Rough and Rugged: A Meet Me In Milwaukee Charity Anthology

Chapter Six

As much as I longed to chase after Sam, I didn’t want to leave the cabin while Brayden and the photographer were still on the property. I grabbed a blueberry muffin and a mug of coffee, then went to sit on the porch. The pang of heartache was so strong that my eyes misted over. Which was ridiculous. What did it matter if I’d pissed off a guy I’d only known for three weeks?

But Sam wasn’t just any guy. He was sensitive and passionate, a talented artist, and a thoughtful lover. Losing him would hurt like hell.

Eden came to sit beside me, carrying a mug of coffee. She took a sip and spat it out. “What the fuck? This is so bitter.”

“There’s cream and sugar on the counter,” I said.

She set down the mug. “No thanks. Plain coffee sucks. As does this cabin. How can you stand living out here? It’s so boring.”

All around us were towering pine trees, giving off a heavenly aroma. A jackrabbit bounded toward the creek, and a feisty chipmunk skittered across the porch in search of muffin crumbs. The sky was clear and cloudless, a brilliant shade of blue. I loved it here.

“It’s not boring,” I said. “It’s just different from the city.”

“What do you do here? When you’re not fucking that hot mountain man?” She gave me a sly smile that almost made me laugh until I realized I wouldn’t be fucking him for the foreseeable future.

“I work on my art. When I need a break, I go hiking with Farley. The garden needs constant tending, and I’m also learning to knit. And every morning, I meditate and do outdoor yoga. It’s done wonders for my soul.”

Eden glanced around as if fully taking in our surroundings. “I’ll admit it’s gorgeous right now, but how would you survive in the winter? What if you got stranded in a snowstorm?”

“Being snowed in with Sam wouldn’t be so bad.” I could imagine us warming ourselves by the fire, playing cards, telling stories, and making love all night.

“But would it be worth giving up so much money?”

I let out a shaky breath. “I don’t know. I’m not sure what to do.”

Rather than come back with a smart-ass remark, Eden nodded in solidarity. “Fair. If I was banging a guy that hot, I’d be conflicted, too. Why couldn’t you take the money, move to the nearest town, and visit him on the weekends?”

“Because if I sell, he’ll think I’m a traitor.” If anything, I’d want to move as far from the mountains as I could, so I wouldn’t be reminded of what I’d given up.

By the time Brayden and Jean-Louis came back, my cousin was grinning like a kid with a full bucket of Halloween candy. “Got some dope shots. I’m gonna talk to the developer, and then I’ll let you know the final offer. Sound good?”

It didn’t. One minute, I was imagining a future with Sam in this wooded nirvana, and now I was about to give it up. “How about we discuss it over coffee first?”

“No time. I’ve gotta run, but I’ll call you later.” He snapped his fingers at Eden. “Let’s go, sis.”

As they drove off, I sat on the porch, my coffee gone cold. Farley came up to me, and I hugged him, even though he was dripping with creek water. But he couldn’t help me solve this dilemma.

It was up to me to figure out what I wanted.

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Later that week, Brayden returned with the developer, who walked all over the property, joined by a woman taking notes on her iPad. Curious, I followed along, listening as they talked about all the facilities the retreat center would offer. Yoga classes, a meditation room, a spa, lectures on spirituality, a café serving organic meals, and an herb garden. The more I heard, the more appealing it sounded. Maybe Grandma would have liked the property being used this way.

“How much would it cost to stay here?” I asked.

The developer didn’t attempt to hide the snobbery in his voice. “We’d want to discourage the rabble. Our center in Ojai charges ten thousand dollars for a five-day retreat, so this would be comparable.”

Holy shit. Even if I sounded like a rube, I couldn’t keep silent. “That’s so expensive.”

Brayden laughed. “No, duh. Rich celebrities will shell out a lot of dough for a place where they can be alone. No paparazzi. No social media. Just nature and a lot of good vibes.”

The developer nodded. “Ideally, we’d like to purchase all the private land in the area. The property next to yours includes forty acres of unspoiled wilderness. If we could strike a deal with the owner, we’d be able to add upscale cabins for people who want to stay here longer.”

“That’s Sam’s place,” I said. “He’ll never sell.”

“Everyone’s got their price,” Brayden replied.

“Not Sam. He’s different.” Besides, the cabin and the land actually belonged to his grandpa. I couldn’t imagine Sam betraying him like that.

Brayden gave a dismissive snort. “Whatever. With all the cash you’ll be getting, you can aim higher than that loser. But for God’s sake, put some effort into your appearance. Buy some decent clothes. Get a makeover. Then you could snag a rich husband and be set for life.”

When he said it that way, I felt so shallow. If I took the offer, would I turn out like the rest of my family? Placing wealth on a pedestal above everything else, even love?”

“Are we ready to draw up the paperwork?” the developer asked. “I’d like to get going.”

“Um… I might need a little more time,” I said.

Brayden glared at me. “You have until the end of the week. We can’t wait any longer.”

“I’ll have the answer by then, I promise.”

As much as I craved financial freedom, I couldn’t discount the sick, empty feeling I got when I imagined relinquishing the property forever.