That deep river feeling, p.23
That Deep River Feeling, page 23
He wanted to stare back, glare at them, get them to back off, but that wasn’t going to help. So he looked for Morgan’s blue gaze instead and found it, a hot coal glowing in the depths, warming him straight through and easing his tension.
“You want to say something, Zeke?” Astrid asked.
Silas and Damon were sitting not far from away Morgan, and Silas gave him a nod of encouragement, while Damon offered a discreet thumbs-up.
Well, okay then.
“Yeah,” Zeke said. “I do.”
Astrid made a “be my guest” gesture and stepped back.
“So for those of you who don’t know me, I’m Zeke Montgomery,” he began, directing his comments to the whole room, conscious of Morgan’s gaze on him, warming him like the sun. “I’m one of the town’s new owners, along with Damon and Si. And I’m telling you not to take the offer because Montgomery Oil and Gas, the oil company interested in the reserves under Deep River, is my family’s company.” He nodded at Izzy. “And Izzy here is my sister.”
The silence continued, the pressure of everyone’s attention on him.
Still plenty of time to screw this one up.
Zeke ignored the thought, the determination sitting inside him pushing him on. “No one knew about my family when I arrived here last week. Si and Damon didn’t know and neither did Morgan, and that’s because I didn’t tell anyone. The only one who knew was Cal. He came to me not long before he died, because he’d found out Jared West had been prospecting for oil and that my family’s company was involved. And he wanted to know what to do about it. He wanted to know if I could help. But…he died before we could get together a plan.”
Whispers ran around the hall like wind through the trees.
Zeke ignored those too.
“After Cal died, I went down to Houston and saw my father. I made a personal plea to get him to leave Deep River alone. He said he would and I thought it was a done deal. I came back here because I needed to give up my share of Deep River, plus I got a note from Cal after his death asking me to look out for Morgan.”
Everyone was still staring at him, though perhaps with less hostility?
He couldn’t be sure. No choice but to keep going.
“Anyway, obviously Dad didn’t leave Deep River alone, because otherwise Izzy wouldn’t have shown up here with an offer to make. And I know it’s a big one. I know it’s a lot of money. But don’t take it.” He paused to let that sink in, then he added, “I used to work for this company and I know how they operate. They don’t give a shit about the land and they don’t give a shit about the people. They’ll play games to manipulate you, lie straight to your face. Because the only thing they care about is what they can get out of the ground.”
The silence echoed.
Then some guy near the front with the look of a perpetual skeptic said, “You seriously thought your old man would give up the oil just because you asked him to?”
Zeke didn’t want to get into that, to touch on the reasons he’d believed his father and what that said about him, but he couldn’t lie either.
“Yes,” he said “I did.”
“Pretty naive, don’t you think?” the skeptic said.
Morgan turned around in her seat, clearly aiming to defend him, but before she could get a word out, Zeke said, “It’s not naivete. I can’t tell when people are lying to me. It’s just the way I’m made.”
The man scowled, but someone else, April, the diner owner, said unexpectedly, “Leave him alone, Mike. Remember Clive? He was a bit the same way.”
Mike subsided, looking grumpy, but everyone else was studying Zeke with renewed interest.
It made him intensely uncomfortable.
“So what’s all this about Jared West?” someone called from down the back of the hall. “Why the hell was he looking for oil under Deep River?”
More murmurs of agreement, people frowning.
“I don’t know,” Zeke said flatly. “Cal didn’t say.”
“Seems awfully convenient that it ends up with you being the son of this oil guy,” Mike commented again. “And you owning a full third of this town.”
People were nodding, obviously agreeing.
But Zeke just stared straight at Mike, remembering Morgan telling him they appreciated honesty in this town, which was good, because that was all he had to give them. “I don’t want to own Deep River. I never wanted it. And I don’t want anything to do with the oil company either.”
“But what about your share?” Mike asked. “Who will you give that to?”
He hadn’t thought about it, not quite yet, but he looked at Morgan.
“Aw, who cares about that?” someone else shouted. “We need to make a decision about this offer.”
And then the whole town erupted into chaos.
* * *
Morgan paid no attention to everyone shouting about the offer. All she could see was Zeke standing at the front of the hall, tall and dark and unspeakably gorgeous, his dark eyes glittering.
She hadn’t known he was going to speak. She’d deliberately not pushed him about it over the past couple of days, wanting to give him some time to come around to the idea himself all the while trying not to let her worry about the offer get to her.
But he had come around. Speaking with conviction and honesty. Not pulling any punches about the company and what they’d do to Deep River either. Being straight up even with Mike and his rude questions.
Zeke had quite simply been magnificent, and now she couldn’t take her eyes off him.
This is what falling in love feels like.
The thought drifted through her head, the same thought she’d had over the past few days, but she couldn’t think about what it meant, not now.
People were still shouting, and it was Silas who finally stood and yelled at everyone to shut up, his deep voice echoing around the hall.
