Where There's a Will

by Brenda Sinclair

  Willow noticed Adam’s expression had clouded, but she hadn’t any idea why. And for now, she couldn’t care less. Her dream had come true today. The family ranch would be rightfully returned to her brother.

  Nothing else mattered.

  Nothing.

  Chapter 27

  Adam had seldom slept in a more comfortable bed. Correction… spent a sleepless night in a more comfortable bed. Despite the luxury of the guest room’s furnishings, he hadn’t slept a wink. And the sun would be welcoming a new day soon.

  His sleepless situation was all Willow’s fault.

  Listening to Daniel read the final provisions of the will, including one particular instruction directed at Leonard, had thrown him for a loop. Until your sister, Willow Marie Harrison, marries, she must be allowed to remain living on the family ranch until such time that it is her choice to leave.

  And the words from Willow’s toast reverberated in his mind. To the Circle H family… There are brighter days ahead for all of us. I just know it.

  Adam punched the feather pillow and then rolled onto his back. He stared at the ceiling, lacing his hands behind his head. Would Willow choose to live on the ranch again? Would she insist upon being a part of these brighter days ahead she’d predicted? She’d loved working on the Circle H until the unfortunate business with her supposed uncle ruined everything for her and Leonard. Now that the fake will would be revealed, Pearson’s dastardly deception with the lawyer’s help would be proven and the rightful owner named. Would Willow insist on returning to her family’s ranch? To her legacy? To her home?

  “Why did I ever insist on learning her secret?” he bemoaned. If he’d been content to discover his horse wrangler was a girl and leave it at that, he wouldn’t be in Texas fearing Willow would walk out of his life without so much as a backward glance.

  A lesser man might consider bribing the judge to discredit the will Leonard and Willow believed to be their father’s true one. Then this Pearson character would remain the owner of the ranch and Willow would definitely return to Milestone with him. Of course, Adam would never think of doing such a thing to the Harrisons or the rest of the fine folks living on this ranch. Some of them had nowhere else to go. Besides, if anyone attempted doing something that devious to his family, there’d surely be hell to pay. He understood family and legacy and honor. He couldn’t imagine anyone owning the Double M except a deserving McLennon descendent.

  And without a doubt, Leonard deserved to inherit his family’s ranch.

  That still left Willow and her future up in the air.

  And his future also.

  He couldn’t imagine his life without Willow Harrison in it.

  Finally, just before the sky lightened in the East, he slipped into a troubled sleep.

  * * *

  Daniel stood in the entrance hall of the main house on the Circle H. “Where’s the lazy bum?”

  “Hasn’t come downstairs, far as I can figure?” Sawyer shrugged. “Or he slipped out really early before anyone else woke up?”

  “I’ve been up since four o’clock and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of him. Should I go check his room?” Mrs. Griffith looked from one man to the other.

  Daniel checked his pocket watch. Eight fifteen. “Please do. We’ll be late getting to town otherwise.”

  Sawyer shrugged. “Or we’ll leave him here. Leonard and Willow are ready and waiting in the parlor.”

  Boots pounded down the stairs and Adam rounded the corner, dressed for the day and wearing a scowl on his face. “Why didn’t anyone wake me earlier?” he groused.

  “Thought you required your beauty sleep,” Daniel muttered. “You ready to leave for town?”

  “I’ve got a fried egg on toasted bread for you to eat on the way,” Mrs. Griffith chimed in, touching Adam’s arm. “No reason you can’t head out with the rest of them.”

  “I’ll down a cup of coffee also and then meet you outside in a couple minutes,” Adam muttered heading to the kitchen on Mrs. Griffith’s heels.

  Daniel strode into the hallway. “Leonard, Willow, we’ll be leaving in a minute or two,” he called. He couldn’t wait to wrap up this Pearson business and return to Milestone and check on Lily. He’d hated leaving her knowing she was with child, but it couldn’t be helped. At least, she would be in good hands with family around her and Doc Bennett in town if she should require medical tending to, for whatever reason. He loved his young nephew and Jackson couldn’t be a better father. The thought of becoming a new father himself frightened the daylights out of him. But excitement coursed through his body every time he started daydreaming about what it would be like to have a son or daughter of his own to snuggle in his arms and someday bounce on his knee.

