39. Thirty-Nine
Thirty-Nine
Abi
I walked the quarter mile to Rhett’s cabin, praying that he was still there since he didn’t arrive for breakfast at the main house. I stuck my hands in my pockets, running through the conversation in my head and what I would tell him. Down to each word.
I think you should take the majority of the ranch; I know Dad thinks I should get it, but I don’t want it. This is your life, your home, you love this place more than anything … Your heart is this place. My heart is with Stetson, with the stables, with the rodeos…with Cash.
It was all going to go smoothly, a quick conversation that would end with us gathering Lachlan and Wyatt, and meeting my dad in his study to sign the deed. Then I’d wait patiently for Cash to come home and start my life over again. It was all going to go…
“Hey Abi—” Rhett flung the door to his cabin open before I even got a chance to take the first step. He had his Thermos in hand, ready for his day. And here I was, about to block it.
“I don’t want the ranch,” I blurted out.
I squinted my eyes and stomped my foot in my head. So much for running through each and every word on the walk over.
“I’m sorry…what?” he asked, his voice unsteady.
I took a deep breath, licked my lips, and then looked at my brother. He was dressed for work—his tan hat perched on his head, his Wrangler jeans already covered in dirt, and his shirt tucked in with the sleeves rolled up. Behind him, Kyla leaned on the door frame, still wearing a nightgown, a small bump finally forming on her belly. She saw me and smiled.
“Can we talk?” I ask, going back to my brother.
Rhett nodded. “Yeah, porch or inside?”
“Inside. I have a feeling you have more coffee, and I could use some.” I bolted past him, giving Kyla a knowing look before I helped myself to their kitchen.
“Is this a conversation we need Lachlan for?” Rhett asked, lightly closing the door behind him.
“Nope. He knows.” I grabbed a mug, grabbed the carafe, and poured myself a fresh cup of black coffee like it was whiskey instead. This wasn’t even a bad conversation. It was a good thing. I knew what I wanted, I was giving Rhett what he wanted, and we were going to move away from it. I was making it out to be a bigger deal than it really was.
“And was that Cash who left just now?” Kyla chimed in, running her hands on Rhett’s shoulders as he took a seat on his kitchen island.
“Yup. He’ll be back.” I took a long gulp of coffee; actually thankful it had time to sit before I burned my throat.
“Okay, we’re starting over. You don’t want the ranch?” Rhett asked, his eyes meeting mine with a small hint of hope resting behind the blue.
I nodded. “Nope. I do not want that much of the ranch.”
Kyla’s tight lips formed a smile. “I’ll let you two talk.” She kissed her husband on the cheek before vanishing into their bedroom.
I looked at my brother. “You need it. Not me.”
“Dad has a point,” he began. “You know the ranch’s numbers inside and out. You know the horses’ schedules. You know when to feed the animals. You know—”
“Everything, yeah I know everything there is to know about Hartwell Hills but Rhett…I don’t want to know everything. I don't want to be the go to person.” I slumped, rolling my eyes at myself.
“Abi…why not?”
I had already told this story once. May as well tell it again.
“I had nothing else when Sylas died. I had nothing except the ranch and Stetson. I didn’t want to be a depressed, grieving widow, so…I poured myself into what I had. Now…years later I’m miserable, finally discovering what I want again, falling in love and speaking up. I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life.” I could feel the tears coming, just as strong as they were the night with Cash. “I know what I want, and I need to get you on board before we talk to Dad.”
He pinched his brow. “Falling in love?”
“That’s what you focused on?” I set my now-empty coffee mug on the counter with a thud.
Rhett chuckled. “Okay, let’s circle back to that. What’s your proposal?”
“You take forty. I’ll take five, and Wyatt can have his five.”
“Forty? You think Dad will give me forty percent?”
I nodded. “All I want is the stables.” I stood up straighter, confidence flowing through me. “I want to take care of the horses. I want to handle the indoor arena and the rental of that. I want to muck the stalls, and I want to spend the majority of my time there. Rhett,” I breathed, finally pulling in all the air, “this ranch means more to you than anything. Your list of priorities goes: Kyla, baby, ranch, tie down. In that order.” I clap my hands together with each thing on his list, Rhett’s eyes growing wider with each one.
