I nodded and smiled because that seemed expected, and I squeezed Jesse’s hand about as hard as I could.
Seventy-five percent that I wanted to share out. I’d done what I came here to do. I’d survived the cold, the initial friction with Jesse, and I’d fallen in love. My grandfather had somehow known what he was doing.
Jesse stood when it was over, already halfway out of the chair before I’d fully processed the words. His expression hadn’t changed. If anything, he looked… wary, and I hated that. Did he think that now that I had the majority share, plans would change?
Outside, the September sun was round and fat, and around us, the town carried on as if nothing had shifted at all.
“So,” I said, and tugged him to a stop, stepping back into the alley between the courthouse and the post office. “That’s that.”
“Yeah,” Jesse replied, as I wound my arms around his neck and laced my hands.
“And now we get to do everything we wanted, work on the cabins, build the horse program, maybe get married.”
He stared down at me, eyes wide. “Huh?”
I fluttered my eyelashes at him and went up on tiptoes to kiss my sexy cowboy. I’d come here with plans. With full rehearsed arguments about selling, about opportunity, abouthow this could be the start of something better for both of us if only he agreed to sell.
I’d fallen in love and wanted a family I could call my own. I wanted lazy suppers on the porch, a dog, and yeah, maybe even kids one day. I wanted Jesse in my life forever.
“Is that a proposal?” Jesse asked after some more kissing.
“Nope,” I said with a grin. “but it’s definitely a bullet point on my planning spreadsheet and appears just after the cabins and the charity work and the dog, and before adoption.”
He laughed, then, and lifted me off the ground, twirling me as if I weighed nothing.
“I love you, City.”
I held on tight, dizzy and happy, and so much in love it hurt. “I love you, cowboy.”
Forever.
Chapter 28
Jesse
Six months later
The call had come out of nowhere, the last day of March, a year and some days since Lucas had arrived at Snow Creek. Unknown number. Bad timing. I almost didn’t answer it.
I was halfway through paperwork on the horse purchases when the phone rang, the landline echoing through the kitchen as it always did, too loud. It was now used only for emergencies, because Walter had insisted he needed it. Irritation was already rising because I suspected it was marketers, but then I recalled that this was the phone my dad would have answered to talk to Lucas that time, and I picked it up with more enthusiasm.
“Snow Creek Ranch,” I said.
There was nothing on the other end. Breathing. Static. Long enough that I checked the receiver, convinced the line had gone dead.
“Hello?” I tried again.
A voice came through, hesitant and rough around the edges. “Hey, this is… uh, this is … I’m wondering if anyone other than Abel Knox is there that I could speak to?”
I went very still. Just using my father’s name made me think this was some shit that had happened in town, and I steeled myself for more.
“Is this one of the hands?” the caller asked, and I was still in fight mode, and must have hesitated too long. “Okay, well, if someone could call me back, I’d appreciate it. My name is Hoyt, and I?—”
“Hoyt! It’s me! Jesse.” For a second, I’d thought the line was playing tricks on me. That my head had filled in a name it wasn’t ready to hear. My brother was calling me.
I didn’t answer fast enough. I heard him shift, heard the doubt creep in.
Silence, but not dropped-call silence. Shock silence.
