“I told you, Viv was an amazing businesswoman.”
“When I was a kid, the ranch was maybe a tenth the size it is today.”
We’re approached by a man on a horse. He slows. “Hey, Doc.”
“Owen, this is Maddox, Vivian’s grandson.”
“Damn glad to meet you, Maddox.”
“You too.”
“Owen is the assistant ranch manager. Youngest one ever, right, Owen? What are you, twenty-one?”
“Recently turned twenty-two, ma’am.” Andie gives him a hard stare. “Sorry, Doc.”
“I was giving Maddox the grand tour.”
“You thinkin’ of hanging around?” he asks.
“No, just wanted to see everything before, well, whatever happens.”
“Your daddy owns all this now?”
“I guess he does.”
“Well then maybe it’s your responsibility to make sure you help him keep it from fallin’ into the wrong hands.”
“I think you’re confusing me with someone who has power, Owen.”
“Maybe so.” He makes a clicking sound, and his horse walks away. “Nice meeting ya. Hope to see you around.”
“You, too.”
Sprinkles of rain fall. “Damn,” Andie says. “And here I was hoping we’d get an entire day without precipitation. We’d better head back.”
We turn the horses in the direction of the stables, going slower than the other riders making their way back from the trails. As they pass us, Andie has short conversations with each of them.
“Do you know everyone who boards horses here?”
“Pretty much. Devil’s Horn Ranch is like a community, everyone knows everyone and they’re always helping each other out.”
The last of the horses trot ahead of us. “Have you saved many animals?” I ask.
“Sure. I save them all the time. It’s my job.”
“I mean like the horse I fell off ten years ago.”
She shakes her head. “Sadly, horses that get injuries like that one can’t be saved. Their legs are fragile. They have to carry a lot of weight. Certain injuries they just can’t recover from.”
“That sucks.”
“It does, but I still love my job. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
We make small talk on the short ride back. As we reach the stable, three sleek black pickup trucks pull up, looking like a presidential motorcade.
“Oh, boy,” Andie says.
“What?”
“It’s the Thompsons.”
Andie calls someone over to help with the horses. Then a dozen people come out of the building next to the stable, the one with the offices. Dad is among them. I pull Andie aside. “Who are all these people?”
“You met Matteo already. The one in the red shirt is Miguel Avila, the barn manager. The guy with the scar on his face is Mickey Underwood, the head trainer. Hugh Jenkins, the ranch owner I mentioned this morning is in the gray shirt. Oh, wow—that’s the mayor in the blue suit. The other men I don’t recognize.”
Joel Thompson gets out of a truck. He walks up to the mayor. “I wasn’t aware there was a community meeting, Patrick.”
“There isn’t.”
“Then what’s Jenkins doing here?”
“He was passing by when he saw my car and popped in to sit in on our conversation.”
“Conversation. Right.” Joel looks mad.
The men in the other black trucks get out and stand behind him, arms crossed. I lean over to Andie and whisper, “What is this, a rumble?”
“The funny thing is, you probably aren’t wrong.”
Joel goes over to my dad. “Why didn’t you call?”
“Hadn’t gotten around to it yet.”
“My offer will beat Jenkins’, I guarantee it.”
“I haven’t accepted any offers yet. Truth be known, he hasn’t made one.”
“Good.” Joel motions to someone, who brings him a file folder. He takes it and hands it to Dad. “Here’s mine. Look it over. You’ll find it’s more than generous. Enough so your kids won’t have to work a day in their lives.”
“That’s hardly the point. I want my kids to work.”
Joel laughs like Dad is crazy. “You get any other offers, let me know.” He hands Dad a business card. “In case you lost the other one.”
“I didn’t.”
“Well, then, I’ll be off.”
The six men get into three trucks and drive off, leaving dust in their wake. I turn to Andie. “Does he always ride with an entourage?”
“That’s what mobsters usually do, don’t they?”
My eyes widen. “Seriously?”
