Chapter 24
Kenzie
Greed.
Why was it that there didn’t seem to be a business who wasn’t tempted by taking shortcuts?
For the first time in as long as I could remember, I almost felt sorry for my father.
I’d buried my head into the books, surprised he’d presented me with the volume of information that he had.
Plans. Financials. Approvals. He might have fired a couple of attorneys, but from what I could tell, they’d served him well.
But the pressure had continued to build, banks and other financial institutions sending threatening letters.
Maybe that’s why he’d almost begged me to return.
To save face. His reputation meant everything to him.
I’d already started running checks on the investors personally.
Two had been council members, which was in my mind a conflict of interest, but with one dying, the remaining investor on the council had limited say in swaying decisions.
From what I could tell, the two new members had other interests in mind including other, even larger real estate developments in the works.
That alone was enough to pitch a huge red flag.
However, when talking with the council members, I’d need to be very careful with what I said to them.
From what I could tell, my father hadn’t been lying about the stadium and the correct steps had been taken to ensure approval.
While I’d only utilized my skills as an attorney on three land development deals, I’d garnered enough knowledge to realize that projects in the millions were a powerful lure for corrupt activities.
I sat back. If there was one thing I couldn’t stand, it was greed and I could smell it a mile away.
What I also knew was that my parents’ ranch was located smack in the middle of several significant real estate developments.
Or potential deals. All I’d had to do was look at the skyrocketing values of the land over the last two years.
If someone were to get ahold of the acreage at a reduced cost, especially if the property went bankrupt and was forced into an auction situation, that someone would stand to become extremely wealthy.
The entire situation didn’t sit well with me.
Whinnying drew my attention from where I was working upstairs in the loft.
I hadn’t realized I’d spent the better part of four hours sequestered in a basic motel efficiency suite above one of several barns on my father’s property.
What few ranch hands there were working for my father’s ranch were either living off site or bunking in the newer building several football fields away.
As a little girl, this was the barn where my beloved palomino had been kept so I’d pretended the barn was my personal playground, including the rooms above.
Before I’d settled in, I’d taken a tour of the entire facilities, which I hadn’t done since leaving for school.
It was sad to see how my parents’ once bustling, oversized cattle ranch had been reduced in size.
Between several hundred acres being sold for housing developments and the ups and downs of the beef industry, I could clearly see the ranch was in trouble.
Still, there were several herds of cattle to be tended to, sheep, several horses, including those being boarded by people only living here half the year, and even chickens. I’d also forgotten how much I adored the place.
As soon as I walked down the stairs, I was met with a pleasant surprise.
First, I did a double take, pressing my hand against my lips. Standing with a man I’d known my entire life was a horse that was a dead ringer to my beloved palomino Sasha.
“Oh, my God. Jose.”
The older man’s face lit up. “Kenzie. I was told you came home. Brought you a little surprise.”
He stopped brushing the horse as I walked closer. “Oh, Jose. It’s so good to see you.” The hug was something I hadn’t realized I needed. He’d been working for my dad for as long as I could remember. I’d grown up with his children running around. We’d played together. Ridden together.
“You as well. I also heard you’re a big shot attorney now.”
I backed away and for some reason, I had to fight tears all over again.
Maybe because selling the ranch outright was still on the table.
“I’m kind of in between jobs right now.” I glanced at the stunning horse, shaking my head.
“She’s beautiful. She looks just like Sasha.
” I moved toward the horse’s muzzle, both loving and hating the memories.
“She does. Your dad bought her a few days ago.”
“Really?” I noticed there was a gleam in Jose’s eyes. The question was why. A bribe?
“Yep.”
“What’s her name?”
Jose handed me the reins. “Your dad said you should name her.”
“I don’t understand.”
Jose glanced toward the falling sun. “From the time you were a little girl you loved horses. Your father remembered and thought you might up take up riding again since you were back home.”
“I don’t know how long I’m staying.”
He patted the horse and grinned. “I understand. She’s a real beaut. As soon as he saw a picture of her, he had me run to Colorado and pick her up.”
“You went all the way to Colorado?”
“Anything for his daughter, he told me.”
What the hell was my father up to?
