Chapter 43 Dakota
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Dakota
I’m halfway through my second cup of coffee at the Buckhorn Diner when the gossip hits fast as wildfire.
You can practically feel it before you even hear it. The way the air shifts, the sudden hush before the storm. Then Jessie Murphy’s voice cuts through the diner, sharp as a whistle.
“Thomas Buck’s assistant just got arrested!”
The fork I’m holding hovers midair, a bite of pie forgotten. Wait. What?
I look up, and sure enough, the counter crowd is buzzing like bees on a sugar high. Jessie’s holding court as if she’s running the Colter Creek News Network.
Marshall Jones leans in, eyes wide. “Arrested? What for?”
Jessie glances around like she’s about to spill a state secret. “You know the damage at High Ridge? It was them. But it’s more than just some big land thing.”
My ears prick up. My pulse absolutely thunders. Thank goodness Charlie is with Alice this morning so I can freak out alone.
“What is it?” Marshall demands. “I need to know everything.”
“Embezzlement. Fraud. Apparently, Derek flipped on Thomas Buck and sold out the whole company. They’re saying there’s a whole investigation going on now.”
My jaw actually drops.
Thomas Buck. The same Thomas who tried to charm me into selling Grandpa’s house. Who made me feel I’d be stupid not to.
Turns out, I was smart to trust my gut.
I set my fork down and lean back in the booth, trying to piece it all together. The man’s been walking around this town with a sickening arrogance, but hearing his name tangled up with words like “fraud” and “embezzlement”?
Yeah, that’s a twist no one saw coming.
Wyatt Tucker pipes up from the end of the counter. “Guess ol’ Buck’s luck ran out. About time, huh? Lucky for the High Ridge Boys.”
That, too.
If they’ve been attacking Clint’s ranch, then surely this means it’ll all come to an end now.
Jessie nods like she’s been waiting years to say it. “He’s been shady forever. Everyone knew something wasn’t right.”
I can’t help the little smirk that tugs at my lips. Because, honestly? She’s not wrong.
When I met with him about the house, something about the whole thing just felt… off. Too slick. Too eager. He smiled too easily and talked like he’d already decided what I should do. And I almost listened. Almost sold.
Now, sitting here with my coffee growing cold, I can’t stop thinking about how close I came to being caught in the middle of this mess.
A wave of relief washes over me, the kind that makes you both laugh and want to throw up at the same time. I take a long sip of coffee to steady myself.
“Well,” I mutter under my breath, “guess the universe just saved my butt.”
Across the diner, Jessie catches my eye.
“You hearin’ all this, Dakota?” she calls out, clearly enjoying the drama. “Madness, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” I say, offering her a wry smile. “Guess it’s a good thing I didn’t take his offer on the house, huh?”
Her grin widens. “See? Always trust your gut, honey.”
I nod, half to her, half to myself. She’s right. For once, I actually did.
After a few more minutes of eavesdropping on the latest gossip, I grab my purse and head out of the diner. I’m still feeling shaken, but also kind of relieved. I wonder how Clint, Sawyer, and Reid are taking the news.
I really do hope the good guys win this one for once.
I need to get this off my chest, so I decide to go talk to Violet.
When I walk into the café, the familiar warmth of the place wraps around me. The smell of fresh coffee, the hum of chatter, and the soft clinking of dishes.
Violet’s behind the counter, a worn apron tied around her waist, her hair pulled up in a messy bun. She looks up when she sees me, and her face brightens like I’ve just walked into the sun.
“Dakota!” she calls. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. What’s going on?”
She dries her hands on a dish towel, and her eyes narrow with curiosity, clearly sensing that something big is up.
I wave her off with a half-smile, heading straight for one of the corner booths where we can talk privately. I need her full attention right now. This isn’t something I want spilling out to the whole town just yet.
“Have you heard? About Derek and Thomas Buck?”
She shakes her head, which shocks me. How has the gossip not hit her yet?
“Well, they’re the ones behind the sabotage at the ranch. But apparently it’s more than that. It’s a big embezzlement scandal.”
Violet’s eyes widen, her jaw dropping slightly. She leans in so close I can see the gleam of excitement in her eyes.
“Wait, what? No way!” She practically bounces in her seat. “Well, well, well, the plot thickens, huh?”
I give a small, relieved laugh. “Yeah. I think that means I dodged a bullet.” I lean back. “I almost sold the house to him. He practically begged me to. But something about him… it just felt off, you know? Too smooth. And now I know why.”
Violet shakes her head in disbelief. “Well, I’m so glad you didn’t sell… but mostly because I want you to stick around longer. I love having you here.”
“Hmm, yeah, I kinda like it here too,” I admit. “And with the ranch not facing so much trouble anymore, I kinda need to keep letting Clint and Charlie bond…”
What am I saying?
Am I really considering staying here? For now, anyway…
Violet stares at me for a beat, her eyes narrowing as she pieces something together in her mind. “So, you might not go?”
I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “I’m still trying to figure it out. It’s… a lot. But if I do decide to stay in Colter Creek, I’ll need to get him enrolled in school here. I don’t even know where to start.”
Violet’s eyes sparkle, and her lips curl into a knowing grin. Without missing a beat, she leans back in her chair and crosses her arms, clearly excited by the prospect of helping me.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got your back. I’ve got all the connections with the school here. If you’re staying, I’ll make sure Charlie is enrolled, no problem. I’ll even walk you through the whole process. Hell, I’ll probably help him with his homework.”
A burst of relief floods through me, and I can’t help the smile that breaks across my face. “Thank you, Violet. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
She raises an eyebrow, a teasing glint in her eye. “What are friends for, if not for making sure you don’t screw up your life? But seriously, if you decide to stay, I’ll help with whatever you need. I’m not just talking about school. I’ve got you covered in every way.”
I lean back in my seat, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. “I don’t know what I’d do without you either. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Damn right, I am.” She laughs, but it’s the kind of laugh that makes me feel like everything’s going to be okay, no matter what happens next. “First things first, get Charlie into that school and start making a life here. I know you can do it.”
I smile, more sure of myself now than I’ve been in a long time. “Thanks, Vi. I think we just might have a chance.”
Now that is something I never thought I’d say.