Honoring Freedom (Cowboys of Sagebrush Rose #3)

Chapter Eleven

Sam looked from each of his daughters where they sat in his office. He refrained from lighting the cigar he held between his lips. He might be able to handle one of his daughters objecting to his smoking, but he didn’t want all of them angry.

Freedom shifted in the leather chair wondering why her father had called all the girls together. The last time they were called into his office they were each reprimanded for sneaking into a local factory and releasing all the chickens from their cages. Looking at him, she thought he did wear an irritated expression.

He couldn’t possibly be angry with her about anything. She’d gone to the auction with Keller and they’d brought back the finest horses and livestock. Had he heard about the altercation between Keller and Kent? Had he heard that people suspected that she and Keller were dating?

Now they were sleeping together and should Daddy ask, she wouldn’t lie.

“Why are we all here?” Honor asked.

“I’m getting to that.” He laid his unlit cigar on the desk eyeing it like he wished he could partake. He eased his long, lean body into the chair and entwined his fingers on his stomach, looking a bit uncomfortable.

Lately, Freedom had noticed that he didn’t seem quite like himself, almost like he had something weighing on his mind. She looked down the row of her sisters, checking if anyone looked guilty outside of herself. Liberty looked like she’d been sucking on lemons. What had she done? Or rather, what disagreement had she and Daddy gotten into this time? They often butted heads, but usually they settled things quickly and didn’t involve the rest of the siblings. The sisters had learned a long time ago not to involve themselves in each other’s quarrels.

“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.” He hedged, looking more uneasy by the second. “It’s a bit complicated.”

“Complicated?” Freedom said.

“You girls won’t like it, but I trust it’ll all make sense one day.” Sam took a sip of his coffee in the chipped and glued cup that Freedom had made him when she was five. The coffee must have gone cold because he made a disgusted sound under his breath. She remembered how proud she’d been when she gave him the cup for Father’s Day.

The hairs on her neck lifted in warning. During their family meetings she was usually the quiet one, the one who listened and observed, saving the talking for the others. A person could learn a lot just by watching, and she’d learned her father’s mannerisms. His slightly red face and thin lips told her a bomb was about to be dropped.

Sam shifted in the chair and set the cup away from him so he wouldn’t grab it again out of habit. “Girls, I’m not getting any younger. And neither are any of you.”

“Daddy, that’s not very nice,” Hope said. “It’s not very gentlemanly to mention a woman’s age.”

“I think he’s referring to Honor and me,” Liberty said quietly.

“Does that mean you did something?” Justice asked Liberty.

“Let’s not point fingers here,” Hope buffered.

“I’m just saying that I’ve noticed that Liberty hasn’t been coming to any of the staff meetings. Is that what this is about?" Justice asked Sam. "I think if one person has to do something, then everyone should have to do something."

“I’m glad you feel that way, Justice, because this will involve each of you.” Sam suddenly seemed interested in a paper clip. “I’ve had Joseph Render draw up a new will.”

“You must keep your attorney busy if you have him draw up a new document every time you purchase a new property. We all know how detailed you are,” Hope said flippantly.

He grinned wryly as he rolled the paper clip between his fingers, hesitating. “I had him adjust the terms slightly. If something would happen to me, or within a year, whichever comes first, any of my unmarried daughters will not receive their one-fifth share of Sagebrush Rose Ranch.”

Freedom blinked. Obviously, she hadn’t heard him correctly. Clearing her throat, she chose that moment to speak up because the cat had carried away her sisters’ voices. “Excuse me. I must have misunderstood. Did you say that we will be excluded from the will?”

“No,” he muttered.

She smiled. “Oh, so I misunderstood?”

“I said, any of you that are not married within a year, or upon the occurrence of my death, you will not be given any part of my ranch,” he said it with clarity that it sounded bitter.

Freedom bit the inside of her cheek. She glanced at her sisters, and they were stunned into silence, even Liberty. Freedom, who’d never had a voice before, stood up. “Wait. Isn’t this a bit underhanded to make this move without speaking to us first?”

“I’m speaking to you now.” Sam didn’t appear the least bit ruffled.

“This is ludicrous. You can’t do this.”

“I can and I did,” he said willfully.

“Aren’t any of you going to say something?” Freedom said to her sisters.

