Stallion guy. I’ve heard he’s a real business shark.”
Marah suddenly blushed, a rush of color heating her cheeks. She stammered, searching for words. “He…well…he was…”
Before either of the Briscoe women could say another word, Edward moved back into the room. A wide smile filled his face as he cuddled Marla’s two-month-old son in his arms.
“Look who was wide awake,” the man gushed, nuzzling his face into the infant’s neck. “He was just laying there waiting patiently for his mama. This here’s one good baby. Boy wasn’t even crying.”
Marla extended her arms as her father passed her the child. Marah grinned, moving from her seat to her sister’s side. “He gets bigger and bigger each time I see him, Marla,” she said, pressing her lips to the baby’s forehead.
“And heavier and heavier,” Marla chuckled.
Edward fanned a hand in her direction. “You need to feed that boy some real food, that’ll fatten my boy up.”
Marla rolled her eyes skyward. “He’ll get real food soon enough, Daddy. Breast milk is just fine for now.”
Her father scowled. “You kids don’t know nothing. Need to give him a real bottle with a little cereal in it. That’s what your mama and I use to give you three.”
“And I’m still trying to get the weight off my hips!” Eden exclaimed.
They all laughed as Edward moved back to his pots. He peered in quickly, giving the concoction another quick stir.
They all fell silent for a quick minute as they watched Marla and the baby, marveling at the new life that had blessed their family. Edward broke the quiet.
“You need to get dem papers back, Marah.”
“But, Daddy…”
“But nothing. I’ve made my decision, honey. It’s time. I’m tired and running this ranch takes more out of me than I have to give.” The man let out a deep sigh.
“But, Daddy, if Marla and Michael keep running the day-to-day operations and I know Eden and I would be more than willing to take over some of the other responsibilities.”
“Munchkin, for all you know Marla and Michael might have other plans. Marla needs to be thinking about little Mike there, not this place. She’s got a family now and Eden needs to be thinking about having one with that new husband of hers. And you don’t need any more distractions keeping you from finding your own man. This ranch has just become an excuse for all of us to not go on with our lives. Besides, if you and Eden want to see that new business of yours do well, then you two will need to invest all the time and energy that you have there and not be worried about this ranch.”
Marah persisted. “I don’t think that’s fair, Daddy. This ranch is our lives, too. You haven’t even asked us what we wanted to do. I really think we should all talk about it.”
“I don’t need to talk about it. I’ve made up my mind,” the man said, his expression showing that he had no intentions of discussing it further.
“But, Daddy—”
Edward held up his hand and stalled her words. “Just get dem papers, Marah. That’s all you need to do.”
The family had all gathered for lunch, not another word spoken about the Stallions or the sale of the family home. After excusing himself to go take a quick nap, Edward had retired to his room and his children had discussed their options. Marah was only slightly dismayed by her sibling’s attitudes: Eden and Marla not wanting to rock Edward’s boat, but all agreeing that none of them wanted to see what their parent’s had built sold away—and definitely not to a corporation that didn’t have a clue.
Down in the stables, Marah groomed Brutus, the chestnut gelding that had been gifted to her on her twenty-fourth birthday. Her mother had been the one to select the horse as well as the palomino that Marla had named Chester. The stables and the animals that dwelled there had been her sanctuary for so long that Marah couldn’t begin to image her life without them. Somehow they had to make their father understand how important the ranch was to them all.
Hearing her name being called, Marah stroked the horse one last time, then headed out of the barn. Looking toward the homestead, she couldn’t miss the black sedan that was parked in the yard or the man standing in conversation with her father. She could feel her body tense as she stood staring in their direction.
Directly ahead of her, Eden and Marah were making their way to her side.
“If I wasn’t already in love and married,” Eden chimed, a wide grin filling her face.
“That brother is one good-looking man,” Marla exclaimed, giggling with her older sister.
“What’s he doing here?” Marah asked, her palms gripping the sides of her waist.
“He came to speak with you.”
Marah tossed Eden a quick look. “Me?”
The other woman nodded. “We assume you’re the Ms. Briscoe he wants to speak with.”
“And Daddy says to not keep Mr. Stallion waiting. Something about him being a busy man,” Marla said with another giggle.
Marah sneered as they all three headed in the direction of the house, but as they approached the two men, she was suddenly conscious of the fact that she reeked of horse and barn, and her face and hands were smeared with dirt and grime. Marah couldn’t believe this was happening to her. She brushed her palms against the front of her jeans, willing the dirt away.
John Stallion turned as she approached, his eyes widening with amusement as she drew near. He nodded in greeting.
“It’s very nice to see you again, Ms. Briscoe,” he said with more emphasis on the Ms. than necessary.
“Mr. Stallion.”
“John came to talk to me about your meeting this morning,” Edward said, eyeing his daughter with raised eyebrows.
Marah found herself wishing for a hole to crawl into as her father continued, turning his attention back to the man at his side.
“Marah is just like her mother—headstrong and stubborn as a mule. Did you meet my other girls, John?”
“No, sir. I haven’t yet had the pleasure,” the dark prince said, his tone full and deep. He extended a hand toward Eden and then Marla as Edward made the introductions.
“This is my oldest girl, Eden Waller and this is Marah’s twin, Marla Baron. Marla and her husband Michael just gave me my first grandbaby. As you know, they run the daily operations here. Girls, this is Mr. John Stallion.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” John said.
“It’s nice to meet you as well,” Eden chimed.
Marah rolled her eyes at her sister, crossing her arms over her chest. Her gaze fell back on John, who was watching her intently, his stare more than obvious.
“Ms. Briscoe, I was telling your father that since you’re not happy with the details of our preliminary offer that it might be in his best interest if you were to participate in the final negotiations.”
“Excuse me?” Marah cut her eyes from one man to the other.
John smiled, the beauty of it sending a torrent of heat straight into Marah’s southern quadrant. “That’s right. Your father has agreed that you should handle his end of the negotiations.”
Marah tossed her father a shocked look. The old man was grinning in her direction. He nodded his head.
“That’s right, munchkin. I still plan to sell, but I’m going to trust you to get me a deal that will make everyone happy.”
“But, Daddy—”
He interrupted, changing