Where There's a Will

by Brenda Sinclair

  Iris hugged Willow next and then met her eyes. “I haven’t known you long, but I can assure you if anyone can help sort out this mess, it’s my husband. Don’t worry about a thing. He’ll figure this out and you’ll be back here before you know it.”

  “Thank you so much. I appreciate your support and understanding.” Willow smiled through unshed tears. “Please believe me… neither Leonard nor I did anything wrong.”

  “We know,” Lily whispered, hugging her tightly. “And we all love you like family. Now, hurry to Texas. The sooner you get this business straightened out, the sooner you’ll come back to us.”

  Adam stood hands on hips. “So, is no one going to hug me?”

  “Apparently, no one’s going to miss us,” Leonard added, grinning.

  “I’ll miss you boys since I’ll be doing your chores while you’re gone,” AJ teased them.

  Mrs. Sheridan wagged a finger at the two of them. “You know we love you, too, and we’ll miss you. You young men look after this girl for me. I want her home again, safe and sound and in one piece.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Adam promised, kissing Mrs. Sheridan’s cheek. “Take it easy until you’re one hundred per cent better.”

  “Oh, go on with you. I’ll be fine.” Mrs. Sheridan waved off his concern and then she met Leonard’s eyes. “No one believes for a moment you or your sister are guilty of any wrongdoing. You go settle the business in Texas and then come back.”

  Leonard touched the brim of his battered old Stetson. “Will do, ma’am. And we’ve got Daniel’s and Sawyer’s back. We’ll all be home faster than you can kiss a coyote.”

  Mrs. Sheridan laughed. “I appreciate your positive outlook, young man.”

  AJ shook hands with both men. “Look after that little gal and we’ll see all of you back here soon.”

  “Thanks, Pa,” Adam replied. “Tell Jackson we’ll telegraph whenever we have news.”

  “He’s out checking on the stock. I’ll let him know,” AJ promised.

  The three of them mounted up and waved as they headed down the path leading from the ranch.

  AJ wrote a note to Sheriff Robertson explaining everything before sending a ranch hand to Milestone with the message, freeing their traveling party from making the trip. Willow performed the cyphering in her head and figured they’d be in Butte by early evening. Hopefully, there’d be sufficient daylight to make their way there, but they carried lanterns just in case. And then they’d catch the train in the morning.

  She couldn’t wait to put this entire matter behind them.

  Chapter 19

  Cactus Plains, Texas

  The train trip took a toll on Willow despite being in excellent physical condition. Between the seemingly endless journey and constant worrying about what might await them when they arrived, she moved through several stages of tiredness ending with her body quite fatigued by the time the train rolled into the station at Cactus Plains. Had the trip been much farther, she would have become completely exhausted, and then she wouldn’t be of any use to Daniel or Sawyer. At the very least, she couldn’t wait to sleep in a comfortable bed in a proper room that wasn’t constantly moving.

  Wearing the only dress she’d brought with her, she gazed out the window of the hotel room Daniel had arranged for her in her home town. She couldn’t help but worry what the Pinkerton would tell her and Leonard when they met in a few minutes for supper in the dining room. Leonard was settling into his room across the hall from her, and she waited for his knock on her door, thankful he’d promised to escort her downstairs to the evening meal.

  The small town hadn’t changed a bit since they left almost a year ago. The shops closed during the last few minutes, and the street below teamed with people scurrying home for their supper or wandering into the hotel to eat.

  A loud knock on the door startled Willow and she took a deep breath. Time to learn what Daniel had discovered while here in Cactus Plains. She grabbed her room key and opened the door.

  “Ready, sis?”

  “As ready as I can be.” Willow stepped outside and locked the door. And then she accompanied her brother to the dining room.

  * * *

  Adam fidgeted with the dinner fork in his hand, worrying about Willow. She’d seemed close to exhaustion when they arrived at the hotel and he’d encouraged her to indulge in a bath and a nap before dressing for supper and joining him and the others at six o’clock.

