Chapter Sixteen

Wade offered to drive Addison home while Emmett and Nell collected the twins. “You’re awfully quiet. Not having buyer’s remorse, are you?”

Without revealing a change of heart, Addison simply sighed. “If I can’t make the ranch pay for itself, I’ll have to sell it and hope to recoup most of my investment.”

He stared at her. “I take it you have a plan or you wouldn’t have stuck your neck out like you did.”

She waved away his words. “I have a few ideas. Let’s wait until Emmett and Nell get to the house so I can share with all of you.”

An hour later, with lunch out of the way and the children down for a nap, the adults gathered in the living room. Comments passed back and forth about the great job everyone did decorating the Christmas tree and whether or not Wade had any word from the Red Cross about the twins’ mother.

When the chit-chat died out, Addison said, “Nell, the ranch is still yours. I hope you know what happened at the bank today was purely a formality to keep Magala Land Development from getting their grubby hands on the property.” Addison went on to explain that her ex-fiancé was the actual CEO and the money force behind MLD. “With Rowan, it’s all about the money. He doesn’t care who he steps on to get what he wants.”

Addison blinked rapidly to hold hot tears at bay.

Nell sounded dubious. “But you do have ideas about how to keep this place afloat?”

Wade raised his eyebrows. He’d removed his jacket and gun holster. There was a solidness about him that made Addison feel as if he could handle any situation that arose. Her heart fluttered. They looked at each other and then away. She had to take a steadying breath as her stomach tipped again.

“As a matter of fact, I’d like to form a corporation, an LLC with me as the CEO and Nell as the vice president. It will take most of a year to do all I’ve planned, and I hope we can be ready with the first phase by summer.”

Anxiety tinged Nell’s voice. “Do what, Addy? Stop talking around your tongue and get to the point.”

Addison opened a manila file folder and pulled out a sketch. She held it up for all to see. Its title was Hope Ranch…Your Destination to Adventure.

She explained, “Hope Ranch will become a vacation resort. We will build a gazebo for wedding ceremonies. Couples will have optional packages to choose from, one of which will include a honeymoon cottage down by the river. We can add a couple more cottages accessible to the river for renting during bass tournament season. We’ll get the Christmas tree farm up and running again, and offer sleigh rides to the farm so customers can cut their own trees, with hot chocolate afterward to warm them up. We’ll also open a gift shop and sell honey, cider, and jellies, plus T-shirts and other items on consignment from local crafters. We’ll have hiking trails and horseback-riding trails.

“I’ve crunched the numbers. Depending on the package clients choose, we can get at least two thousand a week for each cottage, and more if we stock them with food. For the cottages alone we’re looking at a possible eight thousand dollars per week. In two years, I’ll have paid myself back and more.”

“Addy…slow down…you’re boggling my mind. All of this sounds wonderful.” Nell shrugged. “We’re two women. I’m old, with a worn-out body. We can’t do this by ourselves.”

Emmett spoke up. “This is a fine idea, Addy. I’ll help out as much as time allows, and I’m sure Wade will, too.”

Wade winked. “You can count on me.”

Feeling a bit flushed from her own unexpected excitement, Addison said, “Thanks for the offer, guys. In the beginning, we may need you for physical labor.”

She focused on the woman sitting across from her. “Aunt Nell, during school holidays and the summer, we’ll hire high school kids and kids from the community college. They’ll work part-time, and with competition for jobs, I don’t think we’ll have any problems in the employment department.”

She pondered for a moment. “We will need one full-time employee—a handyman. We’ll convert that old shed behind the barn into living quarters. Part of his salary will include a place to live, utilities, and maybe two meals per day. And by the way, the house will be off-limits. No bed and breakfast. The house will remain our private residence. However, I’m sure your wonderful pastries will sell like hot cakes at the gift shop.” Her excitement had increased with each explanation. “What do you think?”

For a few minutes they sat in stiff silence.

Emmett slapped his knee. A grin spread across his face. “Sounds like a dang good plan to me.”

She stared blankly at Wade, waiting for his answer, and then a smile warmed his face. “I think you are a genius, Miss Addison James.”

With his and Emmett’s encouragement, she felt her own courage and fortitude rising, only to collapse when Nell asked, “Where are we going to get all the money it takes to fund your plans?”

She hesitated a moment, staring at the Christmas tree’s twinkling lights. Part of her was annoyed that Nell had interrupted her moment of victory, and her other part saw the practical side of the question. She drew a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I’ll telephone Ruby in the morning. After New Year’s, I’ll place my apartment in New York on the market. Except for making a trip to pack up my things and tie up a few loose ends, I’ll have no reason to keep the place and will have no plans to return to New York except for pleasure. Don’t worry, Aunt Nell. I’ve covered all the bases.”

Secretly, Addison hoped this wasn’t an unrealistic fantasy about turning Hope Ranch into a money-making enterprise.

Emmett declared it was time for him to get back to his place and see to a few chores. Nell claimed the day had exhausted her. She saw Emmett to the door and then escaped to her bedroom.

Wade checked his watch. “It’s about time for me to relieve Freddie.”

“I’ll walk you out.” Addison grabbed her cloak, and Wade helped wrap it around her shoulders.

Outside, standing next to his cruiser, Wade sent Addison a soft look out of guileless gray eyes. “You’re not a very good liar, you know.”

She narrowed her eyes and said sweetly, “I’m not sure I understand your meaning.”

“Yes, you do. We both know you’ve dug yourself into a deep financial hole.”

She looked down and kicked a small tuft of snow. Her shoulders rose up and down. “It’s for a good cause.” She jabbed a finger against his chest and leaned forward. “Have a little faith, Sheriff.”

He tightened his grip on her arm to bring her a step closer. Warning signals cautioned. She stiffened. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing illegal.” With his free hand he cupped the back of her head. “I’m going to kiss you.”

“No. I’m not the kissing sort.” She was terrified of her response.

His mouth was soft, gentle, coaxing her to taste him. Warmth and ropes of tension tangled together to slide through her belly. She made a sound, something perilously close to a growl. She whirled away. He grabbed her arm and held her in place. “Don’t play hot and cold with me, Addison.”

Her head was spinning. This was not a sensation she enjoyed. “My heart was ripped to shreds by Rowan… He mangled my soul and then had the audacity to laugh. So you’ll forgive me if I’ve closed the door on my trust department. I won’t be your latest fling.”

He snarled. “My latest… What the hell are you talking about?”

“Oh, don’t play coy, Wade. The other night, when you kissed me, you called me Gracie. She must be some deep, dark secret. Even Nell wouldn’t talk about her when I asked.”

When he didn’t answer, Addison arched a brow. “Whoever she is, I won’t compete with her, and I won’t let you use me to hurt her.” Her heart was knocking against her ribs.

Casually he lifted her hand and turned it to kiss the palm. “It’s not what you think, Addison.”

She harrumphed. “No, it never is.”

The radio in his cruiser crackled. A voice said, “Sheriff, everything a 10-17?”

“Shit.” Wade hissed between his teeth as he opened the car door and leaned in to grab the radio’s mic. “Freddie, it’s a 10-4. I’ll be in shortly.”

Overhead, the sky was brooding and turgid with snow clouds pushed by the wind. Addison hugged the cloak closer as chills raced up and down her spine. Her teeth threatened to chatter.

He stepped forward, and she stepped back. The lines that bracketed his mouth might have been carved with a knife. “Things are a bit hectic, especially with Friday being Freddie’s last day. I’ll be in touch.”

Her lips formed into a thin smile. She strode to the porch and up the steps. She turned back and watched the cruiser disappear down the long driveway.