Page 33 of The Mountain Echoes
“Look, I understand you care, but you’re not a rancher, Aria and?—”
“Amos, do you know what I do in Napa?”
He’s taken aback by my cutting him off. He shakes his head.
“I manage vineyard operations at Knight’s Tale Winery.All of them. Eight hundred acres of premium cab sav, cab franc, merlot, and petit verdot. I oversee irrigation, soil health, pruning schedules, pest management, and harvest logistics. I know what each varietal needs and when it needs it. I workwiththe winemaker, notforhim.He makes the wine, but he can’t do a damn thing without healthy grapes, which is my job.”
Amos’s brow lifts slightly, but I’m not done.
“As a teenager, I won a few championship buckles. And I know we don’t have horses anymore?—”
“He sold most of them when…Hudson had his problems,” Amos fills in.
I hate that it happened. I hate that I wasn’t here to stop it from happening.
“I’ve branded calves, doctored pinkeye, pulled breech births, and herded cattle through two-foot snow with wind slicing my face open. Don’t tell me I don’t know ranching. It’s in my blood.”
I pause, let him digest that.
“I didn’t come back here to play dress-up. I came here to protect my legacy.”
A flicker of respect passes through his eyes. “Okay, Aria. I get it.”
“Then, you’ll support me?”
I’m not foolish. I need help—all of it. Hell, I’ll even have to go hat in hand to Maverick. That’s gonna suck. I’m going to have to fight off Celine and Hudson. They’re still thinking I’m here for the funeral and the reading of the will, after which I’ll go back to Napa. When they find out that’s not the case….
He studies me. “Rami told me you had some balls on you, but he didn’t think you loved the land.”
“He knew,” I say, grief, suddenly insurmountable, settling inside me.
My migraine starts to make my head throb.
“Land’s worth fighting for. I understand that. I’ll help you,” Amos says simply.
CHAPTER 8
maverick
Islide into the boothnextto her. It’s a ballsy move. But fuck it. I don’t know why, but I like riling this woman up.
“Amos. How you doin’?” I extend a hand, and he shakes it.
“Mav,” he greets.
I look at Aria, her face is like a doll’s, placid. “It’s nice to see you again, Aria.”
She gives me an imperceptible nod.
“You still serve the best steaks in a hundred-mile radius,” Amos says, his eyes going from me to Aria and then back to me. He can sense there’s something between us, just as I can, just asshecan.
The server comes by and clears their table. “Jenny, put it on my tab.”
Jenny nods, smiles, and leaves.
“I hope that’s okay,” I say to Aria.
She leans back, creating distance between us. “Knock yourself out,” she replies, her tone dry, casual.
