The Cowgirl’s Secret Love: The Colemans of Heart Falls, Book 2 Page 5

  The other one, though. It wasn’t the car that caught his attention and started his blood boiling but the man leaning against it, arms folded over his chest, glaring as they approached.

  “Goddamn fucking bastard.”

  “That about sums it up,” Zach said in agreement. He shifted into a slower gear as if trying to prolong the moment so it would be safer for Finn to open the door. “Remember, if you lay a hand on him, he’s more than willing to sue your ass. Keep your temper.”

  “I don’t remember inviting him here. Maybe I can sue his ass for trespassing,” Finn growled as he eyed Brandon Travers with disgust.

  He reached for the door, ready to get out there and shred arms from a certain asshole if required.

  The door lock clicked shut, trapping him in place.

  “Keep. Your. Temper.” The words were said softly, but it wasn’t much of a deterrent considering how little Finn liked Brandon and how much he would enjoy putting a hurt on the man.

  Still, points to Zach for trying.

  Then the bastard uttered the only words that could convince Finn to get his head on straight.

  “What’s your endgame?” Zach asked quietly.

  Not getting thrown in jail was a good place to start. Finn took a deep breath and let it out slowly before offering Zach a chin dip. “Appreciate it. Let’s go encourage our visitor to leave.”

  “One visitor is leaving. The other one is bound to stick around for a while.” Zach glanced with curiosity at the older man sitting patiently inside his vehicle, seemingly ignoring everything going on outside.

  The truck doors shut behind them with solid slams. Brandon straightened from where he’d been leaning, shaking his hands as if preparing for battle.

  “We’re not open for business yet,” Zach offered cheerily as if greeting some lost cowboy-wannabe. “Happy to add you to our mailing list.”

  His sarcasm hit. Brandon glared harder. “Still spending my money, I see. Or should I say tossing it in the shitter?”

  “What do you want?” Finn snapped. He was trying to be nice. Honestly, he was. He stopped a good foot away from Brandon then casually folded his arms across his chest.

  See? Totally no aggressive posturing.

  Brandon stepped back slightly as if even Finn’s words were powerful enough to knock him off balance. “Same thing as always. I want my inheritance. I don’t know what the hell you guys did to my dad, but it’s just not right.”

  “We’re not going through this again. You’ve taken it up with lawyers, and you’ve been told that your father was of sound mind when he rearranged his finances.” Zach stepped beside Finn. “You want to do another round in the law courts, it’s your pocketbook that will end up hurting. Again.”

  The other man wore a sour expression, as if assessing the value of everything in front of him and finding it lacking. “What a pile of shit.”

  Finn wasn’t about to argue. He didn’t give a damn what Brandon thought. If he couldn’t disregard the broken-down buildings and see the value in the land, that was his problem, not Finn’s.

  Bruce Travers’s biggest complaint about his son had been that Brandon refused to see beyond the surface to the true possibilities.

  Well, that and the fact Brandon had pissed away the money his father provided him for years. Instead of using it for investments and to get ahead, he’d blown it on frivolous or borderline legal activities, yet still kept running back to the family coffers to try again.

  The well had dried up. Bruce Travers had gone looking for new protégés to train. He’d found Finn. He’d found Zach. Both of them willing to learn and work damn hard, and in the end, they’d profited a hundredfold.

  Brandon had not been thrilled when he discovered he’d been cut out of the will. Or more specifically, Bruce Travers had brought on Finn and Zach as partners. Shortly after discovering he had terminal cancer, Bruce had removed himself from the corporation entirely and left it under their control.

  Finn had paid all of Bruce’s living expenses for the last year of his life, spending time with the man as he slowly lost his battle. Brandon had never been in the picture. Not more than a couple quick visits during the four years Finn and Zach had spent with Bruce, during which Brandon managed to insult everyone and make himself obnoxious.

  Yet he had still thought he should collect his daddy’s money.

  “You need to leave.” Finn got the words out without snarling. He was pretty proud of himself for that. “If you want to talk, use a lawyer.”

