“Wind your neck in, Ren.” John pointed a finger in my face. “Just ’cause you’re sick—” He cut himself off with a terrified wince. “God, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s fine.” I forced myself to relax and take the blame. “My fault. I’m winding you up.”
Della scooted forward, placing a dainty hand on John’s massive wrist. “He’s the one being an ass. Take all the time you want and don’t worry about his reaction.” Her blue eyes met mine with a sharp glare. “I’ll deal with him.”
“You’ll deal with me?”
“Yep.” She stuck her chin in the air.
“Just because I married you doesn’t mean I obey you, Mrs Wild.”
“Oh, yeah?” She tried to stop a smile. “Well, I’ll just have to beat you until you do.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
Lust sprung hotly.
Della averted her eyes, cheeks pinked and skin flushed.
John groaned. “Ever since that phone call from your oncologist yesterday, you’ve been incorrigible, Ren.”
I shrugged, no longer caring what he was about to do. “What can I say? I’m the happiest guy alive.”
No one mentioned the part of that sentence that lingered in the dark.
I’m the happiest guy alive…for now.
I could joke and laugh and be truly happy that I’d bought myself more time, but I also couldn’t deny that the awful word still existed.
Incurable.
“Right, well, before you two disappear into the forest to do God knows what, I’ve done something.” He laid his hand firmly on the folder like a judge would a gavel. “I’ve told you that I love you as much as I love my own kids. You are my kids. There is no difference. And because of that…I couldn’t not do what I’ve done, if that makes sense.”
“Your cryptic reply is not helping my ability to stay calm, John,” I muttered, doing my best to read the papers his hand obscured. “What exactly is going on?”
“Having you guys back here, knowing the farm will be taken care of and that you’re both happy and safe…that’s a gift for me, do you understand? It’s a gift because I saw where you guys came from, and I feel as if I played some small part in getting you this far.”
“You did,” I said fiercely. “Without you, I would’ve died of pneumonia.”
“Without you, we wouldn’t have trusted anyone or been fit to be around society,” Della murmured.
“Well, I’m glad. But you’re both stronger and braver than you give yourselves credit for, so I won’t take all the praise.” He looked down at the table, refusing to meet my eyes. “What I will do, though, is take your word that you’ll accept this.”
“Accept what?” My back stiffened, muscles locking.
“Give me your word.” He narrowed his eyes. “Before I tell you.”
“Not going to happen.” I crossed my arms.
“Della?” John turned to her. “Give me your word, sweetie, seeing as that stubborn husband of yours won’t.”
“I won’t risk his temper.” She laughed. “Best spit it out. Otherwise, Ren will just snatch what you’re hiding and find out anyway.”
She’s right.
I was seconds away from stopping this charade.
John chuckled. “You’re probably right. Look at the man.”
They both looked at me, twin expressions of affection and exasperation.
I scowled harder. “Ganging up on me won’t make me take this any easier.”
John laughed again, before slipping back into seriousness. “I changed my Will and Testament.”
My heart stopped beating. The ruckus in the lounge quietened as the adults tuned in to listen. “Excuse me?” I leaned forward, ever so slowly. As methodical as a viper. “What did you say?”
John puffed out his barrel chest. “I asked Adam, Liam, and Cassie before I did it, and they’re all on board. Don’t think for a moment there is any bad blood about this, or that it can be taken away from you in the future. Because it can’t.”
“You’re terrifying me.” I swallowed hard. “What. Did. You. Do. John?” My teeth chopped every word.
His chin cocked, daring me to challenge him. “I split the farm five ways.”
“What?” I shot to my feet. “What does that mean?”
“It means, Cassie has a fifth for her horse business, Adam has a fifth to do what he wants, Liam has a fifth for his interests, Della has a fifth, and you…well, you, Ren, you have a fifth, too. Just because Patty and I only gave birth to three kids doesn’t mean we don’t have five in our hearts. Our Will didn’t include you guys, and now, it does. You each have fifty acres. It’s a decision I needed to make. And it’s a decision you have to accept because I’m not changing it.”
Della started to cry beside me. “Y-you can’t do that. It’s too much.”
“No, sweetheart.” John reached across and wiped away a tear, his large hand almost smothering her entire cheek. “It’s not nearly enough. I know you and Ren will protect this farm and work it the way it’s meant to. If Adam and Liam want to sell out at some point, buy their shares and claim it for your own.” He flicked a glance at Cassie. “I know my daughter won’t be going anywhere, not now there’s help on hand with her horses, and I love that Chip has entered the family business by running the books. I have no doubt between all of you, you’ll make this land earn its keep ten times over.”