Caught in the Act (Independence Falls 2)

“We’ll have the money soon,” she said. “When the contract comes through and we put those new trucks to use—”

“I should never have let you buy those trucks.” Brody released her, stepping back. “We’re out a lot of money if Black Hills doesn’t sign. And I think Eric and Liam can smell our desperation.”

“Mr. Fidderman will come through,” she insisted. And she wasn’t desperate. But she had a bad feeling her brothers—Brody in particular—saw Moore Timber’s offer as their only option.

“Brody, do you want to sell to Moore Timber?”

Her brother ran his hand over his face. “I think it might be best. At some point, we need to take what we can get for the business and move on with our lives. You have a potential job waiting for you in Montana. Josh wants—”

“Stop,” she demanded. “You’ve put us first for the past seven years. You held us together after Dad died. It was always about us. Now it is time to think about what you want.”

“I’m proud of what we’ve built here,” Brody said quietly. “But—”

“No more ‘buts.’ ” Katie crossed her arms in front of her chest. “We’re not selling.”

Brody shook his head. “You’re just like them. Dad and Grandpa. So damn stubborn.”

Katie smiled, feeling a rush of pride at his words. Those men were her heroes. And though her brother might not realize it, she had fought an uphill battle to keep her backbone, to make her own choices. “Have a little faith in me, Brody. I can close the deal with Black Hills. Once we have those contracts, we can start to grow the business. Eventually, Chad, Josh, and I can step away.”

“What about Montana?”

“If I get the papers signed, and if they offer me the job, maybe I’ll take it. If not, well, I’m a big girl Brody, I’ll find something else eventually.” Katie looped her arm through his. “How about you introduce me to the new horses?”

“Do you want to change first?” Brody asked, looking pointedly at her skirt.

“Horses first.”

Arm in arm, they headed for the barn. “Mind telling me where you were dressed like that?”

“I was checking out a potential bar for Georgia’s bachelorette party.”

The muscles in her brother’s jaw tightened. “You went

barhopping by yourself?”

“No. I brought a friend,” she said. “Don’t worry, he kept me safe.”

From the other guys, she thought. But if Liam thought for one minute that a heartfelt conversation in a parking lot would erase the old hurt she’d carried around for the past seven years, he was flat-out wrong. She wasn’t about to hand back the apology, but knowing why he’d walked out of her life after one heart-to-heart with her brothers didn’t change the fact that her loyalties lay elsewhere.

“Thanks again, Brody.” She gave his arm a squeeze. “For everything.”

Chapter 10

“WE’RE NOT SELLING the company to Moore Timber,” Katie assured the balding man with the weathered face. Joe Fidderman, owner of Black Hills Timber, nodded. But his hand holding the pen over the signature line of the contracts did not move.

“I have nothing against Eric. I knew his father well and he’s grown up to be a fine young man. The way he has grown that business . . .” Mr. Fidderman shook his head. “We’re not competing in the same league anymore.”

“You’re branching out into different areas.” Katie forced a smile as she tried not to stare at the hand holding the pen above the paper. “By letting us take away the branches and other typically unused pieces from your timber harvests, you’re helping to create energy. All of that material will be turned into biomass fuel. And at the same time, we’re cleaning up the forest floor. Some would argue that alone will help prevent forest fires.”

Mr. Fidderman nodded, lowering the pen to the paper.

“Eric Moore is not interested in biomass,” she added. “We are.”

“If you’re sure your brothers don’t want to sell—”

“Sir, I won’t lie to you,” she said. “Part of me wants to sell and move on with my life. But my oldest brother loves the company. Brody has worked so hard to keep it running. When my dad died . . . Brody was there for us. He found a way to pay for my college tuition even though times were tight. He could have moved away, pursued his own passions, but instead he set everything aside for us. For me. And he’s not ready to sell.”

Mr. Fidderman nodded. “Well then, you have yourself a deal, Ms. Summers.”