“I appreciate the offer,” Emerson said, his gaze dropping to the floor. “It’s just… this is my project. I need to contribute around here, and if you all do the renovations for me, I’ll be back to square one.”
The other men exchanged glances, and Wyoming knew they didn’t understand, but she did. She felt the same way, after all.
“You all have chores on the ranch,” she explained. “Emerson and I would like to do something to help out, as well.”
“The General is insisting I take a percentage for managing the trailers, but—”
“Of course you’ll take a percentage,” Jo said. “It only makes sense.”
“I think we should give Emerson a competitive wage, not just a percentage,” Logan said.
“That’s not—”
The General shuffled into the room, leaning heavily on his cane. “What’s the hubbub all about?”
When it seemed no one would answer, Brian spoke up. “We’re figuring out how to pay Emerson for his work on the trailers—a percentage or an hourly wage.”
Wye saw Emerson’s face fall and knew why. They were back to treating him like a hired hand, not one of the family, like the General said he’d be. Brian, Logan and the others might think they were being helpful, but in reality they were killing Emerson’s dream of belonging here.
Which meant they were killing her dream, too.
And she found she wasn’t ready to let go of it without a fight.
“You know what, Emerson?” she spoke up loudly. “As good as this lasagna smells, I think you should take me out to dinner tonight, and I think the rest of you should talk about whether you actually want Emerson and me here long-term or not. The General told Emerson he’d get a share in the ranch and that if he married me, I’d be family, too. I don’t think anyone else agrees with him, though. Everyone keeps pretending we’re welcome here, but I get the feeling we’re not on those terms. Here’s your chance to talk among yourselves and figure it out once and for all.”
“Wye,” Cass began but Wye cut her off.
“Talk to your family, Cass. Really talk to them. Figure out what you want—because it’s not fair to keep us in limbo like this. We’ll be back later, and we’ll abide by your answer no matter what it is. Come on, Emerson.”
He followed without a word.
Chapter 7
‡
“Who’s the boss now?” Emerson teased Wye on the way to town, although he’d been grim for most of the drive. “You put the Two Willows posse on notice back there.”
“That’s the problem with so many adults living under one roof—too many people who think they’re in charge.”
He relaxed as the heat warmed the truck’s interior. It was a cold, clear night. Stars twinkled overhead in a sable sky. If this were a true date, he was sure he’d be enjoying himself, but Logan’s and Brian’s careless words at Two Willows had cut him to the quick. He’d been smart not to count on the General’s assertions that there was a place for him there. Obviously, there wasn’t.
“It’ll get better in the spring when people start building their own homes, I guess.” Emerson kept his gaze on the snowy road ahead of them as the headlights cut through the gloom. At least he knew what Wyoming felt.
“I’m sure it will—for them. You aren’t mad I took over the situation?”
“Not at all.” That was the one bright spot in the situation, actually. Wyoming scolding the General and everyone else was something to see. Proof that she cared for him—and was thinking long term when it came to their relationship.
That was good.
“The General should have talked to the rest of them well before he made you any promises. I don’t know what he was thinking. How are you feeling?”
He grunted. “I’m okay.”
She slid him a look that said she knew he was lying. It hurt to know that Brian, Logan, Jack and the other men felt they deserved a slice of Two Willows, just for following orders and marrying the General’s daughters, but they couldn’t see their way clear to allowing him the same reward for his service to the man. He’d worked side by side with the General for years. He hadn’t ever screwed up and faced a court martial like all of them had, either. They had to realize he wouldn’t rest on his laurels. Always pulled his weight. Always went above and beyond. He would be an asset to Two Willows. Why couldn’t they see that?
“At least we get a chance to be by ourselves.”
It was his turn to slide a look her way. “Is that a good thing?”
“You know it is.” Wye grinned. “Keep your eyes on the road, Soldier.”
“I’m watching where I’m going,” he assured her. “I’ve got a question for you, though.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“Will you still be interested in dating me if they say no?”
Wye studied the dark landscape outside her window. “I’m not fragile, Emerson. I won’t run at the first sign of trouble. You and I still have a lot of getting to know each other to do, but if things don’t work out between us, it won’t be because you don’t have a share in Two Willows.”
“Good to know.”
Just as they were seated at DelMonaco’s, Wye’s phone rang. She pulled it out and frowned.
“It’s Cass. Should I answer it?”
Emerson nodded. Might as well learn the worst.
“Hi, Cass.” Wye listened a moment before going on, her side of the conversation punctuated by long silences. “That’s good to hear. Okay. Uh-huh. All right. Yes, I guess so. I mean… sure. I know how the General is.” She looked up at Emerson. “I don’t think he’ll mind. See you later? Bye.”
“What’d she say?” Emerson pretended to look over the menu, but he wasn’t even reading the words. At first he’d thought it was good news, but the longer the call had gone on, the more uncomfortable Wye looked.
“They’ve decided they want both of
