I spun the page to face her. Color leached from her cheeks as her eyes grew wider. “That’s not—” She sucked air between her teeth. “That’s a joke. She was wrong.”
“She was conservative. You have how many acres?”
She worked her jaw back and forth, her gaze on the figure I had jotted down last week. “It’s not all good land.”
“No, it’s not the best for farming and it kind of sucks for grazing. Yes, your parents had property disputes, but that’d be taken care of with a simple survey. What that land is good for? Recreation, and there are a lot of people out there with a lot of money to spend on that slice of paradise.” Madison thought everything her family had touched was worthless and no one had told her otherwise. I would not be another person in her life letting her think she wasn’t invaluable.
“I just want it sold.” Her lips formed a troubled line and doubt filled her eyes.
“Sal’s a piece of shit.” I didn’t say it with heat or accusation. I stated it like a fact, like I was telling her it was seventy-eight degrees out. “He’s screwing you, and I don’t have to know how. I just know he is. Because it’s Sal. He knows you’re in a bind. You want that place out of your hands and you want your mom to stay where she is, but now’s the time to be Mad Maddy. Now’s the time to let her protect you like she always has.”
I tensed, waiting for that jolt of anger she often lashed out with at that name. It was time for fireworks. Instead, she worked her jaw back and forth. “No one else returned my calls.”
“Jesus.” The vulnerability in her voice made me want to haul her onto my lap. If I had my way, we’d be going over these details in bed, after I got to see how much she flushed when she orgasmed. “What about someone out of town?”
“It’d take time.” And trust, but she didn’t add that. Better the enemy she knew. “Everything was taking time and it took forever to get out of probate.”
She worried her lower lip while staring at the seven-figure number I’d shown her. Sal hadn’t advertised the property. He’d probably made a deal with a buddy and somehow they were both going to profit, probably by getting control of it so they could sell for top dollar.
“You can get a line of credit with the bank using Flatlanders and delay the sale. There are ways to make sure you’re covered, Madison.” She could let me make sure she was covered, to ensure no one fucked with this woman. “Ways to ensure Sal isn’t at the very least in a conflict of interest with the buyer, who I’m guessing knows this number and plans to use it when he flips the property to sell, which I’m sure Sal will help with.”
Anger darkened the amber in her hazel eyes. She was running the numbers. How much she’d lose in whatever bullshit closing costs Sal stuck her with. How far an honest sale would go to help with long-term care for her mom, who did not deserve her daughter’s diligence. Madison had to see just how many opportunities she had.
“You’re not like the rest of your family,” I insisted, “but one thing they always did was stand up for themselves. So maybe it’s time for you to be a little bit like your parents.”
A laugh puffed out of her. “No one’s ever encouraged that before.” Her smile faded. “I’ve worked really hard to be better than them.”
“You are. Standing up for yourself doesn’t mean you have to call Sal a cunt—but you’d be right if you did.”
Just as she sputtered with more laughter, my phone buzzed.
Tenor: Cows got out in the north pasture. You free?
Damn. “I’ve gotta round up some cows. You wanna come with?”
“You’d bring me to your ranch?”
“Why not?” Maybe because I never brought women there, but Madison wasn’t just some woman. “Mama leaves the cattle rustling to us and she loves company.”
“I like your mom,” she said, almost shyly. Shit, this girl could get to me like no other. “What would your family think?”
Ah. There was no way I was telling her my family was likely taking bets on how fast and hard I’d fall for Madison. “We’ll tell them the truth. You’re staying with me because Flatlanders was vandalized, but you’re not comfortable in my house alone.”
Her gaze swept over the living area where we’d made out on the couch, then pretended it hadn’t happened. I’d never forget that kiss. She’d been warm and soft and so damn sweet. Longing filled her expression as she took in the place from the peaked ceiling to the oak hardwood floor. She didn’t even let her eyes stray to the kitchen. “They will not buy that this house isn’t comfortable. It’s the most luxurious place I’ve ever stayed. I’ve never used appliances as expensive as those.”
“You can touch my appliances all day.”
She shot me a mock scowl that went straight to my groin, but the color returned to her cheeks. A playful Maddy was disarming. Not many people saw her like this, but I got to. “Tell them you don’t trust me to be home alone in your house. Or that I don’t have a car, and if there’s another attack on the bar, someone will be around to drive me to town.”
If that got her to come along, I was tempted to tell them whatever she wanted, but I wouldn’t tell them I didn’t trust her. “Let’s load up.”
Madison
My stomach was a tangled mess by the time Teller coasted down the sprawling driveway to a log home that was bigger than his. My breathing was shallow as I took in the outbuildings. The giant cream-colored shop, the large red barn, another smaller shop, still well cared for, and a small shed that resembled a tiny home. Red and white chickens darted around the exterior. There were a couple of other sheds, all in excellent condition, their purpose unknown to me.
On Townsend land, there was nothing but sagging roofs and crumbling walls.
“Welcome to Bailey Beef,” he said.
