17. No More Carrying the Load Alone – Zoe
Chapter 17
No More Carrying the Load Alone
PLAYLIST: “THE BONES” BY MAREN MORRIS
ZOE
The next morning, after breakfast with Dad and Roman, I waited until I was alone in the kitchen to call Greg and check in on the Seven Palms deal. The two of them had walked out a few moments ago, discussing the herd, and I was sure they’d be too busy to pay me much mind while I checked in on my plans to save the ranch.
I leaned a hip against the kitchen counter and scrolled down to Greg’s contact info on my phone, dialing his number. He picked up after two rings.
“Hey, Zoe. How’d you know I was just about to call you?”
“Lucky guess. Dad just got home from the hospital. I had a quiet minute to myself, so I wanted to call and check in with you on the Seven Palms deal because we uncovered an issue with the ranch’s accountant embezzling money from us yesterday, and the bonus from closing that deal sure would be a big help with fixing things here, if we could manage it.”
“That’s actually why I was about to call you. I did it, Zoe. I did it just the way you taught me to, and I closed the Seven Palms deal just now. I literally just walked out of the meeting about it.”
I slapped my palm on the kitchen counter and pressed my lips together hard, suppressing a victory shriek because I didn’t want to disturb Dad and Roman, but unable to stop myself from grinning as a wave of relief washed through me.
“You really closed it? That’s amazing, Greg. I knew you could do it.”
“I did, and it’s all thanks to you and everything you taught me in your time here in Miami.”
I laughed softly, shaking my head, almost unable to believe my good luck.
“Three million in each of our pockets. That’s enough to cover everything here and then some. Greg, you’ve outdone yourself. Thank you.”
Greg typed something in on his computer on the other end of the line, the keys on his keyboard clicking furiously as he spoke. “Is there anything else we can do for you or the ranch from here in Miami? Stan is thrilled with how well the buyout on Michaelson worked out for him and the company, by the way. I wouldn’t be surprised if he sends you a bonus check for orchestrating that coup, too.”
I drummed my fingers on the counter, shaking my head. “No, no, I’m handling everything to do with the ranch’s expenses and it being in the red from the embezzlement scheme Michaelson and the accountant were running against us. Dad doesn’t need to worry about any of that mess when he’s fresh out of the hospital?—”
Someone behind me cleared their throat loudly. I froze, hanging up my call with Greg without bothering to say goodbye. Lowering the phone to my side, I turned to face my father, who was standing in the kitchen doorway, his expression caught somewhere between shock and anger.
“What the hell was that about? Three million dollars? Ranch expenses? Zoe, what are you doing?”
I felt the blood drain out of my face and I stood up a little straighter, squaring my shoulders and lifting my chin as I tried to hold his furious gaze.
“Dad, I was going to tell you?—”
Dad held up a hand, cutting me off, his voice just shy of shouting when he spoke again.
“When? After you made me feel like a damn charity case in my own house, on my own ranch? Zoe, I can’t believe you’ve been hiding this from me. What else aren’t you telling me?”
At dad’s raised voice, Roman eased into the kitchen through the dining room entrance, eyeing both of us with a confused frown.
“What’s going on?”
Dad jabbed an angry finger in my direction. “She’s been hiding millions of dollars. She’s paying off everything and didn’t think to tell me—or you.”
Roman’s gaze slid over to assess me, and his jaw tightened as he gritted his teeth.
“Zoe, is that true?”
I grimaced, wringing my hands. Why didn’t they seem to have any idea of where I was coming from?
“I was going to tell you both. I just… I wanted to make sure everything was taken care of first.”
My voice trembled as I spoke, betraying my vulnerability, and I hated myself for it. I’d been carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, and somehow they couldn’t see it? I was just trying to fix things, make everything okay.
My father scrubbed a hand over his face in frustration. “You didn’t think I deserved a say in what happens to my ranch? Zoe, I’m not a child who needs looking after!”
I shook my head, taking a step back, my voice breaking when I spoke. “I was just trying to help. You don’t understand how much I’ve been juggling, how hard it’s been to figure all of this out on my own.”
I turned and stormed out of the kitchen, my boot heels clicking against the hardwood floor as I grabbed my jacket and headed outside. On autopilot, my body gravitated toward the barn, the place I’d always run to for sanctuary when I was younger and needed space to think.
But then Missy ? —
I drew up short at the barn door and shuddered, shaking my head.
My best friend died in there. I don’t think I could ever go in there again, no matter how angry I am right now… that barn could never be the sanctuary I need again.
My eyes filled with hot tears and I jerked away from the barn, looking around, desperate for somewhere to feel safe and decompress, but it damn sure wouldn’t be the barn. My watery gaze snagged on the paddock where the buckskin colt we rescued was grazing, and I veered toward it, almost running.
When I reached the fence, I gripped the top rail as hard as I could, my shoulders shaking with the silent sobs that wracked my body as I pressed my forehead against the fence rail.
Slow hoofbeats approached me and I lifted my tear-streaked face, looking up at the rescue horse, letting the colt nuzzle me. That sweet, curious gesture undid me, and I buried my face against his neck, breathing in his earthy scent, stroking his mane and sobbing, letting the tears flow as I stroked and petted the colt, taking just as much comfort from him as I was giving him.
I heard Roman’s familiar footfalls behind me, but I didn’t turn, didn’t speak. I wasn’t ready yet, not after feeling like my father attacked me for trying to help and take care of him.
