Chapter 20

Chapter

Twenty

Sloan stared at the devastation of roofs and walls collapsed, muddy trenches opened in the earth, sections of the houses fallen into the river below. She was on the verge of broken as well, terrified, ready for the earth to swallow her up like the mud had taken part of the bluff and devastated her hopes and dreams.

Rhett was by her side, holding her hand, talking with her and the contractors about what kind of a process they were looking at. He was positive and focused but she wondered … Was it even possible to clean up the mess and start again?

She didn’t know. Nobody did. All she knew was Rhett was her man, her anchor. She had to take a deep breath and decide that letting the earth drag her down into the now muddy and tree, debris, and construction mess filled riverbank would do no good. Because of him by her side, she could hold on and somehow be brave and get back to work.

They were stronger together. She could hardly wrap her mind around the depth and significance of his words and actions, but she felt safe with him and she trusted him. She was truly brave with him by her side. She might even love him, but it was too quick to be thinking like that.

They spent the day wandering from site to site. The men were trying to do what work they could, piling ruined building materials that were still on the ridge and hauling them off. She was on the phone with the banks, the county, the insurance. It didn’t look great. Unless they could prove it wasn’t a mudslide, the developer’s insurance wouldn’t kick in. Thankfully the contractors and homeowners each had their own insurance on their sites, but only five of the twenty sites were owned privately; the rest were her responsibility to clean up, reinforce the ground, and prove they were build-ready. If that was possible. She also was responsible for the road coming in, which was even more of a mess than it had been yesterday. The ground shifting with the mudslides when everything was so soft and wet hadn’t done them any favors.

She didn’t have the money. Rhett would be by her side, but she wasn’t going to ask him for a loan. Despair threatened to grip her again. She wracked her brain for ways to get the project back on track or prove it wasn’t a mudslide. Several of the contractors were baffled that so much of the bluff could slide off at the same time.

Sloan didn’t understand it either, but she was ninety percent certain it was a mudslide. What else could’ve happened? Jaxon and Preston were in prison and the security company hadn’t seen anything on the cameras they’d installed or their routine checks. It was doubtful it was foul play.

It was early afternoon when a tall, lean man marched down the muddy lane to the lot Rhett had been building on. He wore a crisp business suit, his dark hair was slicked back, and his face had a determined scowl on it.

Sloan’s stomach churned and she grabbed Rhett’s hand. His gaze focused on her. “You okay?”

“My dad,” she managed. Fear of what he’d say and how she’d react churned inside her. Her stomach revolted and she had to swallow to keep from throwing up. Her legs were weak and her faith faltering.

Please help me be brave , she begged her Heavenly Father.

Rhett turned to face her father, sliding his arm around her waist to support her. That one movement strengthened her. She leaned into Rhett and felt like it was a sign from above. Rhett was the man her Savior had sent her to because of his mama’s prayers. He would strengthen her and hold her up when she was weak. They could stand together, and she wouldn’t be afraid.

Her trembling calmed and she was able to stand on her own. She took Rhett’s hand but stayed straight and tall, even as she longed to burrow into Rhett’s strength and warmth, not face her father, not even look at him.

Her dad marched up, his eyes flickering from their joined hands to Rhett. He was obviously uneasy with Rhett’s size, but nothing intimidated Eric Jensen. He thought he could bully his way through any situation.

“Since you won’t answer my phone calls, I made a trip up here to save you.” He focused the intensity of his dark gaze on her.

“I don’t need you to save me,” she snapped back. She was terrified to fail but even more terrified to let her guard down around her father. If he saw a chink he’d exploit it. Just like when she’d had a real friend in middle school. Bailey. He’d found out about Bailey from a teacher and threatened Sloan to stay away from her. When Sloan refused, Bailey’s dad had mysteriously lost his job and received a better offer in Mesa the next day. Bailey had moved away and she’d never seen her again. Her dad had explained to her that if she didn’t obey he would be forced to ‘fix’ the problems. He’d never wanted her to have anyone to trust or love.

“Oh, I think you do, little girl. You’re in way over your head this time. I took care of your mother and promised her I’d take care of you. Why can’t you trust that I’ll be here for you?”

Sloan felt her stomach flip over. He loved to throw that one at her, claiming he’d promised her mom on her deathbed he would take care of Sloan. His version of ‘taking care of her’ meant she was in his control and a spineless puppet. She had to stay out of his power. The only way she’d found to do that was stay far away from him. Now she was facing him. What would he do to her, or worse to Rhett, if she refused him?

