Taming the Moguls (26 page)

Tommy turned to go back to his truck, and
Garrity grabbed his arm. “That’s it? You’re not even going to stay
for the meeting?”

“Wasn’t planning on it.”

“Why? You already know what she’s going to
propose?”

“Yes, I do. I think it’s something we can
live with, but it’s not up to me. It never was. It’s up to the
people. Listen, think about what she says, and take it to the
community. Whatever you all decide, I’m fine with.”

“Since when don’t you care what happens at
Bear Stream?”

Tommy took a deep breath and looked at the
sky. “I do care what happens.” The valley had been good to him, and
his father had left his mark on every inch of the land. “But
whatever happens, life goes on. For the first time in a long time,
I understand that some things matter more than business. I’m
switching my focus.”

“What things?” Garrity demanded.

Tommy slapped his arm. “Family, Patrick.
Nothing matters more than family.”

Garrity stared at him and shuffled his feet.
“I didn’t expect you to step down.”

“It’s the right thing to do.”

“You’re not lobbying one way or the other? If
we decide to fight whatever she’s proposing, you’ll support
us?”

“I’m stepping all the way back. That means I
don’t take sides.”

Garrity stared at him, his lips twisting into
a grimace. “You’re here. You may as well come in while your sister
does her song and dance.”

“She’s not my sister. We’re not related by
anything other than marriage.”

“Whatever,” Garrity said. “You think you can
get me Ryan Lowry’s autograph?”

Tommy narrowed his eyes at Garrity. “No.”

She was nervous. Tommy could tell by the way
she held her shoulders as she stood at the head of the table. Tommy
sat at the bar away from Garrity, Dodge, and the only other two
members of STS who could meet on such short notice. She’d worked
all morning, printing off charts and tables, drawings and
projections. She pulled them out and passed them around while the
men snuck glances at Tommy.

“What are you doing over there?” Howard Pep
whispered when Tommy refused to take a copy of the papers.

Tommy glanced at his phone where a last
minute food order needed placing, but when Gretchen started
speaking, the phone may as well have been a blank sheet of paper.
She spoke to the men in a way that engaged them, made them feel she
understood their concerns and anticipated their questions. She
spoke slowly and explained the details, as well as the projected
impact. She told the good with the bad in a patient voice, as if
she had all the time in the world and every confidence they could
work together. Oh, yes, he thought, she’d changed in the last ten
years. She’d finished her degree, worked her way up in a national
corporation, and single-handedly raised a son. If he hadn’t already
loved her, he would have fallen flat on his face on the spot.

“Are there any more questions?” she asked the
men when they finally fell silent.

Patrick cleared his throat and sat up
straight. “We need to talk about this, Ms. Lowry, and then get a
feel from the community about what they think. We can’t give you an
answer right away.”

“I understand,” she said. “All of this is
contingent on the environmental impact statement, but we feel
confident the revised development will fit within their guidelines.
I can tell you Mr. Holcomb isn’t willing to go any smaller. As it
stands, Bear Stream will be his most intimate project to date.”

“Intimate?” Howard asked.

“Small,” she offered. “Personal. Quaint, if
you will. I’ll be heading back to Chicago tomorrow, but I’ve
attached my work and personal information at the bottom of each
sheet in case you have further questions. Don’t hesitate to reach
out for whatever reason.”

“I’ve got a question,” Dodge said. “Why
didn’t Holcomb come to us with this kind of offer in the first
place?”

“He’s a businessman, Mr. Dodge. It’s his
process. I’m sure you gentlemen have yours. I’m simply here to find
a way for both sides to meet in the middle.”

“We’ll be in touch,” Garrity said.

Garrity, Howard, and Lester Freeman gathered
Gretchen’s handouts and made their way outside.

Dodge stood with his hands on his hips and
waited for the other men to leave. “I see you two made it out of
the storm in one piece.”

Gretchen’s hands stalled. Her shoulders
tensed where they’d slowly begun to relax.

“We did,” Tommy said. “I’d like to talk to
you, if you can spare another minute.”

“Just,” Dodge said. “I’ve got to get
back.”

“It’ll only take a minute.” Tommy walked
Gretchen to the door and rubbed her shoulders when she faced him.
“You did good.”

