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“Sounds like Gramps. Do you know he sent me a twenty-dollar bill in the mail every year for my birthday?”
Honor giggled. It sounded like music to his ears. It had been a long time since he’d heard the lovely sound. “That’s really sweet.”
Joshua had the sensation of eyes boring into him. Boone stood across the room, staring at him with an intensity Joshua couldn’t ignore. He began to walk over toward where Joshua stood with Honor, his stride sure and steady. Honor eyed her brother warily.
Joshua met Boone’s gaze head-on. Something told him Honor’s brother hadn’t walked over to offer condolences. Boone didn’t waste any time. “I hear you’ve been talking to the Alloy Corporation about the Diamond R.”
“That’s right,” Joshua said, his stare unwavering. A lot had changed in six years. He wasn’t afraid of Sheriff Boone Prescott anymore. Back when he had been a teenager, Joshua had been intimidated by Boone’s authority and the position he held in law enforcement. Not to mention the fact that he’d been Honor’s big brother. Back then he had always been looking for trouble. Now, it was the last thing he wanted.
“Selling to that outfit will hurt this town,” Boone said in a clipped tone. His voice was filled with censure.
“That remains to be seen,” Joshua said. “It could open up the town to more revenue just like Lovely Boots,” he said, referencing the boot company based on Hazel’s creation of genuine Alaskan boots. From what his grandfather had told him, the company had helped Love put money back in the town coffers after years of downturn in the local economy.
“To be fair,” Honor interjected, “Lovely Boots has provided a lot of jobs for locals. A dude ranch would largely benefit the owner. And it would make Love a tourist trap.” Honor shuddered. “That would irrevocably change this town. It wouldn’t be a quaint fishing village anymore. It would be unrecognizable.”
Joshua bit back an angry retort. He counted to ten in his head before he responded. “A dude ranch would need employees, so it could help the local economy. Surely that’s not a bad thing.”
Honor didn’t respond. Her jaw hardened. She had a mutinous expression stamped on her face.
She didn’t need to say anything further. Of course Honor was siding with her brother. He shouldn’t be surprised. Nothing had changed in this town. He was still on the outside looking in. But it didn’t really matter what the Prescotts or the townsfolk thought. He and Theo had the authority to decide the destiny of the Diamond R Ranch. And there was nothing any of them could do about it. They held all the power. It was a complete reversal of fortune.
He didn’t enjoy feeling this way, but for so long he had been powerless against the judgment and the condemnation of this small town. Even before the fire, Joshua had been viewed as a troublemaker and a rabble-rouser. His tarnished reputation had caused a lot of heartache for his mother, who had shed buckets of tears over the situation.
Suddenly, Cameron came over and stood next to Boone. Declan and Finn followed suit. Joshua let out a labored sigh. It was as if the cavalry had just ridden in. So much for a nice reception after Bud’s memorial.
“So tell us, Ransom, is selling the ranch to the highest bidder a way of getting back at this town?” Cameron asked, his brows furrowed.
Joshua shook his head. He felt incredulous. Hadn’t he established any goodwill in this town? He had lived here for eighteen years. Surely in all that time he’d done at least a few good things.
“For the record, revenge isn’t my style,” he said, keeping his voice calm and measured. Joshua didn’t feel the need to explain that he had developed a relationship with God after leaving Love. He knew the God he served wouldn’t want him to harbor hatred in his heart or fight with anyone. He had evolved over the past six years.
Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Honor?
?s face radiated discomfort. “Can you boys take it down a few notches?” Honor asked. “This isn’t the time nor the place. Today is about Bud.”
“Bud didn’t want his land to be sold to someone who would desecrate it,” Declan said. “It isn’t what he wanted!”
“I’m getting pretty sick and tired of people telling me what my grandfather wanted!” Joshua gritted his teeth. “Let me just tell all of you at the same time so I won’t have to repeat it. Nothing’s been decided. Theo and I will take everything into consideration and decide what’s best for us.”
Finn shook his head. “That’s no big surprise. Doing what’s best for Love has never really interested you.”
Joshua sucked his teeth. It was a low blow. His faith was being tested. Turn the other cheek. It was a Bible verse he lived by. But now there were people in his face pushing his buttons. There was only so much he could ignore.
Just then Theo walked up, nudging his way into the circle. “What’s going on over here?” he asked. “What did I miss? Are you guys catching up on old times?”
“Something like that,” Joshua drawled, making eye contact with his brother.
“We were inquiring about your intention to sell the Diamond R,” Boone explained. “Word has gotten around town. Folks are curious. And concerned about developers trampling all over Bud’s land.”
“That’s mighty neighborly of you to ask,” Theo said, grinning at Boone. “We’re still weighing our options, but at the moment, selling to the Alloy Corporation is where we’re leaning.”
Boone scowled at Theo. The tension was so thick one could cut it with a knife.
Joshua could see the concern flickering in Honor’s eyes. It was all over her face. She was dead set against the sale of the ranch and still reeling from disappointment about the provisions in Bud’s will.
He felt a twisting sensation in his gut. So many years had passed by since they had been in love with one another, yet he still cared about what she thought of him. A part of him had secretly hoped Honor would be impressed by all the changes he’d undergone in the ensuing years. Clearly none of that mattered now. Her focus was on the Diamond R ranch and whether or not it would be turned into a trendy dude ranch.
