Page 47 of Rancher's Strength

“It was,” Linc said as he walked past us.

“Let’s go talk.” Letting her go, I slid my hand around hers and smiled when she didn’t seem to care that she was walking into the lion’s den holding my hand. She just held on to me tighter.

“So, what caused all that?” Kipp asked as he took a seat.

“When I opened this morning, Desmond Tucker walked into the office.” She told us about interaction, and I wanted him dead even more than I had when he was just following her. “I’m going to agree to the cameras. I can’t have Faith living and working there with this psychopath out there wandering around.”

“I’ll come in and do it tomorrow,” I said as I stared at her while she nodded.

“I know you’ve all been at a loss regarding what to do with Maggie’s land. She’ll never sell, but she’s going to be in danger. I’m not sure even Kane will be able to keep her safe.” Lexie’s eyes darted around the table. She and Maggie had gone to school together, and before life happened, they’d been best friends.

“So, what are we going to do?” Nash asked as he leaned back in his chair.

“Well, your dad helped me with that. What if you make a subsidiary company to buy out Maggie and Kane but make them part of the company.”

“You want us to go from five to six?” I asked, staring at her.

“Just for Maggie’s place. It will tie up the loose end and give her and Kane the backing and safety of you.” She pointed at us as a group. I looked to my business partners, and nobody looked appalled by the idea. Still, we’d need to approach it strategically. Kane had helped us plenty since he arrived, and bringing him into the circle made sense.

“It’s not something we’ve ever thought of, but it makes sense,” Kipp said as he shifted his gaze from Nora to Lexie.“Would we have to actually buy her out, or could we do everything without money changing hands?” He crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

“I don’t think money would have to change hands. She’d be brought into the company, and her assets alone would be enough.” Lexie never broke eye contact with Kipp. It was like a showdown, and whoever looked away first would be the weaker one.

“Let’s do it. Can you draw up the paperwork? We’ll go talk to Kane and Maggie tomorrow.” Kipp turned to us, and I didn’t miss the slight smirk on Lexie’s face that indicated he broke first.

“Well, I’m going home,” Lexie said as she stood up from the table.

“I’ve got some things here that need to be finished up. Will you be okay at home alone?” I followed her back out to her vehicle.

“I’ll be just fine.” She gently placed her hand on my cheek. “Thanks for coming to get me.”

“Always.” I smiled before leaning down and kissing her.

Walking up the stairs hurt, breathing hurt, actually. Pulling open the screen door, I kicked off my boots, and dirt fell out of them. I should have done that before getting in the house, I thought to myself.

“Uncle Ryder, you look awful,” Sawyer said as he glanced at me.

“Thanks, bud.”

“What happened?” Lexie asked as she walked into the living room from the kitchen.

“Got thrown.”

“Doc?” she asked in a panic. Of course, she’d be worried about her horse first—not about me standing there in crippling pain. Okay, maybe notcripplingpain, but I sure wasn’t about to do a jig tonight.

“No, a new one we’re trying to break.”

“You don’t get thrown, what really happened?”

“Started thinking about the sexy woman at my house,” I whispered as I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She whipped me with the towel in her hand before going back to the kitchen.

Grabbing the blanket off the back of the couch, I placed it over the cushions and flopped down. “What’s the movie for tonight?” I asked, and that started off the argument of the century. I didn’t even care, I let my head fall back onto the sofa cushion and listened to the kids.

“Okay, did we pick one?” Lexie asked as she brought in the plates for the kids. She set them on the coffee table, left, and returned with ours.

“You don’t have to wait on me but thank you.” I took my plate, and she sat next to me.

“If we waited for you to hobble to the kitchen we’d be eating cold pizza.” Her smirk was everything in that moment.

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