Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25316 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25316 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
I giggle again at the oddly specific nature of the last note. “All right.”
He had taken his hat off as we came in, and it made it hard to keep my eyes off him. Rugged locks of black hair, everything about him tickles me in all the right places.
I know I shouldn’t be ogling him like this. He’s my employer. This is all just business. But, my word, is he handsome.
“Oh, I guess this is important to note sooner than later,” Jack says, gesturing toward two porch doors. We step through and look out over the range, giving me another opportunity to enjoy the setting sun. This time I spot a bluff in the distance. The view from there must be magnificent. Jack is quick to snap me out of my daydreams, however, reminding me of what we were out here to discuss. “See that tall fence over there?”
I raise an eyebrow as I see it. It’s a bit of an eyesore, a jarring ten-foot-high wooden fence, and not a particularly well-maintained one. “Not my first choice of a boundary, but I guess you need to mark the end of your property somehow?”
“I mean, yes, but I didn’t install that fence. That’s my beloved neighbor’s construction. Guards it like a hawk. I’m just thankful he’s not using barbed wire anymore.” Jack leans on the railing of the porch. “That’s the Perry ranch. For now, I’m going to strongly discourage you from going over there, or anywhere near there.”
“What, does he shoot trespassers on sight?”
“He used to. Or I guess his father and grandfather did. Modern world is a bit less forgiving of lethal property defense when you control acres of land.”
“And I’m guessing you’re not on the best of terms with your neighbor?”
“Hardly. A century-old feud between my family and his. Some pencil pusher back at the start of the twentieth century bungled the lines on a map and we’ve been dealing with the fallout of that ever since.”
“Some Hatfields and McCoys-style stuff?”
“We’re thankfully a bit less bloody than that. And besides, the end of this little turf war is something that will happen sooner than later.”
I stare at him, concerned about the format of his words. “Uh... I didn’t sign up to join in on some sort of private ranch war.”
He laughs. “No, no. And I’m not expecting you to get involved. By the end of the year, though, our lands should be well and properly merged and that 1903 surveyor’s mistake will no longer be relevant.”
“Buying him out?”
“Max’s too much of a prideful idiot to let that be the situation. No, I’m marrying his daughter.”
Hearing those words makes my heart sink, and it sinks deep. I mentally slap myself. He’s my boss. Not someone to be swooning over. Maybe I should be imagining him as some schlubby middle manager, like the last few bosses I had were.
“Of course, he doesn’t approve of our plan,” Jack continues. “But Sarah and I are adults; we can make our own decisions. She’s as sick of his nonsense as I am.”
“Aw, forbidden love, rebelling against her father’s wishes.”
“If you want to see it like that, yes.” The way he talked about her wasn't very passionate. Or maybe I am just seeing things, still not believing the hot guy in front of me was already engaged. “It’ll be good for both our ranches. And the town. People seem to think they need to pick sides, just because that’s what they’ve always done.”
“What, do people get in fights over ranches they don’t even live on?”
“No, which makes it all the sillier. People saying they think Perry’s on the right side of it just because that’s what their grandfather thought. It’s all a bunch of archaic nonsense and it always has been.”
“I guess there isn’t that much to obsess over in a small town, so they need to bicker about something.”
“Then I guess they’ll have to go pick sports teams like normal people when this is all over.”
I didn’t come here to get involved in petty squabbles. I came here for the horses. I leaned on the railing, my chin in my hand, letting my thoughts roam. “So the long and short of it is to avoid the big ugly fence.”
“You shouldn’t have much trouble. Most of the horses are pretty spooked away from it by now. I think he’s been using some pesticides on his side of the fence. Likely terrible for his grass and the environment, but he’s that petty.”
“You’re an environmentalist?”
“If I don’t have an environment, I don’t got much, Lily. It’s just common sense for me to care. Plus, you know, it’s the right thing to do. I want this ranch to stay in working order, and thrive for years to come, something to hand down to my kids, and something for them to give to my grandkids. If I’m spraying acidic chemicals everywhere, all that I’m going to be giving them is a useless plot of land.”