by Becky Barker
“You want to leave Bridleton and start your own ranch?” The thought made her mouth go dry. Remembering all the times she’d accused him of selling his soul for Bridleton, she wondered what they’d do without him. She couldn’t imagine him not being part of the main ranch.
“I think of it as buying a chunk of Bridleton.”
“You know how badly you’re needed here now.”
His voice roughened. “I’m not talking about quitting on you now. I want this place to prosper before I leave but it’s still Bartell property. Now that Bartells are running it again I can look to the future.”
With his offer to help, he’d added a new worry to her list. Did he resent her and her family? He’d spent the last few years working tirelessly to save their inheritance. Then they’d come home, started making plans and giving orders. Did he want to be free of her as well as the responsibilities of the property? He’d told her they didn’t have a future, so did that extend to Bridleton? Did he want to wash his hands of the family and settle down with someone else?
“Have you had the property appraised? Do you have a price in mind?”
He nodded. “I can make a decent offer according to current appraisal. Not as much as it would have been worth a few years ago but enough to cover a lot of Nanette’s surgical expenses.”
Her pulse pounded in her ears, nearly deafening her. Even if he’d saved all his salary for years he couldn’t afford that chunk of property. No local bank or mortgage company would lend so much for unplanted, undeveloped acreage right now. How could he make such an offer? Where would he get that much money?
The first thought that popped into her mind was Shelly Hasting. Her dad’s property bordered the land he wanted. Did Noah want to wash his hands of everything Bartell and plan a future with someone he admittedly respected? Someone who wouldn’t give him as much grief as her and her family?
“I’m sure Nanna would agree to sell you the acreage. Right now it’s just unproductive grazing land with high taxes.”
“I’d need full approval from the whole family,” he reminded. “It should be fine with Zack and Chey too,” she said.
“And you?” he asked, turning his head to gaze down at her.
She’d sworn to never allow it. Never let him own a piece of Bartell land. It might break her heart to see him share it with another woman but she knew he deserved to be happy, whatever path he chose. The family owed him a debt of gratitude they could never repay. His decency and loyalty couldn’t be faulted.
“I have no objections.” Silently she qualified, no objections unless he planned to move there with Shelly.
“It would put the property in the black and help with medical costs.”
A mixed jumble of emotion overwhelmed her. Tears clogged her throat. She wanted to throw herself into Noah’s arms and sob like a baby. She loved him so much and she’d misjudged him so badly. How could she ever expect to right that sort of wrong? How could she ever expect him to forgive her? It scared her to be so emotionally dependent on him now.
When she went quiet for too long, he asked, “What do you think?”
She slowly pushed herself to her feet and cleared her throat. “I think it’s the perfect solution. We can discuss it in the morning before Zack leaves and before Nanna is awake. Then we’ll have a family discussion and present the idea to her. It’s bound to be a relief and lessen her financial worries.”
He stood beside her, their faces close. She turned her head, feeling way too exposed to have him scrutinizing her now. “We really need to go to bed.”
With a touch of his hand on her cheek, he turned her head back to him. “Is that an invitation?”
She wanted to hold him and be held but her conscience wouldn’t allow it. She’d promised Lloyd she wouldn’t go from his arms to Noah’s bed. Added to the fact she felt emotionally raw, she needed to be alone.
“We should get some sleep.”
Andrea felt his gaze on her face for a while longer but he didn’t touch her again. After another long pause he said good night and turned away. She dragged in a harsh breath and opened her door. There’d be no standing on the balcony tonight. No sneaking into each other’s rooms. She needed to do a lot more soul searching before they shared a bed again.
Chapter Eight
The next few days passed in a blur of activity with Andrea splitting her time between ranch chores and family business. Zack stayed over an extra day to meet with their lawyer, Donald Roats, and sign a contract for the sale of the acreage to Noah. Mr. Roats, a longtime family friend, was a third generation attorney serving the ranching community. Thin and balding but sporting a neatly clipped beard, Andrea thought he looked more like an English butler than a lawyer. He assured them he could expedite the sale of their property through his title company.
