Page 39 of Embracing Hope

“I’m happy for you. You’re glowing.”

“I feel so happy.” Liberty beamed. “I wish for you to experience the same joy.”

“What if I don’t marry?” Hope asked.

“Then you’ll lose any claim to Sagebrush Rose. There won’t be anything that we can do to change that.” Tears misted her eyes. “None of us want that to happen. I can’t imagine you not being a part of this ranch.”

“Liberty, you know the details of the ranch’s finances. Is it true that we aren’t as secure as we once were?”

Liberty smoothed her hands down her black yoga pants. Concern marred some of her glow. “A few bad decisions have put us in a bad spot. The drought a few years ago hurt us. Activist groups have put a strain on ranchers. Many feed companies are going under, which means the feed is harder to get and pricier. There are several factors at play.”

“And I suppose Daddy didn’t want anyone to know.” Hope felt a throb in her temples.

“You know how he is. He likes to keep things undercover.”

“So how much do we need this merger with Markum Livestock?”

“If we don’t merge, we could face downsizing in the next few years, possibly selling some land.” Liberty’s cell buzzed. She read the screen. “I need to get back to the house. My hubby is worried about me.”

“Don’t forget to grab your peaches,” Hope reminded her.

She couldn’t, alone with her thoughts, wrap her head around Sagebrush Rose’s failure. So Isaac was correct. This was a risky merger move for Marcum Livestock.

Her mind was active with worried thoughts. She climbed out of the water and pulled the drain. She slid into her robe and headed downstairs for a cup of tea. Once she stepped onto the first-floor landing, she heard a rustling noise coming down the hall. Curious, she craned her neck and noticed the activity was in Daddy’s office.

“Daddy, don’t tell me you’re working this late—”

She stopped in the open doorway. The room was dark and now quiet.

“Daddy?” She waited for a response that didn’t come.

She stepped into the room and switched on the lamp. The soft lighting lit every corner and Hope inspected the space. A gasp fell off her tongue when she saw the masked man dressed in black coming toward her. She didn’t have time to run or even scream…

*****

Isaac shoved through the bunkhouse door, and all eyes turned to him. The hands were gathered around the kitchen, feeding their faces with pizza and beer while playing poker.

“Strike out, did you?” Billy said around a mouthful of food.

“I wasn’t shooting for anything in particular,” Isaac said casually.

“Let’s leave the poor fellow alone. It’s torment enough that he has to come here and hang out with us hooligans,” Robbie said. “Flush.” He slapped down his hand onto the table. “Read ‘em and weep.” The men groaned while Robbie scooped up his winnings. “This is like taking candy from a baby. Want in, Marcum?”

“I’m too tired.” But he didn’t want to hang out with the men. His body teetered and thrummed with restless energy. What he wanted was to be with Hope. So then, why had he excused himself? Why did he run like a scared mouse?

“We saw you leave with the boss’s daughter,” Wheeler said with a snicker. He couldn’t have been younger than twenty-five and had a baby face. His beard was growing in spotty and wispy, and he wore his Stetson pushed back on his forehead.

Several men chuckled, but Isaac didn’t find the remark funny. The room quickly quieted.

“I was just making sure she got home okay.” He reached into the refrigerator, took out water, uncapped it, and tossed the lid into the trashcan on his way to bed. He dropped down and stretched out, shifting around the springs popping up through the mattress. He stared up at the ceiling, listening to the muddled laughter and chatting of the crew.

What he wouldn’t give to have some peace.

He liked most of the hands, although he didn’t know most of them outside of exchanging a word or two here and there. A few were cocky and rubbed Isaac the wrong way. They were all damn good workers, though.

Isaac’s cell phonedingedand he pulled it out of his pocket. CJ left him a message…

“I need an update on our progress soon. CJ.”

---