They were meeting Jamie at one o'clock in Helena, but they left early at Travis's insistence. The drive usually took an hour and a half, but if something happened, or the traffic was bad it would take longer.
"We can always kill time until we meet him, but I don't like being late. He may have a full schedule, I don't know what his day is like." Travis was trying to sound reasonable but was being annoying. Just say you like to be early and leave it at that she thought.
The drive did take a little longer, but it was Monday after all. They didn't have to wait too long until his secretary showed them into the office—after fussing over the baby. Coralee was a little tired of this, but the fussing and the 'oohing' and 'ahhing' seemed to be part of the baby package.
"Hello Travis," Jamie reached out and shook his hand, then hugged Coralee and kissed her cheek. "So, this is the new addition to the Dutton family that has Beth so upset."
How had he known, but it shouldn't surprise her. "Yup," she answered, "For some reason, this is upsetting her in a way Tate's birth never did, then again, Kayce and Monica weren't in Montana anymore. Would you like to hold her?"
"Of course," Jamie said and she handed him a cloth to protect his suit, then she took the baby out of the carrier and gave her to him.
"She looks like you," said Jamie, "You may not appreciate this, Travis, but for some reason, the Duttons never have many girls. Lots of boys but only a girl here and there. If there's a next one it will probably be a boy, and the next will be a boy, too."
"Whoa, Jamie, not so fast. I had a hard time with this one, I'm not sure I can deal with another pregnancy. We'll have to wait and see. Now, why are we here, you sounded like this is something urgent, is it?"
He handed the baby back to her. "Yes, it is. I've discussed this with your father and he wanted me to explain it to you."
"Is it about the ranch?" Coralee asked, taking Travis's hand.
"Yes, it is. You need to know this, and you too, Travis. We're in danger of losing the ranch. The developers going after it have more powerful weapons on their side than those in the past. They want to build an airport, a ski resort, hotels and businesses, and maybe even some residential development. The reason why the state isn't fighting it is because it means jobs, a lot of them, and Montana needs more jobs. And the land they want is on the ranch and if the state goes along with it, they will seize the property by eminent domain. Do you know what that means?"
"Yes, I do. I wasn't aware that even existed until you started telling me about it. It seems unfair like it's not right. How can it be even remotely legal for the state to steal land that belongs to someone else." Her pretty brow wrinkled, "I think I should have studied law, but I didn't see this coming."
"Do you have any pictures that show which land the state is looking at?" asked Travis.
"Yes, I do." Jamie handed him maps showing what land the state wanted to seize. Travis kept his composure, but Coralee could read his face and what she saw was not making him happy.
"I don't know, Jamie," Travis said, "This is close to the park and to the river. It seems to me that the state should be insisting that it be moved further from the park boundaries and the river. Why is no one taking into account the noise pollution and the effect it will have on the wildlife? I don't like it, but if it has to happen why not take those factors into account?" He saw the look his wife was giving him and mouthed, "not now" to her.
"And what about access roads?" said Coralee, "Are they planning on building those through the ranch? What you're showing me doesn't seem to make an allowance for that. It's like they just took a piece of the land, an isolated piece. How do they plan to get people to and from the park? And what about the reservation? What accommodations are they making for them?"
"The development will mean more jobs for the tribe, they can use them. In the meantime, you've asked good questions. The point is, either the ranch will need to be sold, or the land leased while we retain ownership." Jamie must have rehearsed this, she thought, it sounds like a speech he's rehearsed. "It's inevitable that something is going to happen. I've talked this over with Uncle Benjamin and he agrees with me."
"Agrees about what?" Coralee asked.
"That if the ranch isn't sold, and it would mean a lot of money if it was, we should at least agree to lease the land. I wanted you to hear this from me, Coralee. If we lease the land, we can hold onto it. This development will mean a rise in property taxes, but the lease will cover it. I know your family retained a small interest in the ranch, but this will hopefully increase your income from it."
Coralee was in shock. She turned to Travis and said, "I think the baby needs to be fed, and I can use some lunch. Thank you for telling me this, it's not what I wanted to hear, but I'd rather know that not. I appreciate your being honest with me."
The first thing she did after leaving his office was to run to the restroom and get sick. She rinsed out her mouth and brushed her teeth. She splashed water on her face and smoothed her hair.
Travis took one look at her and knew what happened. "Are you all right?" he said gently.
She shook her head, "No, I'm not, I almost wish Jamie hadn't told me but I needed to know."
"Let's find a place where you can get something to eat, then we'll go home. That was a lot to absorb." He put the arm that wasn't holding the baby carrier around her shoulders and squeezed her.
"I knew some of it," she said, "But I didn't know things were this bad. Uncle John holds title to the land, and if I know him, he's not going to want to sell, or lease, or anything. When we get back to Texas, I'll call Dad and ask him about it. I know Uncle John doesn't trust Jamie, but he does trust Dad, so he'll listen to him—maybe."
