Page 7 of The Bitter Heir and the Beauty

I glance around at my surroundings. “That remains to be seen.”

He proceeds to try to woo me into a temporary teaching position for a new crew posting that bridges a need in the wildlands between Reno and Carson.

Before I left, I told him I’d think about it, which I’ve postponed until now. An incoming text helps me put off my decision a little longer. The message says that the meeting with the lawyers was moved up to this morning. I thought I had until after lunch to officially claim the rights to Hogwash Holler—or get back on a plane and forget this ever happened.

Keeping one ear on what Leyton is saying and one eye on the map app on my phone, returns me to civilization. Just over half an hour later, I’m parked in front of Chandler & Associates Law Offices in New Orleans. This truck moves.

“When can I expect you back?” Leyton asks.

I stall, wishing I had a quarter on me. I’m based in Reno and his offer is more than decent, but like everything, there are pros and cons. On the upside, being asked to instruct means I’m qualified to teach a crew and respected enough for leadership—maybe become a captain myself one day. Plus, I’d make more money. The con is I can’t do things my way—I tend to operate on instinct and think about the details later. In this role, it’sdo things by the bookor have it thrown at me.

Leg jittering, I blurt, “I might take a little longer than expected. It looks like I have a bit of a project ahead of me.”

Before I left, some might have called me a workaholic. I prefer to think of it as dedicated. Pouring myself into my job was better than the mess I was dealing with Emberly. For more than a minute, an hour, or a day, I want things to be stable. No drama. No chaos. No ex-wife.

“Remember when I was at the academy, like the fire safety rule toStop Drop Roll? you taught us toStop Assess Act? I stopped and now I’m assessing.”

He pauses. “Smart not to rush into things.”

“Especially this. It appears as if I inherited a town,” I say slowly, deliberately, hardly believing it myself.

Or, more accurately, this was supposed to be Emberly’s inheritance. It’s more like a settlement because she didn’t have the resources to pay back all she took from me, so she offered up Hogwash Holler. Must be a real prize if Princess Emberly didn’t want it. My thoughts seep with sarcasm.

“A town?” he repeats.

“Correct.”

“Is that possible?”

“Apparently.”

“I take that to mean you need a bit of time to get your affairs in order,” Captain Leyton says.

And have revenge on the woman who had an affair and nearly robbed me blind, but I digress.

We say our goodbyes and my phone beeps with another text. It’s the lawyer asking for my ETA.

To be fair, Hogwash Holler wasn’t a one-horse town—though it only has one stop light. In all honesty, I like small towns. Prefer them to the city even though I live in one.

The pace is slower, life is quieter and generally more peaceful.

Most real estate transactions can take place virtually with digital documents, but I quickly gather things in Cameron Parish are old school. Plus, transferring the heritor holding isn’t an ordinary process.

About an hour later, the ink is dry on the certificate of rights to Hogwash Holler and I am now the conflicted owner of a small town.

Had I not been distracted by Leyton’s call, maybe I’d already be heading back to Nevada. Had I been able to find a coin to toss, perhaps I’d be able to forget about what Emberly did.

But I can’t and now that I own Hogwash Holler, her fate is sealed.

Returning the way I came, I don’t stop until the town leers at me in all its faded glory.

“I apologize in advance that you’ll be collateral damage, but it must be done,” I mutter.

Yeah, I’m talking to the town.

A wooden alligator head that forms part of the sign for the Laughing Gator Grille seems to do just that. Laugh at me with its chipped teeth and sun-bleached paint.

“I’ll be the last one laughing,” I add, kind of sounding like a movie villain.

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