  “Quit dawdling and let’s go,” Adam muttered as he passed him in the hallway and strode outside.

  “About time.” Daniel wouldn’t be outdone by his brother. He knew Adam was tied in knots over his feelings for Willow, and Daniel sincerely hoped the beautiful, talented Texan horsewoman would someday become his newest sister-in-law. For now, he’d do everything in his power to prove her father’s will had been forged and the wrong person had inherited the Circle H. He’d right this wrong if it was the last thing he ever did.

  Ten minutes later, the Circle H carriage again wended its way toward town, Leonard at the reins. By now, the horses could find the way to town themselves. The day dawned with a clear blue sky and a brisk wind that had subsided, and now only a soft breeze whispered through the trees. The sky had clouded but Daniel doubted it would rain.

  Leonard handled the rig like the experienced driver he was, and everyone sat silently lost in their own thoughts. Daniel’s pocket burned with the important documents tucked inside his suit jacket for safe keeping. Two ranch hands rode alongside them, armed and prepared to meet trouble head on if someone should attempt an ambush. Or had becoming a Pinkerton turned him into a man whose every action was ruled by distrust? Who would attempt to prevent them from reaching town? Only one person crossed his mind, and to date, he’d never met the man.

  Clarence Pearson.

  No doubt, they would prove today that he’d forced the lawyer to falsify a second will, leaving Pearson the entire estate. The question remained… why? Why would Braymore risk his law practice and his reputation to do the bidding of a small-time gambler? A man who probably hadn’t completed an honest day’s work in years, if ever. A fellow who preferred to earn his money the easiest way possible without dirtying his hands or soiling his clothes. The image of a citified dandy popped into Daniel’s mind.

  And then he realized his wandering mind had drawn his attention away from today’s purpose. This was why he’d left the Double M Ranch to pursue his own dream. This was why he’d trained as a local deputy and then uprooted himself and his new wife to move to Chicago to pursue a career as a Pinkerton. Today, he’d prove to his family and new friends that his decision to follow his dream had been the correct one. Today, he’d once again prove it to himself, too. Today he’d see to it that a wrong was righted.

  “We’re here.”

  Daniel startled hearing Leonard’s pronouncement. After stretching his back and legs, Daniel stood and climbed down from the carriage. The others followed with Adam assisting Willow so she wouldn’t trip on her skirts. Soon they filed into the courthouse and followed a clerk through a maze of hallways to Judge Bailey’s chambers.

  “Here goes nothing,” Willow whispered, entwining one arm with Adam’s. “Do your best, Daniel. We cannot ask more of you.”

  Daniel nodded as he spotted a metal plate on a heavy wooden door. Judge Edwin W. Bailey. “Thank you. Unless this judge is prejudiced against Hartley Harrison or the Harrison family, not a single reason exists why this matter shouldn’t be corrected today.”

  The court clerk knocked and then opened the door and waved them inside.

  “Good morning, gentlemen,” the judge offered a greeting. Then spotting Willow standing in back he added, “And good morning to you, mis
s.”

  “I’ll just wait outside the door, sir,” the clerk offered.

  “Thank you, James,” Judge Bailey said.

  Everyone returned the judge’s greeting and then found a seat on the chairs grouped around the somewhat cramped chambers. Introductions were completed.

  “Now, it’s my understanding you requested a meeting on the matter of an irregularity concerning the settlement of an estate that occurred approximately a year ago.” The judge leaned back in his chair and folded his arms over his substantial middle. “How may I help you?”

  Daniel stood and produced the pages from his pocket. He cleared his throat and looked the judge in the eye. “After Leonard and Willow’s father, Mr. Hartley Harrison, passed away, his estate was settled based on a will produced by an attorney named Mr. Peter Braymore.”

