“Right, but not with rollercoasters and stuff. This would be an authentic Western theme park. You know, we could have horse riding lessons, and stagecoach rides, a saloon where you can dress up and reenact living in the wild west!”
“We already have two bars in town. I think that’s enough.”
I moved past him, but he scrambled back in front of me, pressing his hand to my chest. “Now, hold up just a minute. This town can’t survive and thrive unless we do something about it. Did you know that twenty people moved away last year? And that doesn’t include the number of kids who graduated and went off to college. What’s the likelihood they’ll come home after they graduate?”
“Jeff, this is something to take up with the city council.”
“Right, but I need credible backing.”
“Don’t you own like three restaurants in town with Krista?”
“Yeah, but…well, we’re Parkers.”
“And that holds weight in this town.”
He shrugged sheepishly. “All my finances are tied up in those restaurants and the ranch. I don’t have the capital to back another project right now. The restaurants are too new.”
“Then maybe you should wait for those to turn a profit.”
“Oh, they are. Trust me, they’re doing well, but I gotta pay myself. I’m running around like a chicken with my head cut off, and still not getting paid. I have to wait for things to really settle in before I think of drawing any money from the businesses.”
It wasn’t a terrible idea. In fact, one of the things that was a quick sell to tourists was anything to do with the old West. But the investment would be more than I could afford on my own, especially now that I had agreed to sponsor the Highland games.
Geezus, we were going to turn the town into a walking contradiction. Were we the wild West or Scottish?
“I’ll think about it. There are a few things I need to look into first.”
He jumped up, hugging me as he bounced around like an idiot. “I knew it! Ryder Lawson, you are my hero.”
“Yeah, yeah, just remember that you have to plan everything. If I help, it’s only financially.”
“You got it! You won’t be disappointed!”
Somehow, I doubted that.
Sore from my ride, I went back to my cabin, a little depressed when I walked into the silence. The place was beautiful, but it was nothing without Ellie, and she hadn’t even stayed out here before.
I snatched my phone off the table to check my messages, and that’s when I saw the dreaded number I’d been ignoring for weeks now.
It felt like a death sentence as I slid my finger across the screen to listen to the voicemail.
“Ryder, it’s me.”
Her voice was like a punch to the gut. How had I not seen who she really was?
“Listen, I know you don’t want to talk to me, but…well, I’ve decided to move back to England. And since you’re not here, I’ve had to let go of Marianna. I just couldn’t afford to keep paying your maid when you’re not here. Anyway, the building manager wants to know if the apartment is going to stay vacant or if you’re coming home. He has a few people interested in purchasing your unit if you’re not coming home.”
There was a moment of pause, and I thought maybe she had hung up, but then I heard her soft sigh.
“This wasn’t the way I wanted things to go, Ryder. I wish you had given me a chance to explain. I’ll be here until Monday if you want to talk.”
Hanging up, I practically crushed the phone in my grip, angry that I was letting her get to me. After everything she had done, what she expected me to do…and she was upset that I didn’t let her explain.
I laughed as I tossed the phone on the couch. What I needed was a drink. I was done morphing myself into someone else for a woman. And as I grabbed the whiskey bottle, it hit me that Ellie had never once asked me to change for her.
Not that any of that mattered since she didn’t want to speak to me.
I poured a drink and sat down at my computer, but the first thing I found myself doing was looking up flight information.
