Page 80 of A Mile of Ocean

Brock rubbed his still-injured arm. “The same woman who shot me offered to drive me to therapy. Can you believe that?”

“I have no idea how a sociopath thinks,” Trent added. “She also offered to teach children how to ride this summer.”

“Maybe she became desperate when Barrett learned about her involvement in the Triple C,” Toby remarked. “I noticed she acted a bit strange on patrol.”

Trent nodded. “That’s putting it mildly. Tate and I hoped that laying all our cards on the table like this would help easesome of the anxiety you all are experiencing right now. If you still have questions, we can discuss them over dinner. Dolly wants everyone in the dining room for supper at six-thirty, and she’s not taking no for an answer.”

“Maybe things will be better without Duchess,” Cecil proposed.

Tate grinned. “We hope so, too.”

After an exhaustingday, Trent and Savannah finally had time alone that evening. As they walked to his bungalow through the garden, Trent realized his life would never return to how it had been. Yet, looking into Savannah’s eyes, he knew that was a good thing because he saw the same strength and resilience that had reassured him on that very first night she arrived after losing his grandfather.

They spoke softly of hopes and dreams, of new beginnings. And when she fell asleep in his arms, he felt her heartbeat against his chest, a steady rhythm that comforted him during this difficult time. He held her close, surrounded by the scent of her familiar fragrance and the warmth of her body.

As he lay wide awake, his thoughts drifted to the future. He realized it was time to let go of the past and embrace what lay ahead. The pain of losing Barrett, the betrayal of Duchess, and the financial mess they now faced were all obstacles that threatened to tear apart the ranch and the people who called it home. But amidst it all, he had found a love he knew could withstand any storm.

How strange life had worked out.

He contemplated how he would rebuild the ranch, envisioning it as a business stronghold and a showcase for rebuilding trust. He needed to show the town that the Callumfamily was more than just a name; it symbolized a legacy of hard work and perseverance that he was determined to uphold.

When he heard a clatter from the living room, he gently moved over to the side of the bed without waking Savannah to check out the noise.

He grabbed a pair of jeans, pulled them on, and picked up his Sig Sauer from the nightstand. Barefoot, he made his way to the living room, only to see the ghostly Scott lurking in the corner.

“What the hell are you doing? You scared the crap out of me.”

“We should talk.”

“Now? Savannah’s in the other room. What if she wakes up and thinks I’m out here talking to myself? I’m trying to convince her that the Callums aren’t deranged.”

“Okay. So you listen. I’ll do the talking. You should give the Bohannons back the Triple C.”

“That’s the plan to sell it to them for the original three million. That’s a bargain. I planned to have Kinsey approach the family back in Stillwater. I don’t want anything to do with it.”

“No. Give them back the property that Duchess took. Give it back clean and simple without conditions. It wasn’t hers to inherit.”

Trent cocked a brow. “So, she did something to the old man to make it hers. I knew it. Fine. Suits me. I have zero interest in keeping it. But in case you haven’t noticed, Rio Verde could use the influx of cash.”

“That’s why you need access to all her overseas accounts.”

“How many accounts?”

“Ten in total. More than enough to keep Rio Verde in the black. The information is taped to the underside of the top drawer of her dresser. You’ll need the passcodes and account numbers. There’s a list.”

“How do you know stuff like that?”

“Don’t ask. You would’ve found it eventually.”

“Not me. Tate probably would have, though. What else?”

“Don’t let Duchess stain what you’ve done here. Barrett died knowing that was a distinct possibility. Don’t let Duchess ruin the ranch’s reputation. Giving back what rightfully belonged to the Bohannons from the start is the honorable thing to do. Not only will the gesture remove all the hard feelings built over the last fifty years, but it also shows that Callums keep their word.”

“Consider it done. Anything else?”

“I’d be grateful if you could teach Hutton and little Scotty how to ride.”

“Nick and Jordan’s kids? Sure. Will Nick and Jordan want that?”

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