  “Hey, this is all because of him. As soon as he tells me I can leave, I’ll be happy to wipe the shit off my shoes and get the hell out of here.”

  Brandon pointed to the vehicle where the representative from the law firm Bruce had used was finally opening the door and rising to join them.

  Alan Cwedwick looked every part the legislator in a made-for-TV movie with the faint tracing of silver at his temples and his well-shined leather shoes and high-class suit.

  He stepped forward, black leather case held firmly in one hand even as he shook his head, lips twisted in amusement. “Okay, boys. Head to your separate corners.”

  “Alan,” Finn said in acknowledgement. “It’s good to see you, but I don’t remember giving you permission to bring trash onto my property.”

  “You shut your goddamn mouth,” Brandon said once he reached a safe position one step behind the lawyer’s back. “I didn’t come here to be insulted—”

  “Brandon, perhaps you should wait in your vehicle until Mr. Marlette, Mr. Sorenson, and I finish discussing business.”

  “How about I just go and wait at the hotel? I’ve seen everything I need to see here.” Brandon stomped away before getting an answer. He lifted a hand as he walked, jabbing a finger at Finn as if he were poking a voodoo doll. “You’re hiding something. I will find out, and in the end, you’ll pay.”

  “Always pleasant to see you, Brandon,” Zach called after him before lowering his voice. “Watch out for that pile of dog shit you’re about to—well, damn. Too late.”

  Finn pinched the bridge of his nose, but in spite of his frustration, he couldn’t stop his snort of amusement. “Is it possible for you to not be you for just a few moments?”

  Alan wrapped an arm around Finn’s shoulders and squeezed. “Good to see you guys again. Although I do apologize for having to haul Brandon along. He really is a rat bastard, isn’t he?”

  “If you know that, why did you inflict him on us?” Finn asked.

  They headed up the porch stairs and into the main house. Alan looked around, his assessing glance a lot more like the one Finn was sure had been on his face when he’d first seen the disaster.

  Then the lawyer refocused his attention and answered the question. “It wasn’t my idea. Bruce put a number of stipulations in his will that triggered a couple weeks ago, and unfortunately, bringing Brandon here was one of them.”

  “Since Bruce had no idea before he died that we would buy property in Alberta, that seems a bit of a stretch,” Zach said dryly. He offered Alan a chair, taking over one of the stumps they’d been using as a footrest.

  The three of them settled. Alan opened his briefcase and brought out a set of papers for both of them.

  “You know Bruce had a tendency to do things outside the norm, and in this case I hope it won’t be too detrimental.” Alan adjusted his reading glasses. “I like you two. Always have. I think you’re decent, outstanding young men worth way more than that jackass pouting his way back to town. However, since it’s not my money but Bruce’s that we’re talking about, we need to follow his orders.”

  “He made us partners. Then he removed himself from the company. How does he have any say in what we do anymore?” Finn was ready to brace himself.

  Alan waved a hand, tilting it from side to side. “He still had some controlling power. Silent partner, if you want to call it that. And until now, it’s made no difference. But at this point, knowing Bruce as we did, I would assume this is a final lesson or a
kick in the pants for you two.”

  Zach groaned as he dropped his head into his hands. “Dear God. I can see him now, cackling as he dreamed up some horrible challenge to drop on us.”

  “You’re not far off, I’m afraid.” Alan glanced through the paperwork in his lap.

  “Just tell us,” Finn demanded. “I’m up for one of Bruce’s challenges. If it involves working with Brandon, though, it becomes a lot less entertaining.”

  The lawyer went into action. “Couple questions to clarify what I’ve discovered then I will lay it all out for you. Finn. Last financial investment you made through the corporation? I assume it’s this land?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Zachary? How about you? What are you spending money on these days?”

  “I just purchased a building in downtown Heart Falls, but the money didn’t come from the corporation,” Zach informed him. “I don’t usually deal with the money side. Finn does that part. I deal with other areas.”

  “But this property belongs to you both? Fifty-fifty?”

