Will’s relaxed demeanor has disappeared and in its place is a deep frown that can only mean one thing when it comes to the Wilsons.
Derrick removes his cowboy hat and holds it to his side as he runs his fingers through his hair, earning a few sighs from our visitors sitting next to me.Best friends, who’d have ‘em.
His eyes meet mine and I can tell from his weary, tight expression that he’s got a lot on his plate right now. And yet here he is, stepping onto his rival family’s land on a Sunday. “Sorry to disturb y’all on a Sunday, especially durin’ a family meal. I need to give an update, and I didn’t think you’d want me to wait until I next saw you in town.”
Will claps his shoulder. “Appreciate it, Der,” he says, leading him to an empty place at the table.
Case leans forward in his chair. “What’s goin’ on?”
“It’s Dad,” he sighs before glancing my way quickly. I shake my head, earning curious eyes from anyone with the name Cooper. “Not sure if you’re all aware, Sully—my father—is not well and he’s not goin’ to get any better. That’s unfortunate for a lot of reasons but it’s nothin’ we haven’t known was comin’. It also means he’s tryin’ anythin’ and everythin’ possible to get his hands on this ranch.”
“I thought we had established he didn’t have a leg to stand on?” Sutton adds.
Will sighs. “We did–wehave.”
“Will’s right, y’all have done everythin’ you needed to prove that my family has no ownership rights to this land. Dad’s obviously not lyin’ down and isn’t ready to accept defeat. He’s of the mind that a deal is a deal–whether that be verbal, a handshake, or on paper. He sees Marion’s father paying for the upkeep of the land decades and decades ago as some sort of claim on the ranch. He believes he should have a say in how the land is passed on,” Derrick explains.
“That’s bullshit,” Jude erupts from the end of the table. “Sorry to hear your father is unwell, Derrick. That sucks. But this land belongs to the Coopers. Always has done and always will.”
Derrick nods. “I agree. But my old man is as stubborn as a mule. Hell, he refused to get the medical care he needed to live a longer life because he didn’t want to leave the mountain.” Everyone’s eyes seem to slide my way.
I hold my hands up. “I couldn’t say anythin’. Do no harm and HIPAA. It’s every doctor’s ride and die.”
“We know, gorgeous. It can’t have been easy for you though, keepin’ all of this to yourself.” Sutton squeezes my hand then stills. “Wait… was that who your mystery house call was for?”
I nod. “Yeah. Derrick and his sister Em have been keepin’ me updated and I’ve been providin’ treatment so that he’s comfortable.”
“Em’s back in town?” Isla asks. “I haven’t seen her around.”
“She’s commutin’ between here and Palmer. She’s stuck doin’ that until Dad passes,” Derrick replies.
“Who’s Em?” Jude asks.
“She’s Derrick’s sister. She went to the same high school as us,” Isla replies.
“Beautiful,everyonewent to the same high school as you and Birdie,” Case says. “Small town,onehigh school.”
I glance at Jude who seems to be contemplating something.
“You said you had somethin’ to tell us? Has Sully got a new plan now?”
Derrick reaches into his pocket and pulls out an envelope, handing it to Will. My brother opens it up and runs his eyes over the letter. “What the fu–”
“What is it?” Case and Sutton ask in unison.
Will looks around the table. “He’s disputin’ Gramps’s will. He’s got a lawyer in Anchorage to take his case and he’s claimin’ Ridley had no right to give us the land outright.”
The table erupts in a chorus of gasps, shouts, and scoffs.
“That’s crap,” Birdie says.
“You’re right, Birdie. It is,” Derrick answers. “But my father is dyin’ and wants to leave this world knowin’ he’s righted what he perceives are wrongs done in the past for the sake of me and my siblin’s. He thinks the only way to do that is to court the mountain spirit’s favor by bringin’ the land back together. He believes the mountain needs to be whole again for our family to be rewarded by the Call.”
“I’m not sure that’s how it works,” Alex says, entering the conversation. “Don’t get me wrong, I’ve only just arrived and I don’t know any of the family politics and whatever’s been donein the past. What I am is a self-taught expert when it comes to the mountain’s Call, and it doesn’t matter if the mountain’s split or not. Just like you can’tmakeyourself hear the Call. Only the mountain can decide, no one else.”
Derrick stares at her with understanding in his eyes. “If you’re offerin’ to educate my father about the way of the Call, have at it. Many have tried and failed.”
My pocket vibrates and since I’m not on-call and everyone whocouldbe calling me is around the table in the ranch house. I let it go to voicemail.
