Page 47 of The Billion Heirs Boxed Set

“Nothing a little chat with some beavers won’t solve.” Chance’s voice is tempered. For her.

His look is kind and gentle when he turns it Carly’s way. Obviously, he still doesn’t want to upset the woman, even if her dad is being a dick. Perhaps especially because of that.

“Beavers?” Carly cocks her head, frowning. “You’re not expected to deal with them on our… I mean, their land, are you? They can be mean—the beavers, not the Bridgers—and since they own—”

“What the—?” Chance cuts himself off. “What do you mean, Carly? They own what?”

“Your dad bought our land and we’re renting it back,” she replies. “Or rather, the city is renting the house for us.”

Chance frowns. “Jonathan bought your property? When the he— heck did this happen?”

Vance huffs. “Like you didn’t know.”

“Are you crazy?” Chance shakes his head. “You think my old man let me in on any of his dealings? Or that he didn’t leave us in a bind when he up and died?”

“Right,” Vance says.

Chance holds his hands up. “Whatever, Mayor. Think what you want. I don’t give a shit. I’m not airing the Bridger dirty laundry with you.”

I don’t blame Chance for shutting down. The mayor isn’t receptive to anything he has to say and at least Chance will walk away with his pride.

“A big-ass bind,” Miles offers.

“I don’t give a rat’s ass what kind of bind he left you in,” Mayor Vance says. “I’ve been researching your father since I was elected and he skirted the law for the last couple decades. What he did with our land is only one shady deal.”

“That’s our father, not us,” I say.

I feel oddly protective of my brother. Why? I have no idea. He’s a grumpy asshole that put Miles and me on a chain gang work program. But what I know of Chance, he’s got honor that our dad never had.

“I’d say throw the guy in jail,” Miles says, “but oh yeah, he’s dead. Talk about a bind.”

“Chance,” Carly says, “just sell my father his land back. Or pay him what it’s worth. You’ve got the money.”

As if it’s that simple. Which it is when billions of dollars can solve lots of problems. Including this one. Except we can’t get the money.

“Carly.” Vance sets his hand on her shoulder. “This isn’t a problem for you to worry about.”

“But—”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Chance rubs his jaw. “Our father didn’t pay you?”

“It’s not that simple.” Vance looks at Carly. “The Bridgers have been paying everyone off to get their way for years, and I for one am sick of it. You people are not above the law. I don’t care how much money you’ve got socked away.”

“Mayor, I’m happy to right my father’s wrong,” Chance says. “I’ll talk to our lawyer and I’ll see if something can be arranged.”

“See, Daddy?” Carly smiles. Sort of. “You’ll get your ranch back and you won’t have to be mayor any more to make ends meet. You can go back to working your land, which I know you loved doing. Mom can get her hens back, and we can have fresh eggs, and—”

“Dude,” Miles interrupts, looking at Chance. “We can’t get at any of the money for a year. Remember what Sharple said.”

“You mean Shankle,” I correct.

“Whatever.” Miles rolls his eyes. “The guy might be an odd duck and probably sleeps with his briefcase, but he’s got the three of us by the balls. He was pretty clear.”

“Surely we can get enough out of the ranch trust to pay off the Vances,” Chance says. “Can you tell me exactly what happened, Mayor?”

“Why don’t you check your own damned records, Bridger? You’ll find a hell of a lot more than one bad land deal.” Vance turns. “Let’s go, Carly.”

“Daddy,” Carly pleads. “Please. At least sit down with them and talk this out. Talk to their attorney. Maybe we can—”