Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Owen
Cal runs his hands over his scruff. “Do we need to get lawyers involved?”
We’ve just finished Sunday dinner at the McKinnon’s Ranch, and I’ve just learned the identity of the man I told off earlier this week.
The asshole claims to be from a large conglomerate on the East Coast. The same group who sent letters to all the ranches in the area with low-ball offers none of the landowners entertained.
Daisy’s been tense all night. Not even Maui, who is currently sleeping at our feet, seemed to take the edge off.
Our little fur baby is exhausted after playing with her brother all evening.
As Daisy predicted, Knox adopted the pup Ryan had her eye on.
Sawyer’s been in heaven having two puppies to play with.
It’s sweet to watch the three of them play.
But not even puppies can lighten the mood around the table.
Now I understand why she seemed stressed and distracted all night. She was gearing up to tell her family that trouble was brewing, no matter how calm, cool, and collected she’s attempting to be as she answers her family’s questions.
“Nah, I told him we weren’t interested and never would be.
I made it crystal clear he was wasting his time.
We’ll only have to worry if they actually manage to pressure any of the surrounding ranches into selling to them.
Once they get their hands on one ranch, they’ll think they have the upper hand.
Still, we have the most acreage. We’re the big get. ”
She pauses, tapping a manicured finger on the table.
She doesn’t want to say whatever it is she’s holding back.
My instinct is to take her hand or rub her back, but with all eyes on her my only option is to press my thigh against hers under the table.
She lets her leg rest again mine, continuing the contact as she exhales.
“The thing is, he didn't give me the vibe that they use lawyers to get what they want. He gave me gangster vibes. I have a bad feeling about all of this. I don’t think they’re used to taking no for an answer.
He emailed the next day to remind me of his offer and that the next one wouldn’t be so nice. ”
“You’ve watched too many movies, little sister,” Angus chimes in from across the table.
Daisy’s intuition is right on, but I don't say that. If Daisy knew I had intervened, she would be far from pleased. But she has good intuition. There was an edge to the man.
It’s Sharon who chimes in next. “It’s not the first time big shots have waved their money in front of us.
But your father and I always dreamed of this ranch being passed down to future generations.
Eventually, it will belong to all of you.
It’s as much your decision as it is mine.
If the four of you want to sell, it’s your choice to make. ”
“This is your home,” Cal states firmly.
“You can’t be serious?” Daisy implores.
“We’re not for sale!” Angus huffs, standing from the table.
But Knox stays silent. His wheels are turning. Working out a solution in his mind. Likely, because he’s the only one with the money and lawyers to combat the problem.
“It’s a lot of work, kids. You may change your mind,” Sharon says, defending her statement. “Angus and Mia, you live on this land. It’s yours too. And Cal, you have a home here as well. You may not live in it, but it’s yours, as is the land it sits on.”
Sharon’s referring to the house Cal built and lived in with his first wife. He found her mid-fuck with his cousin in that same house and has refused to live in it since.
It’s Daisy who replies. “Mom, they want to destroy the land. We could never let that happen.”
“Alright, everyone settle down. I just wanted you all to know that we decide things together. As a family.”
Cal’s eyes sweep over each person at the table one by one before addressing the group. “So, we’re all in agreement that McKinnon Ranch is not for sale, right?”
Ryan, Charlie, Mia, and I stay quiet as each of the people whose name is on the ranch utters their agreement, and that’s that.
With dinner done and the intense discussion over, I stand, hand Daisy the dog leash, and start clearing the table. I don’t cook, and Sharon won’t let me do dishes, but after years of insisting, clearing the table has become my thing.
On my way to the kitchen, I see Knox and Charlie whispering in the family room. She was his lawyer for close to a decade, so with his money and her expertise, I can’t help but hope they’re coming up with some sort of contingency plan. Just in case these fuckers keep pushing.
I’ve dropped off my first round of plates and am opening the back door to the porch when I spot Daisy and Maui traipsing away toward the barn.
Seeing the two of them together loosens something in my chest, and I breathe a little easier.
But my brain wastes no time reminding my heart that they aren’t my reality. They aren’t my girls.
Not yet anyway.
After clearing the table, I make my way outside where the two of them are walking between the barn and the roping ring.
One of the sexiest things about Daisy is that when she shows up at the bar in her cowboy boots, they aren’t just for show.
Daisy rides better than most and is as comfortable in the saddle as she is driving her truck.
She’s the girliest girl you’ll ever meet, but she also isn’t afraid to get dirty or work hard.
Seeing her here at the ranch, her boots in the dirt, in her element, is yet another thing about her that turns me on.
But what doesn’t?
