Father reached for a copy of the will that the lawyer passed to him and read it completely before looking up again. “The land that ranch is on has to be worth a small fortune to developers. It should’ve been signed over to me. I had plans to sell it as soon as the deed changed hands.”
The very idea that Father would sell Grandpa’s ranch had Jace’s stomach lurching. Their grandparents loved that land. They’d built the house and barn themselves and then had worked it together until Grandma passed away eight years ago. After that, Grandpa continued to stay there and work until his unexpected heart attack several weeks ago. A good friend of his was overseeing the place while its future was being decided.
Now that future was in Jace and Noel’s hands. He had a lot to consider, but one thing was certain: He was not going to sell the land to some developer.
Noel clasped her long, blonde hair into a ponytail at the back of her neck, her blue eyes seeking his for answers and reassurance. Noel had dealt with anxiety for years, and this wasn’t helping. Grandpa’s farm had been a place of refuge for her, and he knew she didn’t want to see it sold anymore than he did.
Their parents argued with each other about how the situation should be handled. “It’s only fair that the land be sold. Your father and I should get half, and you two would split the other half,” Mother insisted.
Jace ought to be shocked she wanted half to go to them, while he and Noel would each get twenty-five percent. Especially when the place had been left to them. But he wasn’t, because that was who their mother was. Next to her, their father nodded in agreement.
Noel dropped her hair and clasped her hands in front of her as she took deep breaths. For her health as well as his sanity, Jace wasn’t about to let this continue.
He cleared his throat and spoke, his deep voice projecting through the room. “The ranch will not be sold right now.”
Both of his parents quieted immediately and looked at him as though he’d grown a third eye right in the middle of his head. “You can’t be serious, son,” Father said, his voice low but tinged with warning. “There’s a great deal of money to be had there.”
As if their parents needed more money. Sometimes Jace imagined his Father like Scrooge McDuck, with a whole room full of money that he swam through each night just to make himself feel better about life.
“I am completely serious. Noel and I spent a great deal of time out there, and we won’t have its future decided on a whim. We have a lot to talk about and consider. When we’ve made our decision, we’ll let you know.”
Noel smiled at him from across the table and the panic on her face eased.
Mother started to say something, but Mr. Lawson straightened a stack of papers loudly. “Very well. I’ll need the two of you to come by my office to sign some papers so the deed can be transferred to you.” He stood and handed some paperwork to each of them. “I am, of course, available should you have any questions.”
Jace accepted his with a nod. “Thank you. We’ll call and set up an appointment.” He intended to read through everything once he got home.
Mr. Lawson returned to his chair. “I believe that’s the last of the business I needed to discuss with you all. Again, I’m sorry for your loss. I’m saddened that Jethro is no longer with us, but take solace knowing that he is once again sitting with Annie on Heaven’s front porch. It has been an honor and a blessing to work for them all of these years.” He packed the rest of the papers into his briefcase, closed it with a snap, and stood. “If you’ll excuse me…” With that, he strode from the room.
The moment Mr. Lawson was gone, Father and Mother were on their feet. Jace knew they’d argue until the sun came up, and he wasn’t in the mood to listen to it. He needed to get home to Gunner. Besides, he’d already asked Bonnie to stay longer than she was supposed to work today. Jace glanced at his watch and frowned. She was going to give him an earful when he got home.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back and put Gunner to bed.” Truthfully, it was late enough that Bonnie was probably getting him down for the night right now. A pang of guilt hit him. He hadn’t seen his son at all today.
At the mention of Gunner, Jace’s father scowled. “I’m sure the nanny can manage that task.”
Jace shot him a firm look. “It’s been a long day.” He walked around the table and put a hand protectively to his sister’s back as he escorted her toward the door. He wasn’t going to leave her in here to deal with the wolves. “Noel and I will let you know our decision about the ranch. Good night.”
They made it out, down the hall, and into the elevator. As soon as the doors slid closed, Noel let herself slump against one wall as air whooshed from her lungs. “That was a nightmare. Thanks for the escape, big brother.”
Her term of endearment brought a small smile to his face. He’d been born a mere two minutes before her, but he’d always clung to that and teased her about it when they were kids. “Not a problem. I suggest you put your phone on silent and don’t answer their calls tonight or you’ll never get any peace.”
Noel nodded and proceeded to do exactly that. “I can’t believe they want to just sell the ranch to make a profit.” She swallowed hard. “The house and memories there are priceless.”
“I agree. I need to get home, but I’ll call you about it once I check on Gunner.” There was no way he was going to be able to sleep anytime soon, and he suspected the same would be true for Noel.
“That sounds good.”
Jace made sure she got to her car okay before getting into his own and starting the engine.
It was hard to believe Grandpa was gone. He’d left the ranch to them for a reason, and Jace sure wasn’t going to let him down.
His thoughts shifted to Gunner. He wished he’d taken his son to the ranch more often than he had. It saddened him that Gunner wouldn’t have his own memories of the place, or of his great grandfather.
At least Jace had plenty of stories to tell him when he got a little older.
He glanced at the clock and imagined Bonnie bathing his son and readying him for bed. At least he never had to worry about Gunner’s well-being. He had no doubt Bonnie cared for him as she would her own child.
His heart flip-flopped as it often did when he thought about Bonnie. Seeing them together always had the same effect. He’d dealt with his fair share of guilt over it, too.