They muttered and murmured, but at last fell silent.
Briefly she debated whether or not to say something, but she’d talked to Phil earlier that day and they’d hatched a plan. Phil was pretty sure most people wouldn’t want to take any kind of offer, but there were some who might waver, and so he’d decided that a public declaration was needed.
Morgan had offered to lead the vote, since she was a West and people paid attention to that, but Phil had nixed that idea. He said it would be better if he led it, since he was one of Deep River’s oldest residents and some folks might feel forced into making a decision they didn’t want if a West led the way.
She’d agreed with him. They couldn’t force agreement from people. Any decision the town came to had to be unanimous.
So it was Phil who got to his feet now and yet more murmurs raced around the hall because Phil didn’t often make it to town meetings.
“We’re not going to need a week,” Phil said into the silence, bright blue eyes full of an edged amusement as he stared at Isabella. “This town already made its choice about the oil and we made it weeks ago. More money isn’t going to change things.”
No one said anything. It was deathly quiet.
“Are you sure?” Isabella Montgomery’s voice was very cool and very assured. “Seemed to me just now that people aren’t quite as sure as you think.”
“We’re sure.” April stood up. “Deep River doesn’t want your money.”
Morgan couldn’t stop looking at Zeke. His was posture tense. A muscle jumped in the side of his jaw.
He’d be able to feel the tension in the hall, and he’d be concerned for his sister. But the fact he was staying quiet now was a good move. He’d said his piece and knew now it was time for the residents to speak for themselves.
God, and he thought he couldn’t read people, that he couldn’t do emotional “stuff.” That was so much lies. He’d read the room just now and had made his decision accordingly.
Her heart swelled, making her chest ache.
“April’s right,” Mal said, getting to his feet. “No one wants your company here, no matter how much money you offer.”
“Agreed.” Kevin Anderson stood up.
“Me too.” Sonny Clarke pushed himself away from the wall.
Morgan’s heart swelled ever more at the gestures of solidarity, at her town coming together.
People were not going to take it no matter how much the company offered.
Perhaps if it had come a couple of weeks ago, when there was still worry and dissent about what was going to happen to the town after Cal’s death, then it might have been a different story.
But it hadn’t. It had come after a successful first day with the new tourist ventures. After people had had time to think about what was important, to think about their town and the people in it and what they wanted both for the town and themselves.
And it wasn’t cash in their bank accounts.
“This offer,” Mike Flint said. “This on the level? That’s really how much we’d get each?” Clearly he’d done some calculations in his head.
Isabella opened her mouth to speak, but Zeke cut in, “It’s not on the level. Nothing about these offers is on the level. There’ll be caveats and restrictions. Hoops you have to jump through. And they’ll try and delay paying you for as long as they possibly can.”
“Huh.” Mike gave Zeke a long look. Then abruptly he got to his feet too. “Then it sounds like horseshit to me.”
“I see,” Isabella said with the same calm with which she’d presented the offer. “So are you all speaking for the entire town?”
“Everyone who wants to refuse the offer stand,” Phil barked.
There was a moment’s pause as if everyone was thinking. Then much to Morgan’s delight, everyone in the entire hall rose to their feet.
And for the first time, she saw surprise ripple over Zeke’s face, his dark eyes widening.
“Everyone who thinks we should take the offer remain standing,” Phil ordered again. “Everyone else sit down.”
As one, the entire hall sat down.
No one said a word, not even Mike Flint.
It was very clear what the town’s decision was.
Isabella didn’t look either pleased or upset; she only nodded. “I’ll tell you now that this was not the answer that my father wanted.”
“Tell Dad he can stick it where the sun don’t shine,” Zeke said unexpectedly. “And that if he has any issues with that, he can come to me.”
There was pause and then a low murmur of approval ran around the hall.
“He can also talk to my rifle,” April added, to applause.
Isabella glanced at Zeke, then nodded. “I’ll see he gets the message. In that case, the offer will be formally withdrawn. Thanks for your time.”
Without another word, she strode out.
The entire hall erupted again after that, this time in cheers and shouts, a lot of smiling and a lot of laughing. Relief swept like a wave around the space, and Silas didn’t even try to get everyone to shut up this time.
The sense that they’d stood against something larger than themselves and remained strong was a powerful feeling and everyone was full of excitement and adrenaline.
“A round of drinks on the house,” Hope called and then she and Silas left, along with Damon and Astrid, leading a contingent of people back down to the Moose.
Another crowd formed around Morgan, all wanting to share in the good feeling, asking her questions about Zeke and not a few about his share of the town, but she didn’t want to talk about that right now, all she wanted to do was find Zeke and tell him how wonderful he was.
Except he was nowhere to be seen. Had he left already? And if so, where had he gone?
It wasn’t until the majority had left the hall that she finally found him leaning against the wall by the windows. He was so still, watching everyone go, his gaze unreadable.
Morgan threaded her way around the benches and over to where he stood.