The buckskin colt nickered softly, his velvet nose brushing against my damp cheek like he could sense my turmoil. I stroked his mane absently, the repetitive motion grounding me.
“You deserve better than this mess,” I murmured to the colt, my voice hoarse and uneven. “Better than all of us.”
“Hey, darlin’,” Roman said softly, his voice a balm against my raw nerves. “Mind if I join you?”
He didn’t wait for an answer, leaning on the fence beside me, close but not crowding. “Your dad sure didn’t look too happy when I left the house. Wanna tell me what the fuck’s really going on?”
I didn’t look at him, keeping my eyes on the colt. “It’s nothing, Rome. Just Dad being Dad, blowing things out of proportion.”
He let out a low, incredulous laugh. “Zoe, I was right there with y’all in the kitchen. I just heard him shouting something about millions of dollars. That doesn’t sound like nothing to me. What’s this all about? Where’s the money coming from?”
I sighed, my shoulders sagging under the weight of his gaze. “It’s… complicated. I didn’t want to bother you—or him—with it until I had everything under control. I’ve been trying to fix things, Rome. The ranch is in the red because of the embezzlement, and Dad’s care is going to cost more than insurance will cover. I didn’t want him to worry about anything when he came home from the hospital, and I didn’t want you to feel like I was stepping on your toes.”
He stared at me, his dark brows knitting together in that way that said he wasn’t going to let this slide. “So you just… what? Magically conjure up millions of dollars? How does that even work?”
I turned to him, finally meeting his hazel eyes, and saw the bewilderment there. My heart twisted painfully. “I didn’t conjure anything, Roman. The money’s mine. From my time in Miami, my investments, my work. I’ve worked my ass off for every cent of it.”
His jaw worked as he digested that, his gaze flicking between me and the colt. “Okay, but why the hell didn’t you tell me? It’s not about the money, Zoe. I don’t give a damn about that. What’s messing with my head is that you didn’t think you could tell me about it. We’re supposed to be a team, remember?”
My lips trembled as I fought back the tears threatening to spill over again. “I didn’t want it to change things between us. I didn’t want it to make things weird, like I was the one calling all the shots because I had the money to back them up. I like us, Rome. I like that we’re equals, and I didn’t want this to unbalance things between you and me.”
His frown softened, the confusion giving way to something gentler, something achingly familiar.
“Zoe… you having money doesn’t make us any less of a team. And it sure as hell doesn’t make you the boss of me.” He paused, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “You’ve been bossing me around since we were kids, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”
A startled laugh escaped me, a mix of relief and lingering nerves. “I just… I didn’t know how to tell you without it changing everything.”
Roman reached out, cupping my cheek with one hand, his thumb brushing away another tear I didn’t realize had fallen. “It doesn’t change how I see you, Zoe. You’re my wife. That’s what matters to me. But next time you’re sitting on something this big, do me a favor and tell me before I hear it secondhand from your dad, okay?”
I leaned into his hand, nodding. “Okay. I promise.”
His gaze searched mine for a long moment before he pulled me into his arms, his warmth chasing away the icy knot of guilt lodged in my chest. “We’re in this together, baby. Always.”
The colt nuzzled my back, and I let out a shaky laugh, turning to gently scratch the side of his neck. “Even he’s on your side, huh?”
Roman chuckled, resting his chin on the top of my head. “Smart horse. I think he likes you, though, darlin’. Knows a good thing when he sees it.”
I closed my eyes, letting the tension drain out of me as I stood there with him, the weight of his understanding lifting some of the burden I’d been carrying alone.
I sighed, leaning into him, my fingers stroking the colt’s mane. “I wish Dad saw things that way. He thinks I blindsided him. Like I was trying to take control of everything without consulting him.”
Roman adjusted his arms around me, his voice softening. “Your dad’s a proud man, Zoe. You know that. This ranch is his legacy, and right now, he probably feels like he’s losing control of it.”
I pulled back slightly to look up at him, my brow furrowing. “I’m just trying to help, Rome. I don’t want him to feel like I’m taking over—I just want to make things easier for him.”
“I know that,” Roman said, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. “But maybe he needs to feel like he still has a say. Like he’s still the one steering the ship, even if you’re the one keeping it afloat.”
I tilted my head, considering his words. “You think I should talk to him? Let him feel like he’s making the decisions?”
Roman nodded. “Yeah. Ask him what he wants for the future of the ranch. Let him tell you his vision. That way, he feels included, not sidelined.”
I pressed my lips together, my gaze dropping to the colt’s curious eyes. “I hate that he’s mad at me. I just want him to see that I’m trying to do the right thing.”
“He’ll come around,” Roman said, his voice steady and reassuring. “Once he realizes you’re not trying to take anything away from him, he’ll see that you’re just looking out for him. But you’ve gotta give him time, Zoe. And maybe a little grace.”
I let out a soft, humorless laugh. “Grace, huh? I’m not exactly known for my patience.”
“Maybe not,” Roman admitted with a teasing smirk, “but you’ve got enough stubbornness to make up for it. Use it to fight for him, not against him.”
I leaned back against the fence, letting his words sink in. “You really think this will work?”
Roman’s hazel eyes met mine, filled with quiet confidence. “I know it will. Your dad loves you, even if he’s too proud to show it right now. And we’ll figure this out together, okay? No more carrying the load by yourself.”
I nodded, a flicker of hope sparking in my chest. “Okay. I’ll talk to him. But you better be ready to back me up if he starts shouting again.”
Roman grinned, leaning in to press a kiss to my forehead. “Always, darlin’. Always.”