Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Mason
M an, I hated wearing a damn suit. It was my least favorite piece in my closet—not that I even paid attention to what the hell was in there. I rolled my shoulders as I pulled up in front of Emma’s house, putting the truck in park. The front door opened as I slid out of the driver’s seat, ready to walk her to the Bronco. However, I froze in place as her full figure came into view.
Whoa, she is something.
She was in a long, olive gown, cinched at the waist. It complimented her creamy skin, and dark hair, falling in waves down her back. She had a full face of makeup, her plum shade of lipstick accentuating her green eyes… Emma was stunning.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” she quipped, coming down the porch steps and heading for the Bronco.
I broke myself from my thoughts, giving her a grin. “You look like a movie star. ”
“So… fake ?”
I laughed, thankful that the glamor hadn’t changed her humor. “I meant Hollywood kind of beautiful, but you know, I still think you’re Hollywood beautiful without being all dolled up.”
She smiled, letting me open the door for her. “I like that. Thank you.”
I leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips before shutting the door and rounding the front of my truck to hop in. The nervous jitters of what was to come for the evening were hanging overhead. I was stepping well out of my comfort zone, and after earlier today…
It was not going to be a pleasant experience.
“You look so spiffy,” Emma’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “I’m really impressed.”
I ran my fingers along my clean-shaven face, not sure if I agreed with her. “I hate to say this, but I look older than ever with my face like this.”
She laughed, tipping her head back. “I think you look handsome.”
“You’re too kind,” I teased, reaching over and grabbing her hand as I backed out of her driveway. “I hope tonight goes well. I don’t know about dragging you into this. I didn’t realize how high the tensions are running between Lucas and the Hudsons.”
She pursed her lips. “I can imagine it must be high after the way Brittany talked like they were for sure going to take the ranch.”
I nodded, thinking back to the nasty conflict. “Yeah, Graham showed up to the ranch with some outrageous numbers. I don’t know why he’s damn determined to buy the Lowe Ranch. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me—other than it’s become a pride thing. He doesn’t want to lose. ”
“But my guess is that Lucas still didn’t agree. Brittany told me that we wouldn’t even be presenting at the gala—she was sure that he was going to take the money.”
I shook my head. “Yeah, well, she should’ve known better. They’re gonna have to kill him before he gives it up.”
She looked concerned. “You don’t think they’d escalate to violence, do you? I’ve read some downright terrifying stories of stuff like that.”
“I don’t think so, but you never really know. Besides, the ranch wouldn’t go up for sale if Lucas passed. It would go to his cousin. He’s got all that shit lined out. He’s not going to let anything happen to that place.”
She nodded, letting out what sounded to be a relieved sigh. “I just don’t understand why people can’t let things go.”
“They’re just greedy, and for some reason, those big guys think they can move into these small towns and just buy it out—and maybe sometimes they can. But that’s not how it works here. We’re a tight knit community, and I don’t look for us to back down.”
“I find that very appealing about this place,” Emma admitted, squeezing my hand. “I like the way that everyone stands up for what they believe in. I’m so thankful that everyone accepted me as one of their own.”
“I think that’s the thing, people here don’t mind welcoming in new folks,” I said, thinking of the way Emma was welcomed with open arms. “But you didn’t try to buy out everyone’s land to build shopping centers, either.”
“That’s true,” she laughed, before glancing at the folder on the dash. “So do you want to do most of the talking? Or do you want me to?”
“I figured you could talk about the way the community welcomed you into their arms and your experience at the ranch. Beyond that, I don’t want you pushing it too much, to be honest.”
“How come?” She furrowed her brows. “I don’t mind talking in front of people. It doesn’t bother me at all.”
“It’s not that, Emma,” I said carefully. “I’m just… I’m starting to get a bad feeling from these people. I don’t like the way they’re starting to act about it all. Graham was a real bully to Lucas—and I think you were right. Lucas only hired Cody to try and keep the peace. He’s just trying to avoid the drama… But it showed up in full force yesterday morning.”
She looked worried. “Maybe we shouldn’t go at all to this thing?”
“Well,” I chewed the inside of my cheek. “There will be a lot of other people there who are not really connected to the Hudsons. Yeah, they’re going to the gala at their home, but that doesn’t mean that they support what they’re doing. We might be able to sway them our way.”
Emma nodded. “I like the idea of a challenge like that. I think if people know the rich history, they might hear us out. And maybe if we turn enough of their high society friends, they might back off.”