It was impossible to ignore the stunning horse, including the huge tail whapping back and forth. “Horses were my best friends for years.”
“The only birthday or Christmas present you ever asked for was a horse.”
“So I was one-sided.” I pressed kisses on her nose as I rubbed her face. I’d missed being able to ride every day like I had as a kid. “How interesting the change in heart since my father had never wanted me to ride.”
“That’s not true. It was your mother who didn’t want you to fall in love with horses.”
“My mother?” He had to be kidding me.
“She had a bad fall when she was pregnant with you. I was there when it happened. It scared your father to death. For a little while, the doctors were worried she would lose the pregnancy. But she healed and you were always a little fighter, kicking and screaming when born. Your mother was very careful with you after that. I think partially because she wasn’t able to have any other children. ”
Glancing toward him, I half laughed. “Neither one of them ever told me that story.”
“Oh, shit. I’m sorry, Kenzie. I thought you knew.”
“No. But that’s okay.”
“I think that’s why your mom told everyone they needed to watch out and protect you. She was worried.”
“She told people to protect me?”
“In no uncertain words. Including Wade from the day you arrived on this earth. Poor little kid. He wasn’t even five, but he did a damn good job if you ask me.
Maybe you didn’t realize that you were the apple of your father’s eye.
He couldn’t resist you. He bought the horse without telling your mother.
She was so angry. I’ve never seen her so mad. I thought they were headed to divorce.”
“Wait a minute. My mother was the one trying to keep me protected?” I’d never heard any of this before.
“Including from all the boys. She enlisted your brother’s help for that too. That’s another thing your mom and dad differed on.”
“The Beckett family.”
He laughed. “Yeah. Some crazy feud. Boys will be boys.”
“Do you have any idea why they were feuding?” When I gave him a sly look, he shook his head.
“Oh, no. I’ve already put my foot in my mouth a half dozen times. You’ll need to ask your mother about that one. Anyway, your dad was so excited he was able to find a horse that reminded him of Sasha.” He took my hand, insisting I take the reins.
“If the gorgeous baby is really a gift, then why isn’t he presenting her to me?”
Jose had always been the one to keep a level head. He’d gone nose to nose with my father, refusing to back down. It was one reason I’d adored him often more than my own father. How strange to learn after all these years my mother had been the one to demand Wade look out for me.
“I know you and your father haven’t always gotten along, Kenzie, but he does love you. Other than your mother, he just never figured out how to tell people. Always afraid of losing his family.”
“He has a funny way of showing it.” I took the reins, feeling very much the same way I did when I was a young girl and had finally been gifted with Sasha. Her death had nearly broken me.
“Men can be very hardheaded.”
“You think?”
Jose laughed and nodded toward the barn door. “Looks like you have company. I’ll better get home anyway. Do you need anything? You’re welcome to say with Patsy and me at our house.”
I noticed Axe and my heart fluttered. “I’m just fine here. You know I always loved this place.”
“Yeah, I do. I sure hope your dad can save the ranch. He had thoughts about renovating this barn, turning it into his office overhead. The plans just stopped. From what I heard, he’s got a buyer, which will prevent the place from going to auction, but he doesn’t want to do that.”
“A buyer?” I had a feeling about the auction but hadn’t seen an offer.
“Yeah, a lowball offer. Pissed your dad off. Don’t tell him I shared that with you. Sometimes, he confides in me. You never know with auctions. Who knows. Maybe the rodeo idea will turn things around.”
“Maybe so.”
As soon as Jose reached Axe, the two men conversed, both happy to see each other. Jose patted him on the shoulder before walking away. Axe watched him go, scratching his head as he did.
I remained with the beautiful horse, enjoying the way she was nuzzling against me. When Axe turned, he swaggered in my direction, his grin unexpected.
Even though we’d made up after our argument in the best of ways, there’d been no promises made before Char had picked me up at the seedy yet wonderful motel. Just an awkward moment. In seeing him now, I was no longer surprised at my level of excitement.
He had a way of doing that to me.
“How did you find me?” I asked as he neared the horse.
“Your mother told me where you were. You and this barn. I remember the first time I saw you riding Sasha. You were one hellion.”