I love you, my brother.
Kade
Maddox let the contents of the letter sink in, and covered his face with his hands.
He remembered the day they had the conversation Kade mentioned in the letter. He knew the day would come when Kade didn’t return from one of his missions. It was a premonition he felt deep in his soul. Each time Kade left, Maddox told him how much he loved him, as though it was the last chance he’d have to say the words.
He wiped the tears that leaked from his eyes, and studied the map again. Now that he knew approximately where the property was, the lines indicating unmarked roads made more sense.
“Son?”
He hadn’t heard his father come back out to the porch.
“There was a letter from Kade in the envelope. It says the property is mine.” Maddox told him.
“Yes.” His father picked up the pipe that sat on the porch railing, pulled his tobacco pouch out of his pocket, and methodically filled it. Once he lit the pipe, he sat back down at the table.
“When did Kade buy it?”
“I have no idea.”
“It would be a lot to take on, Da.”
His father nodded.
“We’d have to hire someone to handle the day-to-day operation here.”
His father tapped the pipe and rested it on the railing.
“Did you know about this?”
His father shook his head.
“I need to talk to Naughton.”
“A good place to start.”
“Where is he?”
His father smiled. “Where he always is.”
Maddox pulled his phone out of his back pocket, and called his brother. “Where are you?”
“South Cab Franc.”
“Meet me in the stables?” Maddox could almost always talk Naught into a ride, particularly at this time of the year when things were slow in the vineyards.
His father went inside, and Maddox walked back over to the koi pond. He sat, leaned forward, and put his head in his hands.
Why had Kade written his moving on from Butler Ranch was long overdue? Sure, in the back of his mind he dreamt of starting his own winery, one where he could make wine different from the ones his family was known for.
If this land sat dormant, the way Maddox believed it had, the earth would be rich from its years of rest, and the vineyards could be replanted any way he saw fit.
At the ranch, he and his brothers were a team. Naughton managed the vineyards, and Maddox made the wine. Brodie was responsible for selling what he and Naught produced. Brodie could easily sell wine from both properties, but Naughton would not be able to manage both vineyards, especially given the distance between the two. Maddox could do the same, and make wine at both locations, but he’d need help too.
Maddox could hire a field manager for the new property who Naught could oversee, in the same way Maddox would suggest Butler Ranch hire a winery manager.
He and his brother were equally pragmatic, but would Naught see Maddox’s ideas the same way? Or would he feel abandoned? He sat with this head in his hands, wishing as he did so often that he could talk to Kade about this.
Naught and Kade were a lot alike. They both kept to themselves, most times preferring to be alone than with a group of people. Their sister, Skye, was that way too.
She was a homebody, happiest when she could care for her family, and spend time with her husband and their daughter.
Skye was the only one of his siblings who cared about the barn cats, or begged their father to take in stray dogs, even orphaned calves and goats. Soon Skye would have another tiny being under her care, when her son was born.
Naughton nurtured three things—horses, vines, and the grapes that grew on them. His brother could nurture the most stubborn old vines back into steady production, and coax the grapes in their vineyards to produce the most complex juice in the valley.
If Naughton wasn’t in the vineyard, he was in the barns, or out riding.
Most of the horses in the Butler Ranch stables were Quarter Horses or Paints. Brodie had a Morgan, and while Naughton cared for all of their horses, his personal favorite was a nine-year-old American Cream gelding named Huck. The draft horse was huge, over seventeen hands, with four white socks and a white blaze on his face. The horse was kind and quiet—a lot like Naughton.
And Kade? He had been nurturing too. He took care of his younger brothers and sisters, in a way no one realized until he died. Maddox couldn’t help but wonder what else Kade had done, sensing he’d leave them all too soon.
The land was so much more than property. It was a dream Maddox never thought he could fulfill.
On your way? Naughton’s text showed up on his phone.
Yeah. Be there in five.
Alex answered the knock at the door, relieved that it was her brother Cristobal, and not Maddox.
“Hey, Cris.” She opened the door to let him in.
“Hey, Al.”
“What brings you down my way?”
“Taking a long weekend, and thought I’d come see my favorite sister.”
“Your only sister. How’d you know I’d be home?”
Cris raised his eyebrows and laughed. There wasn’t anything that happened medically in their family that got by him, since their mother called when anyone got so much as a hangnail.
“You know why I’m here.”
Alex sat on a stool by her kitchen bar, where she’d left a cup of tea. “Can I get you anything?”
“I got it.” Cris pulled an unmarked tea bag out of the crock on the counter, opened the cupboard and got a mug, and checked the temperature of the tea kettle. He poured hot water over the bag, and sat next to her.
“Smells good. What is it?” Cris asked.
“Chamomile and honey.”
“Very nice,” he breathed in the aroma.
Cristobal had made a name for himself in Northern Californian medical circles as a proponent of complimentary alternative medicine. He believed in the science of medicine, while at the same time, believed there were other methodologies that complimented what the American Medical Association deemed traditional. Chinese medicine, for example.
