Page 30 of Rancher's Strength

“What’s up?” I asked as I walked in the door.

“I’m sure I’m forgetting something.” She bit the corner of her mouth and frowned. I stood beside her and looked at the table.

“Lex, it’s your mom and sister, not the King of England.”

“This is the first time they’ve been here since the wedding, and back then I had people around to act as buffers. And you started a fight, so things were different. This is just them staring at me, judging me.” She let her voice trail off.

“Lexie, they aren’t judging you; they’re your family. You’ve known them your entire life, and they just want what’s best for you.”

“Yeah, I’ve known them my entire life. That’s the problem,” she said with an exasperated sigh.

A knock on the door broke her out of her internal panic. “Well, you can stop worrying now. They’re here.” Gently, I kissed the side of her head and went to welcome my in-laws to our home.

I opened the door and waved them in, and they made their way to the kitchen. No one said much as we moved to the table and sat down, the tension already thick in the air.

“What’s the problem, Lydia?” Lexie snarled as she stared at her sister across the table. Her gaze trained on her like she was stalking her prey, just waiting to pounce.

“Nothing at all,” Lydia snarked back.

Lexie throws her napkin down and crosses her arms over her chest. "It’s always something, what is it?”

“You’re sitting in this house, all high and mighty. You made sure to make mom’s favorite meal, fussing over everything. All the while, I’m sitting here worrying about the bar and what’s happening there and pretending we’re one big happy family.” Lydia shook her head.

“Kids, why don’t you go out and make sure your horses have water and hay in the feeder? I’ll be out in a minute,” I said softly when I looked over at the kids whose eyes were wide and full of fear. They nodded and ran out the door as if their tails were on fire.

When the screen door slammed shut, I turned my attention to Lydia and Lexie. “If you two ever decide to pick a fight with one another at this table again, I’ll toss you both out of this house.” I spoke through gritted teeth, and my hands were clenched into fists so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I was desperately trying to control my anger.

“Those kids shouldn’t have to listen to you both argue like a couple of teenagers. Whatever issues you have, work it out or get over it.” My gaze shifted to Lydia, and I narrowed my eyes before taking a deep breath. “This is my home, and this is my family. If you can’t respect it, you won’t be welcome again. Ruby and Sawyer need people around them who love them unconditionally, not putting the idea in their heads that wearen’t a family. If you need to get to the bar, then go, nobody’s begging you to stay.”

“I’ll sell the bar,” Helen said before she sipped her wine. “It has been nothing but trouble from the moment your father bought it. It’s driving a wedge between you two, and I can’t have that.” She looked up from her plate and let her eyes dart from one daughter to the other.

“Mom, it’s Dad’s legacy,” Lydia said quietly.

“No, it’s not. You and your sister are his legacy. The bar was a dream. A dream that put us in financial ruin.” She reached over to me and took my hand. I wasn’t sure if it was for support or because she was about to spill secrets…secrets I’d known, but the rest of the family hadn’t.

“When he bought the bar, he sunk a lot of our savings into renovations, kitchen upgrades, and other things. But the money wasn’t coming in like it was going out, and soon, we had almost nothing left. That’s when we went to the Diamond and asked if they wanted to buy the farm.” Helen took a deep breath. “You girls know how that went, and I don’t regret for one minute that we did it. But as part of the deal, Ryder demanded a financial audit of the bar and that we hand the finances off to him.” Lexie turned and glared at me for a moment.

“No, dear, it was the best thing to happen to your father. I don’t have to tell you Ryder’s good with money, so when your father wanted to spend frivolously, he’d put a stop to it or put it on hold until the bar produced that money.”

“You’re who I send our financial reports to?” Lydia asked, finally turning to acknowledge me. I nodded and looked over at Lexie, who I couldn’t get a read on. That was a first. I’d always been able to read her like an open book.

“He’s also a silent partner. Your father added him when he got his diagnosis.” Helen let go of my hand and waited for thefallout. Lydia didn’t say anything, just nodded, but Lexie left the table. Helen started to stand, and I shook my head.

“I’ll go.” Slowly, I stood and walked out onto the back porch.

As I suspected, Lexie was pacing the porch. When she was frustrated with something, she paced to work it through her head, but this walk was different. It was purposeful, angry, and slightly terrifying. I leaned against the support column and crossed my arms, making sure I wasn’t the one to speak first, I waited for her to say something.

“What else are you keeping from me, Ryder? Seems like there’s a lot of secrets when you’re involved.” I winced. I couldn’t pretend that didn’t sting.

“I didn’t want to keep it from you, but your dad thought it would be best.” I crossed my ankle over the other and gazed out at the land that was ours, which had been in her family for generations. It had only remained that way because I’d intervened to make it happen.

“You don’t think maybe a dementia diagnosis overrode his wishes?” She threw her arms out from her sides in exasperation.

“Just because your dad has dementia doesn’t mean I don’t take my business deals with him seriously. He asked me to be his partner to ensure you three had something when he was gone. There wasn’t anything nefarious about it.” Slowly, I walked over to her, shoving my hands in my pockets because if I touched her, I was sure I’d lose my hand.

“He got his diagnosis after we separated.”

“Divorced, but yes,” I clarified, earning a stinging glare. “Listen, the bar is doing well; Lydia manages it well and keeps things running smoothly. If your mom wants to sell, I won’t stand in the way, and she’ll likely get over double what they paid.”

---