  A bad feeling was growing in the pit of Finn’s stomach. “It was purchased by the corporation, yes. And since we share that fifty-fifty, this is also both of ours.”

  Alan nodded as he scrawled notes across a piece of paper. “Okay. Well, this makes things a little simpler. Before I go on, I want to note that your private bank accounts are exempt. I know you both have regular dividends that go from the corporation into personal savings. Those are protected and not a part of this challenge.”

  Finn and Zach exchanged glances. “I suspect Bruce was feeling very creative one day and that we’re going to hate the hell out of this.” Zach made a face. “Damn if I don’t miss the bastard.”

  “I hear you,” Finn agreed.

  Alan laid down his pen and pulled off his glasses, looking Finn and Zach over solemnly. “Bruce was a wily old bastard, but he was a good man, so let’s hope he planned a way for you to win the challenge. What’s the idea for this place?”

  No use in lying because it was impossible to know what was the best answer to give. And if he’d had learned anything from Bruce, straight-up and straightforward would serve Finn better in the long run. “It’s a dude ranch. Catering to tourists, especially from Calgary, but from around the world, to come and have a western experience. Small cabins, high-caliber service, with a small town and family vibe.”

  He’d never seen the lawyer light up like that before. Alan didn’t try to hide his grin or his headshake of amazement. “Damn. You boys get this going, and I will bring out my family, guaranteed. I’ve always wanted to do it.”

  “Live in a cabin? Ride a horse?” Zach asked.

  “Be a cowboy,” Alan offered before getting back on track. “What’s your timeline? When did you plan to have her up and running?”

  That sneaky suspicion was back. “At this point I’d like to say about five years from now,” Finn drawled.

  Alan laughed. “Yeah, you figured it out. Or part of it, anyway. I will have to back up your estimate with a few others in the industry, so give me your best guess.”

  Zach sighed. “Dear God, not again?”

  It’d been one of Bruce’s favourite tricks to teach them to think smarter and move faster. Deadlines that shifted unexpectedly. Budgets that got drastically cut but the project still had to be finished.

  They hadn’t been fun lessons, but they’d been effective.

  “Realistically, we would get things set up this year and begin bookings for next spring. That would be the smart way to do it if you had the funds to put operations on hold that long. Which we do.”

  “And people who didn’t have the funds? Who had to start making money as quickly as possible?” Alan asked.

  “Hell, you would do the whole thing in stages, and start something in a month’ s time, but that wouldn’t be the kind of experience we’re looking to establish,” Zach said firmly. “And in this day and age, it’s damn near impossible to break a reputation of being a low-caliber operation because social media sticks around forever.”

  Alan nodded. “Understood. Okay, here’s the deal. You have made a financial decision and set a goal. It is now Bruce’s intention to encourage you to up your game. With the timing to be clarified, you do not have until next spring to open your doors. Your deadline will be sometime prior to Christmas of this year. If you are successful, and reviews for the first month of people who come to your doors are high-caliber, five-star results, there is a second arm of the corporation that has, up until now, been operating silently. Meet the challenge, and you’ll find your net worth doubled.”

  Blood rushed to Finn’s head. The amount of money Bruce had left them in the company was already jaw-dropping. There were a hell of a lot of zeros behind the digits at the start, more than Finn needed.

  He glanced at Alan. The solution couldn’t be this simple. “It sounds like an interesting challenge, and I’m always game to try and do things smarter and better, but to be honest, I don’t think I need more money.”

  Perched upon his log, his best friend grinned broadly. “Yeah, I’m not feeling the pinch,” Zach said. “I agree. Alan, if we can hit your deadline, great. But if we can’t because we want to make this project a success without burning the candle at both ends, I’m not looking to be a multibillionaire.”

  Alan offered a wry smile. “I knew you’d say that. Hate to do this to you, so I’ll make Bruce do it himself. I’ll read this verbatim from the message he left.”

  He cleared his throat.

  * * *

  My ever-cautious lawyer has asked what the alternative is if you turn down the challenge because you don’t want to be that rich. Which you young pups will probably do, and good for you.