He believed things like acupuncture, cupping, and meditation increased chi—the life giving, vital energy that unites body, mind, and spirit—to overcome illness, become more vibrant, and enhance mental capacity.
The research team he led at the medical startup he co-founded was focused on the genetic basis of aging. Cristobal believed that the human life span could increase by decades, if they could unlock the ability to feed the genes that caused aging.
“I’m not here to lecture you, Alex,” he began. “But a mass is no more than a collection of cells that have adhered where they don’t belong.”
“You’re saying I could’ve avoided surgery?”
“Not necessarily, but it is indicative of your body needing more than you’re giving it.”
“I thought I was pregnant.”
Cristobal nodded.
“I see this as a sign.”
“Of?”
“I don’t belong with Maddox.”
“I don’t find that line of thinking particularly logic-based. Not remotely so.”
Alex rolled her eyes, and laughed. “Feeling’s a feeling, Cris. Can’t logic away feelings.”
“How are you physically?”
“Wiped. The doc asked whether I experienced pain when I cut my finger. I told him I did, of course.”
“This cut was much bigger, and not only superficial. He cut on the inside of your body, too.”
“Essentially what he said. Is my surgery the only reason you’re here?”
“Yes and no. I’m taking a long weekend, because like you, I’m wiped.”
“You work way too much. Take some time for yourself. Maybe date a little.”
“Mind your own business, Alex.”
Looking more closely, Alex saw the dark circles under her brother’s eyes, and noticed his hair was p
eppered with more gray than the last time she’d seen him.
Of all her brothers, Cristobal was the most beautiful. She and her brothers had long, thin faces, like their mother, and dark brown hair that looked almost black. Cristobal and Gabe were the only two who got their father’s hazel eyes, the rest got their mother’s dark brown ones.
Cristobal’s eyes were greener than Gabe’s, more like Peyton’s, and with his wavy hair, he looked more like a male model than a doctor.
He was in the middle of his residency at Stanford when their father died, and admitted struggling with a sense of guilt that he hadn’t been able to save him. Something he would’ve called not particularly logic-based.
“Don’t tell me to mind my own business, tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing unusual. Working too many hours. Feeling pressure to produce results for the venture capitalists, even though they’re not the ones pushing.”
“Something else is bothering you.”
“I’m worried about Gabe, and Elias. Something is going on at Los Cab.”
“I’ve been worried about Eli too. I don’t know what Gabe’s problem is.”
“My take is Eli is the one causing problems.”
5
Naughton had Huck and Shazam saddled and ready to ride. Shazam was a purebred bay leopard Appaloosa gelding with a bald face, four white socks, a black mane, and a salt and pepper tail. The horse looked small at a little under sixteen hands, standing next to Huck. He was Maddox’s favorite horse to ride, especially when he rode with Alex.
“What’s up?” Naughton asked once they were out on the trail.
“You heard about Kade’s letter to Peyton?”
“That damn box.”
“Crazy how it just kept showing up.”
Naught shook his head. “That isn’t what you wanted to talk about.”
“I got my own letter from Kade.”
Naughton looked away, and didn’t say anything.
“He left some property to me.”
Why hadn’t he thought this through, given more thought to how he’d tell his brother? If he were in Naught’s shoes, he’d sure as hell be wondering why Kade left property to Maddox and not anyone else.
“Yeah?”
“On Old Creek Road.”
Naughton still hadn’t looked at him. “I should’ve told you.”
“Wait. What? You knew?”
Naughton nodded.
“I don’t understand.”
“I looked at the vineyards.”
“What’s there?”
“The vines are older than shit, but most are still viable.”
“What percentage?”
Naughton shrugged. “Not sure, they’re all pretty tired, but worth another look.”
“What’s there?”
“A lot.”
“Did you know what he planned to do with it?”
Naughton shrugged.
“He said it was time I left Butler Ranch.”
“He was so full of shit sometimes.” Naughton laughed.
Maddox leaned up against a split-rail fence. “You don’t think it’s time for me to leave?”
“Why? The land is less than twenty miles from here.”
“You think it’s possible to handle both.”
“I love this ranch, you know that…” Naught began. “But there’s so much more we can grow there.”
“Go on.”
“Pinot Noir, for starters. Cab Franc, Petite Syrah.”
They grew all of that except Pinot Noir at Butler Ranch, but Maddox knew what Naughton meant. None would ever be Butler Ranch signature wines. The ranch relied on the consistent income the flagship wines provided.
Buying more land adjacent to the ranch was impossible. All of it was owned by the Avilas and the Dunnings. The families had been in Paso Robles for generations, and just like the Butlers, there were sons, daughters, and grandchildren ready to pick up when the previous generation was ready to retire.
If they wanted to expand their production, try new varietals, experiment with rootstock, it had to be like the land on Old Creek Road.
“Why didn’t he give it to both of us?”
“He did.”
“What does that mean?”
“Two hundred for you, two hundred for me. More after that if we want it.”
“There’s more?”
“The entire estate. All together maybe two hundred hectares.”
