“That much?” His mom gaped when he passed her the card with the figure on it. “That’s even more than the first guy’s offer. What’s he know about this place that we don’t?”
“Sure he knows something,” her husband said bitterly. “Probably has some tip about whatever new highway’s bound to be coming through or some horse crap like that.”
“Even if that was true,” Miah said, “it’s not like anybody’s going to make us rich—not with whatever compensation a road would bring. Not enough to justify that number.”
“Maybe somebody’s found gold in the creek,” Abilene joked.
“They’re about a hundred and twenty years past the trend,” Don said, dismissing the idea with his fork. “All we’re rich in here is land. Land that we haven’t wrecked, unlike some of the so-called modern cattle operations I’ve seen.”
He was getting het up, and his wife shot him a look. “Don.”
“Mark my words—this is no dude ranch they want to put in. It’s either some slimy insider deal, some highway scheme with a load of slot parlors and service stations and strip joints, or else it’s some industrial outfit, after our range. MacPherson’s, maybe. I’ve been hearing rumors that they want to go large-scale grass-fed for years now—”
Miah’s mom butted in. “Don, not only is this all beside the point; it’s incredibly boring for Abilene to listen to.”
Abilene shrugged, seeming amused by the whole thing. “She’s right, though. If you’re never going to sell, who cares what they’re after?”
“True enough,” Don said sagely. “True enough. If we ever sell, it’ll be from a natural disaster. A complete dry-up or a massive outbreak. A true catastrophe, not just because some sweaty shit from God knows where shows up, waving his boss’s wallet around.” Too late, he realized he’d sworn, and apologized to their guest.
“I’d love to know what the deal is, though,” Miah said, and speared a wedge of carrot. “Can’t say I’m not curious, the way they’ve come on so strong these past couple weeks.”
“The casino’s starting to look like it’ll actually go through,” his mom offered. “Have you driven by the foothills lately? The heavy equipment’s all come back, plus we got a notice in the mail with a blasting schedule from the Silver State people.”
Miah smiled dryly. “I’ll hand it to the new contractors—they’re more courteous than Virgin River ever was.”
His mom nodded. “Or gun-shy, anyhow. And either way—whether they’re ethical or just trying to cover their butts—you won’t catch me complaining. If there’s got to be a casino, this is looking like a vast improvement, so far. No one can argue that.”
Miah smiled grimly. “No, I guess not. Though it sure would be nice to wake up and realize the whole damn project was just an awful dream.”
? ? ?
Once dinner was over, Christine ushered Abilene from the kitchen, telling her she’d done plenty for one night and to go take it easy while the rest of them dealt with the dishes.
She was only too happy to comply. Mercy had been suspiciously calm all evening, and was now due to boil over at any minute. Sure enough, she went into a fit no sooner than Abilene had started up the steps to the guest wing. It took a good hour to meet all her needs and settle her back down, but at long last she seemed to have wailed herself into exhaustion. Maybe she’d even make it two for two, and sleep through the night again.
Abilene got settled in bed, though she wouldn’t sleep herself, yet, not until Casey was back. A glance at the clock beside the reading lamp told her it was ten of ten. If he didn’t show by eleven, she’d text him. She didn’t want to appear too needy, but at a certain point, worry would kick in. Worry for him, and worry at the prospect of facing a night without him nearby, in case there was another prowler incident.
For now she’d read and try to not fret too much about what could be keeping him out for so long, when all he’d said was that he needed to take a phone call and check on his mother—
She turned at a soft rap on the door.
“Come in.”