Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Lettie’s face twisted up. “You’ll hold us all back.”
“I can’t help that,” JB said. “I am sorry that this will mess up your plans, but a man has to be true to his own course in life.”
Lettie growled and stomped off toward the house.
“Don’t mind her none.” Anger laced Frank’s voice. “Please think about their offer. Lettie and I are ready. We have our eye on a sweet little house near the beach.”
JB’s lips tightened. “We have no intention of selling no matter what. If you’re anxious to get out, you could consider selling to someone else.”
“You know how long it can take to sell a ranch. Not that many people want this life anymore.”
“That’s not true,” JB said. “Plenty of folks love this life and there are always city people looking to start over in the country. But my family is going nowhere.”
Cole looked out over the Jenkinses’ land. It was just as beautiful with its view of the rolling hills and lake, and he imagined it would be hard for them to leave.
But then it sounded like someone was making it easy for them to choose to leave. He’d have to fill Rowe in on the new incidents.
He’d be digging deeper into this Dillinger group himself. Maybe it was time to take a closer look at Logan and the Robertses. It was clear that the Jenkinses were upset that the Alexanders weren’t going to sell. The Robertses could have already taken steps to make sure their neighbors took the deal.
“I’m sorry, Frank,” JB said softly. “Last thing I want to do is hold you back, but Dillinger is going to have to be happy with the two ranches on the lake. Though I hate the idea of our private paradise being turned into a noisy resort, that’s my problem. Not yours. I wish you’d rethink selling to a private buyer.”
“Maybe I’ll talk to a realtor and see what my options are. I can’t afford to stay here now with so much of my herd gone. It’s hard for Lettie to leave our land, but she’s gotten her hopes up on that little place in Florida. She’s ready for the retired life. I’m not willing to let my wife down.”
JB nodded and tilted his head toward Frank. “You two take care, then.”
He turned to walk to his truck and Cole followed, an uneasiness swirling in his gut. Had JB painted a fresh target on his back with the Jenkinses? They already had one person gunning for him. JB did not need a second, and Cole was willing to wager that Frank Jenkins was a better shot than Gladys.
Chapter Fourteen
“Well, that wasn’t as helpful as I thought it would be,” Cole muttered as he dropped into the passenger seat of the truck. He shoved one hand into his damp hair, wiping some sweat from his brow. They couldn’t have been standing out there for more than fifteen minutes, but he was dotted with sweat, his shirt sticking to him in places. How in the world was it so hot already? Definite drawback to Texas.
JB’s door slammed shut, and he flashed Cole a smile as he started the engine. “Were you expecting them to admit to poisoning the cows in an effort to force us to sell the ranch?”
“It would have been nice. We already know that your other neighbor is trying to kill you to get your father to sell.”
“Who? Logan?”
Cole snorted. “No, the other neighbor trying to kill you. The blind old lady.”
“Mrs. Roberts?” JB’s voice jumped high, and it sounded like he was practically choking on his question.
“Well, I think Logan would be happy to kill you too, but so far Mrs. Roberts is the only one to actually take shots at you that I know of. Has Logan shot at you since I’ve been here?”
“I love how that question implies that Logan has shot at me in the past,” JB playfully drawled.
“I would be more shocked if he hadn’t, John Benjamin.”
“For your information, Logan has never shot at me, though I’m sure he wished he had. And that’s definitely not my name.” JB tossed his cowboy hat on the dashboard and laughed. “It’s nice to know that I’m so loved in this part of Texas. But I told you that the shooting with Roberts was an accident. She’s blind as a bat and shouldn’t be handling a gun. Ever.”
“So, it’s okay to shoot you as long as it’s an accident? I’ll keep that in mind.” Cole felt like beating his head on the dashboard. Or better yet, JB’s head. This was ridiculous. The man was more concerned with the ranch than his own well-being. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to get his freaking head blown off.
“No, it’s not okay to shoot me for any reason,” JB replied in a sweet, too-patient tone that left Cole wanting to shake him. He shifted the truck into drive, and they rode down the well-worn dirt driveway to the shimmering asphalt road. JB turned left, heading toward the Alexander Ranch.