“This can’t possibly come as that big of a surprise,” Sam said. “I’ve been a broken record for years asking you girls to follow the ranch rules and you repeatedly continued to do as you please with no thought as to the consequences of your actions. Well, now I’m going to enforce my rights as your father. Seeing that I might never have grandchildren I’m going to make some demands.”

“You can’t force us to marry, or have children,” Justice whined. Her skin color turned from olive to fair, almost matching her silver-blonde hair. “That’s…this…this is cruel.”

He rubbed his eyelids, but the creases remained. “I’m not forcing you to do anything. You still have a choice. I’m not stripping you of that. But if you choose to stay single then you lose any right to the ranch—the very ranch that I’ve dedicated myself to all my life. I’ve had to do things I never wanted to do. Gave up countless vacations. Lost out on celebrations. This place means something to me. It’s not a playground.”

“It means something to me, to all of us,” Hope added.

He swept his gaze from each of them, a frown surfacing on his thin lips. “I can’t say that you each haven’t contributed, but lately some things have been brought to my attention and I have no choice but to draw a line.” He lowered his attention to his hands and when he looked back up his jaw was tight—determined. “You’ll still have the property that your mother left to each of you, the investment properties, money, but not my ranch. It’s my fault as much as it is yours. I see that now. I’ve not been firm enough. There will come a time when I’m no longer here and who will clean up the messes you make?” He must have realized how severe his words sounded because he retreated. “Point is, it’s time each of you started looking toward your future. Find yourselves someone who appreciates you the way that I appreciated your mother.”

“Mom wasn’t forced to marry you. She loved you,” Honor said with a loud groan.

He was quiet for a moment. “It’s not as clear cut as you might think.”

“Then make it clear for us,” Liberty finally said.

His sigh came from deep within his chest. Years of imprisonment. “Your mom was seventeen and I had just turned nineteen. When I saw her, I was infatuated. She had long hair that was so tightly wound into curls she reminded me of a goddess. Yet, I was still thinking like a boy who was so busy searching for the stars that he missed the moon. Your mother got pregnant right after we started seeing each other.”

“Mom got pregnant before you were married?” Freedom said. It wasn’t a big deal, but hearing her father divulge the history caught her by surprise.

After a pause, he nodded. “Her father, as firm as a new leather saddle, came to my house and looked me dead in the eyes. He said, ‘Son, marry my daughter or pick the hole you’d like to be buried in.’ You know which choice I made. Hell, I’m not saying that I didn’t love your mother. Like I said, she was the moon that shaped my tides. But I wasn’t a saint, and I had no desire to settle down. I had life by the horns. I learned though that your grandpa was a smart man. He saw something in me, in your mother and I together, that it took some time for me to appreciate. With patience and kindness, I fell for your mother so hard I never had to search for another star because she was the brightest light. There was never anyone who compared or captured my attention after I grew brains. I vowed that I’d love her until the end…” there was a hitch in his voice. “and I did. Still do.”

“That’s a romantic story, but not everyone is as lucky as you and Mom were,” Honor said in a lighter tone. “Marriage doesn’t make all people happy.”

“Do you think that’s the moral of the story?” he huffed.

“Yes,” Freedom and Liberty answered at the same time.

“Too bad. One day you’ll understand. That’s what I’m relying on. You girls have made your beds now lie in them,” he said with a snort, his expression hard again.

“Daddy, this is a different time. Women are allowed to sleep around and not commit,” Liberty said solemnly.

Wrong thing to say to a protective father.

“If everyone got a tattoo on their forehead, would you do it too? I’m not running a single’s resort here, girls. I’d like to keep the reputation I’ve built for this homestead long after I’m dead and gone.” Agitation shown in his features.

“Daddy, I know we haven’t followed the rules like we should,” Freedom glanced over at Honor and Liberty, “But we can do better—”

“Is this your way of getting free labor?” Liberty busted out as if Freedom wasn’t even talking.

All eyes in the room snapped to her.

Freedom buried her forehead into her hand.

Hope gasped.

Justice’s mouth twisted.

And Honor didn’t seem shocked in the slightest.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Sam’s gaze narrowed. If Liberty saw the warning signs, she didn’t heed them. Never did.

“If we all get husbands, they can run the ranch, and we can do all the women’s work. Right? Cooking. Cleaning. Ironing and birthing babies.” Liberty swept her gaze to the others as if pleading for back up. “Who here wants to do those things?”