Holy shit! Maddox’s head was spinning. That amounted to almost five hundred acres. If he’d ever had a dream about what was next for him, this would be it.
“Why doesn’t Da know this?”
“It wasn’t between Kade and our parents, it was between us.”
“Okay, why didn’t I know?”
“He planned to tell you when he came back.”
Maddox was afraid that was the case.
“Does it really matter, Mad?”
“Kade’s letter said there was something more there that’ll blow my mind. Is this it?”
Naughton laughed again. “Nah, there’s somethin’ else, but he made me swear to let you find it yourself.” He shook his head. “So full of shit…”
“Where do we start?”
“Walk it.”
“You said you should’ve told me. Why didn’t you?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“But you knew he bought it.”
“I knew he owned it.” Naughton hung his head, and the enthusiasm he’d been displaying dissipated.
“How?”
Naught shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t ask and he didn’t offer.”
Four hundred acres on Old Creek Road had to have gone for at least four million. What the hell had Kade been involved in? There was no way he pocketed that kind of money as a soldier.
Maddox had to wonder what else Kade had been hiding, and when it would surface.
“Hungry?” Cristobal asked.
“Always.”
“Where to?”
“I don’t care. Surprise me.”
Cristobal drove to Moonstone Beach Road, and pulled into the Sea Chest parking lot. The restaurant didn’t take reservations, and seated people first come, first served. The line on Friday night formed early. Depending on the season, there were people waiting as early as three in the afternoon.
Cris climbed out of the car, and walked in through the back door of the restaurant. He came back out a few minutes later, and motioned for Alex to follow.
“I forgot you used to date Stormy,” she said as he guided her through the kitchen and into the oyster bar.
“Hotness has its perks,” Stormy smiled and set menus in front of them. “How are you, sweetie?”
“I’m okay.”
“If you need anything, you know my number.”
“Thanks, Stormy.”
She kissed Alex’s cheek.
“How’ve you been?” he asked.
“Great. How about you? Found time for anyone special, Dr. Avila?”
“He works too much. No time for play. Right, Cris?”
When her brother scowled at her, Stormy looked back and forth between them and then shrugged her shoulders. “All righty then.” She smiled and walked away.
“Excuse me for a minute.”
Alex nodded when Cris got up and walked to the back, where the restrooms were.
“Is this seat taken?” A man Alex didn’t recognize sat in her brother’s stool at the bar.
“It is.”
He stood back up. “Damn, I would’ve loved to have dinner with you tonight.”
Alex smiled. “Thanks,” she murmured.
“Perhaps another time.” The man handed her a card. “Call me. Anytime.”
She studied the card. “Rory Calder. I’m Alex Avila.” She held out her hand. “I know your wine well.”
“Alex? This is great. I just saw Peyton, and she said you wouldn’t be in until next week.”
Cris came back from the men’s room, and Alex introdu
ced them. “You know Calder Wines, don’t you?”
Cris nodded and invited Rory to join them. When he agreed, Cris motioned to Stormy, who brought another menu.
“Would it be better if we moved to a table, maybe something in the back?” Alex offered.
“No,” Stormy and Cris said in unison.
“You’ll be more comfortable here.” Stormy smiled.
“What’s up?” Alex asked Cris.
“Nothing. So, Rory, what brings you to down to Cambria?”
“This one.” He smiled at Alex. “Peyton, too.”
“We only carry westside wines, Rory,” Alex began.
“I know, and that’s why I’m here. Calder Wines just bought Tablas Creek.”
“I hadn’t heard,” she muttered, annoyed by how out of the loop she felt. “Bold move. Tablas Creek is huge.” Alex and Peyton prided themselves on their insider knowledge of the Paso Robles wine region, but lately neither had their head in the game.
The previous owners of Tablas Creek were not well-liked in the valley or in the collaborative. The sons of Jean Lennoc, owner of the famous winery in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, raised ire among the locals when they first purchased the land in the late eighties.
Their insistence on planting solely French clones left many of the old-school Paso Robles winemakers chilled. In 1990, the U.S. Department of Agriculture stepped in and quarantined all of Lennoc’s vines, slowly releasing them over the next two decades. The financial consequences must have been staggering, yet the Lennocs refused to give up. Evidently, whatever Calder offered was worth their acquiescence.
“Not as big as what I’ve heard Butler Ranch is taking on. I can’t believe they were able to snag part of the Hess estate.”
Alex refused to ask Rory what he was talking about, instead she played it off as she knew more than he did, raising her eyebrows and smiling.
“Did I hear Butler Ranch?” Maddox came around the corner of the oyster bar. “Hey, Alex.” He walked straight over, put his arm around her, leaned in, and planted a noisy kiss on her lips.
“You know Rory Calder?” asked Cris.
“Of course. How’ve you been?”
“He was just commenting on your expansion,” Alex quipped.
Maddox looked stunned. “Already?”
Rory shook Mad’s hand. “Congratulations, man. Our family would’ve loved to get in on that property.”
The Truce (Butler Ranch Book 2) Page 5
