39. Nash
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Nash
I don’t know why I’m still surprised by how well Tessa and I work together.
Maybe it’s because I spent so long imagining us as rivals, standing on opposite sides of every line. But here we are, collaborating on a project that matters more than either of us wants to admit.
I lean back in my chair, watching Tessa scribble words down on the notepad in front of her.
Her pen moves quickly, the sharpness of her focus making it seem she’s solving a puzzle no one else can even see.
The way her brow furrows when she’s deep in thought still gets to me.
There’s a whole world inside her head I’ve barely scratched the surface of.
It’s hard to ignore everything that’s happened, but Laura has created a welcoming environment for us at The Rusty Mug, and it really feels the right place for us to work out a way to end this once and for all.
“I think we can compromise,” Tessa says, her pen moving across the page at the speed of light.
She doesn't even look up when she speaks. It's second nature to her, finding the middle ground, making sure no one’s left behind. I admire that about her, the way she approaches everything as if it’s just another puzzle to solve.
I lean forward, fingers tapping lightly on the table. “You’ve got a solution in mind?”
Her eyes meet mine now, a flicker of emotion I can’t quite place.
“We give him a piece of the land," she says. "Enough to make him feel like he’s part of the process. Something he can hold onto without trying to take over.”
I nod slowly, letting the idea sink in. Tessa’s uncle isn’t easy to deal with. But money? Money makes people do a lot of things.
"It might be the only way to keep him from digging in his heels. He needs to feel like he's got some say in it."
Tessa scribbles a few more lines, glancing up at me as she does. “It’s not just about the money, though. We need to make sure he feels like it’s fair. That’s the hard part. We need him on board, but we can’t let him think he’s in control.”
I’m getting this now. She’s playing chess while everyone else is stuck on checkers. She’s thinking three steps ahead. We’re not just solving a land dispute here; we’re navigating a family feud. The kind that’s been brewing for decades, fueled by resentment and the strain of old grudges.
“I like it,” I say, weighing each word. “It’s not perfect, but it might work. As long as we don’t go too far.”
“Exactly,” she agrees, eyes locked on mine. “We can’t give him everything he wants, but we can give him enough to feel like he’s been heard.”
The way she says it makes me feel we’re getting somewhere.
Together.
Finally, it feels we’re not on opposite sides of the fence. We might actually be able to pull this off without tearing everything apart.
I shift in my seat, letting the silence hang, before I speak again, quieter this time. “You know, this feels... different. The way we’re doing this. Working together, I mean.”
Tessa glances at me, a slight smile pulling at the corners of her lips.
“You’re not the only one who’s noticed,” she says dryly. Then, softer, “I think we’re getting the hang of it.”
I can’t help but let out a small laugh, the tension in my chest easing just a bit. “I think we are. Doesn’t hurt that you’re smarter than me, though.”
She raises an eyebrow. “You’re just figuring that out?”
“Maybe,” I grin, leaning back in my chair. “But you’re right. This is smart. It’s... it’s what needs to happen.”
She pauses, letting that settle before she picks up her pen, but not before her eyes meet mine again. This time, there’s a kind of understanding there. It wasn’t there before. I feel it as a low hum in the room, because the two of us are finally in sync.
Tessa’s not just my rival anymore. She’s not even just a Long. She’s someone I can count on. And in a town where everyone’s got an opinion, where everything feels it’s on the verge of exploding, that’s saying something.
“We’ll need to ensure the plan’s clear… no ambiguity,” she says, drawing a few quick circles on the page. “We present it as a partnership, something both sides benefit from.”
“Right,” I say, glancing at the circles. “I’ll need to get some specifics down, talk with Faith about creating a social media strategy that’s all about sharing the idea... get people to feel like they’ve had a hand in it, even if they haven’t.”
I scribble the words GET FAITH INVOLVED → CREATE INTERACTIVE POSTS in the corner of the page. I’m not sure it’ll work, but it’s a step in the right direction. I quickly sketch a little idea of a post: Vote for the Best Ranch Activities → What Would You Want to Try?
Tessa looks at it and grins. “That’s actually a great idea.”
I shrug, suddenly feeling it’s a little less ridiculous. “Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. People like the chance to feel involved, especially in a small town.”
I add a few more notes in the margins, my handwriting slanting messily across the page as my mind starts racing with more possibilities.
& GUEST RANCH DETAILS &
Target Audience: Families, nature lovers, experience seekers
Sustainable Practices: Solar, low impact, local sourcing (ask Rose)
Revenue Model: Weekends only, starting small, limit to X cabins, exclusive bookings through website $$
Tessa frowns thoughtfully as she examines my scribbles. “We’ll need to include a plan for how we keep it small at first. Too many people, and it becomes just another tourist trap, which I know is what you want to avoid.”
“I got it,” I say quickly, jotting down, LIMITED BOOKINGS → EXCLUSIVE ACCESS → LOYALTY PROGRAM
Her eyes flicker, a little surprise mixed with recognition, and I realize it’s starting to click for both of us. This isn’t just some side project or half-baked idea.
It’s real. It’s ours.
She leans back, studying the page. “You’re really serious about this, aren’t you? Making it work, even if we have to placate my uncle.”
I nod, biting my lip. Tessa’s uncle isn’t a man I enjoy dealing with, but I get it. Money’s a touchy subject for him, and the idea of compromise doesn’t exactly sit well with his worldview. Still, if we can play it right, make him feel included but not in control, we might stand a chance.
I write notes down quickly, something I’d been avoiding thinking about, but I know I need to face head-on.
THOMAS LONG’S TERMS *** MAKE HIM THINK HE WON.