“That’s the goal,” Mason said with a sigh. “I don’t know if they’ll give us any money for it, but maybe they will. I don’t want to see Lucas lose his ranch. He’s already preparing to take a load of cows to the sale this weekend. Maybe selling some of his breeding stock will make the payment. It’s tough, you know.” I felt nothing but sympathy for him, wishing that I could do more to help. “They’ve worked on that bloodline for a long time, but it is what it is.”
Emma was quiet as she fidgeted with her purse in her lap. “I can’t imagine what he’s going through with all this. Losing everything you and your family have worked so hard on is just… It’s just heartbreaking.”
“Yes, it is,” I agreed, turning onto the gravel road leading to Graham’s massive house. I never judged people for their big houses, but something about Graham’s house just bothered me. Maybe it felt excessive, but Lucas’s estate could be deemed as such, too…
It’s just the assholes that live there that make the difference.
I focused on the road as Emma and I fell into silence. Ever since spending more time at the ranch, I had gotten to see Cody, Jess’s presumed boyfriend and Graham’s son, a lot more. Honestly, he didn’t seem like such a bad kid, though I wondered if he had some ulterior motive as to why he was there. But still… The kid wasn’t quite the same cut as his parents…
Not that I could tell anyway.
And I knew that he was working at the ranch tonight, rather than being there at the gala. Jess was there, too, and Lucas had promised to keep an eye on the two of them.
“Here we go,” Emma said, her voice full of the same nerves I was feeling as I turned down their asphalt drive. As we made it to the house, I saw rows and rows of luxury vehicles parked in the grass in front of the house.
“This is way bigger than I thought it would be,” I admitted as I navigated the grassy area. A handful of vehicles parked off to the side were not quite as high end, and some had nonprofits listed on the back or sides. I felt better parking my sheriff’s truck next to theirs.
God forbid a scratch show up on one of those Mercedes and the sheriff’s office come under fire.
“Are you ready?” I turned to Emma as I put it in park and unclicked my seatbelt.
“I suppose so.” Her smile was forced as she clung to her purse.
I nodded. “I’ll get your door for you.” I climbed out, grabbing my Stetson and fastening it to my head as I walked around the truck, not stopping until I made it to the passenger side of the Bronco.
As I opened the door, she slid out, forgetting that her purse was in her lap. I caught it before it hit the ground, but not before a picture fell out…
My heart stopped at the black and white photo—one that I was familiar with. It was an ultrasound picture. I’d seen plenty of them when my ex-wife was pregnant with Jess, and the way that Emma’s hand flew to her stomach…
I knew it was hers.
“Um,” I stumbled over the thoughts erupting in my brain as I picked it up. “I… You… Here,” I handed her back the purse—and the picture. I didn’t even know what to say, but I had seen the date on the picture.
Emma is pregnant.
“Mason…” her voice trailed off as her voice trembled. “I was meaning to tell you, I just… It never seemed like the right time.”
I shook my head at her, trying to reason with myself as I suddenly noticed her slightly protruding stomach in her dress. Holy shit. “Whose is it?” I choked out, under the assumption it wasn’t mine. She would’ve told me, right? “I knew we weren’t official,” I continued, trying to push away the heartache. “But I didn’t know… I didn’t know you were seeing other people.”
Her face contorted in confusion. “I’m not seeing other people, Mason.”
I blinked a few times. “How far along are you? ”
“Almost sixteen weeks,” she answered quietly, her eyes falling to her shoes. “I should’ve told you about?—”
“That first night we hooked up,” I cut in, catching her gaze. “That was about sixteen weeks ago, wasn’t it?”
She bit her lip, and I saw her hands shaking as she gripped her purse and the picture. “I didn’t want to force you to be with me because of a pregnancy, Mason. I wanted you to be with me because you loved me, not because I’d accidentally gotten pregnant.”
I shook my head, a wave of emotion rolling over me—some good and some very fucking angry. “I can’t believe you hid it from me. When were you ever going to tell me? Or just keep trying to hide it? Damnit, Emma!” I was trying to keep my voice low, but it was growing more difficult with every passing second.
“I’m really sorry, Mason. I was actually planning to tell you after this…” Tears spilled over, rolling down her cheeks as she stood there, eyes pleading with me. “I just… I just wanted to make sure that you were with me for me.”
“By keeping a baby a secret?!” I exasperated. “I have a daughter I have to break this news to, for heaven’s sake!” My face was feeling hot, and as much as I wanted to be there for Emma—and our baby—I had to get some air. “I’ll… I’ll meet you inside in a minute.”
Her shoulders fell, along with her face. “Okay.”
With that, I stormed off toward the tree line, trying to get my head back in order, and Emma headed toward the Hudson’s house. I had just been thrown a fucking curveball that I was not expecting… And I had no idea if I would be able to give the presentation and keep a clear head now.