Page 39 of High Water

“He does. It’s buried somewhere on his family’s property. Or at least we hope it is. If it survived a forest fire and Zephyrine’s brothers combing through every blade of surviving grass looking for it.”

“How do they know?”

“They own a security company. I assume they inserted themselves when they became aware Bishop was involved with us. Not to mention the property is adjacent to the ranch, and we know they’ve been trying to find a way on it for a while now.”

“Yeah. Hazel and Ramsey told me about how Curtis was searching the property, looking for something. I assume that’s what he wanted with Hazel too. But it’s not here. It’s on Bishop’s family ranch?” I clarify the details I know. With us traveling back and forth to Boston before we moved here, I wasn’t part of every twist and turn this ride has taken to get us all where we are.

“It is.”

“And what does this have to do with me?”

“The ranch is in his grandmother’s possession. She’s willed it to a distant cousin when she passes away. But she told Bishop and his half brother that if one of them has a child, she’ll reconsider. She just wants to make sure that it stays in the family for at least a couple more generations.”

Suddenly, everything is much clearer. Our daughter is Bishop’s heir apparent. The one and only so far as I know.

“You want to use Fallon in this scheme?”

“Not use her. Give her something. The land is hers. Or it should be. If things had been handed down in the normal order, she would have gotten the property.”

“So what, he wants a DNA test?” I’m trying to figure out where I’m needed so immediately in all of this.

“No. His grandmother knows Fallon’s his. She’s seen her.”

“He told someone without telling me he was planning to do that?” My temper threatens to rise again, and Levi holds out his hands.

“No. His grandmother was here on a visit to the Purgatory Falls Inn. Recognized it as the ranch he ran away to as a kid. Saw pictures of the family in the library of the inn and put two and two together,” Levi explains. I have a hard time believing she just stumbled on all that information and wasn’t snooping for it when she realized what ranch it was, but it’s the least of my problems right now.

“Then why not will it to her?” I’m not sure how I feel about Fallon inheriting property from Bishop, but if it’s hers by rights, then I don’t want to see her lose it because of stubbornness. On my part or anyone else’s.

“Because his grandmother wants it in the family for several more generations. Key word being family.”

“And she’s his family.” I assert the obvious. I’m happy to prove it with a DNA test if that’s what she needs to confirm her suspicions.

“His grandmother wants evidence that there’s a whole family unit. One that’s united. She doesn’t want to see the land getting split up or becoming the subject of a court case.”

United? My brow furrows as I try to make sense of what he’s saying, and then I realize, taking a step back in the process.

“No.” It’s a visceral reaction on my part. “If it’s what I’m thinking, absolutely not.”

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m not marrying Bishop.”

“Why not?”

“It’s a ludicrous thing to even suggest.” I stare at my brother in shock, trying to figure out why the hell he would need me to answer that question.

“Maybe. Maybe not.” My brother continues to be overly calm for my liking. “Fallon gets an inheritance. Her own place someday. A chance to expand our family’s holdings in the area. She gets to know her father, and he gets to know her. Bishop gets to help us find the relic and do something meaningful for his daughter’s future. Something only he can do.”

“And I get what exactly? Trapped in another failed marriage?”

“Bishop will do everything he can to make up for the past. To make you happy.”

“Is that what he told you to convince you this was a good idea?”

“He didn’t tell me. I know him. I know he’ll do his best to make you and Fallon happy.”

“Until it’s hard. Which won’t take long. Then he’ll get frustrated and bored. Then regret making this decision. I’m not putting Fallon through another divorce so quickly.”