Chapter 3
3
Hudson
O ver the next couple of weeks, Hudson experienced something strange. Rachel wasn’t hanging around as much. Athena had said she was busy with one of the charitable projects she was working on and that she would stop by when things got more under control.
That was fine by him. Now he didn’t have to work so hard at avoiding her. Their little walk after the engagement party had been eye-opening, however. He’d been surprised to hear her claim that she liked the solitude Copper Creek had to offer. Normally, people who were raised in the city preferred the busy lifestyle and the constant noise.
Hudson wasn’t convinced. Rachel might be a little different than he’d expected, but she was still from the city, and she was still someone who didn’t know what it meant to live out here in the middle of nowhere.
Right now, he had bigger things to worry about. The property that they’d walked past couldn’t be taken by that resort developer. He wouldn’t allow it. There had to be something he could do about it, and he was determined to figure it out.
But what?
He took a notebook out beneath a tree with the intention of writing down ideas on blocking the sale. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the skills to come up with anything that sounded feasible. The property was huge. It spanned a lot of the outer limits of Copper Creek, and there was even a little amount that bordered their own small ranch.
The landscape was varied. A few of the notable landmarks were the creek, a large pond, a good-sized wooded area, plus the open plains. Anyone who bought it could do anything they wanted with it—including that ridiculous resort.
The more Hudson fretted over the idea, the more he hated what was going to happen. They definitely didn’t have the means to take it over. Even if Wade put everything the whole family owned into a big pot, they wouldn’t have enough. Hudson’s only chance at preventing the developer from buying it was to go to the bank and ask them to break the land up for parts. Perhaps then he could convince the community to buy small parcels and keep the place open and free.
But even that idea didn’t sound like it would work.
He tapped his pencil on his sheet of paper that was blank except for the sketch of a horse’s head he’d doodled in the corner.
“Whatcha doing?”
Hudson glanced up to find Brielle standing over him with her hands on her hips.
“I didn’t know you could draw.”
He lifted the paper and board it was on up to his chest and frowned at her. “That’s because you haven’t bothered to get to know me.”
She tilted her head. “Or is it because you won’t let anyone get close to you?” Her smile was annoying. She’d been the first person outside of their family who had chosen to stay, and yet even she had abandoned them for a short amount of time. To be fair, after she and Wade got married, she’d stuck it out despite any issues that arose.
He got to his feet, his sharp attention remaining locked on her. “Your dad is rich, right?”
Brielle snorted. “You could say that.”
“Is he looking for any investment ideas?”
Her eyes narrowed, and she gave him a funny smile. “Honestly, he’s usually looking for ways to continue to grow. But lately he’s been holding back. I think he’s happy with where everything is. Why?”
Hudson shrugged. “Because I thought he’d be interested in something. From what I understand, he likes things to remain status quo around here, right?”
She laughed softly. “So the theory goes.”
“Has he heard about the property just outside of town limits that’s gone up for sale?”
This time when her eyes narrowed, he couldn’t tell if she was suspicious or if she was holding something back. Then again, she might have been watching him for any indication that she could trust what he was saying. “Everyone has heard about that place.”
“Well, did he hear that a developer wants to come in and turn it into a huge resort?”
Her eyes widened. Ha! He’d surprised her. But that didn’t mean her father wasn’t aware. Zeke Callahan was usually up on this sort of thing.
“Do you think he’d want to invest in that property and turn it into something that wouldn’t bring in thousands of people during the year?”
“He might,” she hedged, “but he’s also very careful about expanding to something so large. I suppose if you had a business plan, you could take it to him and tell him what you think.”
That was the best information he’d gotten since his walk with Rachel. If Zeke was willing to put up the money, then perhaps Hudson could save the town from outsiders—or at least delay them for a time.
There was only one problem.
He didn’t have a business plan. All he knew was how to ranch and farm. But there were already several people out here doing that exact thing. Sure, they specialized in different areas, but to add another business to the mix that could fail wasn’t something Zeke would jump at.
What could they turn it into?
Hudson understood why the developer wanted to bring a resort here. It would mean money. It would be a thriving business. But in the end, it would ruin everything he loved about Copper Creek.
“A business plan? What would that entail… exactly?”
She shrugged, then folded her arms. “You know. If he’s going to buy the land, what could he turn it into? How would he make that investment back? What are you thinking would be a way to serve this community that we don’t already have?”
