Telford barely managed to unclench his fists, a childhood holdover from the violence he’d faced as a kid once his mother and grandfather had been murdered, thrusting him into the system at age eight.He breathed in deeply.There was no threat.Except for Cam going rogue, which Telford absolutely shouldnotsee as a threat.But it still sounded impulsive.
“Why a matchmaker or a… mail-order bride?”
Just the sound of those three words together evoked the long-defunct Sears catalogue and the untamed wild west where outlaws, settlers, ranchers, and Native Americans fought and schemed to wrestle a fistful of something, anything, and call it their own start to the American dream.
Cam could have anyone.
“Three reasons.Out of pocket so it will be a good story for my kids.”
Telford doubted that.
“Two, it themes with my goal this year to buy a huge spread for us in Montana.”
“Us.”Telford followed up with a colorful swear word that made Cam grin like a happy lunatic.“Montana?When did the treasure state make the list?”
Cam would never survive in rural Montana.He was all about urban living—high-tech gym and trainer, Uber Eats, a delivery service for his dry cleaning and groceries, and car detailing.
“Did you hit your head?”
“And third.”Cam ignored Telford as he always did when he pushed back.“Legacy.What are we doing here, brother, if not building the next generation?”
“You build because it’s in your blood,” Telford answered automatically.
“Interesting pronoun.”Cam got serious.“This company is not about me.You see the opportunity.You’re a damn savant,” Cam said, his voice softer.“But it’s time for us to build something else.You’re turning thirty in another year.I turned forty last week.”
Telford remembered.To celebrate he’d flown them both to a two-week outdoor adventure and survivalist tour that had featured fishing, kayaking, climbing, hiking, and camping rough as well as building their own shelter and learning to survive and navigate the woods.He’d loved it.He’d felt like he and nature pitted their skills against one another, and he’d won.Cam had participated.He was competitive, but it had kicked his butt.They’d been a team, but Telford had had to carry more of the load.Gym fit didn’t necessarily translate to outdoor fit.
Cam had completed the course.He’d never let Telford down.And he’d thanked him profusely for the experience, but as soon as the helicopter had arrived to carry them back to the private jet, Cam had crashed and was still moving stiffly a week out.
Telford had never felt more alive during those two weeks into the Alaskan wilderness.
“It’s time for a new business deal,” Cam said.“I’m starting with the wife.Then the ranch.Three kids.I want a future beyond money, socializing to make deals and racking up wins.”
“Then be logical and set out in the traditional manner to meet a… an appropriate woman.I don’t even think…” Telford blanked on the woman’s name.
Her username had been something cutesy with numbers, but it hadn’t suited her a lot of the time.She was inconsistent, like she had a dual personality—right there that was a deal-breaker in Telford’s estimation.Emotional high maintenance wouldn’t work with Cam.He had to be the star.
“A mail-order bride or match-made marriage is as wrong for you as Montana.”
“Lots of cultures broker arranged marriages.”Cam was unfazed by the objections.“I’m not risking picking some pretty gold digger who pretends to be someone she’s not.And Montana is key—for both of us.It’s time, Tel.”
It will never be time.
Cam was the only one he’d shared his so-called origin story with.Might not even be true, though his mother had never lied to him.
“I don’t want you to be alone, Telford.”
His heart felt like it stopped.He remembered how quiet Cam had been on the trip.How deeply he’d slept.How he’d seemed weaker than Telford would have imagined since Cam had a trainer and was always honing his body.
“You sick?”
“No,” Cam said, but he wasn’t smiling.“I just feel like time’s running away.”
Telford fought but lost to the goose bumps that crawled over his skin.His mom had had what some people called second sight.She could read and communicate with horses like a mystic.And she said danger had a smell to it.Not that it had helped her that night, but she’d been focused on hiding him, protecting him.
If his mom were here, she would have smiled, kissed his forehead and pulled him close, drawn a sign of protection on his forehead with her finger and whispered something from her mother tongue.
He dragged his attention back to what they called their boardroom and tried to think of the right question to ask to get Cam to reveal what was really bothering him.Cam was all about the here and now.Technology.Modern world.He wouldn’t believe in signs.
