Nanny Makes Three(24)

Mac shook his head. “Maybe they think there are shale deposits.”

“Fracking?” The man on the other side of Mac growled. “As if this damned drought isn’t bad enough. What sort of poison is that process going to spill into our groundwater? I’ve got two thousand heads relying on well water.”

Liam had heard similar complaints every time he set foot in the clubhouse. The drought was wearing on everyone. Wade Ranch relied on both wells and a spring-fed lake to keep its livestock watered. He couldn’t imagine the stress of a situation where he only had one ever-dwindling source to count on.

“Mellie tells me the property lawyer who’s been buying up all the land for Samson Oil quit,” Case said. His fiancée’s family owned several properties the oil company had tried to buy. “She’s gotten friendly with one of her tenants, the woman who owns the antiques store in the Courtyard. Apparently she and Nolan Dane are involved.”

“Howard Dane’s son?”

“Yes, and Nolan’s going back to work with him doing family law.”

Liam missed who asked the question, but Case’s answer got him thinking about Kyle. That his brother was still out of touch reinforced Liam’s growing conviction that Maggie deserved a parent who was there for her 24/7. Obviously as long as he was on active duty, Kyle couldn’t be counted on. Perhaps Liam should reach out to an attorney familiar with family law and see what his options might be for taking over custody of his niece. He made a mental note to give the man a call the next morning and set up an appointment.

“Maybe we should invite him to join the club,” Liam suggested, thinking how their numbers had dwindled over the last year as more and more ranchers sold off their land.

“I think we could use some powerful allies against Samson Oil,” Case said. “Nolan might not be able to give us any information on his former client, but he still has a background in property law that could be useful.”

The men gathered in the bar began to move toward the boardroom where that night’s meeting was to be held.

“How are things going for you at home?” Mac asked. “Is fatherhood all it’s cracked up to be?”

“Maggie is not my daughter,” Liam replied, wearying of everyone assuming he’d been foolhardy. “But I’m enjoying having her around. She’s really quite sweet when she’s not crying.”

Mac laughed. “I never thought I’d see you settling down.”

“A year ago I decided I wanted one good relationship rather than a dozen mediocre ones.” Liam was rather impressed with how enlightened he sounded.

“And yet you’ve buried yourself at the ranch. How are you any closer to a good relationship when you don’t get out and meet women?”

“I’ve heard that when you’re ready, the right one comes along.” An image of Hadley flashed through his mind.

Mac’s hand settled forcefully on Liam’s shoulder. “You’re talking like an idiot. Is it sleep deprivation?”

“I have a newborn living with me. What do you think?”

But Liam knew that what was keeping him awake at night wasn’t Maggie, but her nanny and the persistent hope that Waldo might sneak into Liam’s bedroom and Hadley would be forced to rescue him a second time. Because if that happened, Liam had prepared a very different end to that encounter.





Six

Ivy entered Liam’s office with her tablet in hand and sat down. The back of the chair thumped against the wall, and her knees bumped his desk. She growled in annoyance and rubbed her legs. Unbefitting his status as half owner of the ranch, Liam had one of the tiniest offices in the complex. He preferred to spend his days out and about and left paperwork for evenings. When he met with clients, he had an informal way of handling the meetings and usually entertained in the large lounge area or brought them into the barns.

“I’m finalizing your plans for Colorado this weekend,” she said, her finger moving across the tablet screen. “The caterer is confirmed. A Suburban will be waiting for you at the airport. Give Hannah Lake a call when you land, and she will meet you at the house.”

Ivy kept talking, but Liam had stopped listening. He’d forgotten all about the skiing weekend he was hosting for five of his clients. The tradition had begun several years ago. They looked forward to the event for months, and it was far too late to cancel.

“Liam?” Ivy regarded him with a steady gaze. “You seem worried. I assure you everything is ready.”

“It’s not that. I forgot that I was supposed to be heading to Colorado in a couple days. What am I going to do about Maggie?”