When her brother pushed the completed documents back across the desk to Gill, Piper couldn’t help but feel a trill of excitement. She knew how important this venture was to her brothers, the passion they had for high-risk outdoor sports and how much they wanted to be able to bring in enough revenue to keep the ranch afloat. Maybe even to return the ranch to its former glory. Knowing she had a tiny part of the new business, thanks to her investment, was deeply satisfying.
In fact, she found herself longing for more. She couldn’t deny how much she wanted to take the job her brothers had offered. She wanted to be a part of the day-to-day operation. She wanted to see firsthand the growth of the adventure ranch. Like a newborn calf, the business would have a period of getting its legs under it, but as the company strengthened, found the right balance, she knew it would be up and thriving in no time. And she wanted to be a part of it, damn it!
“So,” Gill said, leaning back in his chair and capping his obviously pricy fountain pen in a manner that drew attention to his toy. “Should I be expecting to hear from your father soon?”
“Why would you?” Piper asked and immediately regretted falling for Gill’s bait.
The banker shifted his face into a false expression of concern. “I heard about the fire at your place. Burned up your whole winter feed supply, they say.”
“They,” Josh said, pausing to let his emphasis on the pronoun sink in, “are wrong. And you should know better than to give credence to gossip.”
“You didn’t have a fire?” Gill asked, feigning surprise.
Piper scoffed internally. He was so transparent.
“We salvaged some of the crop,” Zane said, tucking his copies of all the paperwork into his folder and rising from his chair.
“Oh.” Gill nodded and rose from his seat as well, tugging on his suit coat to arrange it and smoothing his tie. “I’d feared the additional loss might make meeting his loan payments a hardship this winter. If your family needs to rework the terms of your loan or discuss any problems with making payments—”
Brady snorted derisively, and Josh interrupted, “We won’t. Our father is nothing if not diligent about repayment of debts. You have nothing to fear.”
Josh gave their high school rival a tight look and snatched the office door open. Brady exited behind Josh, casting a disgusted glare at Gill. Zane, ever the gentleman, shook Gill’s hand, and Piper summoned the composure to do the same. For better or worse, McCall Adventures now carried a debt that Gill oversaw. A modicum of professional courtesy was called for.
They joined Brady and Josh in the bank lobby, where Josh paced restlessly and Brady looked ready to bite the head off the next person who spoke to him.
“I feel like I need a shower,” Josh grumbled as she and Zane approached.
“I feel like I need to go to confession and repent.” Brady narrowed his gaze on Zane. “You know we just signed a deal with the devil, right?”
Zane frowned and headed out the bank’s twin glass doors. “He’s an ass, yes, but we are doing business with the bank. And First Bank of Boyd Valley has the best terms for business loans.”
“Maybe so,” Piper countered as they walked to Zane’s truck, “but you know Gill would like nothing more than to see us fail. He’s held a grudge against us since the first day of kindergarten.”
“I never understood why he dissed you all so bad from the get-go. Did you do something to him?” Brady asked, opening the truck door for Piper.
“Not that I recall,” Josh said. “But you remember how bitter he became in high school after his family’s ranch went out of business? I understand his father’s become a real sourpuss of a man, too.”
“But I think it became more personal for Gill when you beat him out as the pitcher for the baseball team,” Piper added and slid onto the seat.
From behind the steering wheel, Zane lifted his eyebrows and nodded acknowledgment.
Brady scooted across the seat and smooshed Piper up against her brother.
Josh flashed a smug grin from the open passenger door. “Yeah, then I started dating Belinda Malloy. That ate him up.”
Piper frowned at her brother as the four of them squeezed on the bench seat together. “It’s not funny. What if he uses his past grievances to make trouble with our loan?”
“Then we’ll make trouble for him with the bank,” Zane replied as he started the truck. “He has laws and regulations to abide by.”
“By the way, I saw his wedding ring. Who did he marry?” Piper angled her shoulders as she tried to get more comfortable.
“Her name’s Annabelle. Someone he met in college. You wouldn’t know her,” Josh replied.
“Zane, next time we all go somewhere together, we’re taking two vehicles or we’re taking a car with four seats!” she said.
“Did Boston make you soft, Pipsqueak?” Zane replied.
“You could always sit on Brady’s lap,” Josh teased. “I know how much you used to like that.”
She leaned forward enough to shoot a glare at Josh.
Brady turned his head toward her with half a smile and patted the top of his thighs in invitation.
“I’m fine,” she said, hunching her shoulders forward to fit in the narrow space between Zane and Brady.
“Maybe I’m way off base here, but did it bother anyone else that Gill already knew about the fire in hayfield?” Brady asked.
“And he had cow patty stuck on his shoe,” Piper added.
“He did?” Zane cut a glance at her.
She nodded. “Coincidence...or could Gill be the one who’s been sabotaging the ranch all these months? You know, helping Dad fail to meet the terms of his loans?”
“But he wouldn’t profit from that personally. The bank holds Dad’s loans,” Zane said, but he was clearly concerned about the possibility. “Besides, this is a ranching town. There are cow patties everywhere, even tracked into town on ranch trucks.”
