Page 85 of A Reckless Memory

I squeezed my eyes shut. Yuck. But hearing they were like vultures after Mama’s death inspired both sadness and anger. Yet I didn’t know what really went on. The statements were nothing but accusations about relationships I knew nothing about, and I’d had enough of those today.

Anger was carved into Eliot’s jaw. “Enough about Mama and Barns. Take the fight somewhere else—we’re grieving.”

Karen rolled her eyes and ran her tongue across her teeth, her lips pinched. “Are you really? Can anyone grieve that man? We all knew he cared more about the business than his family, and the smart ones read the writing on the wall before they slept with him.”

“Enough,” Eliot said, more resigned than upset. “None of you need to deal with this. You shouldn’t have been dragged in, but he was our father and you need to leave now. I’ll walk you all out. Frank. Darren. Mind giving us some privacy?”

Tonight, I was grateful for Eliot taking charge. I brimmed with pride for the way he handled the conflict, which helped with the simmering humiliation from the spectacle this will reading was turning out to be. He herded the ladies and the neighbors—who didn’t look like they were done with the show—out the door. I exchanged “What the hell?” looks with my remaining brothers and gave Ansen’s hand a pump. The hard part was coming. Would Daddy strike at us from the grave like he had the only other people who’d been somewhat close to him?

Eliot was back in minutes. He slumped in his chair and gazed at Lorenzo. “Please tell me it doesn’t get worse.”

The lawyer’s expression wasn’t promising. Shit. “Barnaby took great care in setting up his living trust. Know that these are his wishes. He’s split everything equally and payments will be made in distributions as long as certain parameters are met.”

“Fuck’s sake,” Wilder groaned.

“And if these parameters aren’t met?” Austen sounded bored and not at all surprised.

“The money in the trust will divert to Knight’s Arabians and Cattle Company.”

“What about KOW?” Cody asked. If Barns had realized his moneymaker would’ve been shortened to sound like cow, he probably wouldn’t have named it Knight’s Oil Wells.

“KOW falls under Knight’s Arabians and Cattle Company,” Lorenzo said, not elaborating. Also, meaning that Cody was still a sort of peon as the CEO, not the owner.

It all went together. One tight company to be better controlled. I mentally repeated Wilder’s sentiments. Fuck’s sake.

Lorenzo nervously licked his lips and continued. “First, the house will be the property of Knight’s Arabians and Cattle Company. The manager may reside here.”

Eliot cocked his head like he heard what wasn’t being said, and my stomach bottomed out. The house belonged to the ranch manager. Not necessarily Eliot. My brother had dedicated his life to this ranch, and he wouldn’t technically own the house?

“Cody,” Lorenzo continued, “as long as you maintain your position as CEO, you will receive one installment each year for the next twenty-five years.”

Cody’s jaw tensed, and his eyelids slid shut for a heartbeat. The man had just been told the sum of money that was probably large enough to retire on would only be his if he kept working until he could collect social security.

Lorenzo flipped to another sheet. “Wilder, you must take a position at Knight’s Arabians and Cattle Company in order to collect your annual sum...for the next twenty-seven years.”

Sutton’s mouth was clenched so hard she could spit out the diamonds that used to be her teeth. She was staring at the floor, not meeting my concerned gaze or looking at her husband.

Wilder tipped his head back. “He’s going to tie all of us to this damn place.”

I nodded. Daddy was tightening the knots on all the ties between us and the ranch. Anxiety cinched around my throat. What would happen to me? Did Daddy think I should give up my home and job to come work the ranch? He hadn’t seemed to care if I had duties around here before.

Would I move? Would I walk away from whatever Daddy wanted to offer me to keep what I had?

I wouldn’t be able to answer until I heard what Lorenzo had to read off.

The lawyer peered through his glasses, his eyes shining large behind the lenses. “Austen, you won’t receive an annual distribution as long as you are enlisted in the military. If you insist on staying in until you retire from the army, you will receive a ten percent distribution if you are not working for Knight’s Arabians and Cattle Company.” Lorenzo licked his lips. “Barnaby wanted to show his thanks for your service, but he commented that your place is at home.”

“Fuck you, Barns,” Austen muttered.

“Eliot...” The lines in Lorenzo’s face deepened. “Nothing’s really changed other than you will also receive an annual allotment of your trust as long as you continue as the ranch manager.”

“For how fucking long, Lorenzo?” Eliot snapped.

“Thirty-two years.”

I couldn’t imagine knowing I was stuck as ranch manager for three more decades. Eliot had been working since he could walk, took the manager position shortly after I left, and now it wasmore of the same. Barnaby hadn’t signed shit over to him.

“Who owns the company?” Cody asked Lorenzo.

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