dislike you, Ms. Schmidt. I don’t know you. But in all fairness, you don’t know me either. So how can you be so sure this development is what’s best for me and my family?”
Her argument died on her tongue when Rogan reached out and took Juliet from Rachel’s arms. He held the little girl against his chest, uncaring when she drooled all over his shoulder, gumming his shirt. This wasn’t a council member, or a protester. This was a man with a family, and an idea. Even if it was naïve, he believed there was room in the world for small towns and slow easy lifestyles.
“Out of respect for you and your family, I think we should agree to disagree. Today is my day off, and I would prefer not to debate the morality of my job if it’s all the same to you,” she offered. “It was nice to meet you all.”
Turning her head, she realized Mack was already astride his horse and waiting just behind her. He appeared to be ruminating over their conversation, and he wore a deep frown until he caught her eye. Giving her a wink, he waved to the Brooks family, “We’ll be out all day. I want to show her the ranch, and the pond.”
“You two have fun,” Rachel responded enthusiastically.
“We’ll see you at the town hall meeting, Ms. Schmidt. Enjoy your ride.” Rogan gave her a nod, and she was sure that was as close to a truce as she was going to get. Clearly the town planning board wasn’t the only hurdle standing in the way of this project.
Following Mack out of the yard, she chewed on all of the information she knew about Stone River. It was settled in the early eighteen hundreds by the Raft family who set up a trading post and made nice with the local Native Americans. It had never really been a boom town like many other places, so it hadn’t ever fallen into disrepair as most ghost towns did after their heyday. Instead, a handful of families had planted their roots here, and built up a close-knit community who valued a good day’s work, and honest living.
From what she had seen with Rachel’s family it was obvious Stone River was an accepting group of people. They clearly valued a person’s heart more than their sexual proclivities. Tanner had even mentioned a BDSM club nearby. Perhaps this was a case of still waters running deep. There seemed to be much more to this tiny town than she ever could have imagined, and now she felt like her alliances were being torn apart.
On one side stood her father and his life’s blood—Schmidt Properties, and on the other side were the people of Stone River who were accepting her and embracing her in every way except business. She had no desire to change the town, or shift their ideals. She just wanted her father to accept her as an equal, and stop treating her like a teenager whining over her zits and gossiping about her date to the prom. If she was ever going to be taken seriously as his heir to the position of CEO, then she had no choice but to push this project on the people of Stone River. No matter what her personal feelings. It just didn’t sit right.
“You’re awfully deep in thought for a woman who’s supposed to be enjoying her day off with a relaxing trail ride,” Mack said, and she looked up, startled to find they had traveled far enough she couldn’t see the Brooks family home anymore. They were surrounded by a sea of rolling hills and thick green and yellow grasses. In some areas the grass was knee-high to the horses who grazed on it. She couldn’t imagine a sight more magnificent than the peaceful serenity of this Texas ground.
“Wow. It’s so pretty here,” she declared. “This is all Brooks land?”
“Mmmhmm. They’ve owned it for decades the way I understand it.”
“How long have you known the Brooks family?” she asked, adjusting her seat in the saddle. The horse had a pleasantly even gait, but the slope of the saddle was just different enough from what she was used to that she felt a little awkward in her seat.
“I met Parker
Her argument died on her tongue when Rogan reached out and took Juliet from Rachel’s arms. He held the little girl against his chest, uncaring when she drooled all over his shoulder, gumming his shirt. This wasn’t a council member, or a protester. This was a man with a family, and an idea. Even if it was naïve, he believed there was room in the world for small towns and slow easy lifestyles.
“Out of respect for you and your family, I think we should agree to disagree. Today is my day off, and I would prefer not to debate the morality of my job if it’s all the same to you,” she offered. “It was nice to meet you all.”
Turning her head, she realized Mack was already astride his horse and waiting just behind her. He appeared to be ruminating over their conversation, and he wore a deep frown until he caught her eye. Giving her a wink, he waved to the Brooks family, “We’ll be out all day. I want to show her the ranch, and the pond.”
“You two have fun,” Rachel responded enthusiastically.
“We’ll see you at the town hall meeting, Ms. Schmidt. Enjoy your ride.” Rogan gave her a nod, and she was sure that was as close to a truce as she was going to get. Clearly the town planning board wasn’t the only hurdle standing in the way of this project.
Following Mack out of the yard, she chewed on all of the information she knew about Stone River. It was settled in the early eighteen hundreds by the Raft family who set up a trading post and made nice with the local Native Americans. It had never really been a boom town like many other places, so it hadn’t ever fallen into disrepair as most ghost towns did after their heyday. Instead, a handful of families had planted their roots here, and built up a close-knit community who valued a good day’s work, and honest living.
From what she had seen with Rachel’s family it was obvious Stone River was an accepting group of people. They clearly valued a person’s heart more than their sexual proclivities. Tanner had even mentioned a BDSM club nearby. Perhaps this was a case of still waters running deep. There seemed to be much more to this tiny town than she ever could have imagined, and now she felt like her alliances were being torn apart.
On one side stood her father and his life’s blood—Schmidt Properties, and on the other side were the people of Stone River who were accepting her and embracing her in every way except business. She had no desire to change the town, or shift their ideals. She just wanted her father to accept her as an equal, and stop treating her like a teenager whining over her zits and gossiping about her date to the prom. If she was ever going to be taken seriously as his heir to the position of CEO, then she had no choice but to push this project on the people of Stone River. No matter what her personal feelings. It just didn’t sit right.
“You’re awfully deep in thought for a woman who’s supposed to be enjoying her day off with a relaxing trail ride,” Mack said, and she looked up, startled to find they had traveled far enough she couldn’t see the Brooks family home anymore. They were surrounded by a sea of rolling hills and thick green and yellow grasses. In some areas the grass was knee-high to the horses who grazed on it. She couldn’t imagine a sight more magnificent than the peaceful serenity of this Texas ground.
“Wow. It’s so pretty here,” she declared. “This is all Brooks land?”
“Mmmhmm. They’ve owned it for decades the way I understand it.”
“How long have you known the Brooks family?” she asked, adjusting her seat in the saddle. The horse had a pleasantly even gait, but the slope of the saddle was just different enough from what she was used to that she felt a little awkward in her seat.
“I met Parker
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