“I don’t need or want you here,” she said as firmly as she could. Even with Rhett’s hand around hers, her voice trembled.

He ignored her, his eyes pinned on Rhett. “Who is this cowboy touching you?”

“Rhett Coleville, sir.” Rhett’s voice was tight but even. He extended his right hand, his left tightening around hers.

Her dad looked at Rhett’s hand with disdain. “Get your hands off of my daughter. She will never be with some redneck cowboy.”

Sloan yearned to keep her fake bravado and never fall to his ploys, but him disparaging Rhett took her determination to the next level. “That is unacceptable, and Rhett is the furthest thing from a redneck,” Sloan hurled at him, her stomach churning uncomfortably. “You are not welcome here. Leave now and never contact me again.”

Her dad glowered at her, but his gaze scanned and sharpened on something behind them.

Sloan glanced over her shoulder to see men making a semi-circle behind her and Rhett, and more coming. Josh Francis was at the front of the group.

“Is this man bothering you, Miss Jensen?” Josh asked, cracking his knuckles.

Her father blanched and backed up. “You all are a bunch of rednecks. You stay away from me.”

Sloan had never seen her father afraid. Never. His money, smooth tongue, and reputation always got him what he wanted. Except with her.

“I came here to save you, Sloan.” His eyes flicked nervously to the crowd of men. “You’re never going to make it financially with this setback, and your insurance won’t pay for a mudslide.” He spoke rapidly, still easing backward. “I’ll buy the property from you, let it settle for a bit, rezone and sell it in a year or two. I can handle the financial hit. You can’t.”

Sloan knew he was right. She was sunk and needed a lifeline.

Terror filled her. Would she have to succumb to him? Was he actually trying to help her?

She prayed for help and felt a clear impression … No.

No. What a powerful word. Her dad wasn’t in control of her, and she’d rather drown in the mud than take the lifeline he’d offer. That lifeline would become a silken cord around her neck until he bound her to his will and she lost all freedom.

Rhett squeezed her hand. She focused on his warm blue gaze and found the strength she needed, strength from him and from heaven above. He nodded to her. “I’ve got you.”

She studied him. She’d never ask Rhett for money, but he was here for her. He’d support her, and they’d work through this together. She’d keep praying, and somehow, it would work out. She didn’t have any idea how but faith was stepping forward and trusting in heaven above. With Rhett and God on her side, she could do anything.

She looked back at her father. He was a lot thinner than she remembered and at the moment she felt strong, empowered. She wasn’t intimidated by him or in his snare.

“I’m not selling,” she said, tilting her chin up. “Especially not to you.”

His face turned red. “You’ll regret this, Sloan. You sell to me … or else.”

“I’ll never sell to you.” Her voice was surprisingly strong.

“Don’t you dare, Sloan. I’ll make you regret this. You know I can and I will.”

She was surprised at the venom in his dark eyes. He’d never hurt her physically, but emotionally … so much pain, neglect, isolation, and mind games. Memories flashed before her mind. Any time she stood up to him and the repercussions on her or someone she cared about.

“I won’t regret it,” she said, even as uneasiness tingled at her spine.

“You’re going to regret what will happen if you don’t leave now,” Rhett said evenly, the same voice he’d used with Jaxon and Preston. “Brody. Paydon.”

The two burly young men strode forward and toward her dad.

Her dad pivoted and scampered back along the muddy road. Sloan clung to Rhett’s hand and turned to face him, grateful for his support, grateful her dad was leaving. This wasn’t the end of the ugly interactions, but they’d won this round and she hadn’t given in to her fears.

“Thank you,” she murmured for only him to hear.

He nodded to her, probably uncertain what to say.

They turned as one to face the men. There were almost twenty of them.

“Thank you,” Sloan said. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have anything to be sorry for,” Josh said. “And you’re welcome.”

They nodded to her or lifted a hand and then headed back to work trying to clear the land. Her heart threatened to burst. All those men—some of them who hadn’t even liked her—were now protecting her.

Rhett turned her toward him. “You okay?”

