Page 28 of The Guy Who Stole My Ranch

Both of my friends nodded.

“Then I need to show him that this place isn’t worth the investment.”

“Isn’t it?” Victoria asked.

“Honestly, I doubt any ranch in this area would make back the money for someone who bought it for at least ten years. Maybe never.” Although with William’s contacts, and his plan to breed and then house retired racehorses, he might have a better chance.

The irony was that I had been planning for some of the same changes when I took over. Both breeding and housing older horses had been on my radar. Not to mention helping a foundation in San Antonio that rescued abused animals. I worked with them once a week, and they always needed places to house horses.

I had so many ideas!

Then William had come along and stolen my future.

He hadn’t done it on purpose, but he’d made me feel like I didn’t deserve the ranch. That I wasn’t good enough to run it. That rankled me, and I was having a hard time letting it go.

Victoria spoke. “Have you thought about asking William to withdraw his offer?”

I blinked. “Why would he do that?”

“Maybe if he knew you wanted it, he could force your dad to consider an alternative. I’m sure he’d be willing to find another ranch.”

My hand holding the stress ball began to shake.The last thing I needed was for William to do me any favors. I wasn’t going to beg for what I thought should be mine, I would earn it.

If I had to dissuade William in order to make that happen, then so be it.

“She looks determined to do it her way,” Jessica said.

“Agreed,” Victoria said.

“A lot of help you two are,” I muttered.

My phone, which sat on my kitchen table, buzzed, and I glanced down at it. William’s name appeared above the text icon. I’d programmed him as Will, just to be annoying. “What does he want?”

“William?” Jessica asked.

I nodded.

“Try not to be too mean to him,” Victoria said.

“No promises,” I said. That might be the only way to get rid of him.

“Have you had any thoughts for our YouTube channel?” Jessica asked, changing the subject.

I shook my head. “My brain has been kind of broken since this morning.”

“I have some ideas,” Victoria said, “but I need to go. Can I call you later?”

“Sure.”

My fingers slowly inched toward my phone. Why was I so curious about what William had to say? Probably because I expected him to gloat, but he wouldn’t. At least not outright.

“I need to go too.” Jessica yawned. “I expect an update on the situation soon.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said.

Both of my friends smiled, then signed off.

After my computer screen resolved into a photo I’d taken of the Northern Lights in Alaska, I picked up my phone. It felt heavy, and my fingers seemed extra slow as I swiped the message to life.

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