Page 71 of River Legacy
“I heard you’d left town and turned the ranch over to your sons. I thought maybe you’d lost interest in it since I also heard you’re engaged to Holden McKenna.” He cocked a brow at her. “Congratulations.”
“You’re supposed to sayBest wishesto the bride.”
He chuckled. “In your case, I thinkcongratulationsis more in order.”
She gave him a small smile. “All that aside, what are you doing here? You got everything you wanted.”
Wendell considered her. “You’re wrong about that. But that isn’t why I’m here. I wanted to discuss my daughter and your son Ryder.”
“I guess I’d better make us a drink,” she said and headed over to the bar. “Have a seat. You still drink bourbon neat, don’t you?”
“You remembered.” He heard her chuckle and suspected she remembered that one weekend down in Dallas all those years ago. She had been in townto buy a bull. Their paths had crossed. He knew he’d caught her at a vulnerable time, and he hadn’t told her that he was married. After that weekend, she’d gone back to Montana, making it clear she wanted nothing to do with him—especially after a confrontation with his wife.
“Are you sure there is anything to discuss?” she asked now as she handed him his drink and took a seat on the couch next to him. “Ryder is homeless. We all are, thanks to you.”
“That’s what I want to talk to you about.” He took a sip of his drink. Charlotte had a way of looking at him that made him think she could see right to his tarnished soul. “I regret the way it happened. I was sorry to hear about your son CJ.”
She nodded. “Me too. But if it hadn’t been you who bought my family ranch, it would have been someone else. CJ chose his path.” Her gaze questioned why he’d chosen his.
“I suppose that Holden told you he tried to buy the ranch back for you?” He saw her surprise. “I told him it wasn’t for sale. Later, when I heard that you found most of the money I paid CJ for the place, I thought that you’d contact me.” She still said nothing as if determined to wait him out. “You’re not helping me out here,” he said with an edgy chuckle. He was never nervous when it came to business. But he usually didn’t deal with hardened women like Charlotte Stafford.
He finished his drink and put down his glass on the coffee table. “Here’s the thing. I wanted tosee you. That’s why I’d hoped you would call.” He raised both hands. “I know you’re engaged, and Holden is the man you’ve always loved. I just wanted to see you. I’m going to give the ranch to Ryder and Victoria.”
She actually looked surprised. He watched her take a sip of her drink before she spoke. “You’re assuming they’re getting married and that way you still have a connection to the ranch?”
He laughed. “This probably won’t surprise you, but neither of them want anything to do with me. Victoria’s in love with your son, and I think he might feel the same. I had planned to drill for methane on the property, but changed my mind. Once I sign it over to them, I’m hands-off.”
Charlotte nodded. “You’re doing this for your daughter. She’s still mad at you. The things we do for our children... But you’ll lose a lot of money and not on just what you gave CJ. It sounds like an expensive way to get her to talk to you again.”
“I just want her to be happy. Will my giving the ranch to Victoria and Ryder be a problem for your other children?”
She shook her head. “Like me, they are more interested in having the ranch in the family. If this works, will it mean we’re going to be seeing more of you in Montana?”
He chuckled at that. “Is that going to be a problem?”
“Not for me. There’s a good chance you and I will be sharing grandchildren.”
He groaned. “I’m too young for grandchildren.”
“Holden and I just had our first. I highly recommend it.”
Wen couldn’t help smiling at her. “Does Holden know about you and me?”
“He does, but that isn’t why he has a problem with you,” she said.
“The way I got the ranch.” He nodded.
“Don’t worry. I can see the McKenna and the Stafford ranches as one large ranch in the future. Brand and Birdie, I believe, have their own plans, but will eventually come back to the Powder River and home. At least I hope so. I would love for us all to be one big family.”
Wendell couldn’t imagine it. He’d only had Victoria. After his wife died, he’d thrown himself into making more money. Now he had a chance to be part of this large, boisterous and growing family.
“That sounds wonderful,” he told Charlotte.
Ryder was still reeling from the explosion days later. He couldn’t believe how close he had come to losing Vicky. They’d had to stay in Billings for a few days to answer questions first from airport security, then the cops and finally the FBI. In the middle of all of it, the last thing he’d expected was the call from his mother about CJ.
“I’m afraid we lost CJ,” she said.
His first thought was that his brother had taken off on the lam. “We lost him a long time ago.”
