“You can’t do that. My number’s on the file.”
“Well, I am. I’ll finish up what you started.”
“I can’t let you do that. It’s a ridiculous recommendation. Anyone who has any knowledge of the area will discern so immediately.”
“No one has knowledge of the area. That’s why they pay us.”
“I don’t want my name on that.”
“Like you said, it’s already on there. We filed with your identifiers. I’ll still give you your cut. Fair’s fair.”
“That’s not the issue––”
“I’m not interested in the issue. You’ll find your next assignment at your desk.”
She rushed to her station and tried to login to the Svensson file. Just as she feared, she’d been blocked. Miles was going to push this through without her. Breath coming faster, she knew what she needed to do. Miles had spoken the name of their client. She knew where he worked, and she knew they were lying to him.
Possibly, just maybe, there was one point on which Jed would compromise. If only she could get the two of them together.
“Joey. Can you get me Marcos at Devlin on the phone?”
“On it.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “You go girl.”
Chapter 17
Jed tightened his favorite tie, donned his best-fitting suit coat, and checked himself in the mirror. He almost couldn’t meet AnnaMae. He knew it was a goodbye dinner. It had to be. He didn’t want to face her, but he had to go. After their unhappy separation the night before, the dark feelings of dread and contention clenched at his peace. He couldn’t see how they would mend things, especially knowing the decisions she would be required to make, but they could at least part with a smile. And if he had land when they were through with this mess, maybe he’d invite her back out to visit.
The limo arrived. He stepped into his car and gave the driver the address. New York was already wearing on him. It had started to lose its appeal the minute AnnaMae left his side. He felt hemmed in by tall buildings. The smells assaulted his lungs, and even the air felt harsh on his skin. He longed for a bit of green, a tree, grass. What he would give just to stand at the top of the ridge in Montana and feel the wind on his face. Air that had travelled across miles and miles of his state, had brushed the tops of the crops to the West, had swept over the rivers and the tips of trees. He set the air to recycle as the hint of car fumes wrinkled his nose.
The address led to an upscale location. Doormen opened glass doors as he approached, and he was directed to the elevators. Top floor. A tiny piece of his peace returned. At least he’d have a view when he apologized and said goodbye to the one woman who had captured his attention, his respect and, he admitted, his heart. No, he corrected himself. She’d always had his heart, ever since seventh grade. Remarkable how their connection could be reignited so many years later.
The elevator opened to a stunning, floor-to-ceiling view of Manhattan. The lights, the buildings, the tiny cars below. He breathed deeply the sense of space and then turned his eyes to the waiting woman at the welcome stand. “How many in your party, sir?”
“I think my party has already arrived, AnnaMae Caruthers.”
She grabbed one menu. “Ah yes, they are this way. Follow me.”
They?
She led him to a table that sat at the edge of the window. AnnaMae was deep in conversation with another man. Immediately put off, Jed went to turn around and leave, but she saw him and waved. Then the man turned. When they stood to greet him, Jed matched him in height and breadth. The stranger held out his hand. “She didn’t tell me anyone else was coming either.” The corner of his mouth lifted. Jed shook his hand; it was strong, solid, the man’s face open and honest looking.
AnnaMae stepped forward and lifted to the tips of her toes to kiss his cheek. “Thank you for coming.” She squeezed his arm.
He wondered what she had up her sleeve. “I’m happy to be here and curious.” His gaze moved between them.
The waitress took his drink order, and they studied their menus.
AnnaMae cleared her throat. “Let’s order our food and then get down to business.”
They nodded, each perusing the menu. Jed laid his down. “And where are you from, Marcos?”
“Texas, born and raised. We have a cattle ranch there and a large spread across the center of the state.”
“Ah, a rancher. I can appreciate that.”
“New York is more than I can take usually.”
“I’m feeling a noose start to tighten. Can’t wait to get back on my horse.”
They ordered, and then both men turned expectantly to AnnaMae.
“I was telling Marcos when you arrived that Miles has kicked me off the case at Synergy Group. It will come up in my name as if I’ve made the land recommendations but it will be all him. He is unethical in every way, and I plan to report him.”
Jed looked between the two of them. They seemed to be more in the loop than he was. “Is Marcos someone from work?”
They shared a glance, and then Marcos said, “I’m the owner of Devlin Oil.”
Jed bristled. “I’m not here to compromise.”
AnnaMae held out her hands. “Neither of us wants you off your land.”
Marcos reached for a file from AnnaMae. “What I’m looking for is a business partner.”
Interested, remembering his father’s advice that they would need to diversify, Jed leaned forward and opened up the folder.
“I’m looking for an investor.” Marcos pointed out the very western edge of Jed’s property. “If you let me install my pipes right here, along this edge, I will give you a percentage of the oil that pumps through.” He lifted the map and showed Jed the numbers on the next page. “I hope to be generous. This pipeline will open up Canada for our company. It is worth a lot to me, to my family.”
