Page 21 of Wild Rivals

“Of course. If you want to make an appointment with my assistant, Mona, then I can make sure to give you my undivided attention,” I reply, waving over Mona and forcing my body to relax. Maybe Wyatt isn’t anything to do with this.

Maybe.

“I’ll be making my decision in the coming days, Maddie. And because I have a lot of respect for your father, I’ll tell you this now: if you send me away, I won’t be returning.”

Jim and I stare at each other. He’s being serious; that much I know from the look of certainty on his features.

For a beat, I want to tell him to go, that he has no right coming around here threatening me, but then I remember the plan and what having this land will mean.

Sure, I don’t have time for this, and I could try to call his bluff, but what if I’m wrong? I’m not sending Daddy in to fix my mess and I sure as hell am not letting Wyatt win on a technicality.

“You needed me?” Mona asks, coming to a stop beside me, her usual air of efficiency about her.

Exhaling, I turn my attention to her and reply, “Can you handle anything that comes up while I take Mr. Evergreen on a tour?”

Her eyes widen a fraction in exclamation before she catches herself. “Of course. Do you want me to ask Ashley to bring an ATV to the front steps?”

“Please,” I reply.

With a brisk nod, Mona turns and strides away, leaving me alone with Jim Evergreen. I perch on the edge of my seat, defiance seeping into me as I straighten my spine. There’s no way I’m going down without a fight. Sending Jim over here is below the belt, but if Wyatt wants to try underhand tactics, I’ll meet him each time.

A loud bang sounds behind us and I flinch, as silence falls over the room. Searching in the direction the noise came, I spot two teenagers shoving at each other, before they bend to pick up the display they’d knocked over as Kali rushes over to them.

Twisting my fingers together, I turn my attention back to Mr. Evergreen, praying he’s not noticed the commotion. “I assume you’d like to start with the cabins rather than in the main house?” I ask, hoping he’ll play along with my pretending that nothing out of the ordinary is happening.

It feels like an eternity passes before he lifts a shoulder and replies, “Sure. We can start there.”

I offer him a brisk nod before standing and replying, “We don’t have many rooms or cabins that aren’t occupied, but I’ll show you what I can.”

He falls into step beside me as we head for the exit. “I’m not trying to catch you out, Maddie. I simply want to know more about what you have going on here.”

Why does it feel like that isn’t quite true? I might not be able to prove it, but I think Wyatt has something to do with the reason Jim is here. And I hate that I can’t tell if this is just business… or something more personal. If it wasn’t for the worry gnawing at my gut as we walk through the lobby, I might be inclined to believe him.

It doesn’t take long for Ashley to bring the ATV around, and once we’re situated inside, I head in the direction of the guest cabins. All I can do is get this tour over with and hope that Jim still believes in my plans by the end of it.

With an air of professionalism I’m barely holding on to, I say, “We have six cabins, which hold anywhere between one and eight guests. There are thirty rooms in the main house, and then we have the luxury camping, which we only offer in the summer months. We can get a lot of foot traffic through here, and like I said in my presentation, I thought it would be a good idea to show people what Montana was like before all of this”—I wave my arm at the cabins ahead of us—“was here.”

I chance a glance at Jim as he nods wearily in response to what I’ve said. This is going bad. I wish I knew what Wyatt had told him. Should I try a different tactic?

My stomach chooses that moment to rumble, the sound loud to my own ears and reminding me of the time. “Have you eaten yet?” I ask, pulling up next to the only empty cabin. Maybe Oscar’s food can save us.

When I switch off the engine, it ticks over, and I climb out, rounding the buggy until I’m standing beside Jim.

“Not yet,” he replies, brushing away the arm I offer him as he climbs from the ATV.

“I’ll radio up to the main house and ask them to prepare us something to eat. Why don’t you go ahead, and I’ll meet you inside?”

I hand him the key and watch as he heads off, and as the door closes behind him, I roll my shoulders, forcing them to relax. Today is not the day for me to lose this deal.

Pulling the radio that I always carry from my belt, I press the side button and say, “Please can I have lunch for two prepared and in my office in thirty minutes?”

Almost immediately, Mona’s voice crackles on the line. “Yes, boss.”

Before we head back to the main house, I show Jim around the cabin, our setup by the lake for ceremonies and the luxury camping site. By the time he leaves, I’m less nervous but even more uncertain than I was this morning about whether my pitch was enough to get the land. Or if I’ve already lost it to Wyatt.

15

WYATT