Ben gave them credit for quick thinking. “We’ve always wanted that creek front section. But they’ve always refused to sell.”
“It don’t look like Rielle’s got an option now. The sale of that acreage will give her enough money to keep her bed and breakfast open if she wants.”
“Who else have you talked to about this?”
“No one,” Dalton said. “Not even Brandt.”
“Why not?”
“Because as much as we appreciate that Brandt’s a hard worker, he’s a damn do-gooder. He’ll see even talkin’ to Rielle as takin’ advantage of her. We don’t see it that way. We figured you wouldn’t either. So, we’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention this to Quinn.”
It clicked. “Quinn would feel the same as Brandt.”
Tell nodded. “You’re practical, Ben. And to some extent, unsentimental, like us. It’s just business.”
“Good business,” Dalton inserted. “It has to be just the three of us, if we can swing it.”
“Because you don’t want Uncle Carson or Uncle Cal to get wind of this either.”
“And buy it right out from under us? Fuck no. But it ain’t like the purchase wouldn’t benefit the entire McKay ranching operation. It’d just give both our families a little more land, a little more pull, and maybe a little more respect. I mean, yeah, they’re treating us better than they ever have, askin’ for our input, increasing our shares, but sometimes we still feel like the poor relatives.”
Again, Ben couldn’t argue with their logic. “Do you guys have the capital?” Not wanting to admit he fell into the poor relative category, he added sharply, “Because I sure as hell ain’t funding the whole thing.” He wasn’t sure he could fund even a portion of it. He’d have to hope like hell some of his furniture payments came through.
A fierce look entered Dalton’s eyes. “I know you didn’t mean that to be insulting, cuz. Yeah, me’n Tell are the youngest, but that don’t make us the dumbest. We put up the lion’s share of the down payment for that section we bought, more than Brandt. Dad don’t even know that.”
He whistled. “Impressive. You saved all that?”
They exchanged another look. “Not exactly.”
“What have you boys been up to?”
“Poker.”
“Excuse me?”
Tell offered a shit-eating grin. “We’ve become damn good poker players. We hit Deadwood for weekend tournaments. Blackhawk, Colorado, has decent-sized pots once a month. We made a shit ton of money playin’ online before most them sites closed down.”
“When I was in Vegas with you last December for the NFR?”
“I rocked it at the poker tables. Played a little blackjack. I ended up fifteen grand ahead.”
Seemed he wasn’t the only one with a secret life. “Does Brandt know about any of this?”
“No. He thinks we’re man-whores, hittin’ strip clubs all over hell when we’re really playing poker.”
“Except for the weekends I’m working as a rodeo judge,” Tell clarified. “So you see why we don’t want him to know about this. Alls we want is a bigger piece of the pie and not to have to borrow money from one of the uncles to make improvements on our land.”
“Dad didn’t have a problem with that, but the rest of us did,” Dalton said sourly.
“I don’t blame you. I would’ve had a problem with that too.”
“But we can’t just show up on Rielle’s doorstep and ask if what Rory said was true. It’d be easier if someone Rielle knows and trusts, someone she owes neighborly favors to, would get the real scoop.”
“Seriously? I’m supposed to pop over and say, ‘Hey, Ree, thanks for watching my dogs and for the zucchini bread and by the way, how much are you behind on your bank payments?’”
“We hoped you’d use your no bullshit reputation to get the facts, and not act the part of an ass-kissing suck-up like the rest of our relatives.”
Ben scrubbed his hand over his jaw. This had caught him off guard. “Look. I appreciate your trust in me. I ain’t gonna say nothin’ to nobody, but I need time to chew it over. Okay?”
“Okay. But don’t forget the ticking clock.”
Tara delivered the food. She dropped Tell’s hot beef sandwich almost from eye level. The cheeky bastard just grinned at her and said, “Thanks, darlin’.”
Conversation ceased as they ate.
Ben made a point not to stare at Ainsley, because his cousins would notice his distraction.
Then again, Tell and Dalton shoveled food like they’d never seen it. “What’s the rush?”
“No need to sit around and bullshit when there’s work to finish.” Dalton dropped a twenty on the table. “Let us know if you find anything out.”
As his cousins exited the restaurant, Ainsley and the mayor headed toward him. Ainsley kept her expression blank.
The mayor, Mark Gilbert, was effusive. “Ben McKay! I haven’t seen you in town for a while. Did we tick you off or something?” He thrust out his hand.
Ben shook it. “No, sir, Mr. Mayor. Just keeping myself busy on the ranch. Snuck into town to have lunch with my cousins.”
Mark leaned in. “What’s with this Mr. Mayor bullshit? We’ve known each other since elementary school.”
Ben held Ainsley’s gaze. “Just wanted to show you the proper respect when you’re havin’ lunch with the president of Sundance’s newest bank.”
He laughed. “Of course you’ve already met the lovely and capable Miz Hamilton. The McKays have a knack for knowing when a beautiful new woman arrives in town and mercilessly working her with those cowboy charms.”
Slathering on the flattery for Ainsley while taking a small shot at him? Mayor Mark didn’t miss a trick.
Ben offered Ainsley his hand. “Good to see you again, Miz Hamilton.”
“You too, Mr. McKay.”
“Ainsley and I were just discussing ideas for the next community event. We’re hoping to have something big to welcome National West Bank to our community. You have any thoughts?”
Ainsley cocked her head. “I’d love to hear your input. I’ve heard your family is a big part of this community and has been for over one hundred years.”
“At the risk of bein’ accused of nepotism, I’d suggest a community celebration to honor my brother Chase’s accomplishments this past year. He might not be headed to the PBR World Finals, but he’s done an outstanding job starting his own advocacy group for mandatory safety helmets in bull riding. The mayor knows any time Chase comes back to town there’s always people interested in hearing him talk. Now that he’s gone and married himself a genuine movie star?” Ben grinned. “This community event could have worldwide attention.”