Owned (8 page)

Forgot to tell you I talked to the Acker brothers. They’ll be here in the morning to interview for ranch hand positions. I filled them in on the story, and I’d trust them with my life. More importantly, I’d trust them with yours. I’m going to introduce myself to Nick, get a feel for him. ~Nate

“Well at least some things are looking up,” Jamie said when I showed her the text.

“Yeah, I guess. Not happy that I need the backup.” Just because I was smart enough to know when to ask didn’t mean I was a fan of the situation.

“I’m kinda surprised you asked for it,” Jamie said softly.

“I’m in over my head with the funeral and taking over the ranch. I know that. Add in Sean and now Kyle’s outburst and threats, and I’ll miss way too many things on my own. I’m a pain in the ass, but I know my limits.” I tried to smile, but I knew it was lame and probably worried her more. “When everyone else leaves, there are some things I need to talk to you and Nate about. Don’t let me forget, okay?”

“No problem, Kate.” She headed back towards the kitchen, letting me stare out the bay windows in the living room alone in my thoughts. She came back a few minutes later, handing me my migraine medicine and a glass of juice. I knew without a doubt she’d find me in an hour to make me take something for my stomach. The migraine medicine did a number on my stomach, but I couldn’t take them together. Jamie always thought of things like that, she had such a loving heart.

After she walked away, I found myself heading out to the porch swing. I loved that swing. Silly as it seemed, after my parents died and I came to the ranch, Gramp used to find me on it all the time. He wouldn’t say a word, just come and sit by me. I loved both my grandparents, and I didn’t have a favorite. But Gramp just
got
me. I always knew without a doubt he didn’t love me because I was his granddaughter. He really, truly loved me because of who I was, and he really saw me.

I realized someone was sitting down beside me and I knew it was Nate. He never got scared away by my moods and he never stopped being there for me. Even though the first time he met me I was vomiting my insides out, we became fast friends. He put his arm on the back of the swing, and I shied away from it. He let out a sigh, and I knew I frustrated him. “Say it, Nate.”

“Nothing to say, Kate. You are who you are,” he said, not taking the bait. It made me realize I was trying to pick a fight, just so my anger and grief had somewhere to go.

“Sorry, didn’t realize I was doing it again,” I mumbled softly.

“You don’t need to apologize, Kate. I know you don’t do it on purpose. With everything happening, you act however you want if it makes things easier. We can handle it, and we’re not going anywhere, okay?”

“Okay,” I replied, not knowing what else to say. He was pushing my comfort level.

“Kate,” Nick said over the radio. “We got the last of the cattle in. Didn’t lose a single one. After we finish with the horses we’ll be heading in, over.”

“Got it, Nick. Make sure all the radios and GPS locators get back in their chargers. See you all up at the house, out,” I replied. I turned back to Nate. “I have to think of a thank-you present for all the volunteers, and a bonus for the hands. Least I can do for all the extra work, don’t you think?”

“You’re always good to your employees. Don’t overdo it though,” Nate warned. “You don’t want them to start expecting it every time they do something extra. I had a nice chat with Nick.”

“How long until his background check is in?” I asked, hiding my smile.

“Sometimes I forget you know me as well as I know you.” He snorted good-naturedly.

“What’s your initial assessment?”

“Good guy, has something to prove, but he’s loyal.”

“I thought the same thing,” I replied, pausing, “I think he’s gay.”

“Why’s that?”

“When I first found out about the fence, I said
fuck
me
and he replied I wasn’t his type. Just the way he said it, I got the impression he wasn’t referring to me personally, but women in general.”

“That’s not a problem, is it?” he asked carefully.

“No, I don’t give a shit, but I’m not sure everyone feels the way I do. Though he seems to get along with all the other guys, so who knows.” I saw the first of the volunteers heading this way from the barn. “Shit. Time to go play hostess.”

“Jamie and I can handle most of that. Just make sure you say thanks to each of them. We’ll do the rest,” he said, standing. I introduced everyone to Nate, and said my thank-yous as people headed into the house. I went back to my seat on the swing, while Nate went into the house. After a bit, I saw Sheriff Swick coming to join me.

“Not one for talking much, are you?” he asked.

“Nope, not unless I have something that needs to be said.”

“Just like your grandpa,” he chuckled. He was quiet a few minutes. “You okay?”

“No. No, I’m not, but there’s nothing I can do about that.”

“No, there’s really not. You’ve done all you can, and you’ve got good friends at your back. Plus, you can see that you have your grandpa’s friends if you need them too.”

“Yeah, everyone’s been great. You might be the right person to ask,” I hedged, trying to figure out how to phrase it. “I want to send a thank-you gift to everyone that helped, but I’m not sure the proper thing. You know what I mean?”

“Pie,” he answered.

“Pie?” That was not what I’d been expecting.

“Pie. Everyone around here loves a good homemade pie.”

“Do I strike you as a woman who makes pie?” I asked with a sarcastically raised eyebrow.

“Nope, but I knew it would get you to smile,” he said softly.

“Smart guy,” I teased. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” We sat in silence a few more minutes. “Do your friends make pie?” That time I laughed out loud and he joined in.

“Can you think of anything besides pie?”

“I like pie,” he said, still laughing.

“I’ll keep that thought in the back of my head, but I need a serious answer.”

“You could get some gift baskets from the shop in town, that’d be nice.”

“Wouldn’t everyone know how much I spent then?”

“Nah, the owner’s a nice lady, and she’s discreet. She’s got a catalog you can look at.”

“Thanks, Swick, that sounds like a plan,” I agreed. “I’ll give my guys a bonus though.”

“How much you thinking?”

“Hadn’t gotten that far yet.”

“Keep in mind these guys don’t make as much as your other employees,” he said carefully. “They wouldn’t get the same type of bonus.”

