Embracing Hope (Cowboys of Sagebrush Rose #5)

Chapter Four

“So, did I pass the test?”

She backed out of the driveway and turned toward Sagebrush Rose Ranch. “What test were you supposed to pass?” She shot him a side glance.

His knees were pressed against the dashboard, and his head nearly rubbed the ceiling. She realized it was a little wrong of her to have made him ride in her car. Tall herself, he still dwarfed her and was more than two hundred pounds of solid muscle.

“Isn’t riding in the car and helping you babysit your friend’s kid all a test to see if you can send me packing?” he said calmly.

After seeing how he treated Marah—seeing his softer side—she admittedly felt different about him. He wasn’t as “rough” as she gave him credit for.

Yet, Hope wasn’t quite ready to let her guard down. Although he said that their meeting was purely coincidental, she couldn’t trust him. Over the years, she’d learned the hard way that trusting the wrong people could turn into a mess if not careful.

“You truly do think too much of yourself,” she said. “Didn’t I make it clear that I had prior commitments? I’m sorry that I didn’t treat you like royalty, rent a spacious vehicle, and change my plans with my friend who needed my help. She didn’t need to go to the doctor, did she?” She wasn’t sure why the man could creep under her skin like no one had ever done.

“I’m confused.”

“I’m guessing you’re waiting for me to ask why.”

“Why do you dislike me so much? I think we had a great time last night. In fact, I’d say you had a pleasurable time. Aren’t multiple orgasms supposed to be a great thing?”

The underlying huskiness and the sultry words made her heart skip a beat. “Okay, Isaac. Tamp down the ego. Drunk sex is never as good as sober sex.”

He planted his narrowed gaze on her. “If I were drunk, I’d never be able to get it up, and from what I recall, I not only got it up, but I managed to three times.” His voice came dangerously low. “I don’t think you were either. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have touched you.”

Feeling his dark eyes on her, her body warmed. “No, I wasn’t drunk.” Maybe tipsy, but she knew exactly what she was doing and remembered every minute. She shifted, and her arm brushed his resting on the console. An awareness shot up into her shoulder and the thick cords of his arm flexed.

“So, again, did I pass the test?”

“I have no desire to test you. Your choice to join me was completely yours, and there was no pressure. I wasn’t holding you hostage.” Her daddy would be upset if he knew Hope wasn’t rolling out the red carpet as he’d asked her to.

“Touché. But I’m here now,” he said smoothly. “And face it, I’m staying until this merger is complete or disintegrated.”

She wrapped her hands tighter around the steering wheel. “Why exactly are you here, Isaac?”

“I’m overseeing the details of this business deal.”

“Which is a bit mysterious when the merger was already set in stone between your brother and my daddy.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “How much of your family’s finances has Sam made you aware of, Hope?”

“Are you suggesting that Daddy is keeping secrets?” The question seemed hypocritical. Sam had kept his cancer diagnosis secret for nearly six months.

“Sagebrush Rose has faced some financial challenges recently. Ranching isn’t as profitable as it used to be. Over the years, equipment, fertilizer, and labor costs have all increased. Once upon a time, a crew would work the land for a place to live and grub, but times are changing. The profit received from selling cattle hasn’t increased at the same rate. Most small ranches are one drought away from folding.”

“It seems that Sagebrush Rose is still profitable enough for your family to consider a merger.”

He nodded. “My brother, CJ, definitely is all in.”

“But you’re not?”

There was a stretch of silence. “That remains to be seen. So this is Sagebrush Pine?”

She pressed the brake at the red light and glanced over at him. Damn, he was handsome, but she couldn’t let that sedate her logic. “Sagebrush Pine is a grain of sand compared to San Antonio.”

“That sounded a bit like an accusation?”

“Take it however you like.”

“What do y’all do on a weekend?”

“Attend church, drink at Mav’s, or ranch,” she said.

“I would categorize ranching as a living, not a hobby.”

“A true rancher understands he will have no hobbies. The ranch consumes their life.” She stared at the light waiting for it to change. “See, that’s what you need to understand. Daddy is a rancher. He’s dedicated his life to making Sagebrush Rose what it is today. The land is his baby, his legacy. People from states away know the Rose reputation. When they buy our beef, they know it’s high quality. So, while you’re turning over rocks to find reasons why you shouldn’t agree to the merger with Sagebrush Rose, remember there are a dozen other farms and ranches out there that would jump at this opportunity. Daddy has seen strife before, and he’s overcome every single one.”

He grunted. “I’m not disputing Sam's reputation, but there’s a stain on the Rose name after some incidents on the ranch. Questions arise when a hand gets killed or hurt on any ranch.”

“For a man who seems to have done his research, it certainly lacks knowledge. Rigs Fletcher, or should I use his real name, Pok, was a criminal who tried to kill a handful of people, including my sister before he was fatally shot.”