  “Ah, yes, Braymore. I’m familiar with him,” the judge offered.

  Daniel continued, “The terms of the will sounded completely out of character for Mr. Harrison, but Leonard and Willow hadn’t any choice but to accept what was presented to them at their ranch and later granted by the courts.”

  Suddenly, a loud pounding on the door interrupted the meeting.

  “I demand to see the judge.”

  Daniel grimaced when he recognized the voice from the other side of the door. “Speak of the devil,” he muttered under his breath.

  “Come in!” the judge bellowed.

  The door swung open and Peter Braymore strode into the room, face flushed, and hands fisted. “Judge Bailey, there’s been a robbery at my law office, and I…” He stopped in his tracks when he spotted the others in the room. “And these people are to blame! Liars, they are. Thieves, every one of them. Conniving… conniving…” he harangued.

  Daniel stood, shocked by the interruption, but in his anger, Braymore appeared to have exceeded the limit of his vocabulary.

  “Good morning, Mr. Braymore.” The judge straightened in his chair and glared at the attorney responsible for the intrusion. “We were in the middle of something. Kindly wait outside until we’re finished.”

  “Absolutely not!” Braymore blurted. “During a meeting in my office, one of these people somehow stole a signature page from a will. And another fellow rummaged through the closed files in my storage room, and he stole one of my client’s previous wills as well.”

  “Previous?” Leonard leapt to his feet. “True wills, you mean. Not the one you faked.”

  Sawyer reached up and drew Leonard back into his chair. “Let Daniel and the judge handle this,” he whispered.

  Leonard met eyes with the judge. “My apologies for the outburst, sir. It won’t happen again.”

  The judge nodded then turned to the lawyer. “Braymore, you may remain here for the rest of this meeting. But one word from you, unless I ask a specific question, and you’ll be escorted out of the building.”

  Braymore opened his mouth to argue, but then thought better of it. “All right.” He glared at Daniel and slumped against the wall.

  “James, will you kindly remain also. I’ll require your services should one of these gentlemen or the lady be ordered to leave.” The judge forewarned the clerk.

  James nodded. “As you wish, Judge Bailey.” He stepped in front of the closed door and stood at attention with his feet slightly apart and his hands tucked behind his back.

  The judge leaned back in his chair again and turned his attention to Daniel. “Now, Agent McLennon, kindly continue. I believe you’d mentioned the Harrison children had questioned the terms of their father’s will.”

  Braymore opened his mouth but closed it immediately. Daniel could almost detect steam rising from the top of the man’s head, his anger so evident.

  “Thank you, sir.” Daniel waved the pages in his hand. “Mr. Braymore is correct. We did remove these pages from his office, but we could not prove a miscarriage of justice had occurred otherwise.”

  The judge leaned forward in his chair. “You’re admitting to removing these pages from Mr. Braymore’s office as he just accused you?”

  “Technically, yes.” Daniel wended his way around the scattering of chairs in the room as he spoke. “But we couldn’t risk Mr. Braymore learning we were suspicious of his activities and destroying our proof.”

  The judge looked at Daniel, standing at his desk. “Proof?”

  “That is ridiculous…” Braymore blurted and then his face paled. He slumped in his chair. “I apologize, sir.”

  “Once more, Braymore, and you’ll be removed from this room.” The judge glared at him.

  “Yes, Judge Bailey,” he whispered.

  “You mentioned proof,” the judge said, encouraging Daniel to take up where he left off.

  “While at Mr. Braymore’s office, we were permitted to read the copy of the will he’d presented at the Circle H when he initially announced that Clarence Pearson had inherited the ranch.” Daniel glanced at Braymore. “He did not leave a copy with either Leonard Harrison or Willow Harrison at the time.”

  The judge waved his hand, indicating Daniel should continue.

  “When the Harrison children read the signature page yesterday, both of them realized this will was a forgery. Or a fake. Or whatever you want to consider it. The will had not been signed by their father.”

