Gabby?”
“You’ve been going through all those legal papers. And you think Fox might want to scare me so I’d leave the Roost.”
“Yep.”
“What if I decide to stay?”
“It’s all about fulfilling the terms of the will. There are three possible scenarios. The first option is if you, or your brother, live at the Roost for three years. Then the entire estate passes to you. Second option—you leave, Sarah Bentley inherits from the sale of the property and Fox earns a fat commission.”
“And the third?”
“This third possibility is outlined in the legal documents. It’s something Fox is aware of.” His jaw tensed. “If you and your brother die, you can’t fulfill the terms of the will. Sarah inherits. Fox wins.”
She wished she hadn’t asked.
Chapter Ten
Zach had planned to be at the Roost by ten o’clock in the morning. Toby Hatch was still at the house, and that young cowboy had all the makings of a capable bodyguard. But Zach wanted to be there, setting up security and making sure that Gabby and Charlotte were safe.
He’d had one foot out the door when Rhoda reined him in and reminded him of an unavoidable meeting with a committee from the Pitkin County Rodeo, who were already on their way to his ranch. Though he’d tried to avoid getting involved, he was the local expert when it came to rodeo, and the event actually was a good opportunity to promote his ranch. Business always picked up after he was introduced as a two-time World Champion rodeo cowboy.
By the time he finished with the three-person committee, it was almost noon. Rhoda called him into the kitchen, where she was packing a tamale casserole into a cardboard box along with a container of fresh fruit, homemade bread and cookies. “Take this with you.”
“Don’t you think Charlotte and Gabby can cook for themselves?”
“Skinny girls like them hardly know how to turn on an oven. Besides, they’ve got other things on their minds. They don’t have time to get into town and do grocery shopping.”
“They can manage. Gabby’s car is going to be at the shop until tomorrow, but Charlotte has the truck.”
“I want to help them.” Rhoda planted her fists on her round hips and confronted him. “You spent half the night over there protecting the girls. Let me feed them.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He knew better than to argue. “But if you don’t want to be feeding those baby birds for the rest of your life, you should schedule a trip to the market and some cooking lessons.”
“And what are you going to be doing this afternoon?”
“Teaching Gabby how to shoot.”
She chuckled. “Are you sure you want to do that?”
“She needs to know how to take care of herself.” He knew there were risks when it came to arming her. Gabby seemed to be scared of anything resembling wildlife, and he didn’t want her blasting away at tree squirrels and crickets. “I’ll be sure to emphasize gun safety.”
“You don’t want her going off half-cocked. Pun intended.” Rhoda grinned. “Gabby kind of reminds me of Michelle. I like her.”
“So do I.”
He didn’t make that statement lightly. Gabby wasn’t the type of woman he was usually attracted to, but he couldn’t push her out of his mind. She demanded attention. Her constant chatter should have driven him up the wall, but she amused him and provoked him in a good way, making him think. And there was that unexpected chemistry that robbed him of common sense and made him act like a lunatic.
He still couldn’t believe he’d gone into her bedroom last night. No doubt, he should have waited until morning. But when he’d realized that Fox had a motive to stage the break-ins and would benefit from getting Gabby permanently out of the way, Zach had to warn her. When he’d first slipped into her room and saw her sleeping, she looked so sweet and delicate. It ticked him off that people like Fox and Osborne were trying to hurt her.
She was practically defenseless—didn’t
“You’ve been going through all those legal papers. And you think Fox might want to scare me so I’d leave the Roost.”
“Yep.”
“What if I decide to stay?”
“It’s all about fulfilling the terms of the will. There are three possible scenarios. The first option is if you, or your brother, live at the Roost for three years. Then the entire estate passes to you. Second option—you leave, Sarah Bentley inherits from the sale of the property and Fox earns a fat commission.”
“And the third?”
“This third possibility is outlined in the legal documents. It’s something Fox is aware of.” His jaw tensed. “If you and your brother die, you can’t fulfill the terms of the will. Sarah inherits. Fox wins.”
She wished she hadn’t asked.
Chapter Ten
Zach had planned to be at the Roost by ten o’clock in the morning. Toby Hatch was still at the house, and that young cowboy had all the makings of a capable bodyguard. But Zach wanted to be there, setting up security and making sure that Gabby and Charlotte were safe.
He’d had one foot out the door when Rhoda reined him in and reminded him of an unavoidable meeting with a committee from the Pitkin County Rodeo, who were already on their way to his ranch. Though he’d tried to avoid getting involved, he was the local expert when it came to rodeo, and the event actually was a good opportunity to promote his ranch. Business always picked up after he was introduced as a two-time World Champion rodeo cowboy.
By the time he finished with the three-person committee, it was almost noon. Rhoda called him into the kitchen, where she was packing a tamale casserole into a cardboard box along with a container of fresh fruit, homemade bread and cookies. “Take this with you.”
“Don’t you think Charlotte and Gabby can cook for themselves?”
“Skinny girls like them hardly know how to turn on an oven. Besides, they’ve got other things on their minds. They don’t have time to get into town and do grocery shopping.”
“They can manage. Gabby’s car is going to be at the shop until tomorrow, but Charlotte has the truck.”
“I want to help them.” Rhoda planted her fists on her round hips and confronted him. “You spent half the night over there protecting the girls. Let me feed them.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He knew better than to argue. “But if you don’t want to be feeding those baby birds for the rest of your life, you should schedule a trip to the market and some cooking lessons.”
“And what are you going to be doing this afternoon?”
“Teaching Gabby how to shoot.”
She chuckled. “Are you sure you want to do that?”
“She needs to know how to take care of herself.” He knew there were risks when it came to arming her. Gabby seemed to be scared of anything resembling wildlife, and he didn’t want her blasting away at tree squirrels and crickets. “I’ll be sure to emphasize gun safety.”
“You don’t want her going off half-cocked. Pun intended.” Rhoda grinned. “Gabby kind of reminds me of Michelle. I like her.”
“So do I.”
He didn’t make that statement lightly. Gabby wasn’t the type of woman he was usually attracted to, but he couldn’t push her out of his mind. She demanded attention. Her constant chatter should have driven him up the wall, but she amused him and provoked him in a good way, making him think. And there was that unexpected chemistry that robbed him of common sense and made him act like a lunatic.
He still couldn’t believe he’d gone into her bedroom last night. No doubt, he should have waited until morning. But when he’d realized that Fox had a motive to stage the break-ins and would benefit from getting Gabby permanently out of the way, Zach had to warn her. When he’d first slipped into her room and saw her sleeping, she looked so sweet and delicate. It ticked him off that people like Fox and Osborne were trying to hurt her.
She was practically defenseless—didn’t
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