His jaw closed, and he gave me a simple nod. “True.”
“You deserve to own the majority of the ranch. Not me. Your heart is in it, mine never really was.”
“The stables?” He raised a single brow.
I nodded. “All I want is the stables.”
“And this…falling in love?”
“I love Cash.” I smiled, the mere memory of him sending a blush to my cheeks. “He’s going to sell his place in Montana, but…he’ll be back. Sooner rather than later, I hope. Stetson freaked out when I told him he couldn’t go with him.”
Rhett’s lips tipped up in a smile as he nodded, taking his hat from his head and placing it up on the counter. “You know the whole weekend, all that kid talked about was Cash.”
I blushed, pure joy flowing through me as a small smile formed on my lips. “Have you seen those two together?”
“Not often enough, but if Cash is coming back…I’m assuming you two are going to hunker down in the main house?”
“If Mom and Dad say we can. If not, we can always buy a place in town, and then I’ll come take care of the horses every day.”
“Bull shit. You know you’re not moving out of that house.” He laughed, standing up from the island. I watched him walk around the counter to me. “I’m pretty sure if he doesn’t move in, they will wonder what happened this weekend, and Stet has already been going around telling everyone he’s your boyfriend.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me in for a hug.
“Stet?” I smiled. “Everyone’s calling him Stet now?”
“He told us he liked it when Cash called him Stet, and asked to be called Stet.”
“That’s what…” I whispered softly. I had just gotten used to the idea of me calling him Stet. I loved that he loved to be called that, all thanks to Cash again.
“Sylas used to call him; we know. And we know you haven’t been calling him that for years. We’ve all called him Stetson to keep you smiling.” He pulled me closer, offering up more comfort.
I wrapped my arms around his waist, giving him a tight hug before letting him go and taking a step away. “I demand everyone call him Stet now.”
“You got it boss.” Rhett saluted.
“Nope.” I pointed at him. “Not the boss. You are. Call Lachlan…let’s go talk to Dad.”
Rhett grabbed his hat and began to follow me.
“Are you not going to say goodbye to Kyla?” I asked him, reaching for the door handle.
“Oh shit...yeah. Wait for me?” Rhett let me go and then bounded into his bedroom, basically running into Kyla once he opened the door. “Ha, you snoop.” He scooped her in his arms and gave her a kiss, Kyla humming against him.
“Come on Rhett!” I shouted. “We’ve got a deed to sign.”
“Fifty.” My dad handed the pen to Lachlan. “Forty.” He looked at Rhett, who nodded. “And five and five. You sure about this, Abi?” My dad asked, looking from me to Wyatt, and then back to me.
After talking to my dad, he had his lawyers draw up another deed, giving Rhett the majority of the land, and me the two hundred and fifty acres surrounding the stables. Wyatt had the same acreage I did—but he was just there to sign his name. To him, it didn’t matter. We all were getting exactly what we wanted, including Rhett taking some time next year to compete in rodeos. According to him, he wasn’t trying for the NFR; he just wanted to keep doing what he loved for the fun of it. Kyla was on board with his decision, excited that she would get to travel with him and their baby and spend time at home on the ranch. The best of both worlds. Everything was how it should be, and Dad was asking me if I was sure.
“One hundred percent.” I smiled, watching as Lachlan signed the new deed, handing the pen over to Rhett. “Just make sure it says I get the stables. I want a fancy sign.”
“There she is.” Lachlan shook his head, placing his hands on his hips, a smile growing on his grim facade.
“What do I get?” Wyatt asked, taking the pen from Rhett.
“You get to keep the apartment above the bunk houses and have no real responsibility when it comes to Hartwell Hills,” Lachlan grumbled.
“Deal.” Wyatt slashed the line on his double T name and handed me the pen.
I leaned down and signed, dropping the pen on the deed the moment my name was done. God this felt good. Relief in pen form. “What should we name the stables?”
“How about ‘the stables?’” Lachlan quipped.
“No…we have to find a name because I want a sign.” I glared at my cousin. “Oh, and whoever you hire to do the numbers…I’ll train them.”
