Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
“Do you mind if I get some coffee?” I ask, waving at the machine.
She shakes her head and absentmindedly gestures with the cup. “Help yourself.”
After I pour myself a mug and one for Allie when she’s done, I face her again. This time, I feel more settled. There are numbers on the documents in front of her. Her forehead is scrunched up like she can’t figure something out.
“Anything I can do?” I offer, sipping my coffee, praying Allie comes down to defuse this fucking tension.
She hands me a sheet, and I pull it toward me to read. Cattle statistics.
“What do you think they would earn at auction?”
“I can look into it for you. But I wouldn’t know until I checked the records.”
“Would you?” she asks. “I know your family has those contacts out in Missoula.”
“The Bishops have contacts everywhere.” It’s a fact, and we both know it.
Emma gives a short bark of laughter and nods like she’s tipping her hat. “You don’t have to tell me that.” She chuckles. “Though, for once, it would be nice to get in on some of that insider information Roman used to hoard like a miser.”
I pitch my voice low to match Roman’s deep timbre. “Information is power.”
She clicks her tongue. “That does sound like something he would say. Well, thank you for sharing the wealth.”
“You don’t have to thank me. It’s the least I can do. We’ll find a way.”
For a moment, Emma stares at me over the rim of her mug, her eyes harder now, scrutinizing.
Then Allie’s voice cuts in. “Am I interrupting something?”
Emma stands up a little straighter as Allie moves into the kitchen. “Good morning.”
I give her a nod, like I didn’t just crawl out of her bed and fuck her against her shower wall.
“How’s it going?” Allie asks.
“Kade and I were discussing ideas for the ranch.” She gives me a warm, friendly smile. “He knows what he’s talking about.”
I shrug, trying to keep it casual as Allie’s gaze bores into me. “I picked up a few things. And nothing is ever guaranteed. I’ll do what I can.”
Allie grabs the mug that I nudge toward her and sips at it. “What else were you two talking about?”
I shrug again. “Nothing much. I just got down here. Was thinking about breakfast is all.”
“And you decided to just start talking about the ranch?”
Emma shuffles her papers together. “It’s my fault. I brought it up. With everything going on, I have to take a hard look at things.”
I clear my throat and head toward the doorway. “I’ll let you two talk a moment.”
Allie gulps loud enough I can hear, and I resist the urge to wrap my arms around her as I pass. “Well, if one of your kids can’t save the ranch, I guess you have to rely on the other one.”
Oh boy. I settle on the other side of the doorframe, listening even though I should be running away. With everything going on with Allie, I can’t handle this too. Another person I’m responsible for, another person to care for who can… I stop the thought dead and shake my head as I listen in again.
“Oh honey, that’s not what I meant. With everything. Maybe I went about it the wrong way,” she admits.
Allie sputters on her coffee. “Excuse me, what did you say?”
Emma continues. “I was desperate. I saw it as the only way through. But I’m starting to believe there could be another way. A better way. This has been nice. I’m starting to wonder if it’s not all part of some bigger plan. Kade being here with us, I mean.”
If she only knew the full story. It’s better that she doesn’t. Let her have her beliefs.
Allie shuffles, her socks making noise on the tile, and sets her mug down on the counter with a sharp click. “Tell me the truth. You like feeling like you have your son back, finally? Don’t you?”
And I would rather be any-fucking-where else than this conversation right now.
Emma sighs softly.
“I’m happy for you,” Allie says. “I really am. I hope you guys can be friends now.”
“I do, too. But let’s not rush anything.”
I’m standing near the window in Allie’s room when I hear something… I’m not sure what.
Allie glances up from her place on the bed, lounging, like the absolutely fucking queen she is. “What was that?”
I can’t stand not knowing. Carefully, I reach to her nightstand for the pistol I stashed there, then fling the window open with one hand.
“Be careful!” Allie whispers from behind me. “What if someone’s down there with a gun waiting to shoot you?”
I try not to roll my eyes, and I don’t bother explaining vantage points to her. She wouldn’t care anyway.
“Stay here.” I grab my boots and shove my feet into them. “Stay here, in your room, and don’t go to the window.”