Give him the land (but not too much)
Show him we’re being ‘fair’
Reassure him he has some say in how it’s run (without giving him any power)
Make sure there’s no direct access to the main ranch (this one’s a must)
Keep the negotiations friendly (no hardball, no big moves)
It’s not perfect, but it’ll do for now. It’s a delicate balance between showing him he’s won and keeping him from taking over.
I sit back, glance at Tessa, and let the idea sit. “This is going to be tricky, but we can pull it off.”
Tessa studies my list, nodding slowly. “As long as we don’t give him too much. He can’t walk away feeling like he’s gained the upper hand. It’ll only make things worse.”
I jot down one more note → DON’T OVERPROMISE.
“I told you.” My voice comes out a little firmer than I intend. “This isn’t something I’m gonna bail on.”
Tessa taps her pen against the page, her eyes narrowing slightly as she mulls it over. I’m half afraid she’s going to ask the one question that’s been haunting me since I started. The one I’m not ready for.
But instead, she looks up and smiles. I’m still getting used to the warmth in her eyes. “Okay. We’ve got the beginnings of something solid here.”
I smile back. “We do. We really do.”
I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me, but I’m ready for it. Ready to make this work, for me, for her, for both families.
The McCoy family dinner table is as loud as it always is.
It’s the kind of place where opinions are tossed around fast as footballs, and no one’s afraid to catch or throw a few punches. But tonight? Tonight feels different. The pressure of it is on me, sitting heavy in my chest, and I can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t just about the ranch anymore.
“Alright, I’m gonna need another beer before I hear any more of this,” Boone grumbles from the end of the table, rubbing his hand over his face.
“You’ve had three already,” Rose points out, balancing a plate of mashed potatoes in one hand while dishing out green beans with the other. “Maybe wait until you say something useful first.”
“Good thing I’ve got a strong tolerance, huh?” Boone smirks, then turns to Dallas. “You sure about this? You think Tessa’s uncle’s gonna go for it?”
Dallas takes a long pull from his beer, nodding slowly. “It’s the only way to keep him from completely flipping the script. We give him just enough to keep him happy, but not enough to feel like he’s running the show. Exactly as you’ve said.”
Tessa’s quiet next to me, her hands folded in her lap as she watches the scene unfold. It’s clear she’s been here before. Watching this family, all of us, try to figure out how to make a deal with each other and the world. But she’s not just watching anymore. Tonight, she’s part of it.
“Now hold on, we’re not giving him anything without making sure we’re all on the same page first,” I add, leaning forward. “We need to make sure this stays a partnership. This isn’t just about throwing some land his way and hoping he goes away.”
Boone shoots me a look, his brow furrowed. “We’ve been here before, Nash. Feels like we’re always giving people something to get them to back off. I just don’t want it to come back and bite us in the ass.”
“I get that,” I say, glancing around the table.
“But I’m telling you, this is the only way forward.
If we don’t get Thomas on board, we’re stuck.
And I’m not just talking about the land, either.
I’m talking about the town. The council.
Everything. This could work for all of us if we present it right. ”
Tessa catches my eye, and I feel that weird, unspoken understanding between us. It’s in the way she holds my gaze, as if we’ve spent hours running through this in our heads already. We’re on the same side now, and I’m not going to screw this up.
Mom is studying the two of us closely, her eyes flickering between Tessa and me. She leans back in her chair, arms crossed. “You’ve got a plan for making this work with the Longs, right?”
Tessa straightens, and I swear she’s running through her notes in her head. “I think we can make it work. We give Thomas a piece of the land that’ll make him feel like he’s still got control, but we keep the terms clear. We give him just enough to make him feel heard.”
Rose’s eyes flick to Tessa, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “I like that idea. But we’re not giving him the whole damn ranch, right?”
Tessa shakes her head. “No. Never. A small piece. Nothing more. Enough to make him feel like he’s part of the process without giving him more than what he needs to dig in his heels.”
Boone sits back in his chair, watching Tessa carefully. “And you think that’ll keep him from trying to take over?”
“I think it’ll keep him from making things worse,” Tessa replies. “But the key is making sure it looks like a partnership. If we present it like we’re working together, like both families have something to gain, he’ll be less likely to pull any moves behind our backs.”
I take a deep breath, nodding. “She’s right. The key is making this look like something that benefits everyone. If we present it that way, we can avoid the fallout.”
Mom studies Tessa for a long moment, then looks at me, her expression softening. “I’m not saying it’s perfect, but I can see how this could work. The question is, do you all trust each other enough to see it through?”
The room falls silent, her words hanging in the air. The truth is, none of us have had a lot of trust to go around. But tonight is different. Tessa’s sitting here at this table where she belongs, and maybe this whole damn thing might actually work.
“I think we can do this,” I say, meeting my brothers’ eyes. “We have to. If we’re going to make Buckhorn work, we have to do it together.”
Dallas leans back in his chair, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. “You’re not wrong. But we’ve all got to stay on the same page. No more secrets. No more half-assed plans. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right.”
Boone nods slowly, weighing the entire conversation. “I’m in. But it’s gotta be clear. No half measures.”
Tessa looks at me, her eyes reflecting the same determination I’m feeling in my chest. “It’ll be clear. We’re not doing this in pieces. We’re doing this all the way.”
With a heavy sigh, Boone says, “Alright. I’ll give it a shot. But if this blows up in our faces, don’t come crying to me.”
“Deal,” I say, my grin stretching a little wider.
Mom raises her glass. “Well, then. Let’s see what happens. To the McCoys and the Longs. If anyone can make this work, it’s you two.”
I clink my glass against hers, then look at Tessa. She meets my gaze, her lips curving up in a smile that feels real. This is what I’ve been waiting for.
Not just a plan, but the chance to prove that we’re stronger together than we ever were apart.