“Are you saying I should give them more than my other employees or less?”

“I’m just saying, they did a few extra hours of work, don’t give them too much more than that. It’s not like they get paid hourly anyways,” he answered.

“I got you, thanks.”

“Not a problem,” he said, standing, “I’m going to eat and run. I’m getting a little old for these late-night parties.”

“Yeah, nine at night really is late.” I snickered as he headed inside. After that I was so far in my own head, I barely noticed people leaving and saying good-bye to me.

Finally I realized Nate was standing in front of me handing me a glass. When I realized it was about four shots of Jägermeister, I chugged the whole thing. “Where’s the bottle?”

“Jesus, Kate! You don’t drink enough to down four shots of that shit,” Nate replied in shock.

“Tonight I do,” I said darkly, daring him to disagree.

“No, you don’t. Everyone’s gone except the ranch hands. You feel like talking with them tonight?”

“No,” I answered. “Invite them to the house for breakfast, and I’ll talk to them then.”

“Okay, Kate,” he whispered and walked away, shaking his head. After another twenty minutes or so I heard all the workers head out of the house and watched them walk towards the bunkhouse. I headed inside, locking the door behind me, and went into the kitchen. Without a word, I found the bottle of alcohol, poured myself another few shots, and downed them.

“Kate, how much have you had to drink tonight?” Jamie asked quietly.

“Four shots of whiskey and that makes what, about seven shots of Jäger?” I replied.

“Kate, you’re going to be sick soon,” Nate said to me.

“Probably,” I agreed, grabbing the bottle again. “At least I’ll feel something then.” I poured a few more shots, but before I could drink it down, Nate grabbed the glass and the bottle from me.

“Enough, Kate,” he ordered sternly.

“I’ll say when it’s enough,” I growled.

“I’m not going to fight with you, Kate, but I’m not going to watch you get yourself sick either.”

“What’s the plan for tomorrow, Kate?” Jamie asked, always the peacemaker. “You said you had something to talk to us about too.”

“Yeah,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I left a few things out. I needed some time to process.”

“You ready to tell us now?” Nate inquired softly.

“There’s a stipulation in the will, I can’t sell the ranch for a year, if I try to Kyle gets it.”

“So? You want the ranch, you always have,” Jamie said in a questioning voice.

“It also says if something happens to me in that year, Kyle gets the ranch. After seeing him today, would you put it past him to try and make something happen to me?” I turned, seeing both their shocked expressions… I had my answer. When Nate put down the glass and bottle, I grabbed the glass and gulped it down. Nate opened the bottle and drank a few shots’ worth and handed it to Jamie. She did the same. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

“Is there more?” Jamie asked.

“Yup! Gramp set up a trust for Kyle that I’m in charge of. Fifty grand a year or at my discretion he can take out a larger amount, if he wants to buy a house or something. Something happens to me, he gets all the money in it,” I told them.

“Fuck,” Nate groaned and took another swig of the bottle. “Is that all?”

“Nope, he won’t know this last part, but I’ve got to change my will as well.”

“How come?” Jamie asked, taking another drink.

“It seems besides the ranch, I inherited Gramp’s life insurance benefits, stocks, bonds, and bank accounts,” I explained, taking another swig of the bottle as well.

“Okay, why do you have to change your will?” Nate asked this time.

“Because if I don’t update it, and something happens to me, since it’s from Gramp’s accounts, all that will go to Kyle as well,” I answered.

“Makes sense,” Jamie replied. “Why am I afraid to ask how much there is?”

“Because you’re smart, and you’ve known me for eleven years,” I answered. Suddenly I didn’t give a fuck about much and I realized something. “I’m drunk.”

“We figured,” Nate said. “We don’t normally have to drag answers out of you like this.”

“You guys know you’re the beneficiaries for my will, right?” I asked.

“Yeah, we’re all each other’s beneficiaries, that’s the way we set everything up,” Jamie answered. “I mean, there are a few things I left directly to my parents, I think Nate did too. But the business and the accounts all go to each other if something happens.”

“I know, but I don’t have anyone else to leave things to. You guys are all I have now,” I whispered.

“You’ve got a question to ask, Kate, just ask it,” Nate pushed.

“What amount of money would it take for you to want to see me dead?” I asked, making sure to look at both of them directly.

“I’m going to let that go, considering the kind of day you had,” Nate replied, his anger showing. Jamie stared at me with tears in her eyes and I felt like a bitch for saying it.

“I’m sorry, but I never thought Kyle would be willing to hurt me over the ranch before today. Shows how well I know people when it comes to my personal life. I’d rather you get pissed at me for asking, then have doubts and worry about trusting you,” I muttered softly.

“Kyle is an asshole,” Nate said, grabbing me roughly by the shoulders and shaking me. “You know people, you’re a good judge of character, but he’s your family. No one could think that kind of thing about your own family. Besides, Jamie and I have met Kyle plenty of times and would never have thought it of him either. He hid it well, Kate. You know us. We both love you. There is no amount of money that would make us want you dead. I’d fucking give up everything I own to keep you safe.”

He was shaking me so hard by the end that when he let me go I fell to my knees. I looked down when I realized I had made him cry too. Now I had to tell them everything or they were going to hate me for even bringing this up. Well, nothing like throwing it all out there.

Crap.

“The veterans policy and the other life insurance he had alone comes to 5.2 million dollars,” I finally said. Jamie dropped to her knees next to me and I heard a crash and assumed Nate dropped the bottle of alcohol.

“Could you repeat that?” Nate asked, coming closer.

“5.2 million dollars,” I parroted. “And that’s just the life insurance.”

“Fuck,” Nate replied.

“Have you looked at everything else yet?” Jamie asked, petting my hair.