Page 60 of Embracing Hope

She skimmed each line and her stomach rolled.

Her daddy’s cancer. The marriage arrangements. Another hand was mysteriously wounded. Sagebrush Rose Ranch was a danger to Sagebrush Pine residents. Last but not least, Hope Rose had written a tell-all book about her family and the private town.

All there in black and white.

She clenched her jaw until she thought she’d break a tooth. “The letter is from someone anonymous. Townspeople will see it for what it is…”

“But everything is true. Right, Hope?”

She swiped her palms down the thighs of her jeans. “I planned to tell you about the book.”

He stood and threw his pen onto the desk. “Did you? After it was published, or maybe you hoped I’d make it to my grave first?”

“Daddy, don’t be ridiculous. I was going to tell youbeforethe book came out.” Her mouth dried.

He went to the mini bar and poured himself a stiff drink.

“Doc said you shouldn’t be drinking,” she reminded him.

“Have you forgotten I have terminal cancer?” He downed half the drink in one gulp.

“People were bound to find out about the cancer. Sheriff Dussan will find out who broke into the house and who attacked Billy. That is no fault to any of the family. And the book…it’s loosely based on Sagebrush Pine and our family.”

He laughed but nothing about it was humorous. “And that’s supposed to make me feel better how?” He didn’t wait for her answer. Instead, he dropped back down in his chair behind his desk. “It’s too late to cry over spilled milk.”

“I’ll talk to Isaac…”

“And what? Are you suggesting you’ll seduce him to alter his decision?” As soon as the words left, Sam narrowed his eyes. “I apologize. I realize that’s not your intention, but it feels as if all my efforts have failed. I can't afford to begin from scratch. This merger was essential for you and your sisters to carry on with the ranch.”

“Daddy, we’ll find a way. We always do.”

He eased his frame back into the chair, appearing as if he carried the world's weight on his shoulders. “There’s not much choice left but to sell everything.”

“Let’s figure this out…”

He held up his gnarled hand. “I’d like to be alone.”

“Daddy?”

He lowered his head.

Reluctantly, she stood and waited a second before leaving the office. She practically ripped the paper to shreds from her tight hold. She imagined that it was Isaac’s neck. The only person who could have known all the details was him.

Marching outside, everything was a blur. Her focus was on finding Isaac and drilling him a new asshole.

She went from barn to barn until she finally found him speaking to Jinx.

When the two men saw her coming, Isaac frowned, and Jinx waved. “Howdy, Hope.”

“I need a moment alone with Isaac,” she kept her gaze glued to the man she wanted to chew up and spit out.

Jinx cleared his throat. “Sure.”

Before he made it from the room, she threw the wadded-up newspaper into Isaac’s chest. He caught it. “What’s this?”

“Please cut the bullshit. You know what it is.”

He blinked. “Sorry, but I don’t.”

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