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“There’s a clause in civil law called ‘conflicting out’,” he tells us. “Basically, MVP went to every reputable lawyer in Helena who specializes in this sort of law and ensured that none of the ranchers can hire them because they’ve already retained them.”
Blood drains out of my face. “That can’t be legal!” I sputter, my brow furrowing. “Or legitimate!”
“I’ve been assured that it’s very legal and practiced quite often,” Eli replies miserably. “And from the bit I found out online, it appears to be true.”
I grit my teeth. “They can’t have hired every lawyer in town! What the—” I pause and clear my throat. “What the heck are they going to do with that many attorneys? It doesn’t make any sense.”
“That’s what I thought,” Eli admits. “But I don’t know if we should bother to keep looking. Everyone I’ve spoken to so far has already spoken to MVP.”
I sit back and grin, the smile overtaking my entire face.
“What are you smiling at?” Hudson asks dubiously. “This is terrible news!”
“It would be if we needed a local attorney,” I agree. “It’s a good thing that I have a lawyer from out of town, isn’t it?”
All eyes are on me, but there is a dubiousness about them.
“Tell us,” Hudson urges. “What did you find out?”
I sit back and cross my legs against the cushions, pursing my mouth together. “I really wish that Connor was here for this,” I say sadly. “It involves him, too.”
Eli throws his hands up in exasperation. “He’s gone completely off grid. He’s not coming over anymore, he’s not answering calls.”
“I’ve gone over there, and he’s not answering the door, even though he’s obviously home,” Hudson adds. “He’s acting like a dick.” He glances apologetically at Katherine. “Excuse my language, Miss Katherine.”
“No, he’s not,” my grandmother sighs, dropping her head. “He’s hurt and processing.”
“Processing what?” Eli barks. “She went out of town, and now she’s back. He needs to get over himself, honestly.”
Gran scowls. “Not that, you fool. He’s not a toddler.”
“Well, he’s been acting like one,” Hudson insists. But I read between the lines.
“Gran, what are you saying? Did something else happen?” She swallows visibly, and I feel blood draining out of my face. “What is Connor so upset about?” I ask worriedly.
Eli perks up, also realizing that there is more to the story that he does not understand.
“It was a slip of the tongue,” she explains apologetically. “All those stupid pills made my head fuzzy. And being cooped up made me behave badly, too.”
“Oh, Gran… what did you do?” I moan, my gut twisting with apprehension. Quickly, I backpedal my wording. “I mean, it’s all right, we’ll figure it out, but you need to tell us what happened.”
“He knows now,” Katherine blurts out, and I exhale.
She does not need to explain any more to me.Oh, no…
“Knows what?” Hudson presses. He’s lived with the secret for so long, he’s forgotten it or why it would upset Connor, but Eli recognizes it as quickly as I did.
“You told him we have part ownership of this land?” Eli's shoulders drop.
Hudson clenches his jaw, making the turmoil brewing inside him evident. “Shit.”
My grandmother doesn’t even react to his foul language.
“I wasn’t thinking clearly!” she insists. “Obviously, I wasn’t. It’s been a secret for decades! Why would I blurt it out now?”
“Don’t take this out on her alone,” I interrupt. “You all should have come clean with him a long time ago. You know how he expects betrayal at every corner. I’m sure he sees this as an ultimate slap in the face.”
“You didn’t tell him, either,” Hudson points out bluntly. I feel lasers shoot from my eyes as I glower at him.
