Runaway Colton

by Karen Whiddon

  Ms. Berens sighed. “I know. It frightened me, too, when I woke up here in this hospital. Listen, Cord. There’s something you need to know. I have had a will made and you’re my executor as well as beneficiary. The original is in a small safe I keep under my bed. I wanted you to know where to find it after I’m gone.”

  Cord swallowed hard. “None of that kind of talk,” he managed. “You’re going to get better and be back home before you know it.”

  “Oh, I hope so.” She put her fork down. “I’d like that better than anything.”

  “Then you eat up and regain your strength.” Cord stood. “You also need to get lots of rest. We’ll be back to see you again tomorrow.”

  Glad he’d included her, Piper nodded. “Take care, Ms. Berens.”

  Head back against the pillow, the older woman smiled. She’d already closed her eyes.

  “She’s going to be fine,” Cord said as they walked back to the elevator. “She might be old, but she’s tough.”

  Slipping her arm around his waist, Piper nodded, her throat tight. In that instant she realized how close she was to falling deeply in love with Cord Maxwell.

  Worse, she wasn’t even sure she wanted to try and resist.

  As they pulled up to the house and parked, Cord’s cell phone rang. “Renee,” he told Piper, answering it as he strode up the sidewalk. “Really? Okay, thanks. Will do.”

  “What’s up?” Piper asked, closing the front door behind her.

  “Renee says to turn on the television. Apparently there’s breaking news in Eldridge’s case.” He grabbed the remote and turned it on.

  They both listened in silence—and Piper in mounting horror—as the reporter asked the sheriff questions. “A body believed to be Eldridge Colton’s has been found, burned beyond recognition in a fiery crash on the service road of I-30. The vehicle, a black Ford Crown Victoria, matches the description of the car Eldridge’s attorney and family friend reported seeing Mr. Colton forced into at gunpoint.”

  Piper’s cell rang just as the segment ended. Reid. Chest tight, still in shock, she answered. “I just heard.”

  “It’s not looking good.” Reid sounded defeated. “Hugh is here and insists that was the car he saw. He thinks Eldridge must have been trying to get away from the kidnapper and crashed. We’re all shocked. Whitney fainted, and Marceline and Alanna are in there with her now. Fowler, being Fowler, is insisting we have a reading of the will.”

  Wiping at her streaming eyes, Piper couldn’t articulate how she felt about that at first. “Everyone needs to tell Fowler to back off. We don’t even know for sure that body was him.”

  Silence on Reid’s end. “Good point, Pipe. Until the coroner’s office gets back to us with confirmation, there’s no need to read the will. Hugh told Fowler he’s too grief stricken to do it yet, but I’ll tell that SOB to calm down.”

  At least anger had replaced grief in her brother’s voice. Good. Piper wished she could believe her own words and feel hope. Or something other than this crushing sense of loss. “I’ll be there in an hour,” she said. “I just need time to pack.”

  When she turned around, Cord watched her silently.

  “I’ve got to go home,” she said. “My family needs me.”

  Without saying a word, he pulled her close in a quick, hard hug. “You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” he said. “Call me if you need me or if there’s anything I can do. Anything at all.”

  She nodded, holding herself stiffly. She knew if she gave in and accepted his comfort, she’d break. “Please explain to Renee for me,” she asked. “I’m not sure if—or when—I’ll be back.”

  “I will.”

  Half expecting him to follow her, she felt a mixture of relief and disappointment when he didn’t. Packing quickly, she knew she’d have to move fast, so she didn’t stumble over her goodbye.

  “I’ll call you,” she said, hurrying past him. He stood in the exact same place where she’d left him a few minutes ago. She fumbled with the doorknob, but made it outside. She got in her car and drove off, refusing to look back. Her heart could only take so much hurt.

