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“It’s none of my business, but I have to ask why you had to do that.”
Pickett chuckled, shaking his head. “It wasn’t because I was on the run from the law or being mistreated by my family or in any kind of trouble. I’m assuming you found out that my name is Archibald Vanderlin Westmoreland the fourth. That alone should explain why I was anxious to change it—and change the life that had been laid out for me from my birth. I felt I had no choice, as the only heir. Because of that, I was expected to take over my father’s holdings. It was the last thing I wanted so I left, escaped. I’m sure you can understand also why I didn’t tell anyone out here my real name. I wanted people to like me for who I was, not for my family’s money.”
Holden nodded slowly. “You’ve certainly succeeded in doing that. Duffy thinks the sun rises and sets on you. The rest of us are quite enamored as well. But I have to ask...” The rancher’s gaze held his. “What happens now that your father is deceased? I hope you’re not planning to leave us.”
Pickett laughed and shook his head. “Not a chance as long as you’re happy with me being here.”
“What about your father’s...holdings?”
He knew right away what Holden was asking—just as he’d known that the rancher would see through the endowment that he’d had the family lawyer set up.
“I gave almost all of it away except for enough to purchase some land for a house should the day come when I get married, and plenty of savings for retirement when I can’t get my foot into a stirrup—though I’ll fight that as long as I can.”
Pickett could see that his boss was waiting for him to say it. “I never saw my family’s wealth as a blessing. To me it was an anchor around my neck. But my father and I talked before he died. He convinced me that it didn’t have to be that way. That I could share some of it and still keep the life I love. I hope he was right. Because I’m still Pickett Hanson. Just a ranch hand who loves his job.”
Holden studied him for a long moment. “Well, son, you have a place here on the McKenna Ranch for as long as you want. As for that land should you get married, I would be honored to have it be on this ranch. Like my other sons, you have your choice of a spot to build on.” With that, he rose and extended his hand. “Thank you. Your secret is safe with me.”
Pickett tried to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat. “Thank you,” he said as he shook the man’s hand. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that. There is no place I’d rather be than right here.”
Now all he had to do was tell Oakley.
As he left, he was glad that Holden hadn’t mentioned the endowment. This way they could both pretend that they didn’t know where it came from.
OAKLEYWASONher way into town, still upset about what CJ had told her about Pickett, when she passed the drilling rigs. She pulled over to let them pass and called Pickett out of habit. Fortunately, his phone went straight to voice mail. She didn’t leave a message. She felt confused, angry, hurt and worried. What else didn’t she know about the man?
Her phone rang. Pickett? It was Duffy.
“I just saw drilling equipment headed for your ranch,” he said without preamble.
“I saw it, too,” she said.
“Guess that means we go to work tonight. Midnight again? You know where they’re drilling?” he asked, sounding excited.
“Not yet.” She was thinking about her date with Pickett Saturday night, hoping she wasn’t in jail by then, because she really needed answers. While she didn’t trust CJ, she trusted that he hadn’t lied.
“You’ll let me know as soon as you have a location?” Duffy said.
“Yep.” She disconnected, hating that she was lying to her friend. She was doing this alone. The plan had been cooking for a while now. It was dangerous. Another reason she couldn’t bear Duffy or Pickett or whatever his name was now getting caught up in it.
Her fingers trembled as she pocketed her phone. Just the thought of Pickett’s kisses and lovemaking, not to mention their intimate phone call last night warmed her in a way she didn’t think she’d ever felt. Why hadn’t he told her last night on the phone that his name wasn’t really Pickett Hanson? Was he ever going to tell her now?
She pushed the thought away. She had to stop the drilling on the ranch. She couldn’t sit back and let her mother and CJ do this without a fight. Now more than ever she wanted to stop her brother. She headed into town to get the supplies she needed, assuring herself that she could pull this off.
Fortunately, she’d grown up on a ranch so she knew exactly what she needed and how to use it. If she planned this right, she’d get away with it as she had the other times.
And if things didn’t go as planned... Well, at least Duffy would know where she’d gone. Except she wouldn’t be meeting him at midnight. She planned to hit much earlier. It was a message to CJ and her mother.
But first, she needed to know where the gas company employees were headed with the drilling equipment. CJ would know. He, too, was trying to make a statement, she thought. And that was when she knew. Where was the one spot on the ranch that would make the most impact?
She knew her brother so well that she could predict exactly where the equipment was headed, she realized. A plan materialized as she drove. It was risky, but being in the same house with CJ was already dangerous and she feared it would get worse. She had to take a stand. Stopping the drilling was only the beginning if her mother and CJ didn’t get the message.
With the sheriff in the hospital she needed to be extra careful, because she feared her brother would take Stuart’s absence as a get-out-of-jail-free card. It was hard to say what he would do if he knew what she was up to. Or worse, that she’d remembered the day he shot her.
That was why she had to hit long before midnight—before CJ expected it. And without Duffy or Pickett. This time she was going it alone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
PICKETTDROVETOWARDthe small acreage in the badlands that Treyton had purchased. The price for the land had been low because of the mostly unusable property. It was questionable even if the area was viable for methane wells.
