Page 43 of Double Bucked

We’ll figure it out.

We can do anything, long as we’re together.

The grandfather clock ticks. I’ve still got thirty minutes before takeoff.

I can still make this right.

“All respect, sir, she ain’t your problem anymore. She’s mine.”

I grab my jacket off the back of the chair, and I stand to leave. Before I can get a foot toward the door, however, his voice cuts through the air like a knife.

“If you go that way, you’ll leave in handcuffs.”

I stop in my tracks.

“How did you think this was going to go?” Mr. Preacher continues. “That I would let you leave and destroy everything I’ve worked so hard to create?”

“Claire is who she is in spite of you. Not because of you.”

His eyes darken, and I know I’ve hit a nerve.

“Sit down, Ransom,” he says.

This time, I have no choice. I retrace my steps and sink down into the hard leather of the chair.

He watches me. Exhales. And then starts cutting me apart, piece by piece.

“She will make something of herself in Paris, but you…you will lie. And steal. And cheat your way through life. Because when faced with a hard thing, you will always take the easy way out. It’s your nature. It was your parents’ nature. The Ransoms are a family of weak hearts. Claire has a strong heart and an unbreakable spirit. But if you insist on following her, you will slow her down. You will drag her down with you. And she will let you because despite everything I’ve done to train it out of her, my Claire still believes in the best of people.”

My blood is roaring in my ears. My chest is so tight it’s hard to breathe.

For a second, I close my eyes.

I’m so sorry, Claire.

“You’ll break her fucking heart, you know that?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. It will take more than a deadbeat ranch hand to destroy her. She’ll cry for a night, and then you’ll be nothing but a mistake she’s learned better from.” He takes a stack of papers from the table, meticulously lines them up, and then slides them across to me. “Sign this.”

I don’t budge. “What is it?”

“Your work contract. I won’t press charges. Your event with Chaucer will stay between us. In return, you stay here. Continue to work on the farm. You were expecting, I imagine, somewhere in the range of fifty thousand for your efforts? Let’s call it fifty-five with interest. I’ll dock the difference from your earnings until you’ve paid in full. In return, this can stay between us. No law enforcement. You can keep your freedom and your job.”

“And what about Claire?”

There’s a lengthy pause. “Claire will thrive without the burden of either of us holding her back.”

My heart is shaking apart in my chest.

He opens his hand, motioning to the chair. “You can make the call here.”

I dial Claire’s number and put the cell phone to my ear.

“Ransom.” Even angry, her voice makes my heart skip. “Where are you?”

I swallow hard. I lift my gaze.

Mr. Preacher nods. Go ahead.

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