While making my trips from the table to the kitchen, my interaction with that prick at the restaurant played on repeat in my head, and I’ve realized I can’t keep what happened the other day from her. I value her trust too much. So, now it’s my boots in the dirt on my way to the girls.
Daisy is praising Maui as they work on her sit and stay skills. The woman may claim not to be co-parenting with me, but if that’s the case, why did she show up tonight with a baggie of training treats?
Sure, Maui sleeps at my house, but she’s just as much hers as she is mine.
“Hello, ladies. How goes the training?”
When she hears me, Maui jumps up from her perfect down position and does her adorable floppy run over to me.
“It was going just fine until you stole her attention away. Such a you thing to do.” She sounds irritated, but the sparkle in her eyes and the slight upward tick of the corner of her mouth say otherwise.
“And what exactly are you implying?”
“That you love attention and make sure you get it wherever you go.”
“Would you prefer I behave more like a wallflower?”
She crinkles up her nose. “Gross. Never. I was simply stating facts.”
Taking the spot on her left, we stand quietly watching Maui chase her tail, fall down, get up and do it all over again. She was likely expecting me to keep our banter going, but not tonight.
We’re so close my instinct is to take her hand in mine, but Cal, Charlie, and Sharon are on the porch with a perfect view. Instead, I take a step, putting space between us.
“So, at work a couple of days ago, I was driving down Wall Street when you came out of your meeting with that guy following you.”
“Stalking me, I see.”
“Shh. The grown-up is speaking.”
“Whatever,” she groans.
“I watched you arguing on the sidewalk and then I watched him follow and startle you. I was getting out of my car to step in when you flipped him off and drove away. In the end, you didn’t need me to step in, but I was ready to.”
She opens her mouth to speak, but I cut her off.
“He went back inside, and I may have followed him.”
“In uniform?”
“Yes, brainiac. In uniform. I said I was at work, so I wasn’t wearing a tux.”
“Just finish your story, dickhead.”
“He wasted no time hitting on a blonde at the end of the bar. You know the little two-seater right when you walk in?” She nods her understanding.
“Well, he was all up in her business, and it was more than clear she wasn’t interested.
So, I stepped in, got her away from him and walked her to her car. ”
“Did you get her number while you were at it, or did you already have it?”
I give her a sidelong glance. “Jealous?”
“If that’s what you need to tell yourself, sure.”
“That’s what I thought. Although I’m pretty sure I explained things in fine detail in New York.” I rest my hand over my heart, where my new tattoo resides.
She doesn’t have a comeback to this, so I carry on.
“I may or may not have gone back in and warned him to stay away from you and your entire family. I assured him, if he messed with you, he was messing with me.”
“Owen...”
My name is all she says before bending down to pet the dog.
“I don’t doubt you can handle yourself,” I assure her. “I just have a bad feeling about this guy. Please listen to your gut and be careful. That’s all I ask.”
“Thanks, I appreciate you looking out for me. That means a lot.”
I’m confused because I expected a battle.
She’s distracted. Like she’s working something out in her head. Well, until the dog rolls onto her back, giving Daisy her belly to scratch. I should tell her about my conversation with Dusty Armstrong while things are going so well, but I’m a coward, and quit while I’m ahead.
“Oh, you love that, don’t you, little girl? You can have whatever you want, and you know it.”
“You know we’re co-parenting, whether you want to call it that or not. Right? You help me with her every day. You have a key to my house. She thinks you’re her mommy.”
I’m met with silence as Daisy continues her belly scratching.
Did I go too far? Am I pushing her too hard with the whole co-parenting thing? Does she see right through me?
A solid minute passes before Daisy stands, her attention still on our fur baby. “Owen, why did you name the dog, Maui?”
For an intelligent person, she sure loves to play dumb.
“I’ve got some pretty fantastic memories from my time on the island, and it was better than naming her 5:55.”
“Yeah?” She finally looks at me for the first time since I joined them.
“My life changed pretty significantly during that week,” I confirm.
“Owen.” She sighs, closing the gap of space between us.
She knows what I’m referring to. Nothing has been the same between us since that trip. If she needs me to say it out loud I’m more than happy to. I’m about to open my mouth to elaborate when Maui barks.
Bernadette, Sharon’s highland cow, is casually approaching us. Maui must think she’s a big dog, because her butt is in the air, tail wagging as she hops around in front of the blonde beauty.
“Shit, this could go badly if she gets under her feet,” Daisy says. “Let’s co-parent the hell out of this and stop our girl from getting stomped on.”
I don’t have time to bask in the glory of her words, but fuck if my heart doesn’t ramp up into another gear and my dick doesn’t flinch at the sound of co-parenting and our girl float on the evening air.