  * * *

  But having strong moral fiber and your head on straight is not what the challenge is about. So as much as I hate to do this, I figure it might be the only way to light a fire under your asses to meet the deadline, boys.

  * * *

  Make me proud, because if you don’t succeed, it’s not only the money you won’t get. If you fail to meet your deadline, then this project becomes the inheritance I leave to my worthless son, Brandon. I figure he’s probably giving you hell about not getting my money. While I know he can’t do a better job of whatever project you’re attempting, maybe winning it off you will be enough to get him off your back.

  * * *

  Although, I really hope you stick it to him one more time. Get off your asses and meet that challenge.

  * * *

  Bruce.

  P.S. Wish to hell I was there to see it.

  5

  At the head of the pack marching across to the barn, Kelli glanced over her shoulder briefly to shout a warning. “Don’t come if you can’t jump fences,” she said sternly. “Last time, the stallion took us up into the foothills.”

  “If you’re looking at me, I’ll be fine.” Julia followed them into the arena and began saddling one of the horses with confidence. Karen watched her for a moment before concentrating on her own mount. She caught Kelli making the same sly assessments, and in spite of the urgency, had to grin.

  She liked the young woman who was her sister by marriage, once removed. She liked Kelli’s easy way around horses and sensed a kindred spirit beyond what she’d had in this area with even Lisa.

  Quicker than Karen expected, they were in the saddle and following Kelli as she led them past Big Sky Lake and to the north.

  They moved at a trot, the wide-open path allowing them to travel in a tight group as Kelli caught them up.

  “Luke took a group of the hands, and Ashton—that’s our foreman,” she reminded Julia briefly, “took off with another group. But they both headed in different directions, and that’s when I spotted Thor running the north fence line. Thor, because Luke forbid me to call him Black Beauty.”

  “I still can’t believe you’ve got wild horses this far south.” Lisa held her reins confidently in one hand, jamming her hat down a little more f
irmly. “There’re a couple of herds in the Sundre district, and they occasionally come up toward Rocky Mountain House, but I didn’t think their territory extended this far south.”

  “It didn’t until a year or two ago,” Kelli informed them. “Close as we can figure it, one of the stallions got chased off when he was still young, but if the wildies make it to adulthood, they get smart. They get devious.”

  “And they get looking for ladies?” Julia patted the flank of the mare she was riding, moving comfortably in the saddle.

  Kelli snorted. “Thor pulled a few horses at a time into his own herd, including a younger gelding who isn’t a challenge but seems damn loyal to Thor.”

  “So now there’s a group of them in our foothills?” Lisa asked. “Which means he’s trying to expand his harem.”

  “Which he is not allowed to do. Not with our ladies,” Kelli said firmly.

  Karen had been out numerous times to deal with the wild horses when they’d come close to Whiskey Creek land. Her goal had always been to keep their borders intact and let the wild horses return to government land, but she knew that wasn’t always the chosen method.

  The gun lashed to the side of Kelli’s saddle had to be discussed.

  “What’s the plan?” Karen asked.

  They were nearing a clearing, and Kelli slowed, the horses shuffling forward, hooves quiet on the new grass. She spoke in hushed tone. “Some of the locals want to cull the wildies before they can grow any bigger or get more aggressive. I think it’s worth trying to rescue most of the ones he’s taken then encouraging Thor to be satisfied with a smaller following while he stays on Crown land.”

  Kelli’s goals were right in line with how Karen felt about the situation. The wild horses had every right to live, but that didn’t mean they got to poach new blood from the local ranchers.

  Kelli continued, “The stallion will stand out when we see them. He’s at least eighteen hands at the shoulder and shaggy instead of sleek. Then there’s a grey gelding with him that came from a local ranch. Thor’s got Silver Stone mares, but the rest of the females belong to people scattered between here and Highway 1. If we find the herd, cut off as many as possible and drive them toward the nearest fenced area you can find. We’ll deal with whoever owns the land later.” She glanced over at Karen. “How are your roping skills?”