She blew out a breath. “He’s so over the top.” He was terrifying to her but admitting it to Rhett might make her seem weak. “To fly up here just to claim he’s going to save me.” She shook her head. “He didn’t even know I was up here until I answered my phone this morning. He said my uncle told him, which makes no sense as they hate each other. And how did he know about the mudslide and the insurance? It’s the way he has always been, finding out everything about me and using it to control me.”

His brow furrowed.

“I’m sorry he was a jerk to you,” she said.

Rhett shrugged. “I only care what his daughter thinks about me.”

She grinned at that and felt a load lift. It was humiliating that Rhett’s parents openly accepted her and her dad was rude to Rhett, but Rhett wouldn’t let it bother him.

“His estranged daughter thinks you’re amazing,” she said.

He smiled and squeezed her hand. He looked over the property and the river sparkling in the sunlight, then shook his head. “Something isn’t adding up.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your cousins came for you, trying to threaten you to give them the property …”

She nodded.

“You went through the lawsuit eighteen months ago.”

Again, she nodded.

“Was it your cousins who tried to sue you for the land, or your uncle?”

“My uncle. He claimed it was his rightful property as Grandpa’s only living direct descendant and that Grandpa wasn’t in his sane mind when he changed the will and put me as the sole inheritor.”

“And your uncle called your dad and told him you were up here?”

“That’s what he said.” She shrugged. “I’ve only ever seen them yell at each other.”

His eyes grew thoughtful. “Sloan, I’m not trying make your dad out to be the bad guy…”

“He does that plenty on his own.” She rolled her eyes. “What are you thinking?”

“What if this wasn’t an act of nature?” He spread his hand around to indicate the mess. “A mudslide makes sense here, but it would fall away a bit at a time, or even huge chunks, but not the entire stretch. Your family has been fighting you the entire time to not develop this property. What if they sabotaged it somehow to try to take it from you?”

“You think my uncle would be smart enough to start a mudslide?”

He shrugged. “Some bombs placed in the right spots and nobody looking for another answer... It could work.”

Her stomach turned over. “But why would they want this mess? It’ll be worth a lot if we can get it all cleaned up and stabilized, get approval, start building again, and sell the other lots, but why bully me into selling and mess up the prime real estate they’re trying to take?”

His blue eyes swept around the property and landed on the river. “I don’t know. Unless there’s something more valuable than the property.”

“I can’t imagine what could be. We deal in property values, Rhett. You think there’s gold hiding underneath us?”

He gave her a half smile. “I don’t know. I’ll research it later.”

“Thanks.” But she didn’t hold out much hope that he’d find anything.

Rhett thought there was a conspiracy between her uncle, cousins, and father because he didn’t know her family.

Her dad lived to control her. He’d come up here to try to play the hero, and her uncle and cousins were jerks who would threaten and hurt her just for the fun of it.

Later that night, she and Rhett had stopped to eat at a hometown diner and then driven home. Everything was overwhelming her. It was all such a mess. Rhett was the only good part of her life right now. Would she drag him down with the debt and the mess of this property?

Her dad was here, in town. He would make her regret her decision somehow, would try to sweep in and control her. Maybe she should just let her dad buy it. She could use the cash to acquire a property more suited to a new residential developer and start over. A property that wasn’t a mess.

No. She’d stood up to her dad and she’d even felt empowered and brave for the first time in her life. That was her property. Her grandpa had given it to her, and it meant a lot to her. Rhett on her team meant a lot to her. All those contractors working so hard today to try to clean up and having her back meant a lot to her. She had to keep choosing faith.

She was here to stay. No matter what her dad threw at her.

Her spine tingled with cold chills at the thought.

Rhett walked her up the stairs and held her close. “Are we running in the morning?”

“The two-hundred-yard sprint followed by a slow walk situation?”

“Yes, ma’am. It’s a workout you have to experience.”

“If you’re there, I’m in.”

He smiled and bent down to kiss her. She arched up and returned the kiss. Kissing Rhett was thrilling every single time. They bonded together as one, and she felt like nothing could ever pull them apart. All the worries and fears disappeared completely.

As he slowed down the kisses, he held her close. “You amazed me today, Sloan. Your courage is inspiring.”

Then he kissed her again. She didn’t have to explain that her bravery used to be a thin shell, but he infused her with courage. She was part of a team. Rhett’s missing piece. She didn’t have to be alone or face her father alone again. Rhett would be there for her.

He’d changed her false bravado into real faith. In him. In her Savior. And in herself.