They found a small café where she was able to eat a bowl of soup and a small croissant. Her breasts were feeling full, and she needed to pump but there was no place where she could. She'd like to nurse Lucy but modesty prevented her from doing it in public.
In a few days they'd be leaving for Texas and for once it seemed like a relief. She felt a sudden need to be away from the Yellowstone. Every time she looked around she saw the threat of loss, loss of the ranch, loss of what had held their family together for almost two centuries. It wasn't just "the Yellowstone", it was the "Yellowstone Dutton Ranch". They couldn't be separated, they were entwined, and one was part of the other.
"Hey, what are you thinking?" Travis gently shook her knee, "I've never seen you so quiet when you're awake."
"Is there a little park or something we could go to so I can nurse the baby, I need to nurse her." She looked at him, "I've got so much on my mind."
"I was wondering why John wanted me to keep his horses at our ranch. I thought at first it was for access to training but now I think it's because he thinks they're safer there. If something is wrong he's not going to confide it to me." He peered forward, "I see a little park, we'll pull off and go there."
They found a secluded corner and she put Lucy to her breast. "You know, when Uncle John asked you to set up a team for him, Kayce and Rip told him he couldn't afford it. Now I understand why. It takes less room to raise horses than it does cattle. I've seen the checks you've brought in and I think he's counting on that to supplement the income we're going to lose when we no longer have space for as many cows. But what is he going to do if he does lose the ranch?"
Coralee had thoughtfully placed the B-complex and glass of grapefruit juice on the table next to her bed. They'd had a dietitian friend in college who knew all sorts of dietary cures for any sort of ailment. She'd woken with a clear head but wished she hadn't.
At the bunkhouse they'd be eating the spread Gator had prepared, The band would probably have spent the night, and they would probably have their guitars out and would be playing, it was hard to separate from his. Everyone would be laughing and eating and having a good time. Except for her.
She couldn't face Ryan. She didn't understand why he wanted to be so, well, helpful, last night. He wasn't acting like he wanted her back, it was more like he was looking after the boss's nieces like he had when she and Coralee were young. Everyone on the ranch had looked out for them, it was something that went unspoken. She and Coralee never questioned it, but took it for granted.
Instead of hanging out with her friends in the bunkhouse, she sat at the table with the family. John sat in his place at the head of the table, Kayce, Monica, and Tate were there, along with Travis and Coralee. Beth sat at her usual place at John's right hand. Like the archangel of god, thought Coralee. Rip now had his place at the table too, at Beth's right hand, but he was no angel by any stretch of the imagination.
She looked at her sister, Coralee had a cheerful nature, but she had never seemed happier. The baby had brought Travis and her even closer. She had married the love of her life, the man she had fallen in love with when she was twelve. Katie had never imagined that her sister would marry someone like Travis, but he had turned out to be the right someone.
She had thought she had found the right someone when she and Ryan had first gotten together. He was older but never seemed too old. He was a cowboy who was content to be just that. He didn't rodeo, he didn't want to but didn't mind that she did.
Like Kayce, he was a livestock agent and took his responsibilities seriously. It could be a dangerous job, but he didn't shirk from it. He had John Dutton's respect and that counted for a lot.
He was handsome, he was fun, he was charming, what more could she want? She could see a future with him, there was something that they had that they could build on. Living in the bunkhouse would not work, but with his salary as wrangler and agent, and the money she brought in with rodeo earnings, they could have made something work. Uncle John might even have helped.
She threw down her napkin and left the table. There was too much happiness going on, and she could not share in it. She had made a big mistake. All it had taken was one stupid fight and she had behaved like an idiot and fled.
Why had she rushed into that stupid marriage? Why hadn't she taken the time to cool off? She had something good, and she'd just thrown it away, all because she had lost her temper.
She went down to the barn, hoping no one would notice her. She'd saddle one of her horses and ride to the hot springs. She'd soak and think and decide what she wanted to do.
Coralee had invited her to come to their ranch in Texas. She could use some help with the baby for a little while, she told her, you can use the time away to decide what you wanted to do.
Mom and Dad wanted her to come back to the farm. Come home for a while, they told her, you need some time to think. When you're ready, get back on the road and do what you love best. But would rodeoing be the same without Coralee?
She opened the big barn door, wincing when she heard the hinges squeak. Maybe no one would notice, or at least she hoped no one would.
She took her saddle and bridle down from the wall. Since Coralee had gotten mad at her and taken Best Boy back she no longer rode him. She'd found a little registered paint she was training as a cutter, she'd ride it, she decided.
She started down the aisle when she heard someone behind her clear his throat.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" asked Ryan.