Page 208 of Tessa and Nash

I’m getting this now. She’s playing chess while everyone else is stuck on checkers. She’s thinking three steps ahead. We’re not just solving a land dispute here; we’re navigating a family feud. The kind that’s been brewing for decades, fueled by resentment and the strain of old grudges.

“I like it,” I say, weighing each word. “It’s not perfect, but it might work. As long as we don’t go too far.”

“Exactly,” she agrees, eyes locked on mine. “We can’t give him everything he wants, but we can give him enough to feel like he’s been heard.”

The way she says it makes me feel we’re getting somewhere.

Together.

Finally, it feels we’re not on opposite sides of the fence. We might actually be able to pull this off without tearing everything apart.

I shift in my seat, letting the silence hang, before I speak again, quieter this time. “You know, this feels... different. The way we’re doing this. Working together, I mean.”

Tessa glances at me, a slight smile pulling at the corners of her lips.

“You’re not the only one who’s noticed,” she says dryly. Then, softer, “I think we’re getting the hang of it.”

I can’t help but let out a small laugh, the tension in my chest easing just a bit. “I think we are. Doesn’t hurt that you’re smarter than me, though.”

She raises an eyebrow. “You’re just figuring that out?”

“Maybe,” I grin, leaning back in my chair. “But you’re right. This is smart. It’s... it’s what needs to happen.”

She pauses, letting that settle before she picks up her pen, but not before her eyes meet mine again. This time, there’s a kind of understanding there. It wasn’t there before. I feel it as a low hum in the room, because the two of us are finally in sync.

Tessa’s not just my rival anymore. She’s not even just a Long. She’s someone I can count on. And in a town where everyone’s got an opinion, where everything feels it’s on the verge of exploding, that’s saying something.

“We’ll need to ensure the plan’s clear… no ambiguity,” she says, drawing a few quick circles on the page. “We present it as a partnership, something both sides benefit from.”

“Right,” I say, glancing at the circles. “I’ll need to get some specifics down, talk with Faith about creating a social media strategy that’s all about sharing the idea... get people to feel like they’ve had a hand in it, even if they haven’t.”

I scribble the words GET FAITH INVOLVED → CREATE INTERACTIVE POSTS in the corner of the page. I’m not sure it’ll work, but it’s a step in the right direction. I quickly sketch a little idea of a post: Vote for the Best Ranch Activities → What Would You Want to Try?

Tessa looks at it and grins. “That’s actually a great idea.”

I shrug, suddenly feeling it’s a little less ridiculous. “Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. People like the chance to feel involved, especially in a small town.”

I add a few more notes in the margins, my handwriting slanting messily across the page as my mind starts racing with more possibilities.

& GUEST RANCH DETAILS &

Target Audience: Families, nature lovers, experience seekers

Sustainable Practices: Solar, low impact, local sourcing (ask Rose)

Revenue Model: Weekends only, starting small, limit to X cabins, exclusive bookings through website $$

Tessa frowns thoughtfully as she examines my scribbles. “We’ll need to include a plan for how we keep it small at first. Too many people, and it becomes just another tourist trap, which I know is what you want to avoid.”

“I got it,” I say quickly, jotting down, LIMITED BOOKINGS → EXCLUSIVE ACCESS → LOYALTY PROGRAM

Her eyes flicker, a little surprise mixed with recognition, and I realize it’s starting to click for both of us. This isn’t just some side project or half-baked idea.

It’s real. It’s ours.

She leans back, studying the page. “You’re really serious about this, aren’t you? Making it work, even if we have to placate my uncle.”

I nod, biting my lip. Tessa’s uncle isn’t a man I enjoy dealing with, but I get it. Money’s a touchy subject for him, and the idea of compromise doesn’t exactly sit well with his worldview. Still, if we can play it right, make him feel included but not in control, we might stand a chance.