“I don’t think Daddy is saying—”

Liberty cut Freedom off again. “Tell us, is that what you’re trying to do, Daddy? Teaching us girls to know our places?”

Freedom could see there was more going on here than met the eye.

“No, that’s not what I’m saying,” Sam said firmly.

“Because it certainly sounds like it,” Liberty said wryly, crossing her arms over her chest.

“How about I just be frank here.” Sam braced his fists on the desk. “How many capable hands have we lost just in the last two years? Honor? Freedom? What’s the number?”

Freedom knew where this was going. “Ten.”

His mouth thinned. “Out of those ten, eight were diligent workers. I had to fire them because they either put themselves, or other members of the crew, at risk. They couldn’t keep their eyes on their work and off you girls.”

“That’s not our fault,” Honor piped in.

He shook his head. “For the crew to do their darndest they have to first respect each of you as their bosses, not as this month’s conquest.”

“I am no one’s flavor of the month,” Justice gritted.

“That’s what the men are thinking. The rumors are out of control,” he said. “Look, we shouldn’t even be having this conversation. With husbands, maybe the whispers and carefree attitudes will cease. What you do with those marriages is up to you.”

“I don’t like what you’re insinuating.” Hope shifted in her chair.

Sam pushed away from the desk and rounded it, his expression softening some. “Girls, I’m a traditional man, but not so much that I want to hold you down. I’m trying to help you thrive in a business that’s male dominated. Women have come a long way, but not so far that we can hope that men stop looking at women as an opportunity—an acquisition. We don’t shit—err—we don’t play where we eat.”

“If we were sons, would you be having this conversation?” Freedom asked. Liberty started to move in to say something and Freedom gave her the stink eye. Liberty remained quiet. “This feels more like gender discrimination.”

He sighed and his shoulders slumped. “Never denied that I believe a man is head of household, but I’d never think of you girls as inferior to man, or not his equal. It’s more about a partnership.”

“I’m not seeing how this is a partnership,” Freedom said evenly.

He looked her in the eye. “I would have had this conversation years ago if you were men. I’ve coddled you all. Gave you a place to call home to do anything here that you wanted. Now I’m asking for something in return. Some stability. A grandkid or two.”

“We can have kids without marriage,” Liberty muttered.

Sam’s agitation made his ears red. “Yeah, you can, and I’ll love them all the same.”

Liberty stood. “I refuse to marry someone under pressure.”

Sam shrugged. “That’s your choice.”

“Liberty…” Honor started, but didn’t finish.

“Are you all going to stand for this?” Liberty looked to each of them in disbelief.

There were moments when the sisters stuck together and there were times when they walked a fine line. Something about this argument seemed personal to Liberty, so Freedom knew the best thing to do would be to let Daddy and Liberty hash it out. Interference might escalate things.

“Honor?” Liberty looked to her twin sister for support. When she didn’t respond, Liberty threw up her hands and stormed out of the room, classic Liberty style.

Sam’s gaze followed her until the door slammed shut. He looked older, tired. A rare sighting of sorrow crossed his features. “I won’t change my mind,” he said quietly. “I’ve given you all ample opportunity to put the ranch first.” When the room fell into an uncomfortable silence, he said quietly, “You’re all excused, except for Freedom.”

As her sisters left, she felt a sinking sensation take up residence in her stomach. Though she had never feared her father, guilt overwhelmed her because she had been doing exactly what he accused them of.

The door closed, now they were alone, and Sam asked, “Keller told me the windshield was busted out of his truck. Someone threw a rock through it.”

She nodded. “We saw it the next morning.”

Sam’s face reddened. “Any idea who would have done it?”

“No.”

“Really?”

“Maybe I do.”

“Explain.” The crinkles around his eyes deepened.

She swallowed the acid coming up into her throat. “There was an altercation between Keller and Kent Downs at the rancher’s celebration. Keller was protecting my honor.”

Sam nodded. Obviously, he already knew part of the story. “I had my investigator, Mac, take a look at the situation.”

“The damage to the truck?” Her stomach rolled. How much did her daddy already know about the entire situation?

“I was hoping if it was Downs, or one of his men, I’d finally nail the bastard, but you know how he is. He’s slick.”

“And?” She scooted to the very edge of her chair.

