Page 18 of Billionaire Lumberjack's Bargain

Having this conversation with him a few months ago would’ve been easy. He would’ve known exactly what to do. He would’ve jumped on it and put together a detailed, well-structured plan to bring her homestead back from the brink, and he would have ensured we could accomplish it in the short amount of time we have before winter hits the mountain.

But now?

Nothing is certain when it comes to Pops, except that everything isuncertain.

Which means treading lightly.

“You know her husband died…”

He nods slowly. “Of course.”

So casual.

Pops has no idea he’s forgetting things or that the consequences of it could be catastrophic—not just for us but for everyone on the mountain and in James Creek.

The town relies on all the businesses we own that Pops runs from his throne up here. Without him pulling the strings and controlling the supply of goods and services we provide, it won’t be able to keep running. Just like Camille couldn’t keep up what she was doing forever alone, Pops can’t continue like this for much longer.

“She’s been alone at the homestead since then with their four-year-old…and she’s pregnant.”

His brows fly up, and I continue because there isn’t any point in beating around the bush when he probably won’t even remember this conversation tomorrow.

“No one’s been to check on her.”

“What?” His forehead furrows again, and his gaze drops to the desk as if he’s trying to recall something and might be able to find it by staring at the papers stacked on it or in the swirling wood grain. “I could have sworn I was just up there to collect the rent a few weeks ago.”

That familiar agony hits my chest at seeing his confusion.

“No, Pops. You haven’t been up there. I don’t think you’ve seen her at all since her husband died.” I shift forward, resting my elbows on my knees, and the pull at my tense back with the change of position makes me wince. “Pops?”

His eyes meet mine, annoyance sharpening them. “What?”

“I need to see the books. I need to make sure everything has been taken care of.”

He glowers, and I can almost see the steam starting to build behind his green eyes as they darken. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Antagonizing him won’t get me anywhere.

Not when he’s like this.

He’s ornery when he’s at his best, and he certainly isn’t that right now. But I also can’t keep walking on eggshells around him. If something doesn’t changefast, the James legacy built over two and a half centuries on this land will vanish before we have a chance to move to save it.

“Pops, you know how important it is that we keep everything running smoothly. What’s going on at the general store, the feed shop, the coffee shop, the bakery…”

I don’t bother listing the rest of the businesses we own in James Creek, which amount to about ninety percent of the town. The Bower’s rent is literally a drop in the bucket that isn’t going to make or break us, financially speaking. But if he forgot about Camille, that means he may have forgotten about somethingelsehe’s supposed to be doing.

That stubborn jaw of his locks. “You know I handle all that, Dalton.”

I rest my hands flat on the desk as I shift closer to him, trying to keep my voice level. “I know, Pops, and you’ve been very good at it. But it’s time I learned the business, don’t you think, should anything happen to you?”

He snorts with the confidence only age can bring. “I’m going to live forever, kiddo.”

A smile tugs at my lips despite the tension still pulling at my muscles and nerves. “I wish that were true, Pops, but you forgot to get the Bower rent. Have all the bills been getting paid for the various businesses? Have the deposits been made properly at the bank by all the managers? Pops, please. I need to see the books.”

He pushes up from his chair, glaring at me, and despite his age, his large, broad shoulders and heavy frame still show that he’s spent every day of his life working this property on this mountain. This is the type of man no one wants to cross, yet that’s exactly what I’m doing.

“You sure have some balls on you, kiddo. After everything I’ve done for you…”

Recoiling at his comment, I suck in a sharp breath. “Pops, please. This isn’t about ambition. I don’t care about the money. I don’t wanteverythingthe family has built to be lost, and I’m terrified wewilllose it.”

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