“No, not seriously.” She cocks her head. “Well, maybe.”
Dad shakes hands with the remaining men and then joins us.
“Big day?” I ask.
He blows out a big breath. “You could say that. If I was staying here a while, it would be ideal, but I can’t. I’ll have to do this from back home.”
“Do what, sell the ranch?”
He puts a hand on my shoulder. “What choice do we have? But I can’t sell it until it’s officially in my name. Your grandmother was in the process of putting it in a trust, but it hadn’t happened yet, so now it goes through probate. I’m named as her sole heir, so there won’t be an issue, but it could take anywhere from six months to a year before we’ll be able to sell.”
“Then why are all these people here?”
“This is a big deal, Maddox. We’re standing on a lot of prime land. People will fight over it, and it’s up to me to decide what will happen.”
Andie clears her throat. “Sorry,” I say. “Dad, you remember Andie Shaw from yesterday. She’s the veterinarian here and was a good friend of Nana’s.”
They shake. “Any friend of Mom’s is a friend of mine,” Dad says.
“She was a fine woman.”
“Thank you.”
“I’d better go,” Andie says. “Looks like your family has a lot to discuss.”
Dad gives me a look and inclines his head to her truck.
I say, “I’ll walk you.”
“I hope everything works out for you.”
“And for you and Baby Blue.”
“Thanks.” She stands by the truck door.
There’s an awkward silence. “Thank you for the tour.”
“Sorry you couldn’t see the whole thing.”
“Maybe it’s for the best.”
“I suppose.” She gets in and turns over the engine. “See you around, Connecticut.”
“See ya, Doc.”
She smiles, backs up, and drives away. Damn. Another place, another time maybe.
I look around, almost sad we’re leaving tomorrow, which is funny, because I am so out of my element here. Maybe that’s what makes it so interesting. I go over to the house.
Reece says, “You got her number, didn’t you? Please tell me you got her number.”
“I’m leaving tomorrow. I live in New York. We’re selling this place, and I’ll never have a reason to come back.”
She shakes her head over and over. “There is a land called Missed Opportunity, and you, Maddox, are its king.”
“Dinner’s ready!” Mom shouts from inside.
We pile into the kitchen and sit around Nana’s table, knowing it’s probably the last time we’ll do it. The air is thick with emotion.
“Matteo said he might know someone I can hire to watch over things and report back to me,” Dad says. “Said he’d do it himself if running the ranch wasn’t such a big job.”
“It has to be someone you trust,” Mom says.
“Why do you need someone here?” Jordan asks. “The employees take care of everything.”
“Let’s see,” Dad says. “I’ll need a caretaker for the house, not to mention the guesthouse. The mayor wants someone local to sit in on council meetings regarding the ranch. And the list goes on.”
“What are the qualifications you’re looking for?” Reece ask
s.
Dad laughs, “Are you applying for the job?”
“No, but I think Maddox should.”
“Me?”
“Why not? It’s not like you have some burgeoning career to go home to. Or a girlfriend. Or even a pet, for that matter. Your mom said they need someone they can trust. Who more than their own son?”
“But I don’t know anything about running a ranch.”
“Matteo runs the ranch, right, Mr. McBride? Maddox would just be here as your proxy, so to speak.”
Dad’s face lights up. “It’s not the worst idea.”
I shake my head. “It’s ridiculous. I can’t do it.”
“Why?” Reece asks. “Name one reason you can’t do this.”
“I…, uh…, I guess I can’t.”
Reece is about ready to jump out of her skin. “Good, then it’s settled?”
I turn to Dad. “Do you really think it’s a good idea?”
“It’s a great idea, sweetie,” Mom says. “Right, Gavin?”
He laughs. “It’s not one I’d have considered, but it kind of makes sense. So, yes, I guess it’s settled.”
Chapter Four
Andie
“Just keep an eye on her, Mr. Hendrix. She should be as good as new in a few days, but we want to keep her up and moving as much as possible.”
