A Place Of Our Own (Contemporary Cowboy Romance) (Texas Heat series: Book 3, Jim and Maddies story) by Amelia Rose
Authors: Amelia Rose
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bigger.”
“Well, I’ll leave you two to chat.”
“You look after yourself now, Jean.”
She went back inside, thinking to ring Maddie to let her know Andrew was here. What was the point though? She’d likely be home before long anyway and short of Red coming over and taking Andrew away, there was nothing anyone could do.
“Now, Francis, you know I’m thinking it’s time I made you an offer for your place here and I want to offer you a fair price, based on the current market value of the holding. Would you be amenable to considering an offer, if I was of a mind to make one?”
“Well, boy, you know I would. I’m getting too old to keep working this place as you well know and I’d like to sell it while it’s still worth something. It’ll be a shame to move into town though, after a lifetime of living out here. This country can get into your blood.”
“So it can, so it can, but you have to think of how you’ll manage as you get older and country like this can be hard on a body. I expect it’s the same for Jean. And don’t forget how much more convenient it will be for Maddie to teach school if she’s living in town.”
“Yes, you’re right about all those things. So, tell me what you had in mind Andrew.”
“Sure Francis.” Andrew reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a piece of paper that he’d jotted down some figures on earlier in the day. “Here you go. This is not a final figure, of course, but it’s a good place to start.” He handed the sheet of paper to Francis.
There was silence as Francis struggled to contain his disappointment. He hadn’t been expecting top dollar but this was not far above an insult, even with the old place being run down.
“Thanks, Andrew. I’d like to think on this for a bit if that’s okay. You can understand it’s a big move for us.”
“Of course, take as much time as you need. You know where to find me and I’m sure as hell not going anywhere soon. Let me know what you think after you’ve had a chance to think on it.”
Francis stood up, hoping Andrew would take the hint and leave him to his thoughts.
“Well, I’ll leave you to think on it then, Francis. You let me know if I can do anything for you now and I’ll drop by again in a couple of days. Bye now.”
Andrew headed back to the pickup, barely able to contain his excitement as he headed back home. This was going to be one sweet deal and the cheapest thousand acres of land he’d ever had the pleasure of purchasing. The old man was likely to be disappointed, for sure, but he’d understand before long that he’d not receive a better offer any time soon.
Chapter Eight
Penny and Maddie had a fruitful morning and had arranged to have their purchases delivered to the cabin later in the afternoon. They met up with Red and Andrew back at T J’s, ready to swap stories. Maddie was finding it difficult to contain her excitement. If Red could buy the Dupont place and then let Jim buy it from him, everything would be okay.
Jim and Andrew were already inside and were eating their lunch of steak, fries, and a side salad. The women sat down and a waiter followed them with a bottle of champagne, filling four glasses.
Maddie was too excited to speak, so Penny asked the vital question. “So is everything going to go ahead?”
“You bet it is,” said Red. “Raise your glasses, everyone. I’d like to congratulate Jim and Maddie on their future together. To Jim and Maddie, a wedding and some grandchildren.”
Jim turned to Maddie and kissed her tenderly before turning to his father. “Thanks Dad, for everything. I’m going to build up the best boutique holding you’ve ever seen.”
“The boy’s right, Penny. We stopped off at the library before we went to the bank and I’d never have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. It’s perfect for your old place Maddie, just the right
“Well, I’ll leave you two to chat.”
“You look after yourself now, Jean.”
She went back inside, thinking to ring Maddie to let her know Andrew was here. What was the point though? She’d likely be home before long anyway and short of Red coming over and taking Andrew away, there was nothing anyone could do.
“Now, Francis, you know I’m thinking it’s time I made you an offer for your place here and I want to offer you a fair price, based on the current market value of the holding. Would you be amenable to considering an offer, if I was of a mind to make one?”
“Well, boy, you know I would. I’m getting too old to keep working this place as you well know and I’d like to sell it while it’s still worth something. It’ll be a shame to move into town though, after a lifetime of living out here. This country can get into your blood.”
“So it can, so it can, but you have to think of how you’ll manage as you get older and country like this can be hard on a body. I expect it’s the same for Jean. And don’t forget how much more convenient it will be for Maddie to teach school if she’s living in town.”
“Yes, you’re right about all those things. So, tell me what you had in mind Andrew.”
“Sure Francis.” Andrew reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a piece of paper that he’d jotted down some figures on earlier in the day. “Here you go. This is not a final figure, of course, but it’s a good place to start.” He handed the sheet of paper to Francis.
There was silence as Francis struggled to contain his disappointment. He hadn’t been expecting top dollar but this was not far above an insult, even with the old place being run down.
“Thanks, Andrew. I’d like to think on this for a bit if that’s okay. You can understand it’s a big move for us.”
“Of course, take as much time as you need. You know where to find me and I’m sure as hell not going anywhere soon. Let me know what you think after you’ve had a chance to think on it.”
Francis stood up, hoping Andrew would take the hint and leave him to his thoughts.
“Well, I’ll leave you to think on it then, Francis. You let me know if I can do anything for you now and I’ll drop by again in a couple of days. Bye now.”
Andrew headed back to the pickup, barely able to contain his excitement as he headed back home. This was going to be one sweet deal and the cheapest thousand acres of land he’d ever had the pleasure of purchasing. The old man was likely to be disappointed, for sure, but he’d understand before long that he’d not receive a better offer any time soon.
Chapter Eight
Penny and Maddie had a fruitful morning and had arranged to have their purchases delivered to the cabin later in the afternoon. They met up with Red and Andrew back at T J’s, ready to swap stories. Maddie was finding it difficult to contain her excitement. If Red could buy the Dupont place and then let Jim buy it from him, everything would be okay.
Jim and Andrew were already inside and were eating their lunch of steak, fries, and a side salad. The women sat down and a waiter followed them with a bottle of champagne, filling four glasses.
Maddie was too excited to speak, so Penny asked the vital question. “So is everything going to go ahead?”
“You bet it is,” said Red. “Raise your glasses, everyone. I’d like to congratulate Jim and Maddie on their future together. To Jim and Maddie, a wedding and some grandchildren.”
Jim turned to Maddie and kissed her tenderly before turning to his father. “Thanks Dad, for everything. I’m going to build up the best boutique holding you’ve ever seen.”
“The boy’s right, Penny. We stopped off at the library before we went to the bank and I’d never have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. It’s perfect for your old place Maddie, just the right
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