Page 31 of Rough Ride

He blinked. “What?”

“We own the ranch. Not you. Not me. We.”

“Yeah. We.” He looked like he wanted to say something else, but he just shook his head and said, “Let’s go.”

* * *

Eli was still pissed hours later. He sat through the boring meeting. Usually he had no problem paying attention. He took comfort in the routine of things. One of the many things Joe had taught him was how to deal with the nightmares after the missions he’d served.

But now, he was irritated. The fact that Sean was back on the island wasn’t a good sign. It was a really bad sign actually. If he wanted to make a play for the ranch, he didn’t have a chance. He wasn’t even blood related. But he wouldn’t put it past Sam to call him back to ask him to help. He didn’t have money, but he could offer Sam something more. Land. Land was hard to come by in Hawai’i, even here on The Big Island. And much of the ranch was well hidden. A man who dealt drugs could get away with a lot there.

Everyone was getting up and walking out of the room when he realized the meeting was over.

“St. John, are you daydreaming there about your partner?” Syd Makelo asked. The guy was okay, hard worker, and he ran a tight ship on his Hawaiian style dude ranch.

He stood and tried not to let him see how he irritated him. “Naw, just fell asleep while you were talking. Kind of boring.”

Makelo chuckled as did some of the men around him. “So, you don’t find that wahine sexy?”

“I’d have to be dumb, deaf and blind not to, but she’s my partner. And, on top of that, she is Joe’s niece. I’m sure he wouldn’t have appreciated anyone disparaging her character.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean that. She’s, well, a few of us saw her riding the other day. She’s an excellent horsewoman.”

It was a big compliment, especially coming from Makelo, who was known to be one of the best riders around. Why was it a compliment pissed him off? He hadn’t said it as if he was referring to something else, but dammit, it sounded like it. To Eli. “Sure. Gotta get back.”

“Wait,” Louella Donnely said. “There’s been talk of having a scholarship in Joe’s honor. We would really like your input.”

Joe’s family might have shunned him, but the rest of the island didn’t. Hawaiians cared for each other as if they were all related, because if they had a little Hawaiian blood in them, it was a pretty good chance they were.

“Joe would have really liked that, Lou.”

“We thought so. You call if you need anything. Don’t be a stranger.”

At that point, he had a chance to escape and took it. Without looking at anyone, he slipped away and ignored the worry in his gut that this had more to do with the woman and not the ranch.

* * *

Danny was in the kitchen again that night. Eli was out at some rancher meeting for the area. She had no idea what it was about, but she was exhausted beyond belief and truth was, she didn’t really feel right horning in on things like that. At the end of the six months, she was back to the mainland. This was his ranch, his livelihood.

So, instead, she was sitting in the kitchen with Danny laughing over stories about his grandfather.

“So, he’s become a Houdini. I tell Dad to just let it go, but he worries.”

“You have to be careful with people that age.”

Danny rolled his eyes. He really was a pretty man. Pretty being the operative word. He was lean but muscled and seemed so approachable. Part of it was his age. And he flirted without being serious about it. Since he’d been to the airport to greet her, she’d gotten to know him. If she’d had a younger brother, she had a feeling he would have been a lot like Danny. Or she would have hoped.

“Naw. Grandpa is just getting him some.”

She giggled. “Come on.”

“No. Senior citizens are now becoming the fastest growing age group getting STDs.”

She took a drink of tea. “Really?”

“Yep. They’re living longer and well, they’re retired, don’t have to worry about pregnancy. Plus, there is that little blue bill to help it along.”

“I suppose.”

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