Page 21 of Cash

My stomach dips. I place the photo in the bag and zip it up. “Good or bad?”

“Depends.”

I can’t read her expression. Her eyes have this funny, knowing gleam in them.

Turning, I lean the backs of my legs against my desk and cross my arms. “Let’s get it over with, then.”

“Mollie’s coming to the ranch.”

You can hear a pin drop in the silence that fills the room.

I run a hand over my face. “To stay?”

Goody takes a sharp, short breath through her nose. “I asked her that when she called this morning, but she just said she wanted to ‘get a lay of the land.’ I don’t know for sure if that means she’s staying, but considering what’s at stake…yes, I’m guessing she’ll be at the ranch for a while.”

I grit my teeth, biting down so hard my back molars light up with a flash of pain. “What the hell are we gonna do with her?”

“I reckon we’ll figure it out. She owns the place, so…”

My heart flutters in my chest like a trapped bird. “What if she doesn’t end up staying the whole year? Who gets the trust then?”

“Garrett did not leave it to you, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“That’s not my question.”

Goody searches my face for a beat. “He has a plan for the money. We’ll cross that bridge if we get there.”

“When.When we get there. City Girl ain’t gonna last a day. The will said she had to actively manage the ranch, right?”

“Cash.” Goody’s tone is laced with warning. “I don’t need to tell you to play nice, right?”

“I don’t play. And I’m not nice.”

That soft smile of hers is back. “Horseshit.”

Can’t help it. I laugh, the heaviness in my chest lifting for half a heartbeat. Maybe that’s why I blurt, “Why do you think Garrett told me I’d get the ranch if he never intended for me to have it?”

Goody thinks on this for a minute. “I’m not sure, Cash. Who knows what he intended? It’s entirely possible he did want the ranch to go to you, but he didn’t think he’d die before he amended his will.”

“Maybe.” But I don’t buy it. There’s a tickle in the back of my brain—a feeling that I’m missing a piece of whatever puzzle Garrett put together.

“Whatever the case, it will all work out.” Goody claps me on the shoulder. “Mollie arrives tomorrow, mid-afternoon. I’m going to get the New House ready.”

The New House is what we call the six-thousand-square-foot mansion Garrett and Aubrey built right before they divorced. Aubrey apparently hated living in the circa-1920 farmhouse Garrett brought her home to when they married, so after they struck black gold, they built Aubrey’s dream house.

That still wasn’t enough to keep her around. No one lives there now, but Patsy, Lucky Ranch’s resident chef, uses the massive, modern kitchen to turn out breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the entire staff during the week.

After Aubrey left, Garrett moved back to the oldfarmhouse. My brothers cleaned out his belongings only last month, and now Wyatt calls it home.

I suck in a long, deep breath. In my gut, I knew Mollie would come to the ranch, but I still hoped there was a small chance she’d chicken out.

Not too late for that. Maybe once she’s here, she’ll realize she’s not up to the task of running a ranch. She’s a city girl with soft hands and likely no real physical skills. Can’t imagine she knows how to muck a stall or drive a tractor.

I tell myself she’ll more than likely run screaming after a day or two.

“Cash!” I look up to see a tall cowboy stride into the office. “I been lookin’ for you. Weren’t we supposed to meet at the horse barn?”

Pasting a smile on my face, I walk over and extend my hand. “Hey, Beck. My apologies—must’ve gotten my times mixed up.”That, or I had a near miss with a nervous breakdown.“Thanks for stopping by.”