“What about all the sudden marriages?”

“What about them?”

“Each of your sisters have walked down the aisle in the last six months.”

She sighed. “Are you suggesting that my sisters' marriages indicate some sinister plot?”

“I understand business, Hope. In theory, the Sagebrush Rose Ranch seems to be undergoing significant changes, possibly in its leadership. I know Sam is approaching retirement age, and if that's the plan, Marcum Livestock needs to be informed sooner rather than later.”

“Are you suggesting that if Daddy retires, theoretically speaking, my sisters and I aren’t able to run the business?”

“My brother and I need to know before we proceed with the merger. I’m not questioning your capabilities, but we understand this is a significant risk for Marcum Livestock.”

“I’m sure if there’s anything that you need to know, Daddy will inform you.”

“Hmm.”

“What does that mean?”

“You know what I think? Instead of Sam heading up this merger like I’d expected, he sent his beautiful, persuasive daughter. That could mean he’s hiding something or doesn’t care if this business deal happens.”

Hope needed to monitor her words carefully. Isaac was observant and thoughtful.

“I don’t care what you think. And if you believe I’ll waste my breath trying to convince you of something you already have figured out, then you’re full of misconceptions. Daddy asked me to be the liaison, and I’m doing that. If you have a problem with that, I suggest you ask him to find someone else.” The best way to deter Isaac’s thoughts was to act like she didn’t care.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not mad that you’re the liaison. You are mighty upset, though. Like an internal bomb is about to explode.”

She waved a hand to dismiss him.

The small town blossomed into pastures, lush fields, and mountains with craggy tall tips that seemed to touch the sky lit only by the setting sun. “I’ve heard you and your brother aren’t real cowboys.” Yeah, some part of her just wanted to get a rise out of him, just as he always managed to get one out of her.

Instead of getting offended, he chuckled. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ve heard it told that Sam is so busy running behind his daughters cleaning up their messes that he’s lost track of what’s important. He can’t run a tight ship like he used to either. Probably why his hands are running amuck.”

“Sounds like you’ve skipped a few bases.”

“Several of your hands have been severely injured recently. The turnover rate is alarming. Training a new crew is expensive. What makes the hands want to jump ship?”

“Ranching accidents happen. Are you insinuating Marcum Livestock hasn’t had employees injured on the job?”

“In two years, we’ve had one accident, and that was because the hand came to work under the influence, and he was immediately let go. Sagebrush Rose is at three nearly fatal accidents in a year, and the turnover of hands is fifty percent higher than any other ranch in Wyoming. All these things point toward bad management. Or am I missing something, Miss Rose?”

The way he said her name made her body react.

She hated that her body betrayed her logic.

“Seeing that Sagebrush Rose is three times larger than most ranches, that statistic is useless. Our loss of employees might make you raise a brow, but we’ve hired workers who can handle back-breaking work and sweat their balls off. I’d bet my eye teeth on that fact.”

“Right. Maybe I’ll get to meet them.”

“I’m sure you will.”

“You understand that Marcum Livestock can’t just sign a piece of paper joining forces without certainty that it’ll go smoothly. If there’s something Sam is hiding, I’ll find out.”

She groaned. “Why do you keep suggesting my father is hiding something?”

“Where is he right now?”

Hope slowed the car so she could make eye contact with him. His rugged features were glowing in the dashboard lighting. His jaw was broad, partially covered by whiskers threaded with silver. “Handling business.”

“This is the business he should be handling. This merger is a big deal unless it isn’t, and then that changes the trajectory, at least for me.”

“You’re only half of Marcum Livestock. Where is your brother? If this deal is so important, why isn’t he here, making sure things run efficiently?”

He cleared his throat. “CJ and his wife just suffered a miscarriage. As business-focused as my brother can be, he’s always a family man first and foremost.”

She suddenly felt like an idiot. “I’m sorry. I had no clue.”

“You had no way of knowing. It isn’t something CJ would tell his business associates.” He shifted and looked through the side window.

“That’s why you’re the lucky one who is here managing things.”

“Yay for me,” he said unenthusiastically.

“If you came into this with your mind already made up, then why bother?”

He snorted. “Like you said, I’m only half of Marcum Livestock.”

“I don’t think that’s giving Sagebrush Rose a fair shake.”

When he didn’t answer, she braked hard and jerked the wheel, steering her car into a gravel pull-off along the edge of the dark back road.

“Now what?” He scanned the darkness.

She unfastened her seatbelt and turned in her seat. Irritation boiled through her. “What’s your story?”

Even in the dimly lit car, she could see the danger lurking in his gaze. “What do you mean?”

“It's exactly what it sounds like. One minute, you seem carefree and happy-go-lucky, and the next, you’re subdued and distant. Angry. You talk about Daddy hiding things, but the way I see it, so are you.”