Chapter 25

Maddie had carried in one suitcase, the one with the things she'd need right away and left everything else until she was in a better mood. Heaving it onto the bed in her old room, she yanked open the zipper with an angry tug and flopped back the cover. She stomped around the room as she unpacked the clothing and toiletries, her anger building with each step, each task.
How dare Ty Blackwell even talk to anyone about the sale of the ranch when the will still wasn't probated. So he had a power of attorney that allowed him to see the place was taken care of. So what? So Liza and Jenna wanted to sell the ranch. Again so what? What gave anyone the right to do anything until she'd had her say? And putting Zach Brennan in charge just absolutely frosted her.
She dropped to the edge of the bed, hugging a pile of clothes to her chest. The ranch was all she'd thought about since her parents were killed. It was in her blood. She was the only one of the three girls to compete in barrel racing. The only one to work in the barns with Jack Grady and help with the calving. The only one to work with the cutting horses, helping to train them for the hands. She'd ridden fences, pitched hay, even helped move the cattle from summer to winter pastures and back again.
Her sisters had both always had big dreams that didn't include the Flying W. Okay, they could have their plans. But she should be allowed to have hers too. Why she'd let her parents talking her into becoming a teacher she still didn't know. Sure she loved kids but that wasn't where her heart was.
"You need a life outside the Flying W," her mother had said over and over again.
The last two months had proved to her how wrong she'd been. All she'd thought about since the funeral was finding a way to keep the ranch and run it herself. Quitting her job had been a big step but she'd felt freer than she had in ages. She was committed and she wasn't turning back.
And Zach Brennan, here of all places. God, how she hated him for the way he'd treated her. That swagger, that arrogance. That smooth, natural charm, damn his eyes. What a sucker she'd been to fall for his line. She'd wasted a lot of her life hanging onto a promise that wasn't even there. Now it was her turn to take charge.
Shoving the clothing in her hand in a drawer, she picked up the phone on her night stand and called Ty Blackwell. From all the calls back and forth before and after the funeral the number was permanently etched in her brain.
"Maddie?" His voice held a welcoming tone. "You're the first one here, I guess. Neither of the others has called yet."
"That's right. I just got in a little while ago."
"It's so good to hear your voice. As soon as Liza gets here, why don't you call and we'll set up a time to meet and go over all the details of the will. We can try to put through a call to Jenna wherever she happens to be and get her in on this."
"You can cut out the sweet lawyer talk," she snapped. "I'm damn angry with you. What the hell is Zach Brennan doing on my property? I want him off."
There was a long moment of silence and Maddie could picture the look of shock on Ty's face.
"Maddie. Honey. I'm sure Zach told you he's planning to buy the Flying W. When Jack Grady got hurt and couldn't work any more, it just seemed reasonable to have him move on out there and take over."
"You get him the hell away from here," she raged. "The ranch is not for sale and I don't want to see his lying face anywhere in Texas."
"Maddie!" Now the shock was evident. "I emailed all of you about this. Your folks said if none of you wanted to live here that was okay. You should have your own lives. The ranch should be sold and the profits split three ways."
"If being the operative word," she told him. "I don't want to sell. That's that."
"Honey, have you talked to Liza and Jenna about this? They emailed me to go ahead and find a buyer. Said the three of you would settle things when you came home for Christmas."
"Came home," she stressed. "That's right. That's where I am. Home. And that's where I plan to stay."
"Maddie, what about your life in San Antonio? Your job? I understood you loved teaching?"
"Not as much as I love the Flying W. I quit my job and sublet my apartment. I'm here to stay."
"Jesus, Maddie."
She could hear the hissing intake of breath.
"So you call up Zach Brennan right now and tell him to get the hell off Woodward property and stay off."
"I can't do that, Maddie. The ranch needs a foreman and he's the best there is. Besides, he's already indicated he wants to buy the ranch and he's put money into an escrow account until the will is probated. So just cowgirl up and do the best you can until we all can meet."
"Cowgirl up?" She stared at the phone. "That's your answer?"
"Listen, I know you and Zach have a history - "
"A bad one," she interrupted. "And I don't plan to dig it up again."
"Then just do your best to avoid him until your sisters get here. Call me as soon as they do. Don't worry, Maddie. It will all work out."
All work out? It damn well better, that's all she could say.