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“She might be the prettiest,” Jarod said.“But Sweetie is a determined country gal.Look how long she’s been trying to break into the music business.And you’ll need a determined country gal to run a ranch.”
“Wait a second,” Decker said as he held up his hands.“What are you two talking about?”
Sheryl Ann spoke from her spot behind the counter.“You haven’t heard?”
“Heard what?”
Coach Denny butted in like he always did.“Hank Holiday is going to give his ranch to the first man to convince one of his daughters to marry him.I’d give it a go, but I’m a coach not a rancher.”
“You’re also too old and hard of hearing,” Sheryl Ann said.“Hank’s not giving away the ranch to the first man to marry one of his daughters.He’s giving it away to the first man who can get the ranch out of debt.A daughter is just an added bonus.Like when I throw in an extra muffin when you buy a dozen.”
Mrs.Stokes snorted.“Neither one of you got it right.It’s not Hank giving away the ranch.It’s his mama, Mitzy Holiday.She told me at our last book meeting that she was hoping to marry off one of her granddaughters to one of the Remington boys.Which leaves you two yahoos out completely.”
“Well, damn.”Jared looked at Matt.“You want to go fishing, Mattie?”
“Hell yeah.If that’s okay with you, Deck.”
Decker was so stunned by what he’d just heard all he could do was nod.
Both he and Rome had laughed off Mimi’s text.But now it looked like it hadn’t been a prank after all.Of everyone in town, Mrs.Stokes was one of the few people who didn’t gossip unless she had all the facts.
Decker couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that Mimi had come up with the plan.Or that she thought it would actually work.Grandmother wishes carried a lot of weight.But he couldn’t see Sweetie or her sisters marrying a Remington just because their grandmother asked them to.And how could Mimi give away the ranch when Hank was the one who owned it?
Decker needed to stop the crazy gossip before it caused him more headaches.
“Look,” he said.“I don’t know what Ms.Mimi said, but the Holiday sisters are not up for grabs like some prize at the county fair.Nor is the Holiday Ranch.”
“Of course it’s up for grabs,” Mrs.Stokes said.“Everyone knows the ranch is in trouble.I won’t be surprised if it goes up for sale within the month.That could be why all those girls came home.They came to say goodbye to the place where they grew up.”
Decker didn’t know why the thought of the Holidays selling the ranch bothered him so much.Maybe because it had been the place where he’d grown up too.It seemed wrong for it to belong to someone besides the Holidays.
“I’m sure the Holidays aren’t selling the ranch,” Decker said.“They’re not giving it away either.Now everyone needs to get back to their business and stay out of other people’s.”
But that was easier said than done for the townsfolk.Everywhere Decker went that day, he overheard people talking about the Holiday sisters being on the marriage mart.Decker figured there was only one way to clear things up.If he wanted to stop the gossip, he needed to talk to Mimi.
After the kiss, he hoped he could avoid Sweetie, but she was the first person he saw when he pulled up to the ranch.
The second was Rome’s little brother, Casey.
Decker had always liked Casey.It was hard not to like someone so rascally and charming.While Rome was the responsible, dedicated, hardworking older brother, Casey was the irresponsible, carefree, devilish younger brother.He was also the biggest flirt in Wilder, Texas.
Right now, he seemed to be flirting with Sweetie.
They were sitting on the porch swing and Casey’s arm rested on the back as he leaned in and whispered something into Sweetie’s ear that had her doing the snorty laugh that had never failed to make Decker smile.
He wasn’t smiling now.The feral feeling he’d been struggling with since Sweetie came back to town reared its ugly head and he slammed the door a little harder than necessary when he got out.
“Hey, Deck!”Casey greeted him with a big smile.
Decker tried to get ahold of his temper as he climbed the porch steps.“I thought you were going to Abilene to buy horses.”
“I am, but I got an interesting text this mornin’ and thought I’d come check it out.”Casey tipped his head.“You okay, Deck?You look a little flushed.This hot January getting to you?”
What was getting to him was Casey’s arm on the back of the swing ...way too close to Sweetie.
“What are you doing here?”he asked, even though he knew damn good and well why Casey was there.He’d gotten the same offer as his brother had.“I thought Hank chased you off with a shotgun last time you showed up here.”
Casey winked at Sweetie.“Some things are worth risking your life for.”
