Caught in the Act (Independence Falls 2)

Eric sat at the edge of the desk. “What are the trucks worth?”

“About two hundred thousand apiece. They own ten in good working order. And their crew is top-notch. They also have agreements with some of our competitors to haul their timber. Smaller operations than yours, no major competitors on the list.”

“Ours,” Eric said.

Liam nodded. That word still felt tenuous, as if his claim to Moore Timber would dissolve if he didn’t close this deal.

“They’re worth something,” Liam said, handing Eric the offer. “We’ll need more information to find out how much. But I know it doesn’t add up to this.”

Eric frowned. “Brody gave every indication that they were facing hard times. But this number says otherwise.”

Liam ground his teeth together, glancing around at the office walls. A few weeks ago, he’d sat here and agreed to take an equity stake in Moore Timber in exchange for helping out on the business side of things. But now he couldn’t escape the feeling that failure was nipping at his heels. Give him a chainsaw and a tract of land that needed to be harvested and he’d tackle it in a heartbeat. Out in the forest, he knew which trees to cut when, how long they needed to be when they hit the landing, and how to manage his crew. Buying companies, reviewing financials—this was a different world.

But he hated the idea of walking away. His father had spent his entire life working in the forest. And in the end, he’d had nothing to show for it but a pile of medical bills from a swift-moving cancer. Liam wanted to prove he was worth more, that he deserved his empty office down the hall. He had to find a way to close this deal.

“We need to talk to the Summers brothers,” Liam said.

“You’re right.” Eric handed him back the piece of paper. “Have Leah set something up for Monday. We have to finish the thinning over on that piece of BLM land this week and complete the clear-cut for Wilson’s widow. I need you on those jobs while I find a place to marry your sister.”

Liam nodded; the image of Brody, Chad, and Josh sitting around the conference table, staring him down, formed in his mind. And the night before, Liam had his hands all over their little sister. Again. If Liam had his way he would take it further.

But he had to close this deal first. He couldn’t blow this chance to cement his future.

He couldn’t allow his friendship with his business partner to disintegrate either. And it might, if Liam didn’t come clean. Reaching for the door, he turned to Eric. “I took Katie out last night. We planned to talk about the deal. She was feeling left out of the conversation. But it turned into more.”

His best friend frowned. “Do her brothers know?”

“No. And I don’t plan to tell them. I’ll leave that up to Katie.” He didn’t have to tell his friend why. Eric knew how things ended last time.

“Brody, Chad, and Josh might find out anyway. You may want to hold off on seeing her again until after we close this deal.”

Liam shook his head. “I can’t. Not if she plans to take that job in Montana.”

“You’re trying to give her a reason to stay?”

“I can’t let her go again. The timing stinks. I know that, trust me. But I can’t stay away any l

onger. Katie, she is . . .” Liam ran his hand through his hair. There was only one word running through his mind. Mine.

Eric crossed over, slapping him on the shoulder. “I get it, man. Believe me, I do. But do us both a favor and find a way to tell Katie before we sit down with her brothers.”

Chapter 7

“FEEL LIKE SADDLING your horses?”

Katie turned away from the mare she had cross-tied in the barn’s center aisle, and found Liam leaning against the open door. He’d traded his work clothes for clean jeans, cowboy boots, and a button-down flannel shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal his powerful forearms. “Shouldn’t you be playing in the forest?”

“I started early. Spent the morning playing and the past few hours at my desk.”

“Brody dropped off our response to your bid today.” Katie turned back to the horse, running the brush down her neck. “I figured that would keep you tied up for a while.”

“Eric and I plan to sit down with your brothers, and you if you’re interested, on Monday morning. But I’m not here to talk about your family business.” Liam stepped inside, moving slowly, and offered his hand to the skittish horse. “I have carrots in my pocket. Can I give him one?”

“Her. The mare’s name is Princess.” She gave the horse, a rescue that had abuse in her recent past, a reassuring pat. “And yes. She’d like a carrot.”

Liam reached behind him and withdrew the treat from his back pocket. Breaking it in half, he offered the first piece to Princess.

“Do you always carry horse treats?”