Jed looked through the papers, studied the map, and then closed his eyes. Would his grandfather approve? He knew his father would. “What is involved in installing and keeping up the pipeline?”
Marcos nodded. “You’re wondering about the potential damage to the surrounding area?”
“Yes. And spills, pipes breaking, future repercussions.”
“We would be essentially leasing your land from you, in the areas marked. We are responsible for maintaining the line and for the pipe upkeep. It is as simple as digging a hole, placing the pipes, supporting them over varying landscapes and connecting them all the way up north to the border.”
Jed ran his finger along the map as if connecting to his land. He sought AnnaMae’s face. She smiled. “When I told Marcos that Miles was lying to him too, that there was no way he could begin installing the pipes this spring, he agreed to withdraw his payment and break off any agreement he had with Synergy Group.”
“If I would agree to lease the land?”
Marcos shook his head. “No contingency on that. I’m pulling out. When I learned what Synergy Group was doing to you and to other pieces of land, I don’t want to be a part of that. We will keep looking for a situation more like what I’m suggesting here with you.”
Jed knew Marcos would find a happy owner ready to make extra funds off their land. This agreement was exactly what his father had been hoping they could start to do, find additional income sources from their land. “I’ll send these papers over to Legal, but Marcos Devlin, I do believe you’ve got yourself a deal.” He held out his hand. “Can I invite you out to the house?”
Marcos took his hand, and Jed knew this was a new era for the McAllister land. It felt like a good direction. Then he turned to AnnaMae. “What does this mean for you at Synergy Group?”
A tiny flash of pain crossed her face, but then she smiled. “I terminated my employment with them as soon as Marcos agreed to meet.” She sipped her drink. “I’m thinking of taking a trip out to Montana...”
He nodded, a bit sad for her. His mind started spinning on ways he could help her. But he couldn’t feel too disappointed in her plans. “T
hat’s the best idea you’ve ever had.”
Marcos shook his head. “Perhaps second to the best idea? I’m thinking this dinner meeting rises high on her list of great ideas.” Marcos held his cup up. “To our new partnership.”
“Cheers.” Jed tapped his glass with Marcos’s. AnnaMae raised hers as well, joining theirs. Her eyes sought Jed’s. He tried to express with his smile just how much this agreement meant to him, how much he hoped they could be together, how happy he was she had mentioned Montana.
Perhaps they could make something of what they had after all.
Chapter 18
AnnaMae nudged the chestnut. Jed had all but given her the beautiful mare to use whenever she came to visit. She and Jed had ridden up to the ridge again and now stood, both of them overlooking the land below. Anna sighed. “I’ve been missing this view.”
“How did it go in Helena?”
“Great. They want me, I’m pretty sure.” She’d been seeking employment, to work for the state park services. At first, she hoped to be a consultant, but then they had opened up talks about hiring her as a permanent part of their managerial team. The hours were great, the work important, and as she searched Jed’s handsome profile, she knew yet again that the location, most of all, was perfect.
“So, it’s official?”
“Not quite, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be hearing from them in the next day or so.”
“And this is what you want? You?”
“Do you think I’d move myself all the way to Montana just for a handsome cowboy?”
He fumbled with his response for a moment, and then his eyes lit and he turned to her. “I would hope so.” His face unreadable, he slid down off of his horse, and so she did the same. He led her to a large flat rock. “If you stand right here on this rock, you can see every part of the land, the ravine out to the front, the mountains behind us, the plateau, the rolling hills full of cows.” He chuckled and pointed out to the west. “The new oil pipelines.”
She stood at his side and breathed deeply before reaching for his hand. “I love all of this. Your land...it fills me.” Her hand wiped away a tear. “I don’t know why or how, but this feels important. I’m so happy we saved it.”
He got down on one knee, and she sucked in a breath. “Oh.”
“On this very rock, my grandfather proposed to my grandmother, and my father to my mother. And AnnaMae, my crush from seventh grade, the guardian of my land, the brilliant innovator, and most importantly, the woman I have grown to love more than all of this you see. It means nothing if you are not a part of it. Will you marry me?”
The tears flowed unnoticed, her smile catching some of them unaware. She knelt down beside him. “Jed. Yes. I will. I could never part from you any more than I could this land. I love you with everything I have.” She rested a hand at the side of his face and pressed her lips to his. He responded, scooping her up in his arms, exploring her mouth with all of his intensity, the land and ancestors as witness.
Then he paused and pressed his forehead to hers.
“The spark.” Her words were almost lost on the wind.
“The what?”
“The spark. It’s here every time.” She kissed him again. “Mmm. Yup. Every time.”
He spun her around. “I promise you many more sparks. And a life of me doing everything I can to make you happy.”
“I love you, Jed.” She pulled him closer. “Now kiss me again.”
His murmured, “Yes, ma’am,” barely registered as she became lost again in his arms.
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