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Montgomery growled. “That’s the way Prescott works. He’ll purchase the property like he has three others.”
“Then yours is left. Right?” I didn’t need him to answer me. I knew a portion of why he was so angry. “Has he been threatening you?”
He laughed, shaking his head back and forth. “For years, although up until recently, they’ve been subtle but blatant.”
“Meaning?”
“A few notes have been delivered over the course of a few weeks.”
“As in?”
“Death threats.”
“Jesus.” A cold shiver trickled down my spine. “You think he had something to do with your wife’s death.”
“I am certain of it. While the damn sheriff and fire inspector ruled it an accident, I was there. I smelled the gasoline. I know what happened, but they just covered it up. Sadly, there was no way to prove it.”
“Just like the fire tonight. You could smell gasoline strongly.”
After shifting in my direction, he took my hand into his. “I know and I would put nothing past him. His business partners invested a great deal of money based on his promises. From what I’ve learned, the deadlines placed by the county are coming dangerously close to an end. If he can’t get my estate, which sits smack in the middle, then he won’t be able to finalize the plans. And I assure you that I’d rather die than allow him to touch the winery. Wolfe’s board of directors is breathing down my neck, trying to convince me to sell. I bought some time, but I’m not certain how long. Sadly, they have the ability to vote me out of my position. I believe at least two of the members are working with Prescott.”
“They can do that even though you own the place outright?”
“They can force a sale of certain shares of stock. Depending on the market, they could become worthless in value. That will drag the reputation of the winery down to an all-time low. My father wanted to make certain our stocks would be public, allowing anyone the opportunity of owning them. I assure you that Prescott will purchase every share.”
“That’s insane. They would do that to you?”
“If necessary. That’s business. You must understand that we came from nothing, my grandfather moving his entire family from a reservation in Montana when he was barely twenty years old. We are Cheyenne, true warriors, but our numbers are limited. My ancestry is proud, but my father wanted little to do with our heritage, trying to pretend that we were just like everyone else.”
“That’s why your name is Montgomery.”
He eased his hand away from mine, spreading out his fingers them pressing the tips against my face. “That and in a nod to my very beautiful Californian mother.”
“Half breed.”
“Yes, the sheriff does enjoy throwing that in my face.”
His touch was enigmatic, pulling me into a quiet place of reflection. I adored his touch, the tingling sensations as they cascaded down the length of my body.
“You need to fight what’s happening with everything you have. You are a proud Cheyenne as well as a winery owner. That presentation I left you doesn’t include my thoughts on using your heritage as a selling point, but that’s really what I have in mind. There is such goodness inside of you, an almost desperate need to care for those around you. I’m so sorry for the tragedies that you’ve endured, but you’re not going to exorcise your demons without shoving the past aside. Help all the small wineries.”
He continued exploring my face, the rough pads of his fingers sliding gingerly over my eyes and nose, moving ever so slowly down to my mouth and jaw. I was forced to stop talking, enjoying the sensations, my heart racing.
“That’s not a bad idea, Aspen. What do you suggest?”
“A commercial. A good one is going to cost some money, but if you do it right, you’ll go national. I have some network connections. They would eat it up.”
His chuckle was laced with complete amusement. “You want me in front of a camera talking? You have to be kidding me.”
“Why would I be? Think about the power of getting to the people, talking about the various wineries and how vital they are to the area. Share how amazing it is to take a vacation in Napa. Show them a beautiful experience that has nothing to do with casinos. In the meantime, I’m going to work my magic on getting the contracts back.”
“That could be next to impossible.”
“I have certain ways of getting what I want.”
“And you’re not going to do anything crazy. You don’t completely understand what kind of man Prescott is.”
After wrinkling my nose, I knew he would watch me like a hawk. “Stop worrying. I know what I’m doing.”
