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Russell liked the idea that Rafe took what they’d done seriously. It filled him with the hope that something might be possible between them. Then he might be able to put the ghost of Jase behind him for good.
Maybe it was best that he go home tonight. A little distance might allow him to think—something that was hard to do with Rafe so close. Even as he gazed out the window at the snow, he was still keenly aware of Rafe standing up and approaching him. He could almost feel Rafe’s hands before they slipped around his waist.
He closed his eyes as Rafe’s warmth pressed to his back. Russell soaked it up and didn’t dare move in case the spell between them broke. Neither of them seemed inclined to move, but Russell took a chance and slowly turned in Rafe’s arms.
“Do you really need to go?” Rafe asked.
Russell shook his head. “I just thought you might need some time alone, that maybe things had moved a little fast.” He stroked Rafe’s stubbled cheek. “I didn’t want to push you.” His heart raced at the warmth in Rafe’s eyes, and Russell slowly closed the distance between them just as the dogs trooped into the room and pranced to the door.
“I’d better let them out before they flood the kitchen floor.” Rafe stepped back and went to the door. When he opened it, a blast of cold air jetted into the room as the dogs raced outside, tails wagging. “They’re good dogs.”
“Yeah, they are,” Russell agreed.
“If you want to go into the living room, I’ll be there in a minute. I need to check on the horses for the night. When I get back, I’ll make us some cocoa—the perfect thing on a winter night.”
Rafe pulled on his boots and coat, then gave Russell a quick kiss before heading out into the snow. Russell hadn’t been sure what to expect when he’d first met Rafe. They had seemed like oil and water, but maybe they were just two guys trying to figure shit out.
Russell went into the living room and watched through the window as Rafe trudged out to the barn, the dogs romping around him. Damn, he could watch that man for the rest of his life. That idea both thrilled and scared him. Rafe seemed to push all the right buttons, but Russell knew better than to rush into anything. That was where he’d gone wrong before.
Chapter 7
“I’LL BEthere in about ten minutes,” Luther told Rafe first thing Monday morning.
“No problem. Just be careful,” Rafe said. He ended the call on the phone Russell had loaned him and put the tractor in gear to clear the last of the snow from the drive. He was just putting the equipment away when Russell pulled in, followed by Luther. Elliott and Russell got out of one truck while Luther parked his. He’d never had so many people around at the same time.
“Luther,” Elliott said as they shook hands. Then he turned to Rafe. “We were on our way into town, and I thought we’d drop by on the way. I want to talk over some business with you.”
“It seems everyone wants to do that this morning,” Rafe said. “Y’all come on in where it’s warm and we’ll take care of things.” He smiled and whistled for the dogs, who bounded out from inside the barn. Rafe was more than a little confused by all this activity, and he exchanged a look with Russell, who seemed contrite. Rafe figured coming over was Elliott’s doing.
“Let me put some coffee on,” Rafe said once they were inside. He started a pot, and they all took a seat at the table.
Elliott cleared his throat. “I’ll make this quick so you can get on to other things. We’re in a position to expand our beef production, and you may be able to help us with that.”
Rafe swallowed. “You want to buy the ranch?” He turned to Russell as a sense of betrayal welled up. Why did everyone think that if they threw enough money at him, he’d just go away? Maybe he should have expected it, but after Saturday and spending time with Russell—
“No. This is your family land,” Elliott said. “I meant what I said to you the other night. You need to keep it. But there’s quite a bit of it that is going unused, and it has been that way for a while. What I’d like to do is lease some of that land from you. You’re using a few hundred acres at most right now. We’d be willing to lease whatever you don’t think you’re going to use.”
“Oh, I see,” Rafe said, relieved.
“It will take some time for you to build up your herd. In the meantime, we will take good care of the land, treating it like it was our own. You have a little over a thousand acres of land that you haven’t been putting to use. So we’d like to do that for you.” Elliott met his gaze. “You don’t need to give us an answer immediately. Just think about it. If you have plans for the land, then that’s great and we’ll understand.”
“No, I’ve got no plans.” He poured them each a mug of coffee. “I haven’t had the chance to give it much thought, honestly. But I appreciate the offer. I’ll definitely think about it.” So much had been happening in the past few weeks that he had barely had time to sleep. The lease would give him the opportunity for the land to bring in some income. Then he turned to the lawyer. “Luther, what do you have for me?”
Luther glanced at Elliott and Russell, as if to ask if it was okay to speak about private matters in front of them. But Rafe had already told Russell about what was in the safe-deposit box, so he simply nodded.
Luther cleared his throat. “I verified this morning that the stocks are still valid. In some cases, they have even split, and dividends were used to buy more stock. I’m still getting final figures, but it looks like there’s quite a bit of money there.”
“I see.” Rafe turned to the others. “I keep wondering why Uncle Mack didn’t use any of that for himself,” he said, biting his lower lip. “Luther, would you mind doing some additional digging for me?”
Then he turned back to Elliott and Russell. “Uncle Mack kept some letters—Russell knows about them. It seems that Uncle Mack had a friend.” He looked at Luther. “And, well, I want you to try to find him.”
Then Rafe hurried out of the room. He returned a few minutes later with the three envelopes. “His name is Dale from the signature on the letters.”
“No last name?” Luther asked.
“No. But we have some clues. The envelopes have a return address on them, so that’s probably where he is… or was. Could you look into it for me? Try to find him if you can.” He passed over the envelopes. “Please be careful with these.”
Luther nodded. “I’ll make copies and return the originals.” He put the letters in his case. “And… there’s been a development you should know about. I got an email from an attorney representing your parents. As executor, he had to notify me that they intend to try to break the will on the grounds that your uncle was ill when he wrote it.” Luther rolled his eyes.
