Page 20 of Ranch Life At Heart
Cedar follows me, grabs my hip and gives me a kiss. “I’m gonna get busy, come find me after you enjoyed your coffee.”
“Okay,” I murmur and watch him leave.
I take my time and have a bounce in my step when I get outside. Freckles is standing near the fence and I walk over to give her some attention. Cedar comes out of the stable with a wheelbarrow filled with muck. He doesn’t see me and I’m about to go to him when I notice a car pulling up in front of the house.
I’m in the shadow of the stables when I see Cedar’s father get out of the car. Cedar leaves the wheelbarrow and meets his father. I feel stupid hiding in the shadows, but I also don’t want to talk with Cecil.
“Cedar, Anne wanted me to bring you some cookies.” Cecil hands him a small box.
He eagerly opens the box and mumbles out a quick “Thanks,” before shoving one into his mouth. I feel a smile sliding across my face when I take my first step in their direction.
I freeze in place when I hear Cecil ask, “Did you manage to make the deal yet?”
Instant pain crashes through my chest, and I can’t keep the harshness out of my voice when I snap, “What deal?”
Both their heads whip my way.
“Rosy,” Cecil cheerfully says and takes a step closer.
I keep my gaze locked on Cedar. “What deal is he talking about? No, wait. I don’t have to ask, do I? It’s about the pasture, right? Yeah, I don’t even have to ask.”
“It’s not what you think,” Cedar grunts.
Cecil waves his hands. “Nonsense. The lady will be just as smart as her father was when he shook on our mutual agreement. He even wrote it down in his little book, you must have seen it.”
“I’ve told you to drop it,” Cedar growls.
“Leave,” I whisper.
It’s soft to my own ears but loud enough for both of them to turn their attention my way.
I clear my throat and make an effort to firm my voice when I state, “I’d like for both of you to leave and don’t bother coming back.”
“Rosy.” Cedar reaches for me.
I rip my arm out of his reach and rush into the house, making sure to lock the door behind me. Betrayal feels like awhip cracking the skin wide open. It’s as if I can’t breathe. My chest is being crushed, my heart smashed to smithereens.
How in the hell does this pasture between properties still create such a gap between people? Was this all a setup? A plan for the long run where he tries to swoon me out of my pants and the pasture?
My eyes burn as I suddenly find myself in my father’s office. It’s a small room with a large mahogany desk. My father didn’t like computers and would make notes to keep everything in order. I glance at the thick files on the shelf.
A small smile is on my face when a memory hits. Daphne handles the books, and my father always brought her a box filled with receipts and papers. Nothing digital the way I handle everything now.
A tear slides over my cheek, and I wipe it away.
“I’m not here for the deal my father still wants, even if he doesn’t need it,” Cedar states.
I whirl around, knowing I locked the door.
“I have a key, remember? You can’t lock me out. We agreed to talk and not ignore or run out of a discussion. We talk.” His smile is sad. “I told you my father is retired. I’m taking over which means I’m going to break in the horses he’s been keeping for the sake of simply not wanting to sell. Why the hell breed such amazing animals and keep them all to yourself?” He shakes his head. “Sure, it would be nice to share pastures. Long-term? The space on the ranch is sufficient.”
I swallow hard and have to take a deep breath to shove down all the raw emotions. He’s right, we should discuss this.
“What is the mutual agreement your father mentioned? The one my dad wrote in his book?” I don’t wait for Cedar to answer.
Instead, I round the desk and open the top drawer where I put the book in when I received my father’s personal belongings which he had on him the day he died.
Holding it up I snap, “And don’t lie because I will be checking the last page when you give me your answer.”