“What would we do without you, Andie?”
“I’m happy to be of service. See you next time.”
He nods to my truck. “Looks like someone’s waitin’ on you.”
I try not to roll my eyes when I see Jon Thompson, the thirty-two-year-old illegitimate child of Joel and his Mexican housekeeper. While Jon looks ethnic, and nothing like his father, he sure did inherit his dad’s unpleasant demeanor. Actually, I think Jon is in many ways worse than his father, because he thinks he has something to prove.
“Jon,” I say politely and put my things in the truck bed. “What brings you here?”
“Saw your truck when I was passing by. Thought maybe you were hungry. It’s almost lunchtime.”
“I am hungry, and thanks for the offer, but I’m meeting someone for lunch—your wife.”
“At least it’s not that Victor guy. He’s a real ass.”
“Vivian always said it takes one to know one.”
He laughs. “Old bat was as stupid as a rock. No wonder she fell down the stairs.”
I push him. “Don’t you ever talk about her that way.”
He grabs my hand and holds it to him. “I’ll talk about anybody any way I want to. You know why? ’Cause I’m a real fuckin’ cowboy. Not some transplant like Victor what’s-his-name. A girl like you needs a real cowboy.” He pins me to the car with his body.
“Everything okay over here?” Mr. Hendrix asks.
Jon turns. “Buzz off, Henry.”
I take the opportunity to squeeze my way out and get in the truck.
Jon calls after me, “Until next time!”
“Saw your husband today,” I tell Christina.
She takes a sip of her mimosa. “That makes one of us.”
“He was in rare form.”
“Tell me again why you’re still married to that asshole?” Tara asks.
“Because that asshole comes from a family that has more money than half of Texas.”
“You’d get some of it if you divorced him,” I say.
“Nope. Joel made me sign a prenup.”
My jaw drops. “You never told us that.”
She shrugs. “I was young and stupid. Now I’m stuck. But we have an understanding.”
I cringe in disgust. “I’ve seen your understanding. He hits you, and you get a new bracelet.”
She fingers the diamonds around her wrist. “It wasn’t a hit as much as a push. You’re making way too much out of it.”
“You’re better than that,” I say.
“I have a housekeeper, three cars, a wardrobe most celebrities would die for, and a five-figure monthly allowance. I can put up with a little shove once in a while.”
Tara scoffs. “I have a three-year-old, a dead-beat ex, a dead-end job, and I’m thousands of dollars in debt. I still win because I don’t have to put up with your douchey husband.”
“Touché,” Christina says, raising her glass. “You’re in debt? Why didn’t you say something?” She pulls out her checkbook.
Tara shoves it away. “I don’t want your money. I want you to see that living without it isn’t as bad as you seem to think it is.”
“I didn’t go to college, like you guys did. I’m not good for anything other than planning dinner parties and sitting on social committees.” She laughs. “How did the three of us turn out to be so different?”
“As if my psychology degree did me a bit of good,” Tara says. “I’m waiting tables, in case you forgot.”
“Are you guys happy?” Christina asks. “Like, are you where you thought you’d be in life?”
Tara looks at her son as he shoves a French fry in his mouth. “I may not be where I thought I’d be at twenty-five, but I’ll take it.”
They look at me.
“I have my dream job. Losing Viv was a blow, but yes, I’m happy.”
“Let’s not forget the hot new guy,” Christina says. “How’s that going?”
“Okay, I guess. He was acting strange the other day. Called me babe. We’re definitely not to the babe stage yet. We haven’t even had sex.”
Christina chokes on her drink. “You haven’t done the deed with the hot landscaper? Have you not seen his body?”
“No.”
She fans herself. “Girl, you need to come by Thursday at three. He usually takes off his shirt by three-thirty. Believe me, you’ll want to sleep with him after that.”
Tara laughs. “Oh, my god, you and Jon do belong together.”
