Chapter One
Four-point-five billion dollars. Annie squeezed Brady’s hand and he tossed her a confused look. “I don’t understand. You’re telling us that Hickory Hollow is valued at over four billion dollars?”
Brady returned his stare to their lawyer.
Mr. Dawson lifted a piece of paper. “It appears so. Your father has requested that the two of you,” he nodded to Robert and Brady, “run Hickory Hollow together as a team.” He glanced at Annie. “He’s left you a sizable inheritance.”
Brady shook his head. “This doesn’t make sense. Hickory Hollow wasn’t worth a percentage of that amount when we took it over. How on earth has the value skyrocketed like that?”
Mr. Dawson leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “It’s hard to say. I don’t have that kind of information. If I had to guess, I’d say your father made some smart investments after taking control of Hickory Hollow.” He leveled Brady and Robert with a firm stare. “Will you agree to the terms set out in your father’s will?”
Brady glanced at Robert. This had all been too much too fast. Their father was only buried last week. They were still dealing with the shock of losing him after his heart attack. Brady swallowed the knot in his throat as Robert gave an almost imperceptible nod of his head.
“We agree to the terms.” They said it together, and for the first time in two weeks, Brady smiled. They could do this. They could keep growing the farm their father poured his sweat and blood into.
They finished up the will reading and headed outside. Brady winced as the early afternoon Texas sun hit his face. The three of them stood aimlessly. What would they do now that their father had passed? As if to echo his thoughts, Annie broke the silence.
“I can’t believe he’s really gone.”
Brady gazed at his little sister. Out of the three of them, she must have been hurting the most. She’d lost so much time over the years due to the feud they’d been in. He scooped her into a hug. “I’m glad you guys were able to work things out before he passed, though.”
She nodded into his shoulder. “Me too.”
Robert wrapped his arms around the two of them. “The Three Musketeers together again.”
Annie laughed, pulled back, and slugged Robert in the shoulder. “We were never The Three Musketeers. I was always the third wheel.”
Brady loosened his tie and pulled it from his neck. “What are you going to do with your inheritance, Annie?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s not like Chad and I need it. I’ll probably donate it to charity.” Her eyes lit on Brady. “How about the ‘find Brady a girl’ fund?”
Robert laughed and slapped Brady on the back. “That’s definitely a worthy charity.”
Brady shrugged out from under Robert’s hand. “It’d be better to donate it to Robert’s wardrobe fund.” He motioned to Robert’s dated and distressed suit. “If we’re going to be billionaires, you might want to dress the part.”
Annie shook her head. “I still can’t believe we went from growing up with nothing to this. So much has changed.” A smile brightened her features and she waved. Brady turned to see Chad approach.
“How did it go?” Chad slipped his arm around Annie’s waist and pressed a kiss to Annie’s temple.
A twinge of jealousy ran though Brady. He never thought he wanted to settle down, but lately the idea had appealed to him. Seeing Annie and Chad so happy made him realize he was missing something from his life.
Annie leaned into him. “Dad left the guys the ranch and enough money for twenty lifetimes. He gave me an inheritance I don’t know what to do with.” A ghost of a smile flitted across her face. “I’m going to miss him.”
Brady and Robert nodded. After a few minutes of quiet, Robert shifted. “There are a few things I have to do in town next week, so the ranch will be all yours until I get back. Please don’t burn it to the ground.”
Annie giggled.
“Hey,” Brady scoffed. “I’m the one who does all the work.”
Robert chuckled. “I won’t be gone that long.”
Rolling his eyes, Brady grinned. “I’m sure it will feel just like you’re still there. Arthur Johnson from Terry Hill has a horse he wants me to look at. Apparently, his cousin is a vet and has been trying some alternative treatments. He wants me to give the horse a once-over before approving it for a competition in a few weeks.”
“Sounds like you’ll be busy.” Annie smiled. “Arthur can be really picky.”
“Well, if he’s been allowing his cousin to try these other methods, I don’t think it will be hard to impress him.” His gaze shifted from Annie to Chad to Robert. “We need to get together soon. Get dinner or something.”
Annie nodded. “I’d like that.” Chad pulled her in the direction of their car while Robert and Brady walked companionably to Brady’s truck. “So, what are you doing next week that’s so important?”
Robert shot him an indecipherable look. “It’s nothing.”
Brady paused. “It doesn’t sound like nothing. You better ‘fess up before I make you.”
Robert climbed into the vehicle and took off his tie. He stared straight ahead as Brady got in behind the wheel.
“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me.”
Robert scowled. “It doesn’t matter, okay? You’ll think I’m just crazy anyway.”
Brady’s brows pulled together. “That’s what Annie said when she wanted to go to school. Is that what’s going on?”
Robert shifted. “Not really. Kind of. But no.”
Brady’s face scrunched up. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Folding his arms, Robert’s jaw ticked. “Nothing, okay? I’m just looking into some stuff and I’m doing it next week.”
Brady shoved his key into the ignition, turned the engine over, and cranked up the air conditioner. He settled back in his seat and stared out the window. “I’ve got all day, Robbie.”
Robert blew out an exasperated breath. “Fine. I’m going to a convention that will give me information about adding cattle to our ranch.”
Brady’s brows shot up. “But you don’t know a thing about cattle. I handle the early checkups for the calves at the ranch next door, and sometimes we board them, but you don’t have a clue on what it takes to raise them.”
Robert’s scowl deepened. “That’s why I’m learning about it at the convention next week.”
Brady bit down. He didn’t want to argue with his older brother. There would be no getting through to him right now. He could tell Robert was set on going. The time to stop this nonsense would come later—after the dust from their father’s passing had settled. He shook his head and put the truck into gear. He’d give Robert this. Robert needed something to keep his mind off of everything they’d lost.
“Take me to Annie’s place. I don’t want to go home.”
Brady’s head whipped around. “Why?”
“I’m going to the convention in a few days. No sense driving all the way back to Hickory Hollow and have to turn around a few days later.”