Everyone gathered in the ranch office late Monday afternoon to sign the contract. Mr. Roats notarized it and Noah wrote a check that made Bridleton solvent again.
“You don’t have to pay the full amount today,” said Mr. Roats as he studied the check. “An earnest money amount is standard and would suffice.”
“What’s the point of that?” asked Noah.
“Well the title on the land is clear but it’ll take at least a month to process the deed and finalize the transaction. We’ll schedule the final closing then.”
“No need to delay payment,” said Noah. “We’ve agreed and the contract’s signed. Unless somebody objects we’ll consider it a done deal now.”
After a glance at his aunt and sisters, Zack smiled and offered his hand. “Congratulations, you’ve just bought yourself some acreage and the taxes on it,” he teased. “With the family’s blessing, I might add.”
Noah shook his hand and Mr. Roats’. Then he reached for Cheyenne’s and Andrea’s in quick succession. He looked so serious and businesslike she wondered if he might be struggling with emotion. After years of backbreaking work, he’d realized a dream that would impact the rest of his life. It had to be an emotionally powerful moment for him but men of his nature didn’t like exposing their vulnerabilities.
When he turned to Nanette she looked back at him with pride and happiness shining in her tear-filled eyes. He stepped closer and gently wrapped his arms around her frail form. Andrea had to swallow hard to keep from choking on her own tears. She knew the two of them shared a strong bond of affection as well as years of trust and loyalty. It warmed her heart and made her ache for the same unquestioning devotion from him.
“Next there’s a matter of power of attorney, right, Andrea?” asked Mr. Roats. “Regarding Nanette’s upcoming surgery?”
After discussing it earlier, they’d learned Nanette’s doubts about the procedure had been based on their financial situation rather than the medical risks.
“I’ll leave you all to handle the rest of the family business,” said Zack. “I’m heading to San Antonio.”
“And I need to get back to work,” said Noah. He slapped his hat on his head and threw up a hand in farewell.
Zack gave each of the women a quick kiss on the cheek and shook the lawyer’s hand before following Noah out the door.
Andrea turned to Mr. Roats. “We hope Nanna’s not incapacitated for long but I’ll need power of attorney for ranch business just in case.”
He nodded and produced the necessary paperwork from his briefcase along with the living will forms Nanette requested. They asked Meredith to witness the signing of the paperwork. Then she saw the lawyer to the door, leaving the Bartell women alone.
“You don’t look too relieved, Nanna,” said Cheyenne. “What’s still worrying you?”
“Only spending that much-needed money on my old, tired heart,” she grumbled.
“I did a little more research last night,” said Chey. “The operation is less invasive now and the recovery time is much shorter these days. You’ll have to cover some of the cost but not nearly as much as we thought. Bridleton can stay in the black.”
“You’re sure?” she a
sked, her expression hopeful.
“Absolutely,” put in Andrea. “And the spring orders for livestock are already pouring in along with calls from horse buyers. You need to stop worrying about this ranch and take care of yourself. We’re going to be fine.”
Nanette’s features softened and she smiled. “Promise?”
“Promise,” the sisters chimed in unison.
They laughed and after a brief discussion put a call in to Nanette’s cardiologist. He’d told her to call him as soon as she made a decision. Once they’d set the plan in motion they spent a quiet evening updating breeding data and getting a few extra hours of sleep.
On Tuesday Andrea and Cheyenne juggled phone calls from buyers along with necessary calls in preparation for their aunt’s surgery. They also kept an eye on the mares in the foaling barn while the rest of the ranch staff rounded up livestock scattered over thousands of acres.
By late Wednesday afternoon Andrea freed enough time to get outside and help with chores. She set out to join the round-up crew as they collected the last of the strays and herded them back to the main pastures. The process had taken twice as long this year due to being short-staffed and having the longhorns spread over vast grazing areas of the ranch.
