Page 40 of The Feud

“Ten million dollars,” Gabe says, his face suggesting that the figure should shock me into considering.

“Not interested.”

“Fifteen.”

I open the door and pull it wide. I stare at Gabe with hard, unyielding eyes that say no amount of money will change my mind.

Gabe’s stare turns to stone. “You should know not to fuck with our family.”

“I’m not,” I maintain. “I’m protecting Sylvie. That shouldn’t be a contrary interest to your own. She’s your fucking niece for God’s sake.”

If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve sworn that was pain flashing across Gabe’s face. “I love my niece. Trust me when I say, removing her from the Mardraggons’ business holdings would be in her best interest.”

I don’t know how to take that. I’m truly caught off guard by Gabe’s proclamation of love. I am fairly certain her grandparents don’t love her… not the way a child should be loved. Gabe’s tone tells me that he truly cares for Sylvie.

But I push those uncertainties aside. They have no place in the here and now. “I want you to send me a copy of the trust documents and any other pertinent information regarding the winery. I’ll have my own lawyers look at it. But in the meantime, I suggest you and I set up a meeting where we can go over everything and you can bring me up to speed on how to run a winery.”

Gabe looks like he wants to argue but eventually gives a curt nod. “I’ll have my secretary reach out to you.”

“That will be fine,” I reply. Gabe brushes past me, stepping out of the barn into the April sunlight. He gets no more than a few paces away when something occurs to me. “Sylvie has a dog.”

Gabe turns around, confusion on his face. “A dog?”

“Back in France. She misses him. I’d like to have him shipped here. No clue how to go about doing that but I need someone at the winery who can facilitate that on their end.”

I’m shocked to see Gabe’s face soften and he lets a small smile slip before locking it down. “That would be Esteban. He’s the general manager there. I’ll get his contact information to you. If you run into any issues, just let me know and I’ll do what I can to help.”

I force my jaw to stay locked and not drop open in shock from the genuine offer. Nodding, I say, “I’d appreciate that.”

Gabe doesn’t say another word but pivots on his foot. I watch him walk to a fiery-red Porsche but don’t wait for him to leave before shutting the office door. Scrubbing my hands through my hair, I huff out a sigh of frustration.

Things just got even more complicated where Sylvie is concerned. I had hoped to maintain a strong line to keep my family separated from the Mardraggons, but that appears to be impossible right now.

CHAPTER 14

Ethan

I long ago stopped training show riders, leaving it to my siblings because I have too many other responsibilities running the farm. While I don’t do the actual hands-on teaching anymore, I always attend the horse shows because the Blackburn name is being represented and it’s important that I support our clients who put in so much hard work and dedication to the sport. Not only that, it’s a way to show my appreciation and support of Kat, Trey and Wade.

In the younger divisions, like the twelve-and-under pleasure walk and trot class that Carmen is riding in with Lady Beatrice, the trainers are allowed to provide audible support as they compete. Because the arena is so big and the cheering robust, the four of us space out on each corner of the oval to give continued feedback and instruction as Carmen rides by. She’ll have a steady barrage of advice to pull from as she rides.

To my right, Sylvie stands at the white railing. She is on her tiptoes to peek over the top, her eyes riveted on her new friend. While I’ve been sorting through the aftermath of Gabe’s tumultuous visit to the barn the day before yesterday, Sylvie was becoming fast friends with Carmen over ice cream cones. She returned home that afternoon, sprinting through the front door of the main house and right past my office without glancing in to see me there.

Didn’t matter—I was beyond pleased by the way she ran right into the kitchen to find my mom working on a crossword puzzle at the table. Mom has been ready to swoop in and cement a grandmotherly bond with Sylvie, even more so now that Sylvie seems committed to at least giving things a try.

After Gabe left, I texted my parents and asked them to meet me at the main house where I filled them in on Alaine’s trust and how co-managing the winery will be more work on my already-overloaded plate. We brainstormed some and my father readily agreed to step back into partial management duties for the farm to ease my burden a bit. We still have things to decide, but all those worries seemed to slip away as I stood outside the kitchen and listened to Sylvie prattle on to my mother about her new friend. I didn’t know Sylvie could be that excited for anything and it more than warmed my heart.

It was nothing though, compared to the squeezing joy that gripped my soul when Sylvie, all out of words to describe her outing, hesitantly asked my mom, “May I call you Mamie?”

“Mamie?” Mom asked softly and oh so curiously.

“It’s a French nickname for grandma. Although I can be more formal and call you grand-mère.”

I couldn’t see my mom while I shamelessly eavesdropped, but I could imagine the softening of her features as I know that struck her deeply.

“I think Mamie is perfect,” she replied.

I left them alone but later learned from my father who texted to proudly announce that he is to be called Papi.

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