“I don’t care.”
“Eight hundred acres—half of the Baldwin property we just bought—for the two hundred acres between the Coulters’ place and our pasture. That’s a four-to-one ratio.”
Jake laughed, he couldn’t help it. “I don’t believe you.”
“I have the contract right here.”
“I know there’s a catch, because there’s no way in hell Mitchell would give us four times more land than he’s getting. And youwant us to sign tonight, without a lawyer? Do you think my mom is stupid?”
“I think she’s one of the smartest women I’ve ever met. I like your mom; I don’t want to screw her or your family.” Clive reached over to the passenger seat and grabbed a folder. “Where is she?”
“None of your business.”
Clive frowned, looked out at the dark sky and swirling wind.
“When she gets back, give her this. Have her call metonight.” He thrust the folder at Jake. He grabbed it and stuffed it under his jacket to keep it dry. “I know my brother can be a bit of a dick,” Clive said as he turned the ignition. “He tried to buy the whole farm when all he really wants is two hundred acres to give us a contiguous set of parcels. It’s a win-win, no tricks. So, think about it, have Ellie call me, okay?”
“No promises,” Jake said. He marched up the porch steps and stood with Mateo, Lyla, and Penny as they watched Clive turn around and drive back the way he came. Their driveway was a mess, the gravel sinking into the mud. He hoped his mom got back soon.
“What did he give you?” his great-grandmother asked.
“He says they want to trade half of the land they bought from Baldwin for two hundred acres of ours—the section where our cattle currently graze.”
“A trick,” Penny said. “I don’t trust any of the Robinsons, not even Clive.”
Jake agreed with his great-grandmother, but he couldn’t figure out how they could cheat them out of their land. His mom had a good lawyer, and she already knew about most of Verdacorp’s sneaky clauses. “I’m going to put this inside with Mom’s papers.”
“I was coming out to get you,” Penny said. “It’s after two, and Bobby isn’t home yet.”
“Did you call the Mendozas?”
“Avery is spending the night, Bobby left an hour ago. I’m getting worried.”
“I’ll call over there,” Jake said. He wasn’t worried yet—the road wasn’t flooded, and Bobby was probably still looking for the cat, though he should have come home when Mom told him to.
“Oh, and I talked to Millie a bit ago. She and George decided to visit their youngest daughter down in Frisco for the weekend and hoped you or Mateo could feed and water their bulls and chickens tomorrow and Sunday. Said they’d be home early afternoon.”
“That’s kind of last minute,” Jake said. He’d watched the Coulters’ animals many times, but they always gave him plenty of notice when they needed him.
“My guess is they don’t like the look of the storm and wanted to get out before the roads were cut off.”
Mateo said, “I can go over there after I fix the Pritchards’ generator.”
“No need until the morning,” Penny said. “Millie said the animals were taken care of for the day.”
Jake said, “If you can do it in the morning on your way here? I don’t know what the fields are going to be like, whether I’ll be able to take a horse or an ATV over there.”
Mateo nodded. “Will do. I’m going to grab some food and head out, then.” He went into the house.
Jake was relieved he didn’t have to leave the house. He was worried about the break-in at Baldwin’s place, and that the thieves may come here. They didn’t have anything of value, but maybe the thieves didn’t know that. He was the man of the house, and he took that responsibility to heart.
Not to mention that the barn had been sabotaged and they had their own animals and land to care for.
“Lyla, take an ATV and check the level of Whisper Creek,” Jake said. “I’ll call over to the Mendozas and find out when Bobby left. I may have to drive over there and get him.” If Bobby got the ATV stuck again, Jake would take away his privileges. He’d spent more time fixing the ATVs after Bobby rode them than anyone else, andonly two weeks ago he’d driven one into a ditch and Jake had to hook up his winch to get it out. There was a deep dent in the front bumper.
“Will do,” Lyla said, sounding more excited than she should.
“Don’t take any risks,” Jake warned her. “But if the creek is past the third mark on the pole, the low pasture will flood.” He didn’t have to tell her that it would only get worse because the rain showed no sign of letting up.