“Are you going to tell me ‘I told you so’?” he asked, his deep voice rumbling.
“Actually, I was thinking about it.” She glanced around to see if anyone was nearby, wanting to go to him and kiss him, let him know how amazing she found him, but since their little affair wasn’t public knowledge, she didn’t particularly want an audience.
Sadly there were a couple of people deep in conversation, still making their slow way out of the hall, so she stayed were she was.
“You were amazing, Zeke.” She folded her arms to stop herself from reaching for him. “When did you decide you were going to say something?”
“Just before the meeting started.” His dark gaze was enigmatic. “This town is important to you, so I thought I should.”
He’d done it for her. Emotion sat like a lump in her throat. “Well,” she forced out. “I’m glad. I really think it made a difference.”
He ignored that. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I am now that’s over and done with.” She studied him, conscious all of a sudden of the tension that had gathered around him, a tension she didn’t understand. “What about you? Are you okay?”
“No.” He didn’t move, just stared at her.
Her stomach dipped in sudden concern. “Why not? What’s wrong?”
Zeke remained silent a long moment, looking at her, his expression unreadable. But she could see the determination in his black eyes; he’d decided something.
“I have to go, Morgan,” he said finally.
Shock vibrated through her, along with a splinter of hurt that lodged in her heart, the pain radiating out like cracks in a pane of glass hit by a stone.
Stupid to be shocked. He’d always been going to leave, he’d never made a secret of that. And as for being hurt…there was no reason for that either.
But she was both.
“You mean leave Deep River?” she asked, trying to sound casual. “When?”
“Tomorrow.” He shifted against the wall. “Izzy drove all the way here from Juneau, so I’ll get a ride with her when she leaves.”
Tomorrow. He was leaving tomorrow.
She ignored the hurt. Ignored the way her heart protested. “Oh, right. What about the house repairs? You’re not going to stay until they’re done?”
“No. You always said you could do them yourself, right?”
But you don’t want to do them yourself. Not anymore.
Zeke hammering in shingles without a shirt. Wandering around her property and poking into all the old sheds. Hauling out old baths and setting them up under trees. Walking through her bedroom in muddy boots to look at her window frames…
Her heart felt tight and sore, which was stupid. She’d found him doing all of those things annoying, so why the thought of him leaving her to do them herself was so painful she had no idea. None of it had been for her anyway. He was only looking out for her because he’d promised her brother.
He wasn’t that day at the campsite. That was for you.
Morgan swallowed, a strange prickling behind her eyes, and she didn’t want to think about why the thought of Zeke leaving hurt so very much or why she might be on the verge of tears. Mainly because she was afraid she already knew the answer. The answer that had been sitting in her heart for the last two days at least, if not more.
“That’s true,” she said, knowing her voice wasn’t quite steady. “I could.” And then, because she couldn’t help herself, she added, “I was kind of hoping you might stay to help me out, though.”
His gaze was very dark, very direct. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?” The question came out before she could stop it.
He didn’t answer immediately, and she knew he was trying to think of what to say to her, and for a second she loved that he made this effort. That he didn’t just walk away from her the way he had done when he’d first arrived.
She hadn’t known how difficult it was for him to stay and articulate what he was feeling, but she did now. She understood now.
“I’ve liked these past couple of days, Morgan,” he said carefully at last, choosing the words. “I’ve liked being with you. Talking with you. Sleeping with you. Holding you. I’ve liked taking care of you. I’ve liked it too much.” He took a breath, the black cotton of his T-shirt stretching over his powerful chest. “And that’s why I have to go.”
The pain in her heart intensified. It felt oddly bruised and raw, as if it had been scraped by something.
She wanted to tell herself it was fine, that she was just disappointed. That she’d never expected and never wanted anything more than what he’d given her.
But she knew deep down that was a lie.
She’d liked all those things he’d mentioned and she’d liked them too much too.
She’d liked them so much she wasn’t sure she could do without them.
Now she felt strangely betrayed, and not so much by him as by herself. For allowing herself to have all those lovely things. For allowing herself to feel safe and sheltered in his arms, to feel protected. To feel cared for. To feel special. To feel wanted…
She should know by now that was a mistake.
Because people left and they always took pieces of you when they did.
She fought to pull on her cop face, to be stern and no-nonsense. Push her feelings aside because no one had ever wanted to be suffocated by her emotions and Zeke certainly would hate it.
“Okay.” She really hoped the word didn’t sound as thick and hoarse as she feared it did. She even forced a smile. “Okay. If that’s what you want.”
But he was looking at her steadily, that black gaze of his piercing all her walls, cutting through all her defenses. Seeing who she was deep down.
Too needy, too clingy, too everything.
“That’s not what you want, though.” He didn’t make it a question.
She’d promised him she wouldn’t lie, but she’d been protecting herself for so long. Curling around the little girl she’d once been, keeping her safe because that girl had no one else to protect her. She’d always had to protect herself. There hadn’t been anyone else to do it.
