Chapter 13
“Why is that such a bad thing?” Prudence’s question caught Adam off guard. He assumed it was common knowledge to everyone who lived around cattle ranches. But why would everyone know?
“Our father and uncle were given the wrong names,” Brax said under his breath. “They should have been called Cain and Abel.”
Adam would laugh if it wasn’t true. Prudence nodded.
“Do you know who got what?” Adam’s worst fear would be losing the cattle ranch to his uncle and cousins. They’d boot him off the land just to spite him even though his uncle didn’t care two cents about cattle or ranching. He was only in the family business for the money.
“Dad got the cattle and the land,” Brax stated.
“Which means they got the mineral rights,” Adam deduced.
He turned to Prudence, very aware of the chemistry pinging between them while sitting so close, and explained, “The reason this is gas on a fire is that our uncle can’t drill without the land owner’s permission.
And the real money in a ranch is with mineral rights. ”
“Sounds like your grandfather had a wicked sense of humor,” she mused.
“You’re not wrong,” Adam said. “It would just like the Marshall to try to force those two to stand on common ground.”
“He had to know that Dad would never sell the ranch,” Brax chimed in.
“But he could kick Uncle Keif and his family off,” Adam said. Keifer Firebrand wouldn’t stand for it.
“The Marshall deeded their homes to them,” Brax said.
“Then, they can bulldoze their houses and drill there,” Adam quipped. He shouldn’t let emotions get the best of him. In fact, sitting close to Prudence was a reminder of the damage he could cause if he did.
He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
“Check that,” he said. “Maybe we can talk to Dad and see if he’s willing to compromise.”
Brax laughed.
“You clearly weren’t here to witness the fireworks,” he said. “Lines have already been drawn. Dad threatened to kick Uncle Keif off the land. It’s the reason we know he can’t.”
“I can only imagine the blowout that must’ve caused.” Adam shook his head. His precious land was safe but family relationships just got a whole lot messier.
“Uncle Keif is threatening to contest the will,” Brax said.
“His hands are the most tied because he can’t do what he wants and there’s a boatload of money in mineral rights.” Adam wasn’t surprised at his uncle’s knee-jerk reaction. “It won’t do any good to contest the will. If I know the Marshall, that thing will be ironclad.”
“There’s a catch,” Brax said. “One that I don’t think any of us expected.”
Well, that news got Adam’s attention.
“If the Marshall’s sons can’t come to an agreement before all their sons are married, they lose everything. The inheritance goes directly to us and both land and mineral rights are equally split,” Brax said.
Adam almost laughed out loud.
“Considering there’s eighteen of us and not one of us is currently married, I doubt that’s a big threat,” he said.
It was just like the Marshall to do something like that.
Adam had no plans to wed after Libby. Now that he might be a father, he’d be too busy caring for an infant to date for the foreseeable future.
The annoying voice in the back of his mind picked that moment to point out his chemistry with Prudence and how incredible she was with baby Angel.
“I’d agree with that assessment except that our dad and uncle can dig their heels in when they really want to. Being stubborn seems to be part of the Firebrand DNA,” Brax stated.
Prudence didn’t hold back a grin.
“I’m sure Kellan is blowing a gasket.” Adam smirked. He couldn’t help himself.
Brax chuckled. “Let’s just say he’s not shy with his opinion.”
The baby started fussing in the next room. Adam checked the clock. Eight p.m. on the dot.
“I’ll take care of her and let the two of you finish talking family business.” Prudence seemed eager to leave the room. He shouldn’t take it personally, and yet he did.
Sucking in his pride, he leaned forward, clasping his hands together on the island.
Brax stared at Adam for a long moment, and it looked like he was holding back.
Rather than goad his brother on, Adam changed the subject. “Speaking of food. Have you eaten yet?”
“Me? No. I wanted to fill you in the minute you got home,” Brax said. “I put security on notice to let me know the minute you pulled up to the front gate.”
Adam crossed over to the fridge, pulled out a sealed container of meatloaf with a side of mashed potatoes and string beans.
Miss Olive must have anticipated company following the Marshall’s death.
A normal family might gather at the main house.
But then, Firebrands had never been considered typical.
“Thanks for coming over to let me know what was going on,” Adam said.
