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“I think he’d want you to enjoy what his sacrifices gave you.”
Her lips twisted and her eyes narrowed. She pointed her finger at his chest, the look she shot him leaving a burn mark on his heart. “Don’t you dare. Now, I’ve been calm and respectful about what I need but I refuse to apologize for what I need. If you won’t honor my plans, then at least stay out of my way.” She slammed the door at the same time the forty-year-old engine roared to life. She rolled down the window, her eyes no longer sad, but weighed down at the edges. “I’m beginning to think my father knew exactly what he was doing that night at the rodeo.”
With that last shot aimed at his chest, she peeled out of the gravel parking lot, and Bennett stood there with the sound of the band spilling out onto the partially empty lot. The music was upbeat and raucous and didn’t match his now-sour mood.
He kicked the dirt and walked toward his own truck. He’d trusted his mom and, boy, had she gotten it wrong.
Maggie didn’t want him. Period. And no amount of begging was going to change that. Which meant his idea about sharing the canyon was off the table, too.
He hadn’t wanted to resort to taking over her ranch, especially if she wasn’t in it, but it was time to put plan B back in play. He’d convince Maggie why he was the right person to sell to and he’d buy Newman Ranch like he should have from the beginning. A small flame of an idea roared to life in his chest, that grew the more he let it breathe.
It felt good to have the start of a plan, but his heart was heavy on the way home. He would have upended his entire life for her if she’d just let him in. But it was clear that was never going to happen.
When that fence finally came crashing down between their properties, hopefully so would her hold on him.
Chapter Ten
Bennett raked his fingers through his beard, feeling the fine dust embedded in the hair. It was pervasive, working its way into every nook and cranny on humans, animals, and machinery alike. They needed a good rain and soon.
Jax opened the gate, whooping and hollering behind it so the ranch hands could work the cattle through. They kicked up a cloud of dust that lingered in the air, casting a hazy glow on everything near the corral. Gander chased a rogue calf back to the herd and Bennett lamented the bath the mutt would need later that evening. Over the din and roar of the hooves paired with the bells and grunts of disapproval from the herd being forced into close proximity for the night, Bennett heard his phone. He jogged over to where his Carhartt jacket lay discarded over the wood fence post by the watering station. He pulled his cell out of the inside pocket, wiping the dust from the screen.
It wasn’t Maggie. Disappointment settled low in his chest.
“Hey there, Bill. What can I do for you?”
“Well, it’s actually my bride you’d be doing the favor for. She doesn’t want the smell of cows and all the stuff that comes with ’em to be the background for the wedding. You know what I mean?”
“Loud and clear. How can I help?”
“You got any time to come over today and look at the herd to see if they’ll fit on your property for the next two weeks?”
“I sure do, but I know they’ll fit. They’re tagged and branded?”
“Even the calves.”
“Great. Listen, I’ve got some time before this evening to come on by and help you load ’em if you’ve got a truck on hand.”
“Truck’s ready to go, but let’s talk price. I wanna reimburse you for the water they’ll use, especially now with the drought.”
“No need. We’re bringing mine and Newman’s cattle up river to a field in the canyon if you want us to march yours there, too. It’s natural water and grazing.”
“You sure? I’d do anything to make my bride happy, but it’s not your burden.”
“It’s not a problem. Send a few guys for the trip to ride with mine and Maggie’s and we’re good. I’m sure Maggie won’t mind the extra cattle on her land.”
Especially since it won’t be her land for long.
“Bennett, you’re doing me a solid. Thanks so much.”
“My pleasure. Anything to keep the woman of the house happy, right?”
Bill chuckled. “Ain’t that the truth.”
They hung up. and Bennett leaned against the wood post, gazing out over his property. The late morning light cut through the dust and sent streams of light across the land. On one hand, nothing looked any different than it did any other season. The cottonwoods still flowered and swayed in the light breeze, the bluebonnets and primrose still dotted the edge of the creek with color.
But on closer inspection, there were blemishes in the veneer. The crust was dry not just on the surface but deep enough that cracks had formed along the north banks of Deer Creek and farther upstream where it branched off the Colorado. The water levels were low, and Deer Creek wasn’t the only one feeling the pinch of pressure as the state waited for rain that didn’t look like it was gonna come.
“Jax,” he called across the corral. He gestured for his brother to join him.