“I guess we’ll see.”

“They’ll come around. It’s a fair deal.” He
helped her into her coat. “Will I see you at home?”

Gretchen’s wary eyes cut to Dodge. “I’m going
to check out of the hotel now.”

“Good. I’ll be home in a couple of hours.
Make yourself comfortable.” He kissed her before holding the door
open. He turned to face Dodge.

“I had a feeling,” Dodge said and shook his
head.

“You were right.”

“You don’t have to sell me on this smaller
scale deal. I think it’s the best we could have hoped for.”

“I don’t want to talk about Bear Stream,”
Tommy said and pulled out a chair. “I want to ask you about your
stepsons.”

Chapter 50

Kevin walked out of the barn carrying wire
cutters and headed for his truck. He was surprised to find his
mother walking toward the barn. She waved and smiled as her breath
puffed out in the cold air.

“What are you doing out walking on a cold day
like today?” Kevin asked.

“Can’t stay cooped up inside just because the
weather’s cold. I’d be inside for months if that was the case.”

“Are you having problems with your story?” he
asked. He knew her routine well enough to know she needed fresh air
and motion when her plot got too thick or too thin.

“A little. Plus I wanted to talk to you.”

“Am I in trouble?”

“That depends.” She wrapped her hand around
his arm and led him back inside the barn. Without the wind, the
temperature felt at least ten degrees warmer. “What’s going on with
you and Shiloh? I’ve been trying not to push, but I can only be a
non-nosy mother for so long.”

“I appreciate that. You did good. I was
starting to think you didn’t care.”

“Kevin,” she warned with a snarl, “you know
better than that. You’re a grown man, and you’ve been married long
enough that you don’t need me rushing in to try to fix things.
Besides, you hate it when I poke my nose into your business.”

“Sometimes I do. Shi and I are fine.”

“Fine? That’s all you’re going to say?”

“We’re back sleeping together, which is good
except that air mattress is not in any way meant for two
people.”

“You’re sleeping together on the air
mattress? Kevin! Why didn’t you say something? We’ve got a
perfectly good spare bedroom.”

“I’m a grown man, remember? Your husband made
it clear we weren’t to make ourselves at home.”

“That’s just Dodge being Dodge. Do you really
think he’d kick you out? Lyle lived with us for over a year.”

“Which is why we’re not at your place. Yet,”
he added when his back muscle tweaked.

“So? What’s the deal with you and
Shiloh?”

“We’re staying here. We’re settling in
Hailey.”

She cupped a hand over her heart and took an
involuntary step back. Her reaction couldn’t have pleased him more.
“If you’re lying to me, I’m going to kick you.”

“I’m not lying. I can’t believe I’m saying
this, but this is home.”

“Kevin Woodward, I never thought I’d hear
those words come out of your mouth.”

“Me neither. It’s freaking cold in the
winter, dusty and dry in the summer, but everyone I love is here. I
can’t think of a better place to raise a family.”

Sarah gasped. “Is Shiloh pregnant?”

“No, not yet. Not for a while, I hope. We’ve
got to get ourselves settled and in better financial shape.”

“If you need money, sweetie, all you have to
do is ask.”

“I already told Dodge we’re fine, or at least
at break even.”

“He offered you money?” Sarah asked.

“Yes, and the bedroom if we were about to be
homeless, so go easy on him, okay? He’s enjoying your second
honeymoon.”

Sarah laughed. “Is that what he called it?
That old coot.”

“He’s so in love with you it’s embarrassing.
I swear you put something in that man’s food.”

“There’s something about finding love at our
age. Second time around for both of us. We’re grateful to have each
other because we know it can be gone in a flash. That’s why I worry
about you and Shiloh. You take each other for granted because
you’ve always had one another.”

“I know. We’re working on that. Her leaving
me in Denver was a big wake up call. For both of us,” Kevin
said.

“It was probably for the best. It seems to be
working out.” When she picked at the leather straps from a nearby
saddle, he knew she had more to say. “When your daddy died, it took
me a long time to accept that he wasn’t coming back. I’d never been
on my own. I think Shiloh felt a little like that at first.”