“It’s what brothers are for.” Brax didn’t miss a beat, but there was much more to their relationship than blood ties.
“Not every brother feels the same,” Adam said. He could add a few of his cousins to that list as well.
“Anything I should know about what’s going on with…” Brax motioned toward the adjacent room.
“Nothing to say there.” Adam wasn’t ready to define his relationship with Prudence or defend it to anyone either. For now, he wasn’t ready to talk about the current situation with Angel. Brax would be the first to know when Adam was.
He heated three plates as Brax set the table. By the time Prudence joined them, dinner was ready to go.
She walked into the room, and then froze when her gaze landed on the table nicely set for three. “Wow. I’m impressed.”
“The least I can do is feed you,” Adam said.
Brax shot a look but thankfully kept his lips locked.
“This smells amazing,” she said, fists resting on her hips.
“I’m glad to hear it. I can’t take credit for cooking. All I did was throw a couple of plates in the microwave,” he said, holding out a hand like he was presenting a new car. “Shall we dig in?”
Prudence didn’t waste time, walking over and taking the seat being offered. She made quick work of the meatloaf and potatoes, but mostly pushed around the green beans with her fork.
Seeing Adam and Brax’s interactions reminded Prudence of her sister. Shayla had been three years older and a whole lot sassier. She was all flash and personality in the best possible way, forever twelve years old in Prudence’s mind.
The murderer who’d taken her family away had done her a small favor in blindfolding her while he performed the deed.
This way, she didn’t have images replaying in her mind over and over again, and she’d learned to shut off her imagination when it came to what might have happened.
The neighbor had shielded Prudence from the horror of seeing what had happened. Knowing had been bad enough.
She listened as Adam and Brax talked about their family drama. If not for her aunt and uncle, she would feel very alone in the world. She was thankful she had them, at least.
The idea of being part of a big family had never appealed to her before.
Except being in this kitchen, she could almost smell the fresh cookies around the holidays.
She imagined pies and more food than anyone could eat.
Somehow with all the guys on this ranch, she doubted there would ever be a leftover no matter how much food was placed out on the island or the kitchen table.
She secretly liked the fact they’d eaten in the kitchen over the formal dining room she’d walked past earlier. It was nice in there, don’t get her wrong, but there was something cozy in this room. It was warm and informal, like she imagined a family meal should be.
Growing up, she’d eaten most meals from a TV tray while watching nighttime soap operas with her relatives. They’d been kind people. And yet, she missed her parents and sister. Her mother’s singing.
The memory came back full force earlier in the bedroom with Angel.
“I better get going,” Brax finally said after dessert and coffee. He turned to Prudence. “It’s nice seeing you again.”
“I feel the same,” she admitted, and it was true.
She might not want to get attached to Adam or his family, but they were intelligent and warm.
It would be impossible to completely turn off her affection for them.
Of course, she’d only met two of his brothers.
Fallon had always been nice to her, even when others walked right past. There must be something about the Firebrand bloodline that made them kind to strangers.
Despite Adam not being as close with the others, she’d never heard a bad word about anyone in the family. Then again, she would be last to hear gossip. Keeping to herself had some advantages. Plus, she interacted with her clients on an almost weekly basis.
Why did her old life seem empty to her now?
A week ago she’d been more than happy with her small existence. She had the occasional date when she went into Austin, but no one who blew her hair back. She started to say, “Like Adam,” but stopped herself.
She enjoyed the anonymity of living in town and blending in. Everyone left her alone and she did her own thing. Suddenly, her life sounded lonely, which was strange because it was exactly what she’d built.
Being with Adam had her realizing there was so much more out there.
Interesting conversation. Someone who made her feel incredibly beautiful without ever saying the words.
Someone who made her feel safe even though he also made her feel things she’d never experienced.
Like chemistry beyond her wildest imagination.
And the pull of the hottest kisses that would turn into the most mind-blowing sex she would ever have.
She stopped herself right there. The last things she needed to be thinking about were sizzling kisses and blazing inferno sex.
“How’s the little girl?” Brax asked, motioning toward the adjacent room.
Interesting that Adam hadn’t told his brother and best friend that she might be related to him.
“Doing all right. Might have bad news on the mother,” Adam said.