I slammed my fist into the solid oak table. It shook as six sets of steely eyes glared at me. The seventh much softer, her body jumping at the sudden impact. My cheeks were on fire, anger lapping at my body. The outrage I felt vibrated through my core as I struggled to keep my temper under wraps. The Wheeler men all had tempers.
“This is bullshit, and every one of you sitting here knows it. I work this land and these herds just as hard as the rest of you. There isn’t a hand on this ranch that doesn’t respect me.”
“Having a man's respect for the work you do is far different than the respect for the women you bed,” my father stated.
My mother's cheeks blushed. “Jackson, this is for your own good. Now your father and I have made our decision, and we plan on sticking to it. Now sit back down so we can discuss other business.”
“I’m not just going to let this go.” I was pissed. “Do any of the others have to jump through these hoops for their cut of the land?”
“Son, you’ve had four different pregnancy scares with as many women in as many years. You dip your wick wherever the wax is hot without thinking. I won't watch the empire our forefathers built get pissed away between one baby mama or another.”
“And you all support this?” I glared at my five brothers. “Every single one of you thinks that I should have to get married before I get the Fort Davis cut of the ranch?”
For them, it was nothing more than an amusement. Each brother had his own personality, yet we all loved watching the others squirm. This was crossing a line, though. There was no way in hell that I was going to let them dictate what I did with my life. My mother wouldn’t meet my gaze. She would never allow my father to cut me out of my birthright.
I leveled my attention to her. “You always told us to follow our hearts. So, my heart doesn’t matter since it’s not going in the same direction as everyone else’s? You think I should have to settle?”
“Of course not, honey, I just want you to find love.” She hesitated. “You do seem to be looking in a lot of different places, though.”
The brothers all snickered. My cheeks flushed. “This isn’t right.”
“Oh, quit your bitching and moaning,” my father grumbled. “You’ve got five years. If you can't find someone by the time you turn thirty-five, then maybe it’s just not in the cards. But don’t think you’re going to wiggle your way out of this contract, boy. I won't see my hard work pissed away.”
“So you think I’ve been pissing away my time? Or is it the family money you’re worried about?” I snapped. “Fort Davis has made a profit every quarter since I took over that land nine years ago, or are you forgetting about that?”
“It’s making a profit, but half the money is going to your lifestyle!” my father said.
“Half the profit has always been the agreement. It’s the same for all six of us sons. Fifty percent to the family and fifty percent salary.”
“The others take their cut and reinvest it, though.”
“That isn’t my problem. I run that property right, the men follow my lead, and we’ve never had a bad season. This is a goddamn witch hunt if you ask me.”
“No one is asking you,” my father reminded me. “The decision has been made. You’ve got five years to find a woman who will tolerate you.”
I clenched my teeth. The Texas sun was cresting over the range outside. My eyes caught my father's in the paling light. I saw my fate in the matter was settled. There would be no changing his mind, no matter how wrong I thought he was. There had to be a way for me to escape.
“I want a copy of the contract,” I seethed.
“I would expect nothing less. If you think you’re going to find a loophole, though, I wouldn’t bother. I figured you’d try to find a way out of it, so I had Donnie look it over a few times,” my father said.
My heart dropped. “I don’t care. I still want to see it. Unless you're worried that old coot missed something?”
“If he did, I’m sure you’ll find it.”
He slid the stack of papers over to me. They sprawled out, the paperclip struggling to hold onto them. From the very first line, I