“They seemed clear to me. They threatened my family, including my child, if I didn’t sell.” I rolled my shoulders as the anger of his henchmen’s threats bloomed inside me again.
“Well, see, they shouldn’t have done that. I’m just trying to make you a fair offer for the property.”
“Fair or not, it’s not for sale.” I watched him carefully. He was a man who was good at facades. At making people believe he was calm, cool and collected, but I saw the quick flash of irritation in his eyes at my words.
“The governor has endorsed this project. It will create many jobs for your neighbors who need them. Not everyone is cut out for farming. The people of Salvation will have jobs and it will mean more money for the county. Surely you support your community?” He was clearly going for some sort of empathy I might have for my neighbors. I did have empathy. I just didn’t think I should have to forfeit my land so they could have a job. Surely there was another industry that could be brought in that wouldn’t require so many farmers to give up their way of life? Weirder still was that Stark could understand empathy. I was sure he didn’t.
“The governor doesn’t own this land, I do.”
Again, there was a quick, almost imperceptible clench of his jaw. “I understand your family has been ranching on this property for a long time. I can see how important that would be to you. Family history is important. But look around you, Mr. Jones. The house is tired and showing signs of wear. Family farming is dying. In five, maybe ten years, it will be extinct and where will you be? You can take this offer and start a new life with your new wife.”
“In five or ten years, I’ll be right here. Raising cattle and enjoying life with my wife and family.” At least I would be if I could convince Sinclair to stay.
Stark smirked, showing the first sign of the snake he really was. “Wife, yes, well, we all know the truth about your so-called marriage.” This time it was my jaw that tightened. “I know that this marriage is a ploy to save your farm and get your so-called wife elected mayor. Come on now, Mr. Jones, you don’t think that will work, do you? The people of Salvation are too smart to fall for this.”
“You don’t talk about my wife.” My hands balled into fists. I was dying to punch that smirk off his face, perhaps take out a few of his veneers too.
Stark laughed. “Oh my, you’ve fallen for your fake wife. Is that it?” He shook his head like he pitied me.
“Get the fuck off my land, Stark. You’re trespassing. I promised my wife I wouldn’t kick the shit out of you, but I will call the sheriff.”
He held his hands up in surrender. “No need to lose control, Mr. Jones. We are civilized.”
I ground my teeth together, hating how he was insinuating I was some sort of neanderthal.
“But really, I do encourage you to consider what you’re doing. Your fake marriage will be exposed. Why not take the money? You can set your mother up in a nice place and she won’t have to work so hard on this farm. She’s worked hard enough, don't you think? She deserves a good life after dealing with your father’s abuse. This fake marriage, it’s a waste of time and effort.”
Fucker. “The only thing fake here is your charm, Stark.” I sneered.
His expression was smug as he said, “If the marriage is real, why aren’t you adopting the deputy mayor’s lovely daughter? The poor girl has no father, so surely, if you were a real family, had a real marriage, you’d adopt her and make her yours.”
Jesus, I hadn’t thought about that.
He smiled like he’d earned points. “You reconsider selling your land, Mr. Jones, or I’ll expose your wife’s plan to manipulate her way into the mayor’s chair.”
I strode down the steps, and was glad to see Stark take a step back. “If you threaten my wife again, I’ll show you all the ways the U.S. Special Forces taught me how to kill a man.”
Stark looked at me with a distasteful expression. “Bluster all you want, Mr. Jones. I will have this land. I look forward to the day you’re forced to sign those papers.” He strode to his car, climbing in and driving off.
“Fucking asshole.” I was livid. I hated that I hadn’t punched his lights out. More than that, I was worried about Sinclair. How did Stark get the idea that our marriage was fake? The only thing I could think of was the mayor, who clearly had a personal vendetta against me for taking Sinclair from him.
How Stark found out didn’t matter. What mattered was that I warn Sinclair. She’d need to be ready if Stark went public with his accusations.
I left a note for my mother on the mirror near the front door, and then drove into town to the mayor’s office.
“Wyatt, hey.” Trina smiled when she saw me but then her smile faltered. “What’s wrong?”
“Is Sinclair in?”
“Yeah.” She stood and made her way down to Sinclair’s office. I followed her. “Hey Sin, Wyatt’s here.”
I stepped inside the office with Trina.
“Is everything okay?” Sinclair asked, standing from behind her desk.
“That asshole Stark was just at the house.” I explained the entire conversation, leaving out the part about adopting Alyssa. The truth was, once he said it, I wondered why I hadn’t considered it. Probably because I knew Sinclair saw me as temporary. Temp husband. Temp stepdad. But of course, I wanted to adopt her. In the two weeks I’d known her, she’d become as much mine as if it was my sperm that had helped create her. Both Sinclair and Alyssa were my family. Mine.
“Did you punch the smarm
