Page 110 of Unspoken Hearts
Grayson slaps my sweaty back before following Dad inside. I’m just hoping this will help mend the gap in our friendship.
Exhaling, I open the driver door. Holden leans on the open window, staring at me. “Have you told him yet?”
I shake my head once. “Not yet.”
Holden is quiet, his mouth pressing together. I can tell there is more he wants to say, but decides against it.
He taps the car and pushes off. “I’ll be inside then with Aspen. I might take her swimming with Mum in the river.”
“All right.”
Getting in my car, I stop for a second, staring down at my hand on the wheel, wondering if I’m doing the right thing. My stomach knots as I drive around to the other side of the main house, turning off my car and heading over to the barn where Dad and Grayson are waiting.
Walking in, timber stings my nose as I close the door to the office. Grayson sits opposite Dad, and I stand behind him, leaning against the wall with my arms and legs crossed.
“Done?” Dad asks, and I give him a small nod. “Great. Thanks for grabbing the stock.”
“It was no problem,” I answer, clearing my throat. “So what are we working out?”
Dad pulls out some papers, and I walk over, leaning over the desk to read them.
“It looks like that over the last two months we have gained more profit than we thought. Which means we have more money to play with.” He peers up at me with curious, wrinkled eyes. “Did you figure out the payment for Holden’s place?”
Nodding, I go over to the file cabinet and flick through the folders until I find the papers. “These are the calculations.”
“Holden is getting his own place?” Grayson asks warily.
I nod as I hand Dad the papers. “He has Aspen. She’ll need her own space when she’s older.”
Grayson looks as though he’s about to dispute, but decides against it, sinking back in his chair. I focus back on Dad.
Glasses perched on the end of his nose, he hums as he reads through everything. “It looks like we could start now. Could you ask Bennett if he has time to start?”
“Sure.” I grab my phone out of my pocket. Staring at the screen, my eyes are glued to the text bubble.
Macie: I know I shouldn’t say this, but I really miss you today.
Blinking, my fingers tingle as my mouth rolls inward. Feeling Grayson watching me, I open up my phone and send Bennett a message, promising myself that I will text Macie back when I’m not being glared at by my brother.
I know he’s suspicious, especially with our past, which is why I need to be nonchalant right now.
“Done.” I put my phone away.
“Great. Thanks,” Dad mumbles before sliding some papers towards Grayson. “This is what we’re working with then.”
Grayson’s eyes widen. I straighten my back, rubbing at my chin. It’s a decent amount. Enough to get some things properly fixed and more animals.
I peer down at Grayson, who stares at the papers. “What do you think we should do?”
My brother looks at me, straight faced. “Well, we need some more sheep and chickens. Plus spare tyres for the tractor.”
“And we need more fuel for that, too,” I mention, pointing to the paper. Grayson adds it to the list.
“Plus we still need the east paddock fixed. The fence isn’t sturdy.”
Nodding, I look at Dad, who has a ghost of a smile on his face. “Anything else?” I ask.
Grayson looks at Dad, who shrugs. “It’s up to you two. It’s your ranch now, so you’ll be the ones deciding everything.”
