Lone Star Holiday Proposal

“A woman?” Nolan pressed before taking a sip of his coffee.

“Of course a woman,” Rafe laughed. “An intriguing and beautiful one at that.”

“Have I met her before?”

“I only met her myself last night.”

For a second Rafe’s eyes got a faraway look, as if he was remembering something intensely personal.

In all the time Nolan had worked for his boss, he’d never known the man to indulge in anything as impulsive as a one-night stand. He wouldn’t mind meeting the woman who’d managed to put that look in his boss’s eye.

“She must have been something else, huh?” he probed.

“Yes, she certainly was.” Rafe appeared to shake off whatever memory had gripped him and gathered himself together. “But that’s in the past. We’re not here to discuss my after-hours activities. Come, sit at the table. Bring me up to date. What’s happening with Winslow Properties?”

Shaking his head, Nolan settled into a chair while Rafiq took one opposite. “No movement there at all. We don’t stand a chance under the new management. It’s like arguing with a wooden Indian.”

Rafe raised one dark brow and Nolan waved a hand in response.

“Local terminology,” he explained. “Basically, pressing forward with Winslow Properties is a waste of time. They’re not selling.”

Rafe didn’t look pleased. “You’re certain?”

“Absolutely.”

To his credit Rafe accepted the news with better grace than Nolan had anticipated. Perhaps he realized that sometimes it was better to step away. Rafe pushed a folder toward Nolan.

“Let’s move on these, then.”

Nolan lifted the folder from the table and opened it. He ran his eye down the list on the first sheet. Not entirely surprising, he thought, and from what he’d seen and heard in Royal already, he had no doubt they’d manage to acquire these properties without too much hassle. His eye stopped on the name of one ranch, though, and a frisson of disquiet tickled at the back of his mind.

“All of these?” Nolan asked, looking up from the documents.

Not a man to waste words, Rafe merely nodded.

“This one—the Wild Aces ranch—what do you want with that?”

Again Rafe raised one brow. “I don’t pay you to ask questions.”

Nolan’s sense of unease increased. He’d done plenty of research both before he returned to Royal and since he’d been there. He knew who was vulnerable and he knew who’d had enough hardship to be coaxed off their land and sent to newer pastures. And he knew, without a doubt, that with the right amount of coercion, the owners of the Wild Aces would in all likelihood accept a reasonable offer for their land.

“That’s true,” Nolan conceded. “But if I’m to perform my role properly, I need to know the background.”

Rafe met Nolan’s gaze full-on, not giving an inch and continuing to say nothing. Eventually Rafe made a sound of annoyance and leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table between them and steepling his fingers.

“Why is it so important to you all of a sudden to know why? It hasn’t been an issue for you up until now.”

“I’m your boots-on-the-ground man. As such, I’m a lot closer to the people of Royal.”

“Which is exactly why I appointed you to this role. You grew up there. You know how best to attain my goals.”

“But I don’t know why you’re doing this. People are already asking questions. Questions I can’t answer.”

“And you don’t have to.”

“No, that’s true. But my parents still live there. My father still practices there. I would hate there to be any fallout for them.”

“There will be no fallout. Are we not helping people by relieving them of useless assets? Offering them good money and a fresh start before they’re forced to move on when their banks foreclose?”

“We are. But if the assets are so useless, why do you want them so badly?”

Rafe said nothing.

“If I’m to continue to act on your behalf I need to know.”

Rafe leaned back in his chair again. “A threat, Nolan?”

“No, a statement of fact. Take Wild Aces for example. Most of that land is leased out to another operation, the McCallums’, because their stored water supply was compromised after the tornado and with the drought they haven’t been able to replenish their water stock. To keep their herds at optimum levels, they’re leasing this land here.” He stabbed a finger at the map on the table. “If your offer to purchase the land is accepted by the owners, do you intend to continue with the lease already in place?”