Chapter 15: Ray's Offer

Ryan's POV

The dinner broke up without dessert.

Abuela had said "Tomorrow" to her son in a voice that closed the subject, and nobody had argued with her.

Thirty-four people drifted down the drive in their pickups, looking at me sideways and at Annie for a long time.

The old rancher stopped by my chair on his way out.

"My brother's money is gone," he said. "I'll think about whether that's yours to answer for."

"It is," I said.

He nodded once and put his hat on.

Then I walked out to the barn alone, because I needed the dark and the smell of horses.

Ray was waiting inside, leaning on a stall door with his notebook open.

"Sam," he said. "Or do you prefer Ryan?"

"Say what you came to say."

"I'll make it simple." He clicked a pen. "You sign a statement tonight that this marriage was arranged for the ranch."

"And?"

"I file it Monday. Kat keeps her good name, and you keep your job."

His voice stayed pleasant.

"I also don't tell the court what your father's partners did to the last man who talked."

"Is that supposed to scare me?"

"Two of those men came looking for you in 2021. I know their names now."

He smiled.

"I'd hate to hand them an address."

I took one step toward him.

He didn't flinch, and he didn't stop smiling.

"And I'll add twenty thousand dollars," Ray said. "For your trouble."

"You want me to put it in writing that Kat lied."

"I want what's best for this family."

"You want the creek," I said. "You want the water rights, and you want nobody looking at your books."

For the first time, the smile slipped.

"Good night, Sam."

"My name is Sam," I said. "It's the name I earned. I'm not signing anything."

He closed the notebook and walked out, and I stood there with my hands shaking.

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