  He set the fork down and checked his timepiece. Six fifteen. Had she changed her mind about meeting them? And then he spotted her as she entered the room on her brother’s arm. He stood and waved to catch their attention and then waited for her to arrive at their table. When she approached, she offered him a smile, and he pulled out her chair and seated her.

  She wore a slightly wrinkled sky-blue dress he recognized as one of his sister’s favorites. He’d seen Willow in it a dozen times, and she looked just as beautiful now. “You look lovely tonight.”

  “Thank you. Shortly after we arrived, I discovered there was a bath ordered for me in my room. It was wonderful and I also indulged in a short nap as you suggested.” Willow offered him a dazzling smile. “I enjoyed being spoiled a bit today.”

  “You’re welcome,” Adam said.

  Leonard leaned over and rested a hand on his sister’s shoulder. “You deserved it after the long train ride.”

  “And without one word of complaint,” Adam added.

  “Complaining never accomplishes anything.” She glanced around the room. “No sign of Daniel or Sawyer yet?”

  “They may have been waylaid by work.” Adam waved at their waiter and the man hurried over to their table.

  “May I help you with something, sir?”

  “Could we please have a cup of coffee while we wait for two other fellows to arrive?” Adam inquired.

  The waiter smiled. “Certainly, sir. I’ll arrange it immediately.” The man hurried over to the side counter and exchanged words with a stout woman wearing a white apron over a black dress. Judging by the pair of serviceable shoes she wore, Adam would wager the woman spent a good number of hours on her feet every day.

  “Seems a little unsettling being in this dining room again,” Leonard observed. “Considering this is where I had the argument with Uncle Clarence after the race… that night when...”

  “Soon all those troubles will be settled and behind us,” Willow suggested, patting his arm.

  “I agree.” Adam rested his hand on Leonard’s shoulder. “Remember, you were right to speak up. Pearson is the party in the wrong here.”

  The stout woman arrived with cups and a coffee pot. She poured their coffee and pointed to the white china cream jug and matching sugar bowl situated in the middle of the table. “Help yourselves and I’ll return in a minute with menus.”

  Before they had the fixings in their coffees, Daniel and Sawyer arrived and bustled over to their table.

  “You made it.” Daniel shook hands with Adam and Leonard. He leaned down and touched Willow’s shoulder. “I’m delighted that you agreed to make the trip. I hope it wasn’t too arduous.”

  Willow offered him a smile. “Not at all. As you can see, I’ve survived it.”

  Sawyer shook hands with all three of them and then seated himself beside Leonard.

  “She’s a strong and determined woman, Daniel,” Adam said, praising her. He noticed Willow’s face reddened prettily, and he reached over and squeezed her hand.

  “Hadn’t expected to see you here, Adam, but I’m not surprised.” Daniel seated himself in the other vacant chair beside his brother and planted his arms on the table. “I’m certain the walls have ears. I suggest we enjoy a pleasant meal and then meet upstairs in my room to discuss the matter of interest to all of us.”

  “Excellent suggestion,” Adam chimed in, agreeing with Daniel’s observation. Folks in a small town learned everyone else’s business one way or another. No sense in simplifying things by openly discussing their family matters in a public place
.

  Willow’s fingers worried the cloth napkin she’d placed on her lap. Adam suspected she was waiting to hear worst case scenarios.

  “Unless you figure you’ll be too upset to eat.” Daniel met Willow’s eyes. “Believe me, what I’ve learned will please you and your brother.”

  Willow’s expression brightened. “Truly? It’s good news you intend to share?”

  Sawyer leaned closer. “Absolutely,” he confirmed.

  Willow blew out her breath and smiled at the two men. “Thank goodness. Then where is that woman with our menus? I’m positively famished.”

  “I for one can’t wait to hear what you’ve learned,” Leonard muttered and then sipped his coffee.

  “Oh, you’re going to be happy also.” Daniel slapped him on the back. “You won’t believe what I’ve discovered.”

  Adam hadn’t a clue what the two men intended to divulge after supper, but the meal couldn’t end soon enough for him. He needed to hear that the woman he loved, and her brother, would be exonerated officially of any wrongdoing. He wanted nothing more than for Willow to return to Montana and live out her days in peace with him.