Atop a big palomino mare named Golda, she followed a three-mile trail leading to the far eastern corner of the ranch. A small herd of cattle had to be gathered from the land Noah wanted to buy. She hadn’t visited the area in years but followed a familiar old dirt road. It didn’t surprise her to see Sam, with the dogs, slowly herding a few dozen cattle in her direction.
Skirting the worst of the billowing clouds of dust, she circled the livestock until she could shout at Sam.
“Is Noah with you?”
He spat a stream of tobacco juice to the ground before yelling back, “He’s over yonder in the clearing. Probably needs some help.” He tilted his head in the general direction and she nodded.
“I’ll be back!”
He waved a hand in response and whistled to Bert and Ernie. She reined her mount to the right and nudged the mare into a steady canter and then a gallop across the flat land. The burst of speed knocked the hat off her head and loosened strands of hair from her ponytail but she didn’t mind. She hadn’t ridden at top speed for years. It felt amazing to race with the wind rushing over her body while the landscape passed by in a kaleidoscope of brown, green and gold.
This area of the ranch was safe for full-out galloping, so she enjoyed every minute of it. She’d forgotten how much she loved the speed and the muscled strength of a horse beneath her. Loved the feeling of being weightless and defying gravity. Promising herself more pleasure rides, she leaned low and patted Golda’s neck.
A few surveyors’ stakes with red flags dotted the flat terrain. They served as markers for the appraisal Noah had ordered on the property. Fencing would follow once the sale could be finalized. The three hundred acres accounted for a small percentage of Bridleton but parting with it brought bittersweet emotion.
“Old dreams die hard,” she whispered aloud. She and Noah had marked this land for their future. Now he didn’t have any faith in their future.
As she neared a clearing backed by a heavily wooded area, she caught sight of Noah and another rider. Andrea started easing back on the reins and gradually slowed her pace to a trot and then a fast walk. When she got closer she recognized Shelly Hastings astride Baron. The big black stallion’s coat glistened in the late afternoon sunlight. He tossed his head and sniffed the air as they approached, a truly magnificent animal.
Noah stood on the ground, stroking Baron’s neck while talking to both horse and rider. They turned their attention to her as she drew near.
“Andrea,” they each greeted her. Golda continued to prance so she kept a distance but returned their greeting with a smile.
Raising her voice above the squeaking of leather and the heavy breathing of her mount, she said, “Baron looks great.”
When Golda had calmed more Andrea moved close enough to hear Shelly’s response. “I was just telling Noah he doesn’t get as much exercise as he needs but I don’t have the time or the staff to spare right now.”
“And I was telling her she should sell him back to me,” he said.
Baron chose that minute to bob his head as though agreeing. Andrea smiled but the sound of Noah and Shelly’s shared laughter winded her as much as galloping across the fields. She loved hearing him laugh and longed for the time when they’d shared the same easy camaraderie.
Would Shelly sell Baron to Noah? Despite knowing how much he loved the horse he’d raised from a colt, she didn’t want him to go into the breeding business and become Bridleton’s biggest competitor. Especially not in partnership with Shelly or the Hastings’ ranch. People in this part of the country knew and trusted them. They’d make a strong, experienced team. It would take her years to rebuild the ranch’s reputation without him, if it could be done at all. The sobering thought made her next words sharp and succinct.
“Sam said you needed help.”
Noah gave her a long, searching look and then pointed toward a copse of evergreens. “I’ve got a heifer separated from the herd. She has a dead calf and won’t budge.”
Andrea looked in the direction he indicated and saw the cow in the woods. Moving a little closer to the others, she asked, “What are you going to do?”
“I’ll have to take the carcass to the pasture near the barn. Once we have her penned we can dispose of it.”
“She’s not going to like it.”
“Can you help, Shel?” he asked.