  Braymore leapt to his feet, his face clouded with anger. But he held his tongue and then flopped back onto his chair.

  “And how did you realize the will was a fake?” The judge stared at Leonard and then Willow.

  “The middle initial was wrong.”

  The judge waved his hand at Daniel. “May I please see the pages.”

  Daniel approached the desk and laid the pages on top. He flipped the will to the final page displaying both signatures. “This is the signature page of the fake will. Notice the middle initial, sir.” He pointed to the other one. “This is the will we believe to be the actual last will and testament of Hartley Harrison.”

  The judge gazed at one document and then the other. “Both wills indicate Mr. Harrison’s middle initial was ‘M’. I don’t see the issue.”

  Chapter 28

  Willow leapt to her feet and rushed over to the judge’s desk. She gazed at the papers and pointed to the signatures. “Look at the written signatures, sir. Not the printed names. Do you not see the error on the forgery?”

  The judge glanced up at her for a moment and then studied the documents. “One copy has a period after the M. The other one doesn’t.” He looked Willow in the eye. “You believe this is significant?”

  “Absolutely! Our father never signed his name with a period after his initial. Ever,” she insisted. “I’ve watched Father sign documents for years. As has my brother. The M and the H in Harrison were always written without removing the pen from the paper. Father never added a period afterward.”

  “That’s what this is about? My client used a period on one document and not the other?” Mr. Braymore glanced at the judge. “I’m sorry for speaking out of turn, sir.”

  Leonard rose from his seat and presented the documents clasped in his hand. “Last night, I dug into my father’s files in his study. These papers are contracts and agreements my father signed over the years. Some are for sales of horses, and some are for purchases of equipment. I’ve even included a check I discovered tucked into a forgotten file on his desk. He signed the check to clear up his account at the feed store, but he passed away before the payment was given to the feed store owner.”

  The judge gazed at his desktop scattered with copies of documents as well as the two signature pages in question.

  “May I speak, your honor?” Braymore inquired, visibly shaking with anger.

  “I thought you already had,” the judge muttered, still examining the evidence before him. “What more do you have to say?”

  “This is nothing more than a well-thought-out ruse. These people are thieves by their own admission. My client changed his will and if he signed it a bit differently, then… I cannot believe this has any bea
ring on the validity of the will and his wishes.”

  “Oh, but it does,” Daniel interjected. “It’s our belief that Mr. Clarence Pearson arranged with Mr. Braymore that he become the new owner of the Circle H, through this fake will. I have no idea why Mr. Braymore would risk his reputation by agreeing to this miscarriage of justice, but it appears he has.”

  “Mr. Pearson did not force me to—”

  “No one mentioned forcing, Mr. Braymore. Agent McLennon said arranged.” The judge glared at him. “Were you forced to fake this will? Were you forced to present a forgery to Mr. Harrison’s children?”

  “I… I…”

  Willow watched Mr. Braymore’s face paling to the point of worry. The man had fallen into a trap of his own making. Forced was a strong concept, a telling admission.

  Daniel stepped closer to the man. “Are you all right, sir?” he inquired.

  “I… I…” he slumped into a chair. “I’ll only explain if I’m guaranteed no one will bring charges against me.”

  “You know neither I nor the court can guarantee anything,” the judge offered. “But it would certainly be in your best interests if you co-operated in this matter.”

  Braymore dragged his hand down his face. “All right. Pearson forced me to do it. I met Pearson over a poker table one night. Several poker tables actually. Clarence learned that I owed a great deal of money and he offered to pay my gambling debts in full if I agreed to one small favor.” Braymore huffed. “His idea of a ‘small favor’ and mine were significantly different, but he’d paid my debts in full before I realized what he had planned. I couldn’t renege on the agreement or goodness only knows what he would have done.”

  Judge Bailey met his eyes. “You feared the man?”

  “He’s ruthless. Both at the poker table and away from it. I’m a family man with a wife and children. I couldn’t risk crossing him.”

  “So, you faked my father’s will giving him the Circle H?” Leonard summarized.