the papers and read them. “You want to set up a trust for the ranch? I don’t understand.”
“You love this ranch. It’s been your family’s home for three generations. I want you to always have it, and for every future generation of the Turner family to have it. I haven’t had a home in a long time. Everyone should have a home, so I want to make sure you always have yours. You make a profit on the ranch, but there are outstanding loans. As you can see, there’s a substantial amount in the trust. The trust pays off those loans and allows the land to stay in your family for every generation to come. If there isn’t a family member to take over the land, the trust will go into effect and the land will be held in conservation. The ranch and land will always be here.”
“So, according to this trust, I own everything free and clear and my children will get the property and their children and so on.”
“That’s exactly it. It’s yours, as it is now, but this way it will always be here for your family. It will be your legacy.”
Humbled, he understood exactly what she’d done for him. She was right, the ranch made a nice profit, but he didn’t know what would happen if he were gone. Future generations. He wanted there to be future generations stretching into time, starting with them.
He couldn’t believe she’d made it this easy for him to ask her for . . . everything.
“Will you help me fulfill this trust?” Her gaze moved from the papers in his hands up to meet his eyes.
She knew what he was asking. Children. Provide the next generation. After losing her baby, Jenna had a hard time thinking there would ever be another. Looking at Jack, she wanted it all, to win the brass ring. With Jack, it seemed so easy to grasp. “Yes.”
“Good, let’s go upstairs and start.” He kissed her palm, then draped her arm over his shoulder and leaned in to take her mouth.
“Jack, Summer and Caleb are here. Knock it off. Sign the damn papers.”
He kissed her again, silencing her protest. The kiss was long and slow with his hand on her neck, holding her to him. She melted, and only then did he pull back. He did sign the papers. “With my signature, you just agreed to give me everything I’ve ever wanted and never thought I’d have.”
Choked up, she could only lean in and kiss him softly to seal the bargain. It felt very much like the promise made at a wedding.
Jack hadn’t considered one thing. She decided to give him a hint and see if he ran with it. After all, one good deed deserves another. She hoped Jack would get the hint.
“Jack, you understand that the trust pays off all the land and buildings, right?” She crooked her head in the direction of Summer and Caleb.
He got what she was saying right away, his eyes went bright with excitement. “Yes, I see what you mean. You did do some snooping, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I did, but only in the hope my good deed would allow you to do a good deed. It’s within your power. You own the land and all the buildings on it.”
“What are you guys talking about?” Summer asked confused by their convoluted discussion.
Not only did Jenna make it possible for him, and generations to come, to have his land, she’d made it possible for him to give his sister and brother-in-law a gift in return, a piece of that land.
“What Jenna is saying is right, I own all the land and buildings on it. That includes your home. You guys borrowed the money from me to build the house, and part of Caleb’s salary goes toward paying for the house. Jenna paid off the loan.”
“So part of my salary will continue to pay you for the house and you’ll get to keep the money,” Caleb said. “You’ll be making a profit instead of paying off the loan you took at the bank for us. We agreed we’d buy the house from you. We hope to live there the rest of our lives and raise our family.”
“That’s true, I could do that,” Jack agreed. “What Jenna pointed out is that I now have the ability to do the same thing she did. She gave me the land that’s mine, now I’m giving you the house and land that is yours.”