West shook his head. “That’s not fair, Jessie. You’re brilliant. And I’ve always thought so. The way you transformed the finances of this place is amazing. I don’t have the patience for it.”
She already knew that. But then, it was nice to have West acknowledge her contribution. Nobody else ever did. Their parents were … They just always kind of believed that things would work out, whether by accident or on purpose. And so when Jessie had overhauled the financial structure of the Wild West Show, using alot of West’s ideas for new acts and new attractions, their parents had sort of taken it all in stride, as they always did.
She would be lying if she said it didn’t matter to her that West recognized the change was because she had put effort into it, and not just because fate had swooped down and smiled merrily at the Hancocks yet again.
“Listen, Jess, I think you would be a great mayor. But I’m not sure people in town are going to agree. I don’t want you to get hurt.” Oh, when her big brute of a brother saved up every ounce of emotion in his body for her, it got her every time. But she wasn’t going to show him that.
“I can’t get hurt,” she said, grinning widely and ignoring the tender feeling at the center of her chest. “I’m too feral for that.”
“You want to be.”
Ouch.
She made a hissing sound. “Good God, West. I ride on the back of a galloping horse standing up; I can do a somersault off and back on. I’m not scared of being rejected by a bunch of idiots in town. I just think if we never challenge the status quo, then we can’t complain about it.”
“That’s not true. The majority of people complain. The minority challenge. You can absolutely complain while doing nothing.”
“Maybeyoucan. I can’t respect it, and I can’t do it. I need to be active if I want things to change. And you know the taxes that she’s proposing on entertainment are going to severely hurt tourism businesses. I feel like it has to do with her wanting certain kinds of people here. It’s taking away all the fun. I meant what I said about the wine-country thing.”
“Did she really say she wanted Rustler Mountain to be like a bougie wine town?”
“According to Flynn.”
“Right,” West said, understanding suddenly dawning on his face. “Because that’s his half sister.”
“Indeed she is.”
“Well. I guess that’s one reason to get in bed with the Wilders.”
Her face went hot. Again, she opted not to correct him about the fact that she wasn’t technically in bed with Flynn. But whatever.
“You file paperwork for this and everything?” he asked.
“Yes. I am absolutely informed on the correct processes here.”
“Well, damn. Mom and Dad are going to … They’re not going to know what to do with the fact that you’re trying to become one ofthe powers that be.”
“I’m doing it for good. Not for evil.”
“Of course you are. But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re perilously close to becoming The Man.”
She bit the inside of her cheek. “Shocking, isn’t it?”
She held back a litany of things that she might say. About how their parents had definitely worked hard at making sure they didn’t even have the opportunity to consider becoming The Man. About how their parents had done their level best to make sure that the two of them wouldn’t have the skills, the experience, or education to get into such a position. Truthfully, if Jessie pulled it off, it was going to be because she had taught herself what she needed to know. And not thanks to their parents.
She really did love their parents.
But there were just … some wounds. But wounds didn’t get better if you licked them. So you might as well slap on a big old bandage and ignore them.
“You’re going to be the talk of the town,” he said. “Running for mayor, and the rumors about you and Flynn and …” He paused again, and she knew he was getting closer to asking outright if the relationship was fake. But she wasn’t going to let him.
“Worry aboutyou, West. I don’t need any help with this. I’ve got a plan.”
He rolled his eyes. “Lord, girl. You are a whole lot.”
“Part of my charm.”
“Charm. Sure.”
