Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70445 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70445 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“The rest, meaning?” I ask.
“Uncles, aunts, the few cousins she kept around. You know, her cronies.” Kerry scowls and shakes her head, patting her hair flat. “I’m not trying to sound too bitter, okay? Daisy really did turn this place around. From the way I heard it, the ranch was basically on the verge of bankruptcy, and Uncle Colton—” She hesitates and gives me a strange look. “Apparently, there was talk about selling the property and the house.”
I blink rapidly and try to take that in. “Really? My dad was going to sell?”
“I’m not sure it was his idea, but everyone was talking about it as a possibility at the time. But then Uncle Colton got even sicker, and Daisy started making all these decisions and all the uncles were backing her up. People got fired and horses and cattle were sold, and they auctioned off a few of the big machines, and now it’s like—” She gestures around her at the sad state of things. “It’s not gone, but it’s not what it was.”
“Why Daisy though?” I ask, genuinely curious now. War got in my head apparently, and I can’t stop thinking about it. “I don’t get why everyone would go along with what she wanted and not one of the uncles.”
“I think she was the only one with any ideas at the time.” Kerry looks uncomfortable as she talks. “You know how everyone is. Uncle Colton was the one running the place and everyone just sort of… went along, you know? We all enjoyed success when the place was successful, and when things turned—”
“Nobody wanted to step up,” War says.
“Except for Daisy.” Kerry lets out a long breath. “Listen, Melody, I know you got treated really badly for a while back in the day.” She stops walking and faces me, but her eyes slide off to the side like she can’t meet my gaze. “I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for, you know, how that all went down. And also, that I think Rosie was capable of a lot more harm than everyone was willing to admit at the time. It was just so soon after she died, and then the whole thing with you and her came out, and I guess—” Kerry sighs and looks up. “Anyway, it’s been bothering me for years. And I’m sorry.”
I blink rapidly at her, trying to make sense of what she’s saying. I never, ever expected someone from the family to apologize to me for how things went down, and to hear Kerry say that—
Tears press against my eyes. “Thanks,” I say and give her a tight hug. When I let go, she’s blinking back tears and wiping her eyes too. “I really didn’t expect that but it means more than you probably realize.”
“Well, I should’ve said it a long time ago. Everyone should’ve. But I think they’re afraid of Daisy now.”
“I don’t get it. Daisy can’t be technically in charge, right? I mean, she was so young back then.”
“The problem is nobody’s in charge. Your dad is the outright owner, and he’s the only one with any legal right to make decisions, and since he’s incapacitated, I guess it just falls to whoever’s willing to do the work. Mostly that’s Daisy.”
I take a deep, shuddering breath and try to calm myself. I grin at Kerry and squeeze her hand. “Thanks for talking to us. And thanks for saying what you said, you know?”
“Yeah, of course.” She laughs too and wipes her eyes. “Can I ask you something? You don’t have to answer, but I’m curious. Why are you back? Daisy thinks you’re trying to take over. Is she right?” There’s a strange hopefulness in her voice that breaks my heart.
“No,” I say and glance at War. His face is blank and he gives me nothing. “I don’t want the ranch.”
“Oh, right. Okay, that makes sense, I guess.” She nods to herself and I wonder if she was hoping I’d push Daisy out or if she misses being on the family payroll. “Then what do you want?”
“It’s complicated, but I’m really not here for the ranch. I’m just here to say goodbye to my dad and for War to get paid for a job, that’s all.”
“Huh.” Kerry doesn’t look like she believes me, and I can’t blame her. Intrigue is practically baked into this place. “Well, I’d be careful of Daisy. I’m sure you figured that out already, but she’s seriously gunning for you.”
“We’re aware,” War says without smiling.
“Is there anything else you can tell us?” I press. “Anything about Daisy and the way she took over?”
“Just that it was strange the way everyone fell into line. Uncle Lovett really went to bat for her early on and then Uncle Dudley stood behind her, and I guess everyone else realized the two main contenders for control were backing her and they might as well too. But it was Uncle Lovett in those early weeks that really got things going.”