  As his wife.

  He couldn’t wait to make it happen.

  * * *

  Willow’s heart raced all through supper and continued to thump wildly as their party of four climbed the staircase to the hotel’s second floor rooms. Noticing a young woman accompanying four men upstairs caused a bit of a stir with the hotel owner who waylaid them.

  “She’s my sister,” Leonard offered as explanation.

  As soon as Daniel showed the fellow his Pinkerton badge and explained the meeting concerned a case he was working on, the gentleman stepped aside.

  “I’m sorry for my overzealousness.”

  “I commend you on your thoroughness in ensuring morality prevails in your establishment,” Daniel praised the hotel owner.

  “Thank you. I will send up refreshments, sir,” he promised.

  “Thank you. That would be greatly appreciated,” Sawyer called, as the four of them continued upstairs.

  Shortly after everyone had settled on a chair in Daniel’s room, a waiter arrived with a tray of cups, a coffee pot and tea pot, several spoons, cream and sugar. Daniel tipped the gentleman, who thanked him and then left.

  Willow sat beside Adam on the overstuffed sofa, mindlessly stirring cream and sugar into her tea. Leonard occupied an upholstered easy chair near the window, waving off the offer of a cup of coffee. Daniel and Sawyer stood beside a small rectangular table littered with papers.

  Her mind raced with possibilities, consumed with worry about what Daniel would tell them now that they’d reconvened in the privacy of his room. She couldn’t even wager a guess at this good news he intended to share. Would she consider the revelation as wonderful as Daniel hinted it would be? She mentally braced herself and took a sip of the hot beverage to warm her while she waited for news.

  Adam leapt up, poured himself a cup of coffee, and returned to his seat.

  Willow considered the possibility he was feeling equally nervous.

  A moment later, Daniel cleared his throat. “Now that we’re all seated, I’d like to thank Leonard and Willow for honoring my request and traveling to Cactus Plains. I believe your signatures might be required on certain legal documents, and your being here will expedite proceedings.”

  “What proceedings?” Adam blurted. “What on earth is going on, Daniel?”

  The Pinkerton shook his head. “More than you could ever imagine.”

  “Do you truly have news I would want to hear?” Willow said softly.

  Daniel met her eyes. “My first question I asked myself when we arrived in Cactus Plains was ‘who is Clarence Pearson’ and the answer I learned was the last thing I expected.”

  “We told you he was our uncle,” Willow replied. “Why did you question what we told you?”

  “The different surnames bothered me. Your father was a Harrison, and your uncle is named Pearson. I considered it prudent to confirm their relationship. Initially, I assumed Mr. Pearson and your father were most likely half-brothers.”

  Leonard straightened in his chair. “I never questioned that. But now that you mention it, why would our uncle have a different surname? I don’t believe either of our grandparents was married except to each other.”

  “Exactly what I discovered.” Daniel met Willow’s eyes. “The fellow you and Leonard called ‘Uncle Clarence’ your entire life is absolutely no blood relation at all.”

  Willow gasped and her hand covered her mouth. No relation? How could that be? “I… I don’t understand,” she whispered.

  “Is this man an impostor?” Leonard demanded.

  “No, he isn’t.” Daniel settled onto a chair close to the sofa. “Let me explain what I’ve learned. When Clarence Pearson’s parents were killed, Clarence was only ten years old. Your grandparents took in young Clarence when their neighbors’ boy was orphaned. They raised him alongside your father as his brother.”

  Willow flopped back in her seat, completely flabbergasted. “We never heard anything about this when we were growing up. Who told you this story?”

  “Your father’s neighbor…” Daniel consulted his notes before continuing. “Marvin Sanders allowed me and Sawyer to talk with his aging mother at his home. Sadie Sanders is failing physically, but her mind is sharp as ever. Mrs. Sanders told us what she recalled about the tragedy so many years ago and about your grandparents taking in the orphaned boy, an only child.”

  “Apparently, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison and Mr. and Mrs. Pearson were the best of friends, and your grandparents didn’t hesitate for a second to raise their boy, knowing he’d be sent to an orphanage otherwise,” Sawyer added.

