Page 17 of Every Single Wildflower
Rocky Bernard can get fucked.
I already don’t care for the man, or the way he tries to bulldoze his way around town. The way he tries to threaten Emmett. Even Ryder and Cooper. It pisses me off. Buther.He won’t get fucking close.
“What do you mean he wants the ranch?” Ivy crosses her arms, her eyes narrowing on her siblings.
“He wants to buy the ranch. Add to all the other properties he’s weaseled his way into in Mayson Ridge.” Cooper reaches for a toothpick from his pocket and pops it in his mouth.
“Dad would never sell.” Ivy waves her hand. “Why would he even think dad would consider it?”
Silence engulfs us, the only thing making noise is Dale, Cooper’s ancient blue heeler who's deaf in one ear. He hobbles over, grunting his way around Cooper’s boots.
“What are y’all not telling me?” Ivy asks, her voice growing firm.
“Do you think you even have a right to know?” Ryder shakes his head. “You just show back up and demand answers.”
I can feel this about to turn ugly. Quick.
“I love this family!” Ivy croaks, her eyes misting with tears. “I know I haven’t been here. I’ve been in school and things just got away from me but that doesn’t mean I don’t care.” Her voice cracks, and I clench my fist.
I hate when she cries. I always have. It makes me want to sayfuck the consequencesand hold her in my arms until the tears no longer exist. My arms casting a shield to protect her from anything in this world that has the potential to make a single tear fall. I watch Cooper lift a brow at Ryder.
You really going to make her cry, man?
“Fuck, Ivy.” Ryder sighs.
I know he can only give her the cold shoulder for so long.
Once she cries, he’s done for. He won’t admit it, but her leaving cut him deep, for different reasons than everyone else, but if he has a soft spot for anyone it’s her and his mom.
Striding over he wraps an arm around her as she buries her face in his chest. “I’m sorry, okay?” She cries.
“Yeah. Me too.” He pats her back a few times before she pulls away, swiping a tear.
“I don’t really know how to say it other than to just say it, so.” He pulls his hat off, running a hand over his hair. “The ranch is sort of in trouble.”
“What do you mean trouble?” She sniffs.
“I mean, the finances aren’t looking good. Haven’t been for a while,” he admits.
“Like we’re going to lose this place, or it’s just been a tough year?” She asks.
Ryder’s silence must give her the answer because she closes her eyes. I’d known Emmett was strapped. The bills kept coming, the turn around taking longer, and the income dwindling. We also had a few hits last winter. But it wasn’t my business to tell.
“And now this.” She motions to the house.
“Yeah. Now this.” Cooper shrugs. “I’m not sure if we can take this hit. Even with the insurance money.”
“Do you know the specifics?” She places her hands on her hips. “Honestly, that’s something that needs to be looked at immediately. We need to know what policy he has and if it’s even updated.”
Emmett was old school. He hated computers and did most of his stuff by hand. He typically kept most of the finances to himself. The only finances I have access to are the sale contracts on the breeding or the stock contracts for events.
“He’s been using the office across from mine for about a year now. I’m sure if he has anything related to the ranch, it’s in there,” I offer.
“Ivy, I don’t have a clue how dad keeps his things. He’s always kept us at arm’s length when it came to paperwork.” Ryder drops his hat back on his head.
“Ryder, I’m a business major with a minor in accounting. I actually have a job handling the business side of a flower shop back in Atlanta. I have a good eye and if I can get my hands on any documents, it might make this situation less stressful. Dad isn’t even awake yet, and pretty soon the fire department and the insurance companies will be calling. Mom has no idea, andespecially with that slime ball coming around, we need to be on top of everything.” Ivy nods, her eyes dancing over all of us.
“She’s got my vote,” Cooper says. “I don’t have a fucking clue how to read an insurance policy.”