He didn’t have the slightest clue what he could add to the community. He’d been so stuck on what he wanted to stop from coming that he hadn’t considered what to put in its place. Hudson could feel the heat rising up the back of his neck under her scrutiny. Now that he’d mentioned that he was interested, he couldn’t be certain she wouldn’t bring it up with her father.
Then what would happen? He could be made out a fool if Zeke were to seek him out. That’s the last thing he needed. What happened to flying under the radar?
“Well, I better look over what I have and see if it’s ready to present.”
Her smile reappeared. “Don’t wait too long. In my experience, when my dad has a long period where he’s not actively looking for something to invest in, it doesn’t last.”
Hudson nodded. “Thanks for the advice. I’ll see what I can do.”
He couldn’t get away from her fast enough. There was only one thing he’d gained from that conversation, and it was that if he wanted to do something about the injustice that was about to take place, then he needed to take action now. Hudson didn’t have any time to dwell on it. Maybe he could still go speak to Zeke without a plan in mind. They could bounce ideas off each other and come up with something worthy of a Callahan investment.
Hudson spent about an hour building up his courage. He probably should have grabbed Liam. Zeke had a soft spot for Hudson’s younger brother ever since he started working at the Callahan ranch when he was seventeen.
It was too late now. As Hudson stood in front of the Callahan house, he wasn’t sure what he was going to do or say. It wouldn’t have mattered how much time he spent building up his nerve; he wasn’t going to come across as intelligent on this matter.
What was the worst that could happen? Zeke would tell him no and that he was an idiot. His pride was the only thing at stake. Hudson rolled back his shoulders and headed up to the house. He knocked a couple sharp taps on the door, then waited. When no one answered, he backed away from the door and peered around the side of the house from the edge of the patio.
There were various people coming and going around the whole property. Zeke could be anywhere. Hudson had made the mistake of showing up unannounced, which would only add to the unprofessional way about him.
Maybe he should just go. While he believed in what he was trying to save, deep down he knew that Zeke wouldn’t go for it. Hudson hurried down the steps and was just about to get in his truck when Zeke materialized out of nowhere.
“You’re Liam’s brother, aren’t you? A Keagan man.”
Hudson froze, his hand on the truck handle. He’d waited too long. Why couldn’t he have just turned around when no one answered the door in the first place? Slowly, he faced the intimidating man that everyone in town was afraid of—everyone but Liam.
“Sir,” he squeaked, and then he cleared his throat and tried again. “Sir, I was hoping to pick your brain about an investment opportunity.”
Zeke’s expression didn’t change. He moved closer, winding a set of reins in his hands. “An investment? Are you starting a business?”
“Me? No! Well, not really. I was just thinking…” Hudson shook his head. “It’s about the property just out of town. The one that Terry used to own.”
This time Zeke’s brows lifted but only a fraction of an inch. “What about it?”
“It’s up for sale, sir.”
“I’m aware.”
“Are you also aware that there’s a company trying to buy it and turn it into a huge resort?”
Zeke rubbed his jaw and peered at Hudson, making him itch all over. “I’d heard rumors, but there’s a lot that would have to go into turning that property into a commercial space. It would take years.”
“Maybe not. All it would take is for them to grease a few palms. I think it would be in our best interest as a small community to buy it before they do and stop that from happening.” There, he’d said it. He didn’t even care that he hadn’t come up with a plan to profit from the purchase. At least he got the man’s mind whirring. “Perhaps you’d like to help me figure out how we could do that?”
Zeke studied him for another moment longer, then shook his head. “I’m sorry, son. That’s not going to be possible.”
“Why? Because I don’t have a business plan to?—”
“Because I heard today that a sale is already pending.”
Hudson’s stomach dropped. It couldn’t have happened that fast. Then again, it had been up for sale for at least a month. Hudson’s information wasn’t up to date. Zeke would have the more accurate information because he was aware of everything that happened in Copper Creek.
“Wish I could help,” Zeke said. “If I had known that there was some additional interest in stopping that resort, I would have helped any way I could. But if somebody’s already signed the contract, there’s not much I can do about it.”
Hudson scowled at Zeke. He was wrong. There was always something that could be done. He could sabotage the project if he had to. He didn’t care if he got sent to prison. If there was any way he could delay or scare off those people, he would.
“My apologies for takin’ up your time Mr. Callahan. I’d best get going.”
He spun and jumped into his truck. He needed supplies, and then he’d set up shop for when those criminals showed up to start surveying their newly bought property. Whatever it took, he’d stop them. He’d show everyone—even Zeke—that there was always something that could be done when it came to helping out their town.
Hudson peeled off the Callahan property and drove down the street.
There was always a way.