Page 111 of Burning Skies
Standing, I fold my arms. “You need to go.”
He stares up at me with a smirk on his smug mouth. “I’ll give you until the first of the month to decide what you want to do. So you can have a nice Thanksgiving.”
I’ve never wanted to throat-punch someone so much in my life. “That’s so gracious of you.” I hope he hears the sarcasm in my voice.
“I’m a gracious person.” He finally stands and checks his obnoxiously large Rolex. “I’m headed to New York for a few days. I couldn’t entice you to join me, could I?”
“Not in this lifetime or the next.” I open the front door and point toward the hallway as I stare straight ahead.
Ian pauses in front of me, stopping to graze my chin with his thumb. I turn away, so his hand drops. “I like your fire, Honey. I think we could have something special.”
“You mean while you fuck your sidepieces behind my back? No thanks.”
He shrugs. “I could be persuaded to give up that pastime. I’m not seeing anyone special. She’s just a diversion. What about you? That boyfriend of yours worth losing your ranch?”
Beau’s worth a hundred ranches. I know that in my bones.
But what about my family? What about their future?
I swallow the curses I want to level at this man and smile snidely. “I guess we’ll find out.”
42
HONEY
I slamthe brakes to park in front of our ranch. Pebbles fly out from under my tires.
Calm down, Honey. Everything will be okay. Cash will know what to do.
My dad is out of town again, probably shacking up with his girlfriend. I shake my head in disgust as I head in the house. “Anyone home?”
I head for the main office, which is the hub of our business. We have other staff, so I don’t like to interrupt them, but this is an emergency. I poke my head in there and wave. “Has anyone seen Cash or Trig?”
My father’s secretary nods. “I think they’re checking the calves in lot six.”
“Thank you.” I make a beeline for the barn. It’ll be easier to ride there than to drive. After I saddle Sunshine, I tie my hair into a ponytail, button my jacket, and head out.
As we gallop across the hills and valleys of my family’s property, I try to breathe. I know I’ve been blessed. I’ve lived a charmed life. Looking around at our animals, at the buildingswe’ve built, at the investments we’ve made, I’m terrified we’re going to lose it all.
I’m not sure if Ian is fucking with me. If he’s manipulating me to get what he wants. It’s possible.
But if he’s not? Can I give this up? A part of me is willing to do it to be with Beau, but what about my brothers? What about my niece? Because we’re talking about their future too.
I spot Cash and Trig on the horizon and tighten my heels on Sunshine briefly, and she kicks into high gear.
Usually, when I ride, it’s exhilarating. The power of the horse. The strength in her muscles. The wind through my hair. It’s enough to forget my worries. It’s a moment to be grateful for what I have. For being alive and being a rancher.
It’s why the Harvester Club is so dear to me.
And now both of these things are on the line.
When I reach my brothers, I pull the reins, and Sunshine stops, snorting her annoyance that we can’t continue galloping across the field.
Trig’s face is sullen, but Cash seems happy to see me. He lifts his cowboy hat to wipe the sweat and ambles over as I slide off my horse.
“Hey.” He lifts me in a hug. “Glad to see you in one piece. I was afraid Dad had shipped you off to a nunnery.”
“Har har.” I brush my hair out of my face. Ignoring Trig’s sour expression, I wrap my arms around him. “Hello to you too.”