Piper lifted a palm. “Maybe so. But if Dad defaults on his payments, the bank could seize the ranch and sell it at auction for a whole lot less than it is worth. Gill could be looking to take possession of it. And even if not, you know he’d love to see our family flounder. He’s petty that way.”
Her brothers remained quiet for several moments before Josh smacked his fist on the armrest. “Damn it, she’s right, Zane. Gill would love to screw us over.”
“Everybody chill.” Zane waved a hand at them. “I honestly don’t think Gill is stupid enough to risk his career or jail time to try to bring down the ranch.”
“But—” Piper started.
Zane cut her off by putting a hand on her knee and adding, “But... I’ll mention it to Dad and run it by the sheriff to see if it bears investigating.” He cast a side-eye to Piper, who gave him an unconvinced pout, and he added, “Don’t worry, Pipsqueak. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I let Gill Carver destroy our family.”
Chapter 6
When they got back to the Double M, Brady caught Piper’s arm before she’d made it two steps toward the house. “Hey, thanks to the fire and hammering out details of the adventure ranch partnership with your brothers, we never finished the discussion we started a couple days ago.”
She pried her arm free of his grasp. “Yes, we did.”
He pulled his mouth into a sarcastic grin. “Beg to differ. Pick the time and place, but we do need to talk. The sooner the better.”
Piper’s shoulders slumped. She’d thought she’d dodged the bullet of whatever history-reviving, pain-inducing conversation Brady wanted to have.
“Hey, Piper!”
She turned at the sound of the young voice to find Connor running across the yard with a fistful of wildflowers, the stalks crushed in his hand. His yellow Lab was at his heels. “These are for you.”
She gave the boy a bright smile, charmed by the color in his cheeks and muss
ed hair that suggested he’d been playing hard in addition to picking her flowers. “Those are beautiful, Connor. Thank you!”
He slanted a bashful grin at her. “Grampa says girls love flowers. I got those from behind our house.”
“I do love flowers. Your Grampa is right.” She angled her head. “Why aren’t you at school today?”
He shrugged. “Uncle Brady said I didn’t hav’ta go.”
She gave Brady a side look, to which he said, “Teacher in-service day. Kids get a long weekend.” Then to Connor, “Have you eaten lunch?”
“No. Grampa’s cooking hot dogs, though.”
“Why don’t you run and wash up, then. I’ll be in soon.”
Connor scratched his dog on the head. “Okay. Come on, Kip!” He gave a weak whistle as he spun back toward his house, and Kip loped after him.
“He’s cute. Was the dog a present to help with his grief?”
“Nope. Kip’s older than Connor. They’ve grown up together.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and faced her. “Now about that talk...”
She grunted and raised her hands. “Fine. So talk.”
He pulled a frown, casting his gaze around the ranch yard that was buzzing with activity. “Not here.” He glanced toward the hillside where her favorite cottonwood and the bench her father built stood sentinel over the ranch. “Come on.” He gripped her hand and tugged her along, headed to her thinking spot.
When they neared his house, he paused and said, “Wait here. I have to get something, but I’ll only be thirty seconds.”
He disappeared inside for a moment, and the short wait only served to ratchet up her disquiet. What could he possibly be getting from inside? How did that something relate to their conversation?
Returning outside, he reached for her as they started the trek to the top of the hill. She sidled away. She didn’t need him touching her, holding her hand or otherwise guiding her. She was still jittery and tingling from the ride home from the bank with her body smashed against his and the scent of his soap in her nose.
As they neared the top of the hill, anxiety overtook her like a summer storm sweeping down from the ridge of the Rockies.
Piper moved stiffly to the bench and took a seat, the whirl of tiny wings in her belly growing more frantic. She kept her gaze on the ground, knowing eye contact with Brady would only unnerve her more. His piercing green eyes had a way of seeing right to her soul, and she needed, now more than ever, to protect herself from his incisive gaze. She intentionally focused on trivial things—the collection of yellow leaves that had fallen from the cottonwood’s branches, the slow progress of a beetle along one of those leaves and the incongruous presence of a gum wrapper among the leaves. Hating to see even that tiny scrap dirtying the scenic spot, she bent to pick up the bit of litter and stuck it in her pocket.
Brady took off his hat and fidgeted with the brim, flicking it with his thumb as he paced restlessly in front of the bench.
Piper didn’t like his nervousness. His edginess boded ill for this conversation.
“Go ahead,” she said, flipping up her hand in invitation, then tucking her hand under her leg when she saw it quiver. “You have my attention. What did you want to tell me?”
“Right,” he said, drawing a deep breath. “When Scott and Pam died, Dad was too big of a mess to handle the arrangements or deal with the business of closing their house and accounts. It fell to me.”
A sympathetic pang twisted in her chest, imagining how difficult that must have been for him. “I’m so sorry, Brady.”
She waited patiently for him to continue, selfishly relieved that the topic wasn’t their relationship but rather the loss of his brother.
