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“Sorry about that.” Drew didn’t disagree, even as a week’s worth of longing to put her hands on Maisie’s body was almost more than she could bear. “The workload this week is double what it usually is, and it was already insane.”
“It’s nice of you all, though, the way you’re helping with Bob’s ranch. I know they say neighbors are better in the country than in cities, but I never understood it completely until now.”
“Neighborsarebetter here,” Drew agreed. “But I have to be honest. It’s not only niceness motivating everyone. In an unusual way, we all have a stake in what happens with the property.”
“How so?”
How much should Drew say about the Founders’ Compact? It was a tricky subject as it had direct implications for the value of the Lazy C, of which Maisie technically owned half, at least for now. Their relationship had shifted since that day at the cabin, but it was still more about physical closeness than true intimacy. There were details Drew hadn’t been forthcoming about, details that had been known to give other women in situations like Maisie’s ideas, the type of women who only cared about money. Women like Drew’s mother, for instance.
The less said, the better.
Drew swallowed a wave of unease. “The way we all survive in these parts is by looking out for each other.”
Maisie nodded, clearly satisfied with the reply, and Drew relaxed a bit. “Bob doesn’t have a wife or kids. What’ll happen to his ranch if he, well, you know? Would it go to his ex-wife?”
“Hell no!” Drew’s head snapped upward. “Jolene was a bitch, only wanting what was good for her, not what was good for the ranch or the community. I hope we never see her around these parts again.”
“Whoa, there.” Maisie held up her hands like she was trying to calm a spooked horse. “I wasn’t saying she should be in the equation or anything. I was only curious. I know before my father died, he spent a lot of time putting his affairs in order.”
“Right. Sorry.” Drew looked at the table, embarrassed by her own reaction. It wasn’t Maisie’s fault Drew had bad women in her past. “If I remember correctly, Bob has a brother. I assume the property would go to him.”
“Then he could sell it?” Maisie’s eyes brightened a bit, and Drew’s narrowed.
“Not exactly. Why?”
“Well, I just thought—” Maisie shifted in her seat, looking suddenly on edge. “Remember how you said the Chicago food guy you met with at the expo wanted an operation twice our size to deal with?”
“Yep.” Drew couldn’t help noticing how Maisie had used the wordourto describe the ranch, which did little to ease her suspicion.
“I don’t mean to sound callous. I know you’re close with Bob.” Maisie clasped her hands together, squeezing them like she was nervous to say whatever was coming next. “I’ve been doing some work on that business plan I promised you for the ranch, and I keep bumping up against that animal unit issue you explained before. But if Whetstone were to come on the market, and we could buy it and expand the cattle operation… Only, I suppose it would be awfully expensive.”
“Remember I told you there are some strange things about the property out here?” Drew frowned, but not necessarily because Maisie’s idea was bad. “It might not be as expensive as you think. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. For all we know, the doctors will give Bob a clean bill of health, and he’ll be back out there in a week or two.”
“I hope so,” Maisie said, and it seemed she meant it. “Also, I have an idea I want to run by you, and I need you to keep an open mind.”
“That’s not a good start.” Drew did her best to dial down the part of her brain that was always looking for ulterior motives, but it was hard. Just because Maisie seemed so sweet and genuine was no guarantee that she wouldn’t turn out like Drew’s mother, or Jolene, or the other dissatisfied women who had caused trouble in these parts over the years.
“Just hear me out, okay?”
Drew nodded.
“You remember that livestream video camera I made you install on Bird Island?”
“How could I forget?” Drew snorted. “I have no idea why you thought anyone would want to watch geese and ducks.”
“I didn’t just think they would, Drew. I was right about it. The livestream numbers have been increasing daily since I started the channel.”
Drew sat up straighter. “Wait. Are you saying you’ve gotten actual viewers? I can’t fathom why. Those birds are the world’s most annoying buggers.”
“That’s exactly what people like about them.” Maisie laughed. “The fowl version ofWest Side Story. It got me thinking, what if we offered a chance for people to see them up close, and the rest of the ranch, too?”
“What are you talking about? Tourists?” Drew was pretty sure the look on her face betrayed exactly what she thought of busloads of people traipsing around her ranch while she was trying to work.
“Tell me how you really feel.” Maisie put a hand to her mouth to smooth the grin that was seeking to spread across her face. “I’m not talking about hundreds of people showing up and buying tickets like it’s Disneyland. I’m thinking we let a small number of people stay on the ranch and work here. Like I’m doing, or like Lee and Karen.”
“You want me to put tourists to work?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what I want you to do.”
