What the hell am I doing?
I remain low to the ground for a good couple of minutes before I lift up onto my elbows, peering down to find the spot she was just in, but she’s long gone and any evidence she was there is gone with her.
“I didn’t do this, and no one here at the firm did either.” Our lawyer’s voice crackles over the phone. “Your grandfather outsourced this one.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. I should have fucking guessed.
“It’s tight, Roman. I could try to find a loophole, but you could run out of time.”
“What does that mean?” I growl, staring at the phone as if the lawyer can see the glare I’m throwing his way.
“You have a deadline,” He goes on. “It says here you have four weeks to marry from notice, and since it’s already been two weeks, you only have two weeks left.”
“Is this even legal!?” I snap.
“Unfortunately, yes, it’s not the norm, and any decent lawyer would advise against it, that’s likely why your grandfather used someone else for this.”
“How the hell am I meant to find a wife in two weeks?” I’m not sure who I’m asking, but I know I’m not going to get the answer I want. “What the hell was he thinking!?”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Mr. Knight. Your grandfather has made this pretty clear. The ranch will automatically fall to your brother if the obligation isn’t met. It says here you must be married — arealmarriage — for the duration of at least twelve months. With proof of a marriage certificate, Knight Falls Ranch will become yours.”
Arealmarriage!? How am I meant to have a real marriage when I only have two weeks to find a woman willing to marry me?
I count to ten inside my head, my head thumping back on the chair as I stare at the ceiling. I did not break my own back for this place to lose it over this, and I can’t expect my brother to take this on.
“Is there anything else I can help with?”
I sigh, “No, that’s all.”
“Come to me with the certificate, I can sort out the rest.”
As if it’s going to be that simple. I hang up the phone and let the silence settle around me. The walls of this place tick with age, groaning even with a slight wind, but the house is solid and has been for over a hundred years. She may be old, but her bones are good and will continue to be. God knows what this place has seen, the things she has witnessed.
Pushing up from the chair, I head toward the drinks cabinet and pull out a bottle of whiskey and a glass, pouring a shot which I immediately down and then pour another. I can’t let Silas take on the responsibility of this place, and Remy is out of the question, which means I have to find a wife.
I am so fucked.
Mentally, I run through a list of potential names that could work for this situation but come up empty. I don’t want a wife; I need someone to be a contract. A piece of paper being the only thing that binds us and every name I think of won’t be like that. They’ll want more, arelationship, intimacy and connection and I could think of nothing worse.
Whoever I find — if I find anyone, needs to be on the same page as me. They need to understand it’ll be a loveless marriage to settle an obligation.
I am not a loving man, I’m not even sure I’d know how to be.
Fresh whiskey in hand, I move to the window, looking out onto the ranch. A couple of guys are working with the horses, we had some new arrivals come in this week, and a particular colt has been troublesome, but I have some of the best trainers working for me and my brother is the finest horse trainer in the county. He has a way with the animals, a horse whisperer and it took me months to get him a crew good enough to work with him.
I did this. Sought the best fucking workers, offered them deals to come work for me. I did this, and for what!?
It was me who made the deals with the grocery stores and the butchers, me who broke into the beef market that took this game to a whole new level.Me.
And now I could lose it.
I’d ring my own grandfather’s neck if he were still alive.
Chapter 4
“Well, you’re not going to find a wife if you don’t leave the ranch,” Silas rolls his eyes as he cuts the engine on his truck.
“I don’t want a wife, I want a contract,” I huff at him, “And there isn’t a single woman in this town who will agree to that.”
