“I’d like to increase my sponsorship for the kid’s camp, which you should think of a name for so that you can start marketing the place.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants and rocked on the balls of his feet; a relaxed stance that I wouldn’t have expected from him.
“If you’re looking for a gold star then I reckon Lily and Cassidy have kids in their classes who are way ahead of you.”
Nash gave a frustrated sigh and turned to Wilder. “Wild, can we just hear what Nate is offering and then we can decide. The fire is being investigated, and wewillget to the bottom of it.”
“I’d also like to make an offer there, too,” Nate added. “I have a guy I can ask to investigate it for you.”
“The fire department is working alongside the Sheriff and the County Police Department,” Gunner told him. “What makes you think your guy can find anything different?”
Nate narrowed his eyes and was silent for a beat, like he was considering his answer carefully. “Let’s just say he has ways and means available to him that the authorities don’t.”
“Criminal ways and means?” Gunner asked.
“No.” Nate shook his head, a categorical denial. “He stays on the right side of the law…just, but rest assured he will get you the answers that you need.”
“Not the ones you need?” Wilder asked, still poking that stick.
Nate, to his credit, gave him a smile. “I like your tenacity and the fact that you’re not afraid to voice your opinion, but I can promise you the fire was not my doing. Now, would you like to talk to me about those stipulations you have?”
He looked at each of us, like he was the teacher, and we were the kids lined up in front of him. Yet, we were the ones who needed answers.
“I think that’s a good idea,” Lily said. “But how about we go over to the house and do it over food. The kids are at my mom’s for the night and Ruby has made us a lasagna. We could have an early dinner, Nate, if you’d like to stay.”
“I’d like that,” he said without pause. “It would be good to hear it over some good food.”
I wasn’t sure we’d get any answers from him today, but at least it was a start.
Chapter 51
Count on Me – Bruno Mars
Gunner
Watching Cassidy help Lily to prepare the meal earlier had brought a warmth to my heart that I didn’t want ever to leave. Watching them both was like watching my mom and Felicia all those years ago. Felicia had started as an employee running the lavender farm with Shane, but they had soon become friends, giggling and gossiping as they prepared dinner.
Now it was time to start a new era with new opportunities and dreams, and I was more than ready for it. All we had to do was wait for Nate Jenkins to finish reading through our new stipulations and agree to them.
Wilder restlessly bounced his leg up and down as his hand gripped a tumbler of whiskey. It was Dad’s best Pappy Van Winkle twenty-three year old family reserve, a remnant of his overspending of the money he stole from us over the years. It was good but it didn’t have that rich hue of Macallan, the same color as Cassidy’s eyes.
“Well?” I asked as Nate placed the document back on the table.
He studied the papers for a second and then placed a flat palm on it. “I’m willing to meet those stipulations. In fact, I think they’re great. Believe it or not I’m a big environmentalist and wildlife lover.” He tapped the papers with his pointer finger. “The idea of the rewilding alongside a nature trail is something I might consider for future developments. I think both will complement the camp well.”
I looked over at my brothers to try and figure out their reaction to Nate’s response. Nash was his usual calm, possessed self while Wilder was…fuck, Wilder was grinning, and it wasn’t one of his ‘mass murderer who’d just killed his tenth victim’ type of grins.
“It was Lily’s idea for the rewilding and the nature trail,” Nash told him, smiling proudly at his wife.
Nate nodded and grinned. “Maybe I need to employ you for future development designs.”
“Oh no.” Lily shook her head as her fingers wrapped around the stem of her wine glass. “I’m quite happy teaching, thank you.”
“What about the reports?” Wilder asked. “The regular environmental reports, do you agree with them?”
“I do. Could you meet me halfway and say half-yearly instead of quarterly.” He held up a hand when Wilder took a breath to speak. “But I will increase the remediation fee if we fail to produce the report, or it signposts any issues. Shall we say an extra twenty percent?”
My head whipped around to watch my brother’s reactions. I was met with the wide eyes of Nash and the narrowed eyes of Wilder. No matter what the shape of their eyes, it was clear they were both surprised and in agreement.
“Okay. That’s a start,” I replied. “It doesn’t alter the fact that there’s a meat packing factory going to be overshadowing our home.”
