Page 55 of The Cowboy’s Reckoning

“It was short, but yes. I love seeing my sisters. I’m trying to finagle some vacation days during the holidays this year so I can spend a week snowed in with them.”

Jordan watched the cows graze in the twilight. He was about to ask about her job, or anything for that matter, to deflect the possible mention of his father because he didn’t feel ready to face the reality of the man. He wasn’t fast enough.

“Do you want to know anything about Carl Jordan that I might be able to answer?”

He wanted to say no but decided he needed to take advantage of Maya’s offer, rather than kick himself later. There were things he wanted to know.

“Have you looked him up online?” Maya asked.

“Of course.”

“And all you found was his professional pages, right?”

He nodded.

She cocked her head. “You don’t look like him—”

“My mom was Hispanic. I take after her.”

“Except for the nose. Yours has been broken. His wasn’t, but there’s a similarity.” Her lips tilted up. “The other difference is that he looked down his. You don’t seem to be that kind.”

“Try not to be. Why do you think Carl left me the ranch when he refused to contact me when he was alive?” Or even hint at his existence. “Guilt?”

“With another man I might believe that.” Jordan gave her a frowning look and she explained, “Carl had a public persona. He was charming, intelligent, seemingly generous.”

“He gave his company to his employees.”

“That was generous,” Maya agreed. “As was leasing the ranch to my sisters. I don’t know why he did either of those things.”

“You’re saying he wasn’t altruistic by nature?”

“Nope. He was all about Carl Jordan. The benevolent public persona was carefully cultivated. In private he was egotistical and domineering.”

“Didn’t you write the ranch lease?”

“Yes. I also suggested that he lease to my sisters when he lost the previous tenant. I thought he’d shoot me down, but he was interested. Surprisingly so. Carl had reason for that.”

“Maybe I was better off with him not acknowledging me.”

“Perhaps.”

“He let me go into foster care, you know.”

“Doesn’t surprise me.”

Jordan made a mental note to hug Wade if he ever caught the man unaware.

Maya set her chin on her folded hands. “Will you make sure that my sisters keep me updated if more stuff happens?”

He gave a scoffing laugh. “I’ll suggest it. Do you have a theory as to what’s going on?”

“Nothing that isn’t half-baked. I need more data.”

“Me too.”

“I have to say that just wanting privacy isn’t enough of a motive for me.”

He was of the same mind, but had yet to come up with anything else, other than there being something valuable underground, as Maya had mentioned earlier.