Page 40 of Savage Secrets

Ledger cast him an amused look. “You know it.”

The interaction gave Zach some hope that the discussion he intended to have with Gracey was going to go as well as his exchange with Ledger.

A few minutes later, he drove under the gate leading to the ranch he used to manage. He waited for the pang of pain to come.

It didn’t.

Therewasa hollowness in his gut, but as he drove, he picked at the edges of the sensation and realized why he was feeling it.

He didn’t like leaving the Springvale.

Being away from Opal for even a few minutes left him feeling antsy, and all he wanted was to rush back there.

Zach found Sean Gracey in his usual spot—the study. Only the man looked more bright-eyed and less trampled upon than he’d seen him in the several months since his only son was killed in action.

He looked up from a stack of invoices in front of him. When he set his stare on Zach, a smile crossed his face. He stood and they clasped hands in a show of respect that Zach could only hope would kickstart his visit in the right direction.

“Sit down. How are things on the Springvale?”

He drew up a chair to the front of the desk, facing his old boss. “Everything’s fine. Opal and her daughter are doing all right, considering.”

Sean Gracey’s lips tightened. He of all people knew grief like an old, unwelcome friend.

“Look, I can see you’re busy and I won’t take up too much of your time. I’m here to talk about the land that adjoins the Springvale. I’m here to buy it.”

There—he’d put it out there. Now the horse was in Gracey’s pasture.

For a long moment, Gracey fell silent. He didn’t shift his gaze from Zach, but his shoulders slumped a little.

“I’m afraid to sell it to you.”

Zach cocked a brow at him.

“It will put a target on your back. Look at everyone else.” He spread his hands as if encompassing everyone who had been impacted by the trouble that descended as a result of his actions.

A lump popped into Zach’s throat, making it difficult to speak. That almost sounded as if Gracey hadn’t only sent him away because the ranch was too crowded now that his son’s friends had arrived. Deep down, Zach had always wondered if the older man viewed Colton, Hunter, Carver and Ledger as family since they were close to his late son.

Now Zach wondered if he might actually be included in that ring. Gracey’s concern about putting a target on Zach’s back meant more than he could ever express.

Gracey sat back in his seat. “I’m not going to sell to you.”

Annoyance rippled through him. “What are your options?”

“Sell to the investor.”

The words came like a blow. His spine hit the back of the chair with their force. Anger coursed through him, but he held it back. Now wasn’t the time.

“What good does that do you? It gives Feldman exactly what he wants.”

“But not enough land to do much with. There’s no wood to timber on it. No oil or gas. It’s only good pasture.”

“When you put it like that, I’m not sure I want it either.”

A beat of silence strung between them. Then Sean Gracey barked out a laugh. He eyed Zach. “What’s your offer?”

He wanted that land. And he was prepared to pay damn near top dollar for it.

He named a figure that was large enough to make Gracey give his offer serious consideration but left Zach with a tidy sum remaining in his bank account. Having the means to make an offer like this felt damn good. So did the fact that he hadn’texploded out of anger when Mr. Gracey initially refused to sell to him.

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