“Mac viewed the security footage from the camera at the cabin. Unfortunately, the bastard knew about the camera and damaged it so the only recording Mac could find was a blurred, dark image of a slender silhouette. Mac did a thorough sweep of the area around the cabin, checking for footprints, clues as to who might have done this.”

“This seems pretty thorough for a broken window.” Her mouth became dry, so she got up and poured herself water at the mini bar. She had a feeling where this was headed.

“He figured out that whoever vandalized the truck had been inside the cabin at some point that night. Mac was able to put together some kind of a timeline. The vandal was probably in the cabin when you and Keller arrived back after the celebration. Mac found tire tracks about a mile down from the cabin, at a pull off. There’s not much traffic in the area so it’s an easy guess that the tracks belonged to the vehicle of the vandal. Do you remember seeing anything?”

Freedom’s stomach plunged into her boots. She’d been angry and hadn’t been paying attention to anything but to her feelings. “No, I didn’t. You don’t think it was Kent?”

“The man’s a snake and would be willing to sell his mother’s soul to the devil himself to line his bank account, but this doesn’t feel like his MO. There would be nothing for him to gain in this scenario. Mac verified that Downs had left Catskills right after the incident at the celebration. And he wouldn’t have a need to steal an article of your clothing. Mac believes whoever was there at the cabin had been there because he was watching you.”

She blinked, wrapping her head around what he said. “Excuse me?”

He stood, rounded the desk, and opened a drawer. He tossed the plastic bag at her and she caught it. “Do those look familiar?”

She held the bag up and cringed. Inside were her red panties.

“I’m guessing you do recognize them?” Sam asked in a tight voice. His ears were red again.

“Yes.”

“Don’t worry. I didn’t take them out.” He looked a bit embarrassed and irate. “Mac found them near a tree that had a perfect vantage point of the cabin. Obviously, the sick bastard stole them as a memento. I bet he was disappointed when he realized he’d dropped them.”

“He watched Keller and me?” she whispered. Sweat beaded her forehead and her knees were weak.

“I don’t need or want details.”

“Daddy, I—”

He waved a weathered hand and dropped down into the chair behind his desk. “He’d make a fine son-in-law.”

She had water still in her mouth and almost sprayed it out of her mouth. She wiped her chin. “What?”

“Yeah, you heard me. If he’s good enough to sneak around with then he should be worthy of making things official.”

“But I—”

“I spoke to Keller already. Something about the man’s character told me he would be completely honest. He didn’t get into details, and I didn’t ask, but he confessed that you two have been seeing each other since the auction. He said he takes full responsibility and if I wanted him to leave the ranch he’d understand.”

“What did you say to him?”

“He’s a damn good employee. I think a better solution can be found.”

“And that solution is marrying him?” She set her glass down and rubbed her temples, feeling a migraine coming on.

“It’s a suggestion.”

“It isn’t happening.”

“Your choice.” He shrugged.

“Was this the entire point?” She gestured toward the sofa with a sweeping motion.

“No. Yes. Partially. You and your sisters heavily influenced my decision.” He appeared older and weary, showing his age. “You all forget that nothing happens on this ranch without me knowing eventually. At least Keller isn’t just a hand, but he’s an employee. We need him because he’d be hard to replace. Have you thought about the future? What if things don’t work out between you two? He could quit. The changes he’s campaigning for are exactly what the ranch needs.”

“You’re making him sound more valuable than I am,” she said softly.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I love you and your sisters very much. I’m a parent though. I must think of everything because it’s my job.”

“Did you hire Keller hoping this would happen?”

"No," he chuckled. "Think it over, honey. Second chances are significant.” He gave a shake of his head as if to transition. “We couldn't trace the person who wanted those," he pointed to the plastic bag, "but Mac thinks it was someone from the celebration that probably knows you. Did anything unusual happen that night? Anyone seem suspicious?"

She reflected on the night. "Aside from what happened with Kent, nothing really unusual comes to mind. You know how those parties are. Alcohol everywhere."

He nodded. "I can bring in private security—"

"No, you're not." She softened her tone. "Sorry, but I don't need or want security. Like you said, probably just someone from the celebration trying to feel important for a moment."

Sam paused. "We're installing cameras soon, so we'll have full coverage of the ranch. In the meantime, stay alert."