“When I was at their bank, closing their accounts and emptying their safe deposit box, I found a letter addressed to me.” He reached in his jacket pocket and withdrew a folded envelope. “This is what I stopped to get at the house.” Again he fell silent, his eyes lifting to the rustling leaves, then shifting to stare down at the letter in his hand. She was disconcerted to notice the paper and his hands trembling.
Once upon a time, they’d shared everything. They confided in each other, dreamed with each other, supported each other. If she was completely honest with herself, she’d have to admit that she’d missed having Brady to talk to during difficult times, having his perspective for tough decisions in recent years.
As a teenager, pouring her heart out to him had been cathartic. Maybe he’d missed having her as a sounding board, as well. Maybe this conversation was simply an opportunity to spill his grief, share his burdens with someone he trusted. Clearly, Roy had been in no shape after Scott’s death to help Brady. And while Brady and her brothers were good friends, she couldn’t see Zane or Josh having a soul-deep, emotionally raw conversation with Brady.
She shifted her position on the bench and studied his furrowed brow. Despite all they’d once had, Piper was uncomfortable with the intimate direction the discussion was headed. If they were to break the bonds between them, if she wanted to keep her heart safe, an emotional conversation about his brother wasn’t going to help.
“Brady,” she said after he remained silent for several pregnant seconds, “I’m sure losing Scott was hard, and I am sorry you had to go through all that, but I don’t think—”
“Yeah, it was hard. It still is. So...just bear with me. Okay?” The impatient edge in his voice surprised her. Brady was typically so calm, so easygoing.
She sat straighter and pulled her shoulders back. “All right.”
His green eyes no longer avoided hers. He pinned her with his stare and flapped the envelope as he spoke. “I debated whether to show this to you or not. I admit that a part of me wanted to keep it from you. To punish you.”
Her brow creased, and a shot of adrenaline coursed through her. Punish her?
“I know it was spiteful, but...you hurt me when you left. And finding this—” he waved the envelope, and his jaw clenched, making the muscles in his cheeks jump “—only poured acid on those wounds.”
Piper narrowed her eyes, her gut writhing like a worm on a hook. What could possibly be in that letter that would cause him such grief? She knew she’d wronged Brady in terrible ways, and she lived with those sins every day. But no one knew about those transgressions except her. Guilt gnawed at her, filled her entire being with a bile that no amount of purging could ever fully cleanse.
“But...” Brady sighed and swiped a hand down his face before meeting her gaze again. “I loved you once. And for what it’s worth, I still care about you. Still have a soft spot in my heart for you, despite my anger and hurt.”
She held her breath, afraid of where this conversation was going. When he paused, his gaze drilled hers with an intensity that shot frissons of icy dread through her.
“The lies and secrets have gone on long enough,” he said, slapping the envelope against his palm before extending it toward her. “So they end today. It’s time we both laid all our cards on the table.”
She stared at the letter with the handwritten Brady on the front as if it were a demon with sharp teeth waiting to rip her to shreds. When she didn’t take it from him for several seconds, his scowl deepened, and he seized her wrist and jammed the envelope into her hand.
“Read it,” he commanded, and his tone brooked no resistance.
Hands shaking so hard the paper rattled, Piper lifted the unsealed flap and slid the folded pages out. She took a shallow breath into her leaden lungs and began reading the handwritten note.
Dear Brady,
Today was Connor’s second birthday, and after a day filled with celebration for the wonderful child who has completed our family, I feel I must put these thoughts on paper. Please forgive Pam and me for any hard feelings or resentments this confession and my instructions cause. Our intentions are pure and loving.
As you know, we’ve named you in o
ur will as Connor’s legal guardian should—heaven forbid—anything happen to both myself and Pam. Pam’s sister may fight you on this. She was upset when we told her our decision, but our choice is clear and resolute. And after watching you play with Connor at his party today, I felt it only right to leave this letter for you, so you will know the reason for our decision. We are completely at peace with the decision, because we know you to be a loving, hardworking, loyal and patient man. You have a good heart and are well-grounded. You can do this. I have every faith in you. But the choice boiled down to one simple fact—Connor is your son with Piper McCall.
Chapter 7
Piper’s heart slammed violently against her ribs, like unrestrained cargo flung through the windshield in a car crash. She blinked, struggling for a breath, and read the last line again. Surely she’d misread it.
Connor is your son with Piper McCall.
Gasping for air, she shot a shocked glance at Brady. His face was rigid, accusing, mercilessly unflinching. She opened her mouth to say something—to defend herself, to ask one of the million questions ping-ponging in her brain, to deny that it could be true. But her throat locked and choked any sound from leaving her.
Hesitantly, she lowered her gaze to the paper again and continued reading. Tears stung her eyes as she perused the rest of the letter, soaking in every word, digesting them and reconciling Scott’s assertions with what she’d believed for seven years.
Our plan began to form the night you came to our house so upset that Piper was leaving. You told us then you thought she was pregnant but had refused to marry you. You were devastated, and we were grieved for you, but also for ourselves. So many years of trying to have a child had been fruitless, and there we were, faced with the possibility of a blood relative going to another family. We were determined not to let your child be raised by someone else, when we wanted him so desperately.
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