Wayne Gray

Yep. You and Dave both hit upon that "liquid valuation" term. That means if Taggert cashed out all of it right now, that's what he'd have in the bank. That is, apart from the non-liquid assets. Like... certain parcels of land buried within Yoder Ranch itself. I think Taggert did a pretty good job of showing Ash that he's needed. Tag doesn't need him to be a financial expert. He just needs someone he can trust, and Ash has proven he's that man over and over already. It's going to take some time for Ash to wrap his mind around it, but Taggert will be happy to remind him if he ever wonders. Every other day?! OMG. Let me ask a question. Are you the kind of guy who eats a Reese's Cup in one bite, or do you savor it? I think I know the answer. 😛 Thanks for the comment. More to come on THURSDAY. LOL

Indeed. Sixty-Three million is the starting point of Taggert's trust. We don't know how much property he controls within Yoder Ranch. We don't know the worth. We don't know the locations. Not yet. But that's coming in the next chapter. You may be right about Ash. He lives a pretty simple life, and has enjoyed pairing up with someone who shares it. But now, he's feeling out of his depth. Taggert is at the center of a complex, high-stakes legal situation, and Ash has no way to be a resource to him. At least, not that he can see. But when he voiced his concerns, Taggert tried to make him see something important. Ash doesn't have to be an expert in ranching politics to be what Tag needs. He just needs to be himself. Good try, but... more to come on Thursday. Thanks for reading and for the comment, Dave.

🤠 Thanks for reading! There's more to come soon.

It is a bit of an understatement. LOL I know what you mean about Taggert and the way he quickly progresses from shock to fear to cerebral planning to emotional support. He has been hit hard with this news, and he's reeling from it. But he's forcing himself to function. And yes - Ash has made himself an expert on Tag's emotional state, and he's watching the man he loves adjust to this new "normal" moment to moment. And... yes. It scared him. Because what could he, a humble cowboy, offer someone like Taggert? Well, Taggert isn't having that kind of doubt rattling about in Ash. And we saw the result of that at the end of the chapter. I'm glad you like Taggert. He is fun to write. Challenging at times, but fun. Thanks for the great comment and for the read. More to come. So long as I don't hit the wrong button, it'll be Thursday.

Really good observations and analysis. Nice comment. Thank you. We don't know how much of Yoder Ranch Taggert owns, but the fact that he owns any at all could potentially throw a wrench in Zane's plans. It seems as if Taggert has good cause to fear his father. Perhaps he was responsible for the brand, or party to it. He was certainly responsible for Taggert's exile from the only home he'd ever known. We know Taggert is afraid of Zane. We know he has cause to be. But he also has Nasser Ranch, Ash, and Rebecca on his side. And... from all appearances, he also has his grandfather's support from beyond the grave. Maybe it'll be enough.

Glad you're along for the ride! This one was pretty fun to write. More is coming on Thursday. Hopefully I'll see you then!

Aww. Yeah. I mean, I really understand where Ash was coming from. "Why would you possibly need someone like me now?" You know? And you're right: Taggert leaned into the moment and did what he needed to do to reassure his cowboy. It was all true. Ash just needed to hear it. Thanks for the comment and for the read. More to come!

Haha. Indeed! It's hard to read comments and avoid spoilers when responding. So, I applaud you.

Thanks for the great comment. I appreciate it! Nasser is closing ranks around Taggert. He's one of theirs now, and they're willing to step up for him. A hostile mind may see their help as a way to gain access to Taggert's newfound financial windfall, but... from what we know of the ranch, that seems unlikely. Bert doesn't seem to have that in him. He's not an idiot, though. If he can use the fact that Yoder may have less borrowing leverage now to out-maneuver Zane, he absolutely would. He's a businessman, after all. But we'll find out the details of what remains in the trust next chapter. And that'll come on Thursday. I hope to see you then.

Bert and Nasser Ranch as a whole both seem to have rallied around Taggert. Nasser has resources they can use to help him, and Bert has allotted them to do exactly that. We already know Bert, James, and Branford all value their people, and Taggert is one of theirs now. So it's just what they're going to do. Indeed, Zane will be... a bit put out (let's go with that) when he finds out about the trusts. He knows they exist. He does NOT know what they contain or how much money is wrapped up in them. That there's any at all makes him a little crazy, but there's not a lot he can do about it. Rebecca is a consummate professional and would never share the details with him, and he knows that. So... he doesn't have that information. And yes, again. He will not be happy to find that his own son is working for his only real competition in the state. That has, so far, flown under the radar. But it can't stay that way. Nasser and Taggert know that, too. Zane is considered by many to be ruthless when it comes to business. But... how far do we think he's willing to go? How well did Bill Yoder know him? Would Bill have expected his own son to turn against Taggert? Next chapter, the remainder of the trust is revealed. And there, we'll get a lot more answers. Thanks for the comment. More is coming. And yes, that'll be on Thursday.

Taggert certainly seems to believe Zane is a threat to him. At least, in some way. Maybe it’s psychological. Maybe it’s physical. Or maybe it’s both. Regardless, Tag’s fear is real. But we see at the end of the chapter, that Taggert has drawn a line in the sand. He won’t give up Nasser Ranch. And he won’t give up Ash. And we will find out what happens when Zane’s ambition meets Taggert’s determination. Thanks for reading and for the comment.