When the other woman dipped her head in agreement he grabbed his reins and mounted Rowdy with awesome, athletic ease. Andrea watched, enjoying the fluid beauty of his movements. She’d always thought him big, strong and attractive but astride a horse, he stole her breath. Their gazes met for a brief sizzling instant.
“If you two can back her far enough from the carcass, I’ll scoop it into a grain bag.”
“What if she charges?” asked Shelly.
“Don’t take any chances. She probably won’t challenge Baron but if she gets aggressive we’ll leave her out here a few more days.”
They all turned to the tree line. The women eased their mounts closer together and side by side they approached the cow. Naturally skittish, the heifer took a couple steps backward when faced with the three horses and riders. She bellowed in complaint but continued to retreat as they sidled between her and the calf.
Noah dismounted and gathered the carcass. The cow snorted and stomped, trying to get around them. Their horses shifted as she shifted, blocking her path. She bawled loudly and stomped the ground but didn’t lower her horns or attempt to charge them. Once Noah turned to go the women slowly withdrew from the woods and let the cow follow him.
“Thanks,” said Andrea. She wanted to follow Noah but their neighbor wanted to talk.
“This is a gorgeous location for a house, isn’t it?” asked Shelly.
“It is,” agreed Andrea. She hadn’t really seen it in years but she and Noah had spent many happy hours in this very clearing. They’d envisioned it with a house, a barn and corrals. She wondered if he’d shared those dreams with Shelly or discussed old lover’s secrets with the other woman.
“Noah has great plans for the property.”
Shelly’s comment answered her question and made Andrea feel restless and twitchy. She dropped her reins for a minute to pull back her hair and replace her stretchy with swift, impatient movements. Not wanting to hear anything else, she slapped her hat on her head and said, “I’d better follow them back to the barns.”
“Sure,” said Shelly, reining in Baron. “I’ll catch you later.”
Andrea waved then nudged Golda into a canter to catch up with Noah and the bawling mama cow. He kept the pace slow and steady, trying to avoid the worst of the dust clouds being stirred by the rest of the herd. It allowed her plenty of time to study him on horseback. His straight back and broad shoulders were i
mpressive but she favored his tight rear end in equally tight jeans. He rode with the ease of a man comfortable with his body and his world. He knew what he wanted and didn’t mind working for it.
Was she the biggest fool in the world to love him so desperately? Especially since he’d already told her they had no future? He’d gone all jealous and possessive about Lloyd but that could be attributed to basic male competitiveness. In the equine world a stallion challenged another stallion even if he had two dozen mares of his own. Homo sapiens weren’t too dissimilar in nature.
Did Noah have Shelly as well as her? Were the two of them planning a future together? Would Shelly be the woman helping him establish his new ranch? Andrea couldn’t help being suspicious and having doubts. He’d handed the family a check for a couple hundred thousand dollars. Money like that didn’t grow on trees. He couldn’t have earned that much money in the last five years and she hadn’t heard about any big lottery wins. He hadn’t mentioned a secret backer but nobody had asked him either.
What if the situation at Bridleton had been an attempt to defraud them all? Had he taken advantage of Nanette’s health issues to force the family to sell acreage they’d sworn never to sell? Was Shelly his partner in crime? If not, how in the world could he come up with so much money?
Women got conned every day by men they desperately wanted to believe. Conned with great sex and an appearance of caring. Was Noah the type of man who’d be a part of such a deception? Her heart said no but her head told her he should be fed up with her, her siblings and their heritage. Although they’d always depended on him they’d never really accepted him into the Bartell family. She didn’t blame him for wanting to be rid of them all and build his own legacy.
The man she’d known years ago had wanted marriage and a half-dozen kids. He’d hated the label of bastard and hated being an only child. Had his dreams changed or just been on hold while he took care of Bridleton? She’d shared his dreams back then, wanting marriage and a big, happy family. The thought of having his baby still made her ache with yearning.