Page 210 of Tessa and Nash

Tessa shakes her head. “No. Never. A small piece. Nothing more. Enough to make him feel like he’s part of the process without giving him more than what he needs to dig in his heels.”

Boone sits back in his chair, watching Tessa carefully. “And you think that’ll keep him from trying to take over?”

“I think it’ll keep him from making things worse,” Tessa replies. “But the key is making sure it looks like a partnership. If we present it like we’re working together, like both families have something to gain, he’ll be less likely to pull any moves behind our backs.”

I take a deep breath, nodding. “She’s right. The key is making this look like something that benefits everyone. If we present it that way, we can avoid the fallout.”

Mom studies Tessa for a long moment, then looks at me, her expression softening. “I’m not saying it’s perfect, but I can see how this could work. The question is, do you all trust each other enough to see it through?”

The room falls silent, her words hanging in the air. The truth is, none of us have had a lot of trust to go around. But tonight is different. Tessa’s sitting here at this table where she belongs, and maybe this whole damn thing might actually work.

“I think we can do this,” I say, meeting my brothers’ eyes. “We have to. If we’re going to make Buckhorn work, we have to do it together.”

Dallas leans back in his chair, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. “You’re not wrong. But we’ve all got to stay on the same page. No more secrets. No more half-assed plans. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right.”

Boone nods slowly, weighing the entire conversation. “I’m in. But it’s gotta be clear. No half measures.”

Tessa looks at me, her eyes reflecting the same determination I’m feeling in my chest. “It’ll be clear. We’re not doing this in pieces. We’re doing this all the way.”

With a heavy sigh, Boone says, “Alright. I’ll give it a shot. But if this blows up in our faces, don’t come crying to me.”

“Deal,” I say, my grin stretching a little wider.

Mom raises her glass. “Well, then. Let’s see what happens. To the McCoys and the Longs. If anyone can make this work, it’s you two.”

I clink my glass against hers, then look at Tessa. She meets my gaze, her lips curving up in a smile that feels real. This is what I’ve been waiting for.

Not just a plan, but the chance to prove that we’re stronger together than we ever were apart.

CHAPTER FORTY

Tessa

February 25th

“You what?”

Thomas’s voice cracks like a whip, the sound ricocheting off the walls. His fists slam down on the table, sending papers I’ve been sorting into the air, the force of his anger making the whole room tremble.

My heart flutters, but not from fear. It’s from something else entirely. Emotion I haven’t felt in a long time. Resolve.

I don’t flinch.

I’ve spent years navigating his rage, sidestepping the worst of it, keeping my voice calm when his is anything but. But today? Today, I’m done.

“I’m not backing out,” I say, each word cutting through the thick tension in the air. “You want to control everything, but I’m not going to let you. We can’t keep doing the same thing. We can’t keep fighting ghosts. Our plan is a good one, and it works for both families. I think you can see that.”

His eyes narrow, stormy and furious, and I can feel the heat of his glare from where I stand. “You don’t understand⁠—”

“I understand perfectly,” I cut him off, standing my ground. “We can’t keep playing this game. You’ve been getting your way for years, but it’s hurt us. Both of us. The McCoys and the Longs have benefited from this dispute for too long, but it’s time to move on.”

I stand up, pacing in front of him, feeling his eyes burn into my back. But I don’t stop. Not now. Not when I finally have the words to say everything that’s been building for so long.

“You want to blame the McCoys for everything that’s wrong,” I say, turning to face him, my hands clasped in front of me. “But you’re forgetting something. It’s you who’s been holding us back. You’ve let this feud define everything, even when it’s hurt us. The land, the money… it’s not worth more than our future. We need to make peace with the people who can help us move forward. People who want to help us.”

His nostrils flare, and his hands shake on the table. The tension in his jaw is enough to crack stone. “You think I’m going to let them dictate what happens to our land?”

“No,” I say, slicing through his anger. “I think you’re going to get what you need. You’ll benefit from this deal financially. You’ll get the money you’ve always wanted. But it’s not just about money anymore. It’s about securing the future. Not dragging us back into a past that’s already done enough damage.”