She simply shook her head and walked out, leaving him to wallow in his own doubts.

Todd dropped Cole off in front of the office building. “You be good to that little gal, boy. Stay with her and she’ll make things right for you.”

“I’ve told you-”

“I know, it’s only a business arrangement, but I can see different with my own eyes. It’s time to start a new life. Make yourselves a baby, and everything will turn out as the good Lord intended it to.”

Cole winced, but Todd drove off before he could answer. Todd was on his way to another rodeo, the dust and sweat as much a part of him as breathing. The old man would die while chasing the next rodeo, but he’d die happy. Cole, on the other hand, wasn’t even certain how to make himself happy. But he knew that keeping Darci in his life would be a good start.

If only he could.

Cole hesitated at Alex’s desk. The two of them hadn’t managed to establish any kind of working relationship. Alex didn’t completely trust Cole, and Cole wasn’t ready to give his respect to Alex.

Alex was the first one to break the silence. “I think she probably needs your support right now. Go on in.”

Cole nodded his thanks and opened the door.

Darci stood with her back to him, arms crossed, staring out the window at the gray sky overhead. The distant mountains were shuttered in the gray fog, adding to the dreary tone of the morning.

He closed the door, searching for the right words. “I’d like to say this is where I came in, but it was better before I arrived, wasn’t it?”

She didn’t turn around. “Not really. I’ve been on the verge of losing it all for months. I just keep thinking I can pull a rabbit out of my hat and it will all be fine again.”

“It’s not over yet. Don’t give up hope.” He winced at the inane words, but had nothing else to give her except false reassurances. They’d talked yesterday about the odds of their success, and they both knew the future was balanced on a very fine thread, a thread that could break at any time.

The only thing in their favor was that they controlled a large share of stock. The board was supposed to take their wishes into consideration before each vote. But that was like wishing that all politicians were honest. If all the other shareholders voted against them, they would still be outnumbered.