“Seriously?” Dad and Mom had definitely not mentioned that to me.
“Those idiots nearly died out there in the sagebrush in the heat of the day, tripping out of their minds and puking up their guts. We had to treat them for sunburns and dehydration. Your dad was furious.”
“I can imagine.”My father only talked about his triumphs, never his failures, which is why I’d never heard this story before. It was also why I didn’t know that the ranch hadn’t turned a profit in the last five years before I took ownership. By the time I figured it all out, I already had my heart set on reviving the place.
“So, what’s your vision?” Walt asked. “Assuming you can keep it going, what would you like to see happen to the ranch?”
“I’d like to bring it back to its former glory,” I said. “This place has such a beautiful history as a guest ranch. We just need to let people know we’re here. With all those kids addicted to their cell phones and video games, people need Silver Sage now more than ever.”
“Your parents somehow made it through the lean times. I know you will too.” His words were encouraging, but Walt wasn’t smiling. He doubted me, and I doubted myself. “C’mon, Jake. Time to go.”
Jake jumped off my lap, and Walt opened the screen door to let him outside, then came back to grab the dog’s food container. “Good luck with your lady friend. I hope that works out for you. She’s real nice.”
At that point, I couldn’t see anything working out for me, but I nodded anyway because what else could I do? It seemed like there must be a solution to the ranch’s problems, but I hadn’t found it yet and time was running out for Silver Sage Ranch.
CHAPTER21
LAUREN
In any normal version of my world, Tori would have been the first person I called when I realized I had romantic feelings for someone. I’d avoided it because I knew what she would say—Matthew lived across the country; his lifestyle was the opposite of mine; and he was the first man I’d gone on a date with since my marriage imploded. She wouldn’t be wrong to have reservations. I’d had concerns myself, but I wanted to figure out what to do with them before I talked to Tori about it. Even so, I owed her a call about the Freddy situation, so I left on my morning walk and crossed my fingers that the cell service would hold out for me.
“My long-lost sister from the west!” she teased. “Where have you been? Out riding and roping broncos?”
“What are you talking about?” I asked. “Do you even know what a bronco is?”
As I passed by the office, I casually turned to look through the windows, wondering if Matthew was inside. No luck. I hadn’t experienced this kind of eagerness and excitement about a man since Freddy swept me off my feet. This time was different, though. I was older now and understood that fairytales didn’t exist. I could see beyond good looks and charm to the real man inside, and with Matthew, I liked what I saw.
“Isn’t a bronco a horse?” she asked. “Oh, do they have a mechanical bull at that bar? What’s it called, The Mangy Moose?”
“The Mangy Marmot.”
“Moose, marmot, whatever. I’m picturing it like something from the movieRoadhouse.”
Obviously, she viewed my visit to the ranch as a strange and fascinating detour on the journey through my divorce, and I was afraid she’d see hooking up with Matthew as another curve in my road to single life. What I felt for him ran deeper than that though, as did my affection for this place. Since coming to the ranch, I’d finally found some answers about what I wanted to do with my future.
“No bar fights and no mechanical bull, unfortunately,” I said. “I wish you could see this ranch. At every turn, there’s something beautiful.”
She hummed noncommittally. “It’s certainly remote. We accidentally picked a good hiding spot for you. The press clearly has no idea where you are, and I can’t imagine they’ll ever find you there.”
That was one of my worst fears—the paparazzi descending on the town or, even more horrifying, the ranch. “Unless Freddy or Sully tells them I’m here. She’s out to sabotage me. She told Freddy where to find me, and I’m pretty sure she’s the person who told him about the syndication deal.”
Tori growled low in her throat. “He must have paid her off. Don’t worry about Sully. When I fire her, I’m going to remind her she signed an NDA. If she meddles anymore, I’m going to sue her ass. As for Freddy, I still think we should consider running him over and making it look like an accident.”
She was joking. Probably.
“I don’t think I can live with a clear conscience if I murder the father of my children. We probably shouldn’t be talking about this over the phone. I feel like a swat team is going to descend on me at any moment.”
She chuckled. “Okay, fine.”
“You’re as disgusted as I am at the thought of giving him part of the company, right?”
She paused before responding. “Yeah, it makes me sick to my stomach.”
“I don’t want to do it, either.” When Freddy spoke to the tabloids, it would impact her, too. We hadn’t spoken about that, not really. “I’m so sorry. I hate this is going to mess up your life.”
“Don’t apologize to me.” She sounded fierce. Fiercely protective. “Honestly, I’m just happy you’re not living a lie anymore and, besides, I have Nick in my life now. He makes me feel like all this shit can’t touch me. Whoever thought I’d let myself rely on a man this way?”
She said it with cheekiness, but it wasn’t a joke. “It’s not dependence. It’s support. You finally have a guy in your life who’s got your back, and I’m thrilled for you.” My voice broke a little on the word thrilled. “No one deserves it more than you.”
