“That’s what I thought.” He nodded in amusement.
“I don’t understand,” Tara murmured in irritation, an intensity and determination to her expre
ssion as she mentally searched for an explanation. “It was a sweet deal. Why didn’t they accept it?”
“Just out of curiosity, ma’am, exactly what did you offer ’em?”
She shot him an annoyed look in the mirror then relented. “A year’s lease to the property for ten dollars, excluding the fifty-acre building site, of course. It was all very straightforward, completely in their favor.”
“Except for one thing, I’m guessin’.”
“What?” Her gaze sharpened on him.
“I’ll bet there was a clause in there somewhere that gave you access to the property. Right?”
“Naturally. I expected it to be an issue, but they didn’t raise any objection to it. It was almost as if they had decided to turn down any offer I made before they even saw it,” Tara mused, mostly to herself as she replayed the meeting in her mind. “And you think access alone killed the idea?”
“Deader than roadkill,” Buck confirmed. “It’s just my opinion ma’am, but as long as you have title to the Wolf Meadow range, the Calders won’t give you access to diddly-squat.”
“But why? What can they possibly gain from it? It won’t stop me from building. I should think they would have already realized that. I have been flying men and equipment in for a week now. If necessary, I can continue to do it until the lodge is finished. It will likely double the construction costs, but I can easily afford it.”
“While you’re at it, you might as well figure on buying yourself a flock of those whirlybirds. Because you can bet those Calders plan on makin’ getting’ to or from that property as inconvenient as hell.”
“I can deal with it,” she stated firmly.
“Sure you can.” Buck nodded in agreement, the same amused smile edging the corners of his mouth. “But it’s gonna get mighty old after a while. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Calders aren’t counting on that.”
Clearly irritated by his obvious insight into the Calders, Tara challenged, “Do you have any suggestions, Mr. Haskell?”
“Not off the top of my head.”
“If you should come up with anything, let me know.” After delivering the sentence with a curt finality, she turned her gaze out the window to stare at the night-darkened grass sea beyond it.
“I’ll do that,” Buck replied. “Just one question, though.”
“What’s that?” Disinterested in any further conversation with him, Tara didn’t bother to glance his way.
“If it should come to it, are you prepared to go to war with the Calders?”
For a long run of seconds, she remained silent. “Not yet,” was her ultimate decision.
Buck drove another mile before curiosity got the better of him. “If you don’t mind me asking, what are you going to do now?”
After a thoughtful pause, Tara replied, “Perhaps make a point.” Buck could tell that she had a plan formulating in that brain of hers. “Step on it, will you? I have some calls I need to make.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Buck pushed the accelerator pedal a little closer to the floorboard and the vehicle surged forward, leaving a dust cloud behind it to linger in the night air.
The two cowboys, Jobe Garvey and Kyle Sullivan, followed Ty into the den. Chase waited behind the desk for their report on Buck’s movements, nodding to them when they entered.
“What happened?” He glanced sharply from one to the other.
“Nothing really, sir.” It was Jobe Garvey who answered. “When we showed up, he kinda acted like he had been expecting us. He hung around the Rover for a while then ambled off to the cemetery.”
“You went with him?” Ty sought confirmation.
“Like a couple of puppy dogs,” Kyle replied. “He spent some time at Ruth’s grave then headed straight back here and climbed into the Rover. He never budged from it until she came out to leave.”
“So he didn’t say anything to you, ask you any questions,” Chase said thoughtfully, not actually phrasing it as a question.