“We also have a non-disclosure agreement that needs to be signed,” he adds, placing it neatly over the offer paper. I look it over with quick eyes, and every phrase inside of it screams out at me.
No discussions about the offer with outside parties, immediate eviction of the property, and basically everything on it belongs to them, effective immediately.
I had doubts before, but this confirmed them immediately. I meet his awaiting gaze and take a steady breath. “Can I take a little longer to sit on this?” I ask, and he stares at me, confused.
“We already discussed the numbers. I’m not sure what more time you need,” he says, and I’m honestly shocked that he would even take that kind of tone with me.
This is a huge step, whether this land was initially mine or not. Anyone would have doubts when something holds this much love and history.
“As I said, I need more time to sit on this,” I repeat, this time more forceful, folding up the papers and placing them in my pocket. “I’ll be in touch.” I stand up without waiting for him to respond.
At this point, I know exactly what I’m not going to do—and it sure as hell isn’t selling toHorizon Group.
I drive back to the ranch, hoping I can find Gage and tell him that I couldn’t do it. My heart wasn’t in it, and even if he decides there is no possibility of us ever being more than a fling, then fine—but at least he has the opportunity to do what he did in the beginning: buy my shares.
As soon as I step out of my car, I look around the ranch, hoping to find him, even though his truck isn’t parked where it usually is. What the hell? Where is he?
I spot Jesse and Mason down at the fence, fixing it again. What happened while I was gone?
“Hey, guys, what happened here?” I ask, deciding that Gage can wait.
Jesse looks up and sighs. “Someone cut the fence again. Gage left to go find the guy,” he says, and my eyes widen in surprise.
“He saw it happen?”
Mason smiles. “Nah, your fancy security cameras did.” He points upward at the house, and I look up at it, smiling softly that Gage thought to take advantage of it.
Gage is one of those people who may as well live off the grid and as far away from technology as possible if he can help it. It wasn’t that he wasn’t good with it; he just didn’t like it.
Well, I got both of my answers, so I leave them to their business and head back up the hill. The fact that no oneseems concerned about Gage running off to confront the person who has been linked to sabotaging us is crazy to me.
What if the person is completely insane and confrontational, and Gage ends up in danger because of it? What if he gets hurt—or worse? I’d go down there myself if I knew where he went, and knowing him, I doubt he told anyone who was behind it.
It’s so typical of Gage, trying to do everything by himself.
I walk into the office and take the agreement and non-disclosure agreement out of my pocket, tossing them onto the desk. I won’t have any use for them anymore after this.
One way or another, I refuse to work with Horizon, not after what I saw buried in that clause. It’s almost as if they were betting on me not reading it or something.
I can hold out until the six months are up, even if it doesn’t end how I wish it would. I know I can make this work so Gage can have full ownership without me.
I sigh and take a seat in the chair, resting my face on my hand when I notice an envelope sitting on the desk. I lean closer and catch the names etched on it; it’s directed to Gage and me.
How long has Gage known about this? Or maybe he just found it himself? I know he goes through his uncle’s papers constantly, but after being here as long as I have, I also know how easy it is to overlook things.
I feel like he wouldn’t have kept this from me. At least, I hope he wouldn’t.
I take it and rip it open, leaning back in the chair as my heart starts to pound.
>>>
To Sloane and Gage,
If you’re reading this, it means I finally kicked the bucket, but don’t you worry, I’ve got a laundry list for you to do, Gage. As for you, Sloane Carter, I know we were never properly introduced, so here it is: the name is Samuel Hollis. For decades, my family built this ranch from the soil you’re standing on to the main house you’ve been lodging in. Everything on Hollis Ranch was built by the hands of the Hollis family. It may not seem like much, but that’s our legacy.
Throughout time, the ranch has struggled to adapt with the changing times. Technology advancement and ever-changing agricultural laws became too difficult for this old brain to process. Hell, it was a problem for my daddy, too. Because of that, we had to call in the big guns: your father.
I know you might be thinking, “Why the heck did this guy decide to give half ownership of hislegacy farm to the daughter of the environmental consultant who helped save his ranch?” Well, it’s simple, really. Besides the obvious gratitude for all your daddy did for my family, it’s because of Gage.
