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)
“Wow, that’s a crazy coincidence,” JB said, his voice filled with a kind of false wonder that nearly had Cole snickering. “It sounds like someone has been sneaking around all the ranches you’re trying to buy and sabotaging them.” He turned his wide-eyed look on Cole and hit him lightly on the shoulder. “Do you think unexpected bad things happening would make a person more prone to sell?”
Cole nodded. “I think they would.”
Angry gasps and sputtering erupted from Dillinger. “If you think that I’m somehow sabotaging—”
“I didn’t say it was you,” JB interrupted. He looked at Cole and pressed both hands to his chest. “Did I say the asshole property developer was sabotaging the ranches?”
“Nope.” Cole’s grin sneaked out before he could stop it. JB was clearly pissed, but he was also enjoying jerking Dillinger’s chain.
“JB,” Jesse said in a low voice that sounded like a warning.
Dillinger turned his full attention to Jesse rather than dealing with JB any longer. “If you don’t sell, you’ll destroy your neighbors’ chance to get out.”
Jesse crossed his arms. “Sounds to me like the only one ripping the money that’s been offered away from them is you. A rancher always makes decisions based on what’s best for his ranch. Not his neighbor’s.” Jesse leaned in closer to Dillinger and lowered his voice to a stage whisper. “But then you’d know that if you were a real rancher.”
Yeah, JB obviously got his flair for drama from his father.
Jesse straightened again and gave a little shake of his head. “We can’t help what they plan to do. And our decision shouldn’t affect what you guys are trying to do, either.”
“But it does. We want the whole lake for our resort.”
“And people in Hell want ice water,” Belinda muttered under her breath. Cole barely stopped his snorted laugh, turning it into a kind of choking cough that no one believed.
“Well, you’re not getting it,” JB said, bringing Dillinger’s attention to him.
Dillinger eyed him for a moment, then dismissed him completely in favor of JB’s parents. “You all know ranching is better left to the big corporations who are equipped to weather the storms. Everything can fall apart so quickly—cattle prices plummet, fires, disease. You’d be getting out now before you have to deal with any of that.”
JB took another step closer to Dillinger. “We’ve managed to weather those storms, as you put it, quite nicely. This ranch has been our way of life for three generations. We’ve put too much time and love into it to just give up now. Alexander Ranch is going to be operating for many more generations to come.” Anger and conviction vibrated in every word JB spoke.
“Who knows what could happen? It’s a precarious balance.” Dillinger offered another overly friendly smile. “Maybe you all should think about getting out now prior to anything happening.”
JB’s eyes narrowed. “Are you threatening us?” The playfulness from earlier had completely evaporated.
Dillinger drew back. “What? No, of course not!”
“Mr. Dillinger, the answer is still no,” Jesse interjected in a firm voice.
Dillinger frowned. “We’re prepared to up the price another ten percent.”
“You don’t seem to be listening.” JB’s hands curled into fists and Cole automatically stepped forward to slide his hand into JB’s to calm him. He didn’t even think about what he was doing—just wanted to offer JB some support. Some comfort.
Surprise lit the faces of JB’s parents, but it was the look of warmth and joy that filled JB’s crystal-blue eyes that had Cole’s heart skipping in his chest.
Unfortunately, the moment was ruined by the disgust creeping over Dillinger’s face. A sick uneasiness twisted Cole’s stomach. His coworkers had told him of dealing with that reaction from people, but he’d never had that directed at him.
The property developer eyed their clasped hands, his lip curling one corner into a sneer. “There’s another aspect you might not have considered. There are better places to live for people like you.”
“People like me,” JB repeated in a low voice.
“Homosexuals.” He had trouble getting the word out. “Big cities tend to accept your kind more than these small towns.”
“Now you see here—” JB started but his father interrupted.
“That’s enough. This conversation is over. We’re not selling, end of discussion, and you are no longer welcome at our ranch.”
Dillinger, realizing he’d lost his edge, started to backtrack, but Jesse held up a hand.
“I said the discussion is done and I meant it. Bel, get my shotgun.”
Belinda’s smile turned smug as she took one step in the direction of the front porch. Dillinger visibly paled and started toward his car with Jesse right on his heels. JB squeezed Cole’s hand before releasing it to follow the pair.
Cole stood there with Bel, and he could feel her gaze on him. He looked at her to find a thoughtful expression on her face. Her blonde and gray hair was once again loose, and he could see so much of JB in her face and coloring.