“You have more than family, according to Dad’s will—you have a fourth a share of fifty acres of beachfront property, a dilapidated boatyard, and one fourth ownership of the Sandy Point Pier,” Wes said.
“Oh good, maybe you can cover the taxes this year, Renn.They’re a doozy, I don’t mind telling you,” Levi said.
“Well, that’s true; I guess if we’re going to redistribute the inheritance, we need to factor in paying back Levi first,” Wes said.
“Good grief, Wes, I don’t care about the money or the land.Did you hear Gran?We have a younger brother we didn’t know about.The poor kid has been walking around twenty-something years thinking we’re crappy brothers!”Levi said exasperated before starting to pace the living room.“This is intense.”
“I have to admit I’m shocked Dad had an affair, and a son he never told us about,” Dalton said, standing.“But it won’t do me any good being mad at a ghost.What I want to know is what you want, Renn?”
“I don’t want your money or your land,” Renn said.
“No?Then why are you here?”
“I guess that depends on all of you,” Renn said, honestly.“The only family I’ve ever known was my mama.”
Dalton nodded.“Not anymore.Even if Wes’s prickly attitude puts you off, and Levi gets annoying, you won’t be able to shirk Gran now that she’s got you here,” Dalton said with a faint smile and took a few steps closer to Renn before he held out his hand.
Renn nodded and shook his half-brother’s hand.It was ridiculous but there seemed to be some kind of connection, something he’d never felt before.If he was honest with himself, he liked the idea of having brothers.
“Why don’t I make a room for you here—we can all visit and get to know each other,” Gran said.
“All due respect, Ms.Hart, I have a room at the inn.I planned to stick around town for a bit while we figure this out.But I’ll be honest I don’t know what I want.This question has been haunting me since that day I met your dad.I saw the pictures of his happy family sitting on his desk.His three sons smiling at the camera.My brothers.”
“What question has been haunting you?”Dalton said.
“Who was my father and why didn’t he have any interest in me?”
“Will you at least stay for super?Tell us what you’ve been up to since college?”Gran said.
Renn wasn’t sure how much he wanted to admit to the Harts.But he wanted to find out what type of people they really were and figure out for himself if he wanted anything to do with them.
“Thank you for the offer, ma’am, but I think maybe I better let y’all have tonight to talk things through.”
“Alright, then why don’t you come on over tomorrow.You and I can talk.I make the best peach pie in the entire state,” Gran said.
“That sounds good.”Renn held out his hand to Mrs.Hart.“It’s really nice to finally meet you.”
But the older woman just moved closer and held out her arms wide as she moved up on her tiptoes and he couldn’t help but lean down and let her hug him.
“You look an awful lot like my late son to me, especially when he was your age.”She released him from the warm hug but gripped his arms, “Mischievous and stubborn.”
Renn smiled.“Yes, ma’am.”Then he just lifted his hand in an awkward wave to his half-brothers.“I guess maybe we’ll talk tomorrow if you want.You can reach me at the inn, and Wes has my number.”
Levi stomped over.“This is super awkward, but if you’re my brother then we’re going to need to get past it.”He held out his hand.
Renn shook it, floored by the change in Levi’s demeanor.He didn’t expect the warmth from any of them, even though that probably wasn’t fair.They were just hearing for the first time about him—that much was clear—so he couldn’t be mad at them for ignoring him all these years anymore.
“We’ll be in touch,” Wes said, keeping his distance.
Renn nodded then headed for the door.Having a sheriff for an older brother may not be such a bad thing, if Wes decided he wanted to have another brother.Putting himself out there had been difficult.But he didn’t have anything to lose because for the past twenty-six years he hadn’t had them.Now after meeting his grandmother and brothers it was clear he did have a lot to gain.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Miranda
Long Live Cowgirls
Squeezing her thighs,Miranda held the leather reins in her hands as the muscular beast beneath her galloped over the sandy path.With the wind whipping her hair back it felt more like flying than riding.But galloping was the only thing that ever let her feel free from all her stress and worries.Beast was the largest and most powerful stud of all the horses she’d ever ridden, but he was also the smartest and the most intuitive.He always knew exactly where she wanted to go.
