Page 50 of The Biker's Brother

“All this is the result of overgrazing a century before there was any understanding of land management. Thing is, once this happens, you can’t just snap your fingers and bring it back. Rain clouds drift over vegetation and drop rain where stuff is growing. If you take the vegetation, you invite desert. Permanently.”

“I didn’t know that,” Brandon said.

“That’s us.” Copeland pointed at an airstrip ahead. Within minutes they were on the ground with one of the smoothest landings Brandon had ever experienced. He certainly couldn’t have matched it himself.

They taxied to the hangar which sat about thirty yards away from the house, which was an enormous sprawling one story stucco complex with Monterey tiles on the roof. There was no doubt in Cami’s mind that the owner had some scratch.

The pilot pulled the plane up to the fuel station and shut down the propellers.

By the time Brandon had helped Cami down from the plane, the owner had walked over.

He extended his hand to Brand. “I’m Knox,” the man said. He looked to be about the same age as Brant, in other words, old enough to be Brandon’s father. He’d kept himself in decent shape and had probably been a heartbreaker in his twenties.

“Brandon Fornight.” He shook Knox’s hand.

Knox laughed softly. “You didn’t need to tell me that. You look a whole hell of a lot like your dad.”

Brandon put his hand on the small of Cami’s back, a possessive gesture that Knox registered immediately.

“Nice to meet you, young lady.”

Cami smiled. “You have a beautiful place here, Mr. Knox.”

“Just Knox. Come on inside.” He motioned to a man they hadn’t noticed before. “Alberto. Bring the luggage inside.”

“Oh we’re not staying,” Brand said. “My dad said there’d be a car.”

“There is. But it’ll be dark in four hours. Stay for the night. Got lots of room and you can get started in the morning.”

“I really appreciate the offer, Knox, and believe me, it’s tempting, but we need to get on the road.”

Brand didn’t want to give the real reason for declining the offer. The truth was that Brandon felt like he’d be endangering Knox and his people on the ranch. Knox had done a favor for his dad and for the SSMC, by letting them land there, but that was where it should end.

Knox smiled and nodded. “Well, another time maybe.” When Knox waved at something behind him, Brandon turned to see who or what it was. “Alberto. Bring that car.” The man lifted his hand in acknowledgement.

Raising his voice so that Copeland could hear him, Knox said, “Same for you. If you want to stay over, we got room and dinner.”

“Sounds good,” Copeland said.

“You need anything else?” Knox turned back to Brandon.

“I think we’re good,” Brand said.

“Well, hope you brought short sleeves. We’ve got a warm front coming up from the south this evening.”

Brand looked at Cami. The idea of a ‘warm front’ was clearly to her liking.

“After two days of being wet, sometimes wetandcold, warm and dry sounds good.”

Knox chuckled. “And it’s free if you’re in the right place at the right time.”

“Truer words were never spoken.”

They turned when Alberto stopped the car next to the plane where Copeland was unloading luggage. He hopped out and began transferring the bags to the trunk and rear seat of a car that looked like its better days were long gone. It was dented in places and missing plate in others.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” Knox said as if he was reading Brand’s mind. “This is a new Hyundai with a V8 and a few enhancements that would thrill Mad Max.” Brand and Cami shared a WTF glance. “It may look like a beater, but don’t let that fool you. I hope you don’t have to find out what she’ll do, but if you need performance, don’t worry. It’ll be there.” He looked at Cami. “Your old man must think a lot of you because this car cost him dearly.”

She wasn’t sure how to respond to that. So she smiled and said, “I’m sure I’m worth it?”

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