“Hey, I’m married, not dead. Plus, like I said, we have an understanding.”
“Meaning you can both have affairs or just him?”
She shrugs. “I haven’t tested the theory yet.”
“Watch yourself. In my experience, the apple never falls far from the tree. We’ve all heard stories about how Joel treated his ex-wife.”
“What about Quinn?” Tara says. “He seems nice.”
“Karen’s kid?” I ask.
“Helped me change a flat last week. I hope he goes off to college and gets far away from his toxic family.”
“Not likely,” Christina says. “They keep close tabs on family. I have it on good authority that he smokes pot, and he’s the gigolo of his high school. I get it though; he’s gorgeous.”
I elbow her. “He’s seventeen and your nephew.”
“I’m not saying I’d do him or anything. I’m just saying he’s cute.”
“Mama!” Trey screams, trying to get Tara’s attention for the tenth time.
She pulls out crayons and a coloring book. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get a sitter.”
“Are you kidding?” I ruffle the hair of her adorable son. “I love this kid.”
“What’s on your agendas for the rest of the day?” Christina asks.
“I work second shift,” Tara says. “What’s new?”
“I have a date with Victor.”
“How many will that be?” Tara asks.
“Five, I think.”
“You definitely need to have sex,” Christina says. “I can’t believe you made it past three or four. His balls must be three shades of blue.”
“He is pretty hot,” Tara says. “In a mysterious sort of way.”
“I guess he’s attractive, and he can be funny. I don’t know. Maybe we don’t have much in common or something.”
“Because you haven’t slept together,” Christina says. “You’ll have lots in common after you’ve seen each other naked.”
“You think?”
“How long has it been?” Tara asks. “Tony Ramsey was the last one, right? And that was what, six months ago?”
“Seven.”
Christina laughs. “If you
’re counting how long it’s been, you’re ready. Just do it.”
“Maybe I will.”
They squeal. “We’re going to need details,” Tara says. “Lots and lots of details. I’m living vicariously, you know. There are cobwebs growing between these legs.”
I check the time. “I have to get out to Thousand Acre Ranch.” I leave a twenty on the table and kiss Trey’s head. “See you guys later.”
“Details!” Christina yells after me.
I’m so busy, the rest of my afternoon flies by, and before I know it, Victor is picking me up. “You look amazing,” he says and peeks past me into my apartment. “Are you ever going to invite me in?”
“Play your cards right, and we’ll see.”
He straightens. “All right then. I promise to be on my best behavior.”
I shut and lock the door. “Where are we off to?”
“I thought barbeque and then mini-golf.”
“Sounds good.”
All through supper, I try to picture Victor without his clothes on. Why am I not getting hot and bothered? I order another glass of wine. Maybe I’m nervous and need to drink more. After a while, though, I come to the conclusion I’m not nervous. I’m bored.
“Shall we?” he says after paying.
We make small talk in the car. Again I ask about his family, and again he’s hesitant to offer information. For someone who seems so interested in a relationship, he sure is tight-lipped.
“There’s not much to tell,” he says.
“But what do they do? Is your dad in the landscaping business? Is that how you learned?”
“Why is my family so important to you?”
“I don’t know. I guess because mine was. Mom and I were close. I miss that. It’s why I was so drawn to Vivian. With my granddad in the retirement home now, I think family is important.”
“Okay, fine. If it means that much to you, my dad was a construction worker, and my mom was an accountant.”
“Was? You mean they aren’t anymore?”
“No. They still are.” He grabs my hand. “I’m kind of distracted by the possibility of seeing your apartment later.”
Suddenly I’m regretting what I said. “We’re here.” I glance around the packed parking lot the mini-golf place shares with Target. “It looks busy.”
He drives down the rows looking for a spot. We end up parking quite a distance from the entrance and closer to Target. On foot, we weave through the cars to get where we’re going. I see a familiar face and stop.
Texas Orchids (The Devil's Horn Ranch Series) Page 4