Return To Marker Ranch. Claire McEwen

course we’d compensate you for the use of your well,” Jim went on as if she hadn’t spoken. “Split any maintenance costs, for example.”

      “And it would help us manage the existing water in the aquifer more carefully if we were working together,” Lori added. There. That sounded scientific and neutral.

      “Look, I get that you guys are in a bind,” Wade said. “But as you know, I’m only just getting started, and this place has been neglected for a very long time. I’ve sunk all I have into this ranch, and my sister’s done the same.”

      “I thought I saw Nora the other day,” Jim said. “But I figured my old eyes were playing tricks on me.”

      Wade brightened a little at the mention of his sister. They’d always been close. “She’s working as a consultant on range management. But in her free time she’s been here, helping me out.”

      “That’s really great,” Lori chimed in. “How nice that you’re working together to start up the ranch again.”

      “Thanks.” Wade gave her a glance with eyebrows raised, obviously recognizing her chipper demeanor for what it truly was—desperation. He saw right through her—he always had. It was like he was born with a Lori Allen instruction manual and he’d memorized the whole thing. Back in high school, she’d tried to hide her crush on him, but he’d known the entire time.

      “Lori, I want to help. I really do. But I’m new at this. I don’t know how much water I’m going to need, and I don’t want to take any big risks. I’ve got to turn a profit as fast as possible or I won’t be able to make it.”

      “I understand that.” Lori tried to calm the anxiety rising inside. “But I need to make a profit, too, and with this drought, we’re on year three of loss. I’ve got cows and calves up in the mountains that I need to bring down, and I’ve been counting on my upper pastures for them. If I can’t irrigate that area, what am I supposed to do?”

      Wade shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not saying no to your idea outright. But I’m definitely going to need a little time to crunch the numbers and see if it will work.”

      “But it’s not your water.” Lori’s clenched her hands into fists, digging them into the sides of her thighs, trying to keep her temper in check. He held the fate of her ranch in his hands, and he couldn’t be bothered to give her an answer? How could he be so selfish? How could he not say yes?

      “I’m sorry, Lori. I promise I’ll look the numbers over this week and get back to you.” Wade stood up a little straighter, as if letting them know the conversation was over.

      There had to be a way to make him see reason. “Wade, if this is about the other day...”

      “Hang on, Lori.” Jim set a warning hand on her arm. “We appreciate it, Wade. We really do. We’ll look forward to hearing from you.” Jim reached out and shook Wade’s hand and then took Lori firmly by the elbow, steering her to the truck.

      Fury seethed inside. She hated this. Hated that Wade had only been on Marker Ranch for a few weeks and he was already causing her trouble. Once again he showed up in her life and destroyed it in one cool, detached move. She turned, ignoring Jim’s murmured warning.

      “I take back that apology.”

      “I figured you might.” Wade’s jaw was set and stubborn. “Just say your piece, Lori. Then we can both get on with our day.”

      She’d heard the term seeing red before. Now she knew what it meant. Anger colored everything. Her, Wade and his damn ranch were all on fire. “What you’re doing is wrong. Wrong! You took our water!”

      “I didn’t...”

      She didn’t want to hear his excuses. About anything. “There’s a right way to ranch and a wrong way to ranch. And you don’t seem to know the difference. You should listen to people who do know right from wrong. Like Jim here!”

      Jim put up a hand in protest, as if telling her to leave him out of her tirade. She was beyond caring.

      “You know what, Wade? You can pretend you’re different from your family. That you are back here trying to turn this place into a legal business. But right now you’re acting like just one more Hoffman thief. Just like your brothers! Just like your dad!”

      Wade froze as if she’d struck him. If she’d had any kind of large, heavy object, she might have. She was that furious.

      Jim’s grip tightened on her elbow, and he tugged.

      “Let go of me,” she spat out, still glaring at Wade.

      “Lori, that is enough!” Jim barked and all but dragged her the rest of the way to the truck.

      As soon as they were inside and she had the engine roaring, he turned to her. “You want to tell me what was going on back there?”

      “He’s wrong.” She jerked the wheel, trying to get them turned around and away from Wade as fast as possible.

      “Yeah, and he probably would have figured that out if you’d given him the time he was asking for. Instead you just drove him into a corner. I’m pretty sure you can say goodbye to that water.”

      “Well, he was already making it pretty clear he wouldn’t share it.”

      “He was asking for time to think! Don’t you remember how that kid struggled in school? He probably just needs some time to work out the math and make sure it’s all going to be okay. It was a reasonable request.”

      Every word Jim said was true. But there was more to it than he knew. And there was no way she could tell him. “I’m sorry I wasted your time today, Jim,” she said stiffly. “I’ll order some water to tide us over until we get this figured out.”

      “That’s an expensive choice.”

      His words stung with their truth. “Well, right now it’s my only choice, so I’ll just have to make it work.”

      “You say you want to lead this ranch. But your dad wouldn’t have...”

      She cut him off before he could go further down that road. “My dad isn’t here anymore. I think we both wish he was sometimes. I’ll figure this out, Jim. I promise. And I’m sorry I messed up today.”

      He didn’t answer, and they drove the rest of the way back to the ranch in a clouded silence. Lori just hoped Jim didn’t mention any of this to the rest of the staff. The last thing she wanted was for her already skeptical ranch hands to know that she’d totally lost it and called their neighbor a thief. It wouldn’t help earn their respect. She knew that for certain, because right now she was having trouble respecting herself.

       CHAPTER SIX

      WADE HANDED HIS sister the sheet of numbers he’d worked out. Units of water required. Current output from the well. Just like it said in his ranching books. “Thanks for coming by to take a look at this.”

      But Nora just set his spreadsheet facedown on the dining room table between them. “You don’t get it. It’s not about the numbers.”

      He stared at her in shock. “How can you say that? You’re a scientist. You’re all about the numbers!”

      “Mostly, yes.” Nora nodded. “But in this case they don’t matter. You just need to do what’s right. You can’t quantify that.”

      He’d asked his sister over to look at the facts, not dish out morality. “So you’re saying I should just give her half of my well water?”

      “Yes.” She gave him the calm smile he’d relied on for so much of his life. “I think it’s that simple.”

      Nerves twisted in his stomach. “But I can’t afford to. It says it right there on that paper.” Wade picked