  “I recall Uncle Clarence being on the farm when we were really little,” Leonard commented. “But then he left one time and I don’t recall him coming back again.”

  “I barely remember him,” Willow muttered.

  “Me neither. But I recognized him when he showed up with father’s lawyer after Papa passed away and the lawyer announced Uncle Clarence was the new owner of the ranch.” Leonard shrugged. “That bit of news almost knocked me over.”

  “Which brought up another question in my mind,” Daniel chimed in. “Especially after Mrs. Sanders told us that there’d been a falling out between your father and Clarence a decade ago when your grandfather was still alive. Mrs. Sanders couldn’t recall the last time the two ‘brothers’ spoke to each other.”

  “What?” Adam exclaimed.

  “Did Mrs. Sanders tell you what the falling out was about?” Leonard inquired.

  “She couldn’t recall.” Daniel shrugged. “Perhaps she was never told.”

  Willow shook her head. “Why would Father leave the ranch to a man he wasn’t even speaking to? That doesn’t make any sense.”

  Leonard stood and wagged a finger at no one in particular. “I asked myself the same thing a dozen times. Why did father do this? I couldn’t tell you the number of times Father told me I’d be taking over one day. He’d taught both of us everything he knew about ranching. He trusted me to carry on his legacy. And then Uncle Clarence shows up with that lawyer, Peter Braymore.”

  Willow’s eyes filled with tears, recalling the shock she’d received that day. “Mr. Braymore waved Father’s will at us and announced our uncle now owned the ranch.”

  Sawyer touched Leonard’s arm. “Do you have a copy of your father’s will?”

  “Actually, no. The lawyer read aloud the part about Uncle Clarence taking over and then he stuffed the will into his pocket and took it with him,” Leonard replied. “At the very least, we should have asked to read the will ourselves in its entirety.”

  “We were in shock hearing what Mr. Braymore told us,” Willow offered. “Neither of us was thinking straight at the time.”

  Sawyer stood beside Leonard. “Daniel and I have no intention of letting this matter be. Something doesn’t add up here. When your father passed, L
eonard, you were past the age of majority and experienced with Thoroughbreds and ranching. We see no reason why Hartley Harrison wouldn’t have passed ownership on to his only son.”

  “Any sensible rancher would pass his ranch onto his closest kin. Keep the property, his legacy, in the immediate family,” Adam added.

  “And Uncle Clarence was doing a royally poor job of running the Circle H when we left,” Willow blurted, annoyance evident in her voice. “The man hadn’t the first notion of how to run a ranch.”

  “I believe we need to talk to this Braymore fellow,” Daniel suggested.

  “My thoughts, too,” Sawyer agreed. “One way or another, we’re going to get to the bottom of this.”

  Chapter 20

  Next morning, Willow stood with Leonard at her side, searching for an available table in the busy hotel dining room. She admired the lovely dresses many of the ladies in attendance were wearing. Subconsciously, she ran her hand down the skirt of her tired, wrinkled blue gown, wishing she had more than this one garment to wear. If they returned to the Circle H while in Cactus Plains, she prayed she’d discover the dresses she’d left behind in her haste to escape were still hanging in her bedroom closet.

  “We need to visit the Circle H,” she muttered.

  “We most certainly do,” her brother replied. “If it’s even still standing with Clarence Pearson in charge.”

  “Are you Leonard Harrison?”

  Willow turned toward the voice. An older gentleman dressed in a vested suit and holding a bowler in his hand stood smiling at them.

  “Yes, I’m Leonard Harrison,” her brother replied.

  “Thought I recognized you. You’re the spitting image of your father.” The white-haired gentleman stuck out his hand.

  “Thank you,” Leonard muttered, shaking hands with the man. “I’m sorry, I don’t recall your name.”

  “Ronald Bentley.”

  Willow recognized him as one of Clarence Pearson’s cronies. She recalled seeing him at horse racing events on a few occasions, along with several other gentlemen and ladies of distinction. What Clarence had in common with these refined folks, she hadn’t a clue. “I remember you, Mr. Bentley. You were at the hotel the night…”