“We stopped talking to each other,” he
explained. “She was lonely and, believe it or not, saving money for
us that I didn’t know about. She was looking out for me, and I
never knew. I was working myself half to death for her and making
us both miserable.”

“Problems can happen so quickly when you stop
talking.”

“Lesson learned,” he said. “Speaking of
lessons, I’m taking over for Manny come spring. I’ve enrolled in an
ag aviation school in Louisiana in January. Shi’s staying with her
mom and dad while I’m gone. She got a job at the bank. When I get
back, we’ll find a nice cheap place to live and start over.”

“I think that’s a good plan. I’m proud of
you, honey. Weathering the bad times are just as important as
appreciating the good.”

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
“You’ve been there through the good and the bad. Solid as a rock.
You and Dodge. I don’t tell you enough, but I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too.”

“I also love your apple pie. Any chance
you’re making one in the near future? I may as well benefit from
living in town.”

“I suppose I can arrange to have a pie
delivered to your brother’s place.”

“Just make sure you tell him it’s for
me.”

***

“My boys?” Dodge sat down and gave Tommy a
lethal stare. “They do something I haven’t heard about yet?”

“Not that I’m aware.” Tommy sat across from
Dodge and linked his fingers. “How old were Sarah’s boys when you
two got married?”

Dodge’s brows flew to his hairline. “Kevin
was thirteen, Lyle eleven. Why?”

“Gretchen has a son. He’s ten.”

“I see. You’re moving awfully fast.”

“We don’t have much of a choice,
unfortunately.” When Dodge simply stared, Tommy said, “Her ex is
bad news. If we get married and I file for adoption, we might be
able to keep him from ever seeing the boy again.”

“Married?”

“I love her. It seems fast, but someone very
wise told me the heart can’t tell time.”

“What idiot said that?” Dodge leaned back in
his chair. “And don’t you dare blame that idiot if this thing blows
up in your face.”

“The only idiot in this scenario is me. I let
ten years go by because of my pride. I’m not wasting another
second.”

Dodge blew out a breath. “You think it’s a
good idea to keep a boy from his father?”

“You don’t know this guy or what he’s done to
Gretchen. I would do anything to keep him from either one of
them.”

“Then I wish you luck.”

“I was hoping for something a little more
concrete.”

“Such as?”

“Advice. How was it with the boys when you
and Sarah got married?”

Dodge chuckled. “I’m not going to lie to you,
son. The boys were grieving their dad and not too thrilled to have
another man in the house. I gave them space, and we learned over
time to respect one another. It helped that they understood I loved
their mother and I had her and their best interests at heart. I
never had an ex to deal with, so that was a plus. Although,”—Dodge
rubbed his chin—“sometimes it felt like I was competing with a
ghost. You can’t win against a dead man.”

“Her ex hasn’t seen the boy in nine years.
For all intents and purposes, he’s fatherless.”

“That’ll work in your favor. What’s he
like?”

“The boy?” Tommy shrugged. “I’ve never met
him. Gretchen said he’s a good kid. He’s athletic, good in school,
and from what I gather, he considers himself the man in her
life.”

“You want to adopt a boy you’ve never met?
Tommy, I know I encouraged you to confront your past, but are you
sure you’re not jumping the gun? What are you going to do if it
doesn’t work out?”

“It will. It has to. Did you ever consider
walking away from Sarah because things with the boys got
tough?”

“Never. Life with kids—teenagers, no less—is
difficult. It helped that I grew up in this town. I made them work
with me on the ranch, and that kept them invested in the family
goal. They were different, Kevin and Lyle, so dealing with each of
them took different skills. Still does.” Dodge sat forward and
spread his hands on the table. “If you love Gretchen, he’ll see
that. Maybe not at first, but he will. Boy’s probably starved for a
father.”

“I’m hoping.”

“I never tried to replace their dad. He
didn’t leave them on purpose, and I felt a responsibility to keep
his memory and his place in their lives alive. I love those boys.
They frustrate the hell out of me, and I could have happily let
them both loose with the cows some days when they were younger, but
I couldn’t love them more if they were my own flesh and blood. I
think of them as mine. I hope, in some way, they think of me as
theirs, too.”