. She’s as sick of his nonsense as I am.”
“Aw, forbidden love, rebelling against her father’s wishes.”
“If you want to see it like that, yes.” The way he talked about her wasn't very passionate. Or maybe I am just seeing things, still not believing the hot guy in front of me was already engaged. “It’ll be good for both our ranches. And the town. People seem to think they need to pick sides, just because that’s what they’ve always done.”
“What, do people get in fights over ranches they don’t even live on?”
“No, which makes it all the sillier. People saying they think Perry’s on the right side of it just because that’s what their grandfather thought. It’s all a bunch of archaic nonsense and it always has been.”
“I guess there isn’t that much to obsess over in a small town, so they need to bicker about something.”
“Then I guess they’ll have to go pick sports teams like normal people when this is all over.”
I didn’t come here to get involved in petty squabbles. I came here for the horses. I leaned on the railing, my chin in my hand, letting my thoughts roam. “So the long and short of it is to avoid the big ugly fence.”
“You shouldn’t have much trouble. Most of the horses are pretty spooked away from it by now. I think he’s been using some pesticides on his side of the fence. Likely terrible for his grass and the environment, but he’s that petty.”
“You’re an environmentalist?”
“If I don’t have an environment, I don’t got much, Lily. It’s just common sense for me to care. Plus, you know, it’s the right thing to do. I want this ranch to stay in working order, and thrive for years to come, something to hand down to my kids, and something for them to give to my grandkids. If I’m spraying acidic chemicals everywhere, all that I’m going to be giving them is a useless plot of land.”
A long sigh escapes my lips. “I’m sure you and Sarah will make the most of it. And have beautiful children.”
He grunts. “Yes. Sarah’s and my children. This is all for them.”
More of that oddly neutral tone. “What about your family? What do they think of you sleeping with the enemy?”
“They mostly think it’s some plot from the Perry family to get at us. My siblings, aunts, and uncles are all saying they’re not showing up for the wedding unless I can prove it’s legitimate. And it is. Sarah and I have made sure we have very thorough prenups and arrangements. We’ve thought this out. There’s no foul intention on her end, no doubts in my mind. I understand why they’re acting the way they are, but they have to realize this feud is too stupid to continue.”
I almost want to flat out ask him if this marriage with Sarah is a political and economic one, and not one of love. But that felt weird and accusatory, and I remind myself that this guy has more than a decade on me in age. Pursuing him romantically is just weird, and it would be weird even if he isn’t engaged.
Even disregarding my strange interest into his personal life, I can tell I am going to be working under a good man. His horses seem happy, he cares about the land, and he didn’t seem to have a rash bone in his body.
It makes me want him even more.
I’m twenty-two. I should have been over these crazy, boiling teenage hormones, but no, they were still there, urging me to make dumb decisions like trying to flirt with my boss.
