it’ll
cost you more time.”
“Money’s not
an object.”
“Really?” Her
brows rose. “You don’t look like someone with loads of cash.”
“Just because
I don’t flaunt it doesn’t mean I don’t have it.”
Her mouth
formed a perfect O, and I said, “See you soon, Emma Cross.”
She didn’t say
anything as I left her by my truck, speechless. There weren’t too
many people in town who knew about our family fortune: flowing
crude under the fields of my ranch. At the time my grandfather had
left the property to me, his first grandson, not even my parents
knew about it. The horses now camouflaged a secret that had been
passed on to the first born in each family, and I’d always had
trouble figuring out why the secrecy.
“Hello, Mr.
Front,” I greeted the butcher. While he’d kept the meat store
clean, his apron held the permanent stain of blood, which always
sent shivers down my spine.
“Good to see
you Eric. Where’d you pick up that beauty?” He nodded to Emma, who
was making notes on her tablet and taking pictures.
“On my way
back from Rutherford.”
“How was the
horse sale? Did you get any new breeds?”
“None
interested me.”
“Could it be
because she interested you?”
“Could be.
Once I saw her, I knew I was done.”
“She looks a
bit out of place.”
“She’ll
adjust. Emma will be staying with me for a while.” Hopefully for
much longer than she expects.
“Make sure you
introduce her around town, Eric. You know how jealous the girls
will get if they find out you’re off the market.”
“Thanks for
the advice, Mr. Front.”
Didn’t he know
I never truly let myself be on the market? None of the women in
Ogden could ever hold my interest for long enough, the way Emma
did. But then again none of them were dancing nearly naked when I
first saw them either. Emma was so different and fresh, no wise man
would let that one go – so why was she still single? I ordered a
few dozen cuts of steak and ribs, packing the frozen pieces of meat
in the cooler in my trunk. Just as I finished stacking the
remainder of groceries, a hard and loud slap on my back shook
through me. “Look what the cat dragged into town.”
“Hey, buddy.”
I shook my friend’s hand before giving him a man hug. “It’s been a
while.”
“What are you
doing here? Couldn’t get your shopping delivered?”
While it was
true that my parents had often brought my groceries on their way to
visit, I’d mostly avoided the town. Whenever I came here, I had the
odd sensation that I’d somehow run into Huntz.
“Don’t make it
sound like I’m some sort of a spoiled brat.”
“Never would,
brother.” Derek often referred to me as his brother. The one-year
difference in our ages, made it feel as if we were twins sometimes.
We’d become good friends while away from home, both being forced to
return from serving our country too early. So much connected us
since childhood, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to explain to
anyone how we’d become so close. But once you lived through what we
had, there was no way that bond could be broken.
“Derek, I need
a favor.”
“You know you
can ask me anything. I’m indebted to you for the rest of my
life.”
“You would
have done the same. And I would have done much more than I did if I
could have.”
“What’s
up?”
“It’s
Annabelle. I need you to check up on her in San Francisco. But keep
it to yourself. If she finds out I sent you, she’ll flip.”
“Your little
sister? How old is she now?” I knew exactly where my friend’s mind
was drifting.
“She’s my
little sister. You’ll keep your hands to yourself.”
“Of
course.”
“And your dick
in your pants.”
“Hey, if she’s
your sister, she’s like my sister. Besides, I remember her as a
freckled kid, so I doubt she’s my type.”
“Are you
calling Annabelle ugly?”
“No, I’m
calling her not my type.”
“Fine,
whatever. Just check up on her, will ya? Make sure she’s
cost you more time.”
“Money’s not
an object.”
“Really?” Her
brows rose. “You don’t look like someone with loads of cash.”
“Just because
I don’t flaunt it doesn’t mean I don’t have it.”
Her mouth
formed a perfect O, and I said, “See you soon, Emma Cross.”
She didn’t say
anything as I left her by my truck, speechless. There weren’t too
many people in town who knew about our family fortune: flowing
crude under the fields of my ranch. At the time my grandfather had
left the property to me, his first grandson, not even my parents
knew about it. The horses now camouflaged a secret that had been
passed on to the first born in each family, and I’d always had
trouble figuring out why the secrecy.
“Hello, Mr.
Front,” I greeted the butcher. While he’d kept the meat store
clean, his apron held the permanent stain of blood, which always
sent shivers down my spine.
“Good to see
you Eric. Where’d you pick up that beauty?” He nodded to Emma, who
was making notes on her tablet and taking pictures.
“On my way
back from Rutherford.”
“How was the
horse sale? Did you get any new breeds?”
“None
interested me.”
“Could it be
because she interested you?”
“Could be.
Once I saw her, I knew I was done.”
“She looks a
bit out of place.”
“She’ll
adjust. Emma will be staying with me for a while.” Hopefully for
much longer than she expects.
“Make sure you
introduce her around town, Eric. You know how jealous the girls
will get if they find out you’re off the market.”
“Thanks for
the advice, Mr. Front.”
Didn’t he know
I never truly let myself be on the market? None of the women in
Ogden could ever hold my interest for long enough, the way Emma
did. But then again none of them were dancing nearly naked when I
first saw them either. Emma was so different and fresh, no wise man
would let that one go – so why was she still single? I ordered a
few dozen cuts of steak and ribs, packing the frozen pieces of meat
in the cooler in my trunk. Just as I finished stacking the
remainder of groceries, a hard and loud slap on my back shook
through me. “Look what the cat dragged into town.”
“Hey, buddy.”
I shook my friend’s hand before giving him a man hug. “It’s been a
while.”
“What are you
doing here? Couldn’t get your shopping delivered?”
While it was
true that my parents had often brought my groceries on their way to
visit, I’d mostly avoided the town. Whenever I came here, I had the
odd sensation that I’d somehow run into Huntz.
“Don’t make it
sound like I’m some sort of a spoiled brat.”
“Never would,
brother.” Derek often referred to me as his brother. The one-year
difference in our ages, made it feel as if we were twins sometimes.
We’d become good friends while away from home, both being forced to
return from serving our country too early. So much connected us
since childhood, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to explain to
anyone how we’d become so close. But once you lived through what we
had, there was no way that bond could be broken.
“Derek, I need
a favor.”
“You know you
can ask me anything. I’m indebted to you for the rest of my
life.”
“You would
have done the same. And I would have done much more than I did if I
could have.”
“What’s
up?”
“It’s
Annabelle. I need you to check up on her in San Francisco. But keep
it to yourself. If she finds out I sent you, she’ll flip.”
“Your little
sister? How old is she now?” I knew exactly where my friend’s mind
was drifting.
“She’s my
little sister. You’ll keep your hands to yourself.”
“Of
course.”
“And your dick
in your pants.”
“Hey, if she’s
your sister, she’s like my sister. Besides, I remember her as a
freckled kid, so I doubt she’s my type.”
“Are you
calling Annabelle ugly?”
“No, I’m
calling her not my type.”
“Fine,
whatever. Just check up on her, will ya? Make sure she’s
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