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“Sounds like you’re doing well, son,” he said with a sigh. “I really miss the ranch, but know that this is the best place for me.”
“You know, anytime you want to come home, you’re welcome to,” he said, remembering Nathan was living there full-time. But they would make accommodations for his grandfather.
“Thanks, but hiring private nurses was a ridiculous expense, and while I can roll this chair around the place, I can’t bathe or dress myself. That I need help with.”
Cal nodded. “I have a question I need to ask you. You’ve never said much about how you got the Sweet B. Can you tell me now?”
His grandfather frowned, his wrinkled brow coming together between his eyes. “Why?”
“I’d just like to know more about how you got started,” he lied.
With a sigh, his grandfather looked down and then glanced up at him with the oddest look on his face. “Just like everyone else. I bought the land from a man who didn’t appreciate what he owned. He let the ranch get in bad financial shape and I stepped in and offered to buy it from him.”
But that was not what the deed showed. It showed no money changed hands. Was he telling him the truth? What if Lillian was right?
“Did you know the previous owner?”
He gave a snort. “Oh yes. His family had the land for generations, and he’d been stupid. He needed cash and I helped him out and took over the property. I’d always wanted it, but didn’t think he would ever sell.”
“How much time passed before you learned about my situation,” Cal said. He never liked saying the words foster care. It felt shameful, and yet he knew that was not true. The only reason he was still alive was because that teacher contacted CPS and had him pulled from his parents. Eventually, his father would have killed him or worse.
“Two years,” he said. “Your grandmother never lived in the house because she died before I bought the ranch.”
Did he really buy it?
“Grandpa, you need to know that a young woman is sniffing around town about the ranch. She’s a lawyer. She looked at the bill of sale, and no money had changed hands. It looks strange to her, and she’s doing research on the chances that if she finds out anything illegal happened, she’s going to get the ranch back.”
His eyes narrowed. “She can sniff until the cows come home, but I got the ranch because Paul Bradley, the previous owner was an idiot. And no, I’m not going to tell you what happened. We agreed to never speak of it again and I’m holding up my part of the bargain.”
That was odd.
“It’s been almost twenty years. Why won’t you tell me so I can get Nathan to protect the property from her? I’m fighting to save the land we both love. But I can also tell you she’s determined to learn the truth.”
“Well, she won’t hear it from me. She can find Paul and ask him why I got the land from him without paying a dime. And good luck finding him. The son of a bitch is a lying, snake, so be careful.”
He glanced out the big window of his grandfather’s room. As much as he didn’t want to believe Lillian, he feared she was right.
“What happens if I lose the ranch?”
“Stop saying that. You’re not going to lose the ranch. I got it fair and square and without paying a dime,” he said.
Just then, the nurse walked in the door. “Mr. Thomas, your supper will be here in ten minutes.”
She handed him a paper cup filled with pills. “Please take your medication. Is your grandson going to stay for supper?”
“No,” Cal said, knowing he didn’t want to eat the food in the nursing home. His grandfather said it was all right, but he wasn’t going to try it out. “I need to get back and see if Nathan learned anything so we can prepare in case she decides to take us to court.”
“Paul had an adorable little granddaughter. Is this who is causing all the problems?”
“Yes,” Cal said. “Her name is Lillian Bradley. She’s now an attorney, and she wants the Sweet B back.”
All he could do was see her sweet curves, her long legs, the way she moaned when she came. But he wouldn’t tell his grandfather about that.
The old man laughed. “Good luck with that. She’s not getting the ranch back, and you’re not going to give it to her. Do you understand me?”
“Why would I give her the ranch I love?” he said, confused.
“Because women have a way of convincing a man to do something they don’t want to,” his grandfather replied. “Believe me, I know.”