Indeed. That tells us a lot about Taggert’s fear of Zane. Is it justified? We’ll find out. Thanks for the comment and for the read.

I’m glad you feel that way! Thanks for reading and for the nice comment.

Chapter 15: The Trust The office felt strangely formal with Rebecca Ivers inside it. Too polished somehow for Nasser Ranch. The older woman sat upright in one of Branford’s office chairs with her leather portfolio resting neatly across her lap. Outside the windows, the ranch carried on like always. Trucks moved slowly across pasture roads. Horses shifted in distant corrals. Somewhere far off, a hammer rang against a fence staple. Inside the office, the air felt still. Cara ha

Thanks for reading and for the comment. Oh, Zane is a man who is used to being in control. So you can bet if there's a challenge to that, he will take it very seriously. And he will act to protect his power. The third cowboy's identity will be revealed later. James seemed to recognize him, back a chapter or two in the livestock auction building. So he is someone who has been around a bit. There's more to come, and it'll come soon. I'll post tomorrow when this chapter was SUPPOSED to have been posted.

There are many possibilities, that's very true. And you've hit upon some of them. That is, if Nasser and/or Taggert can find a way to beat Zane in the bid for Flemming Ranch. And that remains to be seen. Thanks for the comment. More to come.

Zane certainly seems as if he did not approve of Bill Yoder’s choice of successor. Which then led to Taggert’s potential assault and exile from Yoder Ranch. We’ll see how the cards fall. Though, you’re right about at least one thing. Zane has made himself Taggert’s opponent, not his partner. And there may be repercussions from that. Thanks for the comment. More to come soon.

Considering how careful Rebecca is handling contact with Taggert, you may be right. If she’s that worried about unintentionally revealing where Taggert is, there’s probably a reason. Thanks for the comment.

Rebecca spent a long time searching for Taggert. And she has finally found him, no thanks to Zane. Yep. Taggert bears a brand. A few readers guessed this, and they were right. As inhuman and inconceivable as that is, they were right. Taggert has no idea that he even has a Trust. Not yet. He hasn't spoken to Rebecca. He also doesn't WANT to speak to her. But... it looks like that may not be up to him anymore. We'll find out if your suspicion is correct soon, Chris. And yes. Let the real fight commence. Thanks for the comment and for reading. More to come.

Indeed! Now the real drama unfolds, eh? I hope you're not disappointed with how it all goes down. I think it's pretty satisfying, and worked hard on that very thing. I wanted to make this story different from "Oh, rich boy swoops in and solves all the problems everyone has!" stories I've read. Those have a place, and they can be fun, but I just don't want to write one. At least, not one that goes from A to B to C. No... I want mine to jump around like a kid with two quad shot espressos on a pogo stick. You know. Like a normal person. LOL. Okay. Thank you for writing and reading. More coming soon.

Spoken like a true plotter and schemer. Well done. I applaud you, sir. Oh, are you picking Sunday for my next chapter? I mean... maybe. I'd already set aside that morning for replying to comments on THIS chapter, so maybe that'd work out all right. LOL. Regardless, when the next chapter drops, we'll get to see Taggert meet Rebecca. This was inevitable, considering Rebecca's role in Yoder Ranch's finances. And I do think people will find it interesting. But I suppose we'll see. Thanks for the comment and for reading, Dave. More to come. Maybe Sunday, who knows?

Thanks for the great comments, and for the time spent reading. I appreciate it. All I can really say about the Trust is that Bill Yoder was considered an incredible owner and ranch manager during his day. He grew his holdings. He invested well. He was called a "legend" by James. Well, we'll find out why. And some of that will be wrapped up in the Trust. Rebecca is smart, driven, and has a conscience. Yes, she knows something is wrong at Yoder. She had worked with the family for decades, but she worked with Bill. Once Bill passed on, that became work with Zane. Yet... things were never the same. And while she'd sensed a kindred soul to Bill in Taggert, Zane seemed to ice him out of every important decision, until he disappeared entirely. That is, until now. And Rebecca will ensure she does her job. We just don't know exactly what that job is just yet. Ash is so good. He really is. And Taggert keeps being surprised by him. He can't believe someone would be so patient, kind, and loving. But... that's what Ash is. Taggert is having trouble accepting that he's worth such a man. But... Ash knows what he feels. And he's acting on it.

You are a delightfully wicked woman. Thank you for the help with this one, Kitt.

That IS nice. LOL. Thank you for contributing to sanity, mr. tim. Taggert is trying so hard to just be... Taggert. He's trying to be something other than his hurt, trauma, and pain. Ash has been a safe place for him. Someone he could trust, and someone who is willing to take the time to understand. But, so too is Nasser Ranch. The environment in which he has found himself has disarmed him somewhat. Taggert doesn't quite understand this place. Where people can just be who and what they are without any real judgment. He's going to carry scars, physical and otherwise, for his whole life. But... if he has someone who accepts them, then why shut that out? And that's the question he really needs to answer now. Thanks, tim. xoxo

Taggert seems deeply wounded emotionally, and Ash has now seen physical evidence of harm as well. So, perhaps you're right on both counts. But we'll have to see. Rebecca seems to be an expert in her field. And if she's convinced the Trust is safe from Zane and Yoder Ranch, maybe she's right. Or maybe Zane is more powerful than she understands. Tune in next time to see. Thanks for writing and reading. More is coming.