“Did either of you actually read the contract?” Bronson asked. “Because when I talked to the lawyer, it seems like Mum was trying to protect our interests. The farm can only be sold if all of us agree.”
“Dad has relinquished all claim to the place,” Charlie said. “Had to or he’d be forced to repay most of the money he got. The lawyer drew up an amended contract, and he spluttered and carried on, but he signed it.”
“Damn right he did, miserable old prick,” Billy growled. “It was either that or face court for the bullshit he pulled.”
“So…” I felt suddenly light headed. “We’re done with Dad?”
“I made very clear that none of us want to see or hear from him again.” Bronson was always the quiet one, but apparently that meant there was a scary intensity lurking there, hidden. “That lawyers will get involved if he does. After what he did to Mum…”
Billy nodded.
“Wouldn’t piss on him if he was on fire.”
“So…” My head was ringing. “We’re done? If we sell the farm, we can move on with our lives, work out what the hell we want to do.”
Shaking my head, I couldn’t believe the rush of relief washing through me.
“We know what we want to do.” I’d said Bronson was ready to step up and take on more responsibility, but it was now I found out how much. “This farm has been in the family for generations.” My heart started beating in earnest in this moment. “It’s where we grew up, where we’ve lived our whole lives.”
Bronson’s conversation with the lawyer made sense now.
“And the three of us, we want to stay on the land.”
“Right…” I mumbled that, barely able to formulate a response. The inkling that things weren’t going right that started when Mackenzie went for a job interview was growing exponentially. “Of course. Makes sense.”
“But we also think we need to downsize things a bit.” When my eyes jerked up to meet hers, Charlie smiled. “There’s a reason why the top paddock’s fence partially collapsed. We either need to hire more people to look after the land we’ve got…”
“Or we sell those top few paddocks to the Argyles.” Bronson grinned. “At top price, of course.”
“What?”
I just stared blankly at the lot of them.
“For you, dickhead,” Billy replied, taking way too much pleasure in insulting me. “But mostly Mackenzie, because if her mum is anything like her, she’s super nice and doesn’t deserve to have that shit over her head.”
“So, how much medical debt does Macca’s mum have?” Bronson asked. “Because that tells us how much to charge the Argyles for that land.”
I stammered out a ballpark figure and that had Billy whistling, but he rallied fast.
“Seeing Beau and old man Argyle’s face when we put that number to then.” He rubbed his hands with glee. “Can’t freaking wait to have that meeting.”
“More than that.” Charlie stared at me steadily. “You need enough money to keep yourself afloat while you’re over there as you don’t have a work visa. But Troy, we’re a family and Mum always said?—"
“A family always sticks together,” I said with a smile, shaking my head as I tried to process all of the news.
A week or so later, I was standing in the kitchen, making everyone a cup of tea, when there was a screech from the living room. Both Mackenzie and I came running, expecting to see Kimberley face down on the floor or something. Instead she held out a piece of paper with a shaking hand.
“It’s paid…”
“What’s paid?” Mackenzie bustled over, peering over her mother’s shoulder before going perfectly pale and that’s when I realised what had happened. Retrieving the tea cups, I carried them over to the coffee table. “Your medical bills… Can I take a look?”
“Read it.” Kimberley’s hand went to her chest and that was alarming. “I can’t.”
“The bill has been paid in full…” Mackenzie looked up just then. Dressed in her corporate wear, she looked so damn sexy, but that dumfounded expression had me thinking of the moment we first met. “Mom’s medical bill?—”
“Has been paid,” I said, setting their tea cups down in front of them. “I’ve been sitting on that for a bit over a week.” Pullingup a chair, I faced them down. “Been killing me, not saying anything.”
“You…” My girl looked way too pale, so I hooked my arm around her waist and pulled her onto my lap. “You did this?”
