Page 38 of Billionaire Lumberjack's Bargain

“Because our family was the first to settle on this mountain. Our blood is in it. They can’t take that.”

Dalton pushes off the house.“But they can, Pops. They can take whatever they want. Offer us whatever the fuck they determine is fair market value and kick us off the mountain if they get government support.”

“I’d like to see them try.”

The frustrated breath Dalton releases in response echoes my own sentiments.“I appreciate your confidence, Pops. But we can’t stick our heads in the sand about this. And honestly, you keeping me in the dark about all the business stuff doesn’t fucking help, either.”

I wince—for DaltonandPops.

They’re trying to protect each other, but they’re doing it in ways that only seem to cause tension and frustration that’s finally boiling over.

“What’s that supposed to mean, kid?”

“Pops…”Dalton’s footsteps across the porch slip through the cracked window, and I have to lean toward it to hear as he moves closer to Pops.“You haven’t collected the rent from Camille in months. I have no idea what’s happening in town with any of the businesses. You didn’t even tell me that Camille’s husband died…orthat she was up here alone with a four-year-old. I had no idea that they might need help. I had no idea that there was this threat lingering out here, one this big. You can’t keep me in the dark forever. This conversation is the most you’ve told me about the business in my entire life.”

Pops lowers his voice.“I didn’t want to burden you with any of it. Not when I have it handled. And Idohave it handled, kid. You need to trust me.”

“Bullshit. You don’ttrustme.”

The true pain in his accusation cuts through me as if it’s my own.

I may not have known Dalton very long, but from what he’s shown me of himself since he arrived as our savior, I can understand his hurt and frustration.

He’s young—over a decade younger thanme, even—and Pops has controlled the James empire alone for a long time. He isn’t used to sharing information or workload beyond what happens on the homestead. Something that clearly needs to happen if Dalton is ever going to take over for him.

I peek out the window to find both men leaning against the railing with their backs to me.

Pops reaches over and wraps his arm around Dalton’s shoulders.“I trust you more than I trust myself, Dalton. You’ve helped me keep our place running so that I could concentrate on the businesses. You’ve done more work than anyone your age should ever have had to, even as a child, and especially with your limitations.”

Limitations?

The way he wobbled the other day flashes through my head.

I thought he was just tired from all the work he had taken on, but maybe there was more to it than I could see.

“Mama, what are you doing?”

Shit.

I whip my head away from the window and push off the wall as Davey rushes over to me.

My heart thunders against my ribcage as I scoop him up and move away from the front of the house before they can hear us—if they didn’t already figure out that I was eavesdropping when Idefinitelyshouldn’t have been.

It was stupid.

Rude.

But Dalton seemed so rattled, and if this had anything to do with us, if I was somehow causing a problem…I needed to know.

Now, a million questions flood my head, and the dread and panic that had disappeared once Dalton stepped in to help us return with a vengeance.

Could someone really come take the mountain from them?

And what’s wrong with Dalton that he is keeping hidden?

ChapterSix

THREE WEEKS LATER

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