happy about it. “But Bristol’s not going to spew joy-filled rainbows when she hears the good news. After what our grandparents did, it’s going to feel like four more slaps in the face.” It would hurt even more that Mama had planned it all.
Xander toed the concrete of the parking pad. “You’re kinda screwed either way, then. You either have to tell her that you need to get married in the next two months so she doesn’t get the money. Or you wait, and it’s like telling her that not even a hundred mill is enough to make you marry her. How would that go over with her? Or with the rest of the town when the news gets out and spreads like a forest fire?” He gave me a wince like I had one lifeline and it had just snapped. “Sucks, man.”
I blew out a breath. “You could say that. I mean, it shouldn’t be hard to ask for time to date her without worrying about the damn trust. I wish I could just forget it, but as soon as July fifth hits, she’s going to get a windfall and have a few questions.”
“Then hate all of us,” Beck added.
I shot him a disgruntled glare. Sometimes, brothers were just good for pointing out obvious shitty details. “I really like her.” I flipped the steaks, half muttering, half gushing. “Her eyes don’t glaze over when I talk about why I think the Black Angus breed is the best for Montana winters. I even told her about the genetics deal we were offered and that I passed because Tucker and I are working out a plan to do our own Black Angus seed bulls. I didn’t have to explain a thing; she knew what I meant. I can talk shop without one single eye roll. Not only doesn’t she feign interest, but she actually contributes to the conversation.”
“Do you two talk about more than work though?” Xander asked. “Just because she lives the life doesn’t mean you’re, like, fated or something. You two need more in common.”
“You mean other than being rich and wanting to travel?” That might’ve been a shallow dig, but they didn’t understand Bristol. She wasn’t one-dimensional. She had a million facets that shone even in the dismal light of her life. “She loves my cooking, and I like cooking for her. Even more than for you fuckers. And we both have a weakness for formulaic romance movies.”
“Dawson,” Beck said carefully and my hackles rose. He was speaking slowly, cautiously. Like I wasn’t going to like what he had to say. “You two need more than liking a few of the same things and ranching together. She’s lived a different life than you.”
“And you and Eva came from the same backgrounds?”
“You know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t think you know what you mean. I had less in common with McKenzie. We were both from Montana and went to the same college, and you all thought she was great.” I flipped the hood of the grill down before I hurt my eyes glaring at the flames. “Bristol sees the world like none of us ever will. She saw her dad as a person. Same with all the help he hired.”
“No.” Beck’s jaw clenched. “No. It’s because of that help—”
“What’s going on out here?” Dad walked out of the garage, Aiden on his heels. His eyes were narrowed, no doubt because I had rounded on Beck, and Xander was shaking his head.
A muscle jumped in Beck’s jaw. “Dawson here was saying that Bristol has compassion for people like the guy that beat Mama to death.”
Dad winced at Beck’s blunt words. Hell, we all did.
“Shh.” I looked around. “Is she here?”
Dad looked between us. “Yes, but don’t worry. I think Kendall waylaid her, assuming she wouldn’t want to walk out here with all of us. So. What’s going on?”
“She said Danny was sick.” I gave Beck a pointed look. “And the meth head too. And that she thinks Danny kept hiring those guys because a part of him wanted to give someone a second chance. Since for whatever reason, they wouldn’t seek help on their own.”
My brothers stayed quiet, but some of the heat drained from Beck’s gaze.
“Danny was really sick. You guys don’t know—”
“Then why don’t you tell us?” Aiden’s hard tone surprised all of us. “Tell us how he was so sick that he got Mama killed.”
“He lived in squalor. It was so bad, Bristol lives in the RV