“You better.” He patted my shoulder. “Happy for you, Abi.”
I gave him a smirk, watching as all the men excluding my dad left the office, leaving me and Leo Hartwell alone.
“Are you sure you’re okay with five percent?”
“Dad.” I cocked my head to him, a twitch at my lips.
“One hundred percent.” He parroted me from earlier.
“I do have a question for you though?” I inhaled, clasping my hands together.
He raised an eyebrow.
“Cash. I um…well…” I chewed the inside of my lip. “He’s going to move here. With me. And Stet.”
He smiled, his eyes beaming. “Your mother and I are going to build a house next year, by the lake.”
I smiled. “She would like that.”
He nodded. “She’s always wanted a house out there. Plus, this place is too big for us. It belongs to a family.”
A family…
“Well, a family may not be in our future…but…with Stetson we are one.”
“If you look at the deed, we switched the house to your name and eventually…Cash’s? I expect the house will be in good hands, but Abi…” He sighed, standing up and leaning his hands on his desk. “This house has always been the gathering place for the ranch hands in the morning. Even before you were born—”
“I know. I know. I said all I want in my name is the stables, but I’ll be happy to keep my morning routine the same. Just add another person in the mix.”
“He’s a good man.” He hummed.
I blushed. “I know.” I walked over and gave my dad a hug, holding him tight. “Thank you, Daddy.”
He kissed the crown of my head before letting me go, giving me one last smile before returning to the newly signed deed.
I left his office, a warm feeling building in my chest, only growing when I pulled out my phone from my pocket, instantly texting Cash.
Me
I own five percent, two hundred and fifty acres…the land the stables sit on.
He responded right away. Not even giving those dots a second to live.
Cash
Two hundred and fifty and the stables. That sounds perfect.
Me
We gotta think of a name for the stables. I want a fancy sign.
Cash
There she is.
Me
You talked to Lachlan already, didn’t you?
I chuckled that was his reaction was the same as my cousin’s.
Cash
Maybe. I’m going to meet my realtor. I’ll call you tonight. I love you.
Me
I love you.
“You’re blushing.”
I looked up, coming face-to-face with my twin. Wyatt leaned against the wall, his arms folded and baseball cap backwards. His expression told me he was annoyed, and that I was about to get a lecture.
“Yeah, and?” I sneered, shoving my phone back into my pocket.
“He’s really moving here?” Wyatt pushed himself off the wall, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.
“I take it you stood here and listened?” I began to walk down the hall, Wyatt having no choice but to follow me. “Yes, he’s moving here, so get used to him.”
He groaned, “If he hurts you…”
“He won’t.”
“If he dies…”
“He won’t.”
Wyatt tilted his head back and exhaled. “So I have to get used to him?”
I sighed. “Yes Wyatt, please? I really…really…” I licked my lips. “I love him.”
He stopped, bringing me to stop, too. I turned to look at him. His blue eyes concentrated.
“I haven’t heard you say that in a long time.” He muttered, a crack in his voice when he spoke the last few words. Out of all the people, Wyatt saw everything—and now he could see this part, too. “I’m just trying to protect you.”
I walked to my twin, wrapping my arms around his waist and breathing in his smokey scent. He held me back, his chin resting on the crown of my head.
“I know, and I love you for it. You were there when I needed someone, but Wyatt—”
“You love him?” He interrupted me, arching away slightly to look at me.
I nodded. “Very much so. It’s different with him. It’s like a new beginning. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll never—ever—forget Sylas. I can’t compare them. Sylas was my first…Cash is my future.”
“Your future?” Wyatt repeated softly.
I could feel the heat rush to my cheeks as the small smile spread across my lips. Nodding, I leaned back into him.
“Okay, then…I guess I’ll accept that and…get used to him. Maybe I’ll be nice to him, too.”
“That will throw him off. Please, I do love him. Don’t scare him away.” I pulled away, “Plus, he’ll be training Quinn here more.”
His eyes twitched. “Wait, really?”
“Ha Wyatt…you can look but don’t touch.”
“I won’t.”
“How come I don’t believe you?”
“Not sure, Abi. I’m a respectful guy.”
I glared at my brother, still not believing a damn word that came out of his mouth.