Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(120)

the land once they’d kept her foreclosure at bay?


“So please tell me more about this plan of yours, because right now, I’d sign a deal

with the devil rather than lose everything.”


He looked at her. “The McKays have been called agents of Satan and devil’s spawn

before, by your own father, if I remember right.”


“Sounds like him, since he constantly referred to me as the Whore of Babylon.”


It really surprised Ben that Rielle’s father and Casper hadn’t gotten along better,

they were both cut from the same mean cloth. “Here’s the deal. Me, Dalton and Tell

would give you the funds to catch up to make the back payment. That’ll give you a

little time to decide if you want to sell us the whole parcel of land, or just part of

it.”


“You want the creek front section, don’t you?”


“Yes. It’d be great grazing land and it’s the section that’s closest to the rest of

our land. Look, if you wanted to subdivide it, we’d be open to that, because we don’t

wanna chase you off. But we also figured you’d rather sell the land to us and end up

with money in the bank, rather than the bank owning all of it and you ending up with

nothin’.”


“You have the money right now?” she asked skeptically.


He tried to gauge the best response to her mood. If he told her getting that much cash

wasn’t an issue, would she be resentful? Probably. He told a half-truth. “Not all of

it, but I know where I can get it.” Jesus. He hoped he could figure out some financial

wheeling and dealing —and soon.


“I…I don’t know. It sounds like a great solution, but I need some time to wrap my

head around it.”


“Don’t take too long.” Isn’t that what Tell and Dalton had warned too?



“I won’t.”


“And promise me you won’t do anything until you’ve talked to me first.”


Rielle nodded.


The swinging door from the back set of stairs swung open. “I should’ve eaten before I

showered because the—” Gavin stopped and looked from Ben to Rielle. “I’m sorry. Am

I interrupting something?”


“No. I actually came by to talk to you since we didn’t get a chance yesterday. Rielle

insisted I eat while I waited, and well, I’ll never say no to good cookin’.”


“Spoken like a bachelor.” Gavin helped himself to a cup of coffee. “But that doesn’

t explain why it appears Rielle’s has been crying.”


She laughed a tad too cheerfully. “It’s from chopping onions for the quiche we’re

having for lunch.”


Gavin looked like didn’t believe her, but he smiled at her anyway. “Good to know. I’

d hate to have to pound on Ben if he somehow maligned your muffins.”


Rielle rolled her eyes. “Ben would never do that. He’s a good guy, honest as the day

is long.”


Ben made a gagging noise.


“Plus, he knows what side his muffin is buttered on.” She winked. “If you need

anything else, holler. I’ll be in my office.”


Gavin refilled his coffee and loaded his plate with a muffin and a banana.