“Not possible,” I say, kissing him again.
“Let’s show them so I don’t have to sit here watchin’ them canoodle and whatever,” Ash grumbles.
“Don’t worry, Ash. Your turn will come,” Wyatt says, shoulder bumping my brother likethey’rebesties too.
I look around the group. “Are y’all friends now or somethin’?”
Dare and Will share another knowing look, this time there’s only respect there. “Or somethin’,” Will replies.
“This is so weird,” I mutter. “OK. Let’s go. Show me this surprise that everyone but us knows about.”
In the end, it’s Dare and Will who lead us away from the group, EJ and BJ excitedly telling the rest of them about the donkey breeding program they want to start and something about ‘eco-tourism.’
I wait to ask about it until we’re out of earshot and walking towards the woods where I believed fairies lived when I was younger. “What were the twins talkin’ about?”
Dare looks at Will. “What part?”
“The eco-tourism thing.”
“That was on the list of things to talk to y’all about once you were back and settled,” Dare replies.
“You mean,ifI came back and decided to stay?”
Will laughs and shoulder bumps Dare. “Told you.”
“OK, I get you two are big burly mountain men who just happen to be our older brothers and the leaders of our respective ranches, but can youplease–I beg of you–just say it straight?” I look over at Jude who nods approvingly. “We’re not kids any more, we all own part of the mountain, and we should all get a say in what happens to it.”
My brother stops walking and turns around to face me, pride and respect written all over his face. “First things first. I never doubted you’d come back because you belong here just as much as the rest of us. Yeah?” I nod, my throat threatening to close up again. “Secondly, the twins have got big mouths and wehadplanned on talkin’ to you in the next few days after you were settled.”
My hands go to my hips. “What are these plans, Dare?” Jude chuckles but holds his hands up in surrender the minute I narrow my eyes his way.
“OK, Little Em. We–as in, Will and I–have been talkin’ about how we can all work together without givin’ up our respective ranches. The rivalry may be done for, but we’re all proud of our family land and have no plans to combine or merge any of it. You with me so far?” he explains.
“However,” Will says. “Now that we’re family and we all have a vested interest in the future of the land and the mountain, it makes sense to work together.”
“Which is why we were waitin’ for your votes in order to move forward with the next step,” Dare continues.
“Votes for what?” Jude asks, tucking me close into his side.
Dare nods for Will to tell. “We want to buy the land on the other side of the mountain, from the river to the lake and everythin’ in between.”
Jude’s arm stills on my back as my eyes bug out of my head. “That’s…” he starts to say.
“A lot,” I finish for him.
“Jeez, you two are even talkin’ the same. This is scary,” Will says, shaking his head.
“I love you, Will, but you just lobbed some huge plans on us,” Jude replies.
“Which is why we weren’t goin’ to do ittoday.” Dare shoots me a pointed look. “Butsomeonehates surprises.”
It’s then that it clicks. “You want to start an eco-tourism venture next to the mountain. Notonit. That will protect it and keep it for the family and future generations while also unitin’ us in a joint business we can all work on and develop together.”
“Bingo, Little Em.”
Will nods to Jude. “And you’d be a big part of that, little brother. We want to preserve the environment and make as little impact as possible, while also showin’ visitors the beauty we get to call home every single day.”
“And make money,” Jude remarks.