  The physical act of driving felt cathartic. In just a few minutes, some of the tension drained from her sore shoulders and neck. When she finally pulled up in front of the mansion, she wasn’t surprised to see several other cars, including the huge old Lincoln Continental Hugh Barrington drove. Though she wondered why the attorney was still here, she figured he had the right as Eldridge’s oldest friend. Meanwhile, her entire family would be here to support one another in their time of grief. They were Coltons after all, and that’s what Coltons did.

  Refusing to let despair settle on her, she took a deep breath and got out of the car. If it were up to her, she’d avoid Fowler and Marceline, as this situation wasn’t the right time to settle their differences. She only hoped someone had helped Whitney get and remain under control. Her legendary hysterics would be the last thing a group of people desperately trying to hold themselves together needed.

  Though she’d started off moving with purpose, Piper’s steps slowed as she climbed the stairs leading to the ornate double front door. As she turned the handle to let herself in, she nearly collided with a visibly shaken Hugh Carrington.

  “Piper!” he exclaimed, grasping at her hands, as though she alone could keep him from falling over. “I’m so glad you’re here. Fowler is insisting we have a reading of the will and I informed him we couldn’t unless all of the family was present.”

  Piper swallowed hard. “Isn’t that a bit premature? Eldridge hasn’t even been declared...” Choking up, she couldn’t finish.

  “I agree. But Whitney backed Fowler up. That poor woman has been through enough.” His dejected expression matched his voice. “I can’t say no to her.”

  “I understand,” Piper lied. “Is everyone already gathered in the study?”

  “Yes. Reid said you were on your way.”

  Might as well get this over with, then. Keeping hold of Hugh’s arm, Piper let him lead her to the study. Since she hadn’t had any contact with her family other than Reid since her release from jail, she braced herself for an inevitable barrage of questions.

  When they entered the crowded room, everyone went quiet, staring. Lifting her chin, Piper met Reid’s sympathetic gaze. Alanna smiled and waved and T.C. nodded a greeting. Of course Marceline wouldn’t even look at her, which suited Piper fine. Whitney, who sat next to her daughter, wore a dramatic black veil, so Piper couldn’t make out her expression. On her other side sat Fowler. He appeared preoccupied with his phone, though he did glance up long enough to flash Piper a smile that looked more like a grimace.

  “Here you are, my dear.” Hugh released her and Piper sank into the empty seat. He continued on to the front of the room before removing an envelope from his suit jacket pocket.

  “Harrumph.” Clearing his throat for emphasis, Hugh held up the envelope. “As you can all see, this envelope is sealed. Eldridge entrusted me with this, the original of his last will and testament. Even though I am—was—his attorney and friend, he had this prepared elsewhere. He told me he felt I was too close to the family to be objective and made me swear not to open it until after his death.”

  “Which is now,” Fowler put in, his mournful expression at odds with the flash of anticipation in his eyes. Everyone knew how badly he needed this made official, so he could finally take total control of Colton Incorporated.

  Though Reid shook his head, he didn’t contradict the oldest Colton son. Whitney sobbed once, but kept her veil in place and didn’t comment. Piper began to wonder if she’d taken antianxiety medication.

  With a dramatic gesture, Hugh used a gold letter opener. Hands visibly shaking, he removed a thick document and unfolded it. “I don’t know that I can do this,” he commented to no one in particular. “Eldridge can’t be gone...” His voice broke and he looked down, clearly unable to continue.

  “I’ll do it.” Fowler snatched the will from Hugh’s fingers
. “‘Being of sound mind, I, Eldridge Colton, bequeath Hugh Barrington, one of my oldest and dearest friends, controlling interest in Colton Incorporated.’”

  As he uttered the last words, disbelief, shock and finally rage flashed across Fowler’s aristocratic face. “You,” he snarled, glaring at Hugh. “You did this. Somehow, you managed to persuade Eldridge to give you my birthright.”

  Chapter 15

  With Piper gone, even though it had only been a few hours, it felt like all the life had been sucked out of his house. Though he’d tried his damnedest to be strong for her, Cord had really wanted to beg her not to go.

  But he couldn’t. He’d only just begun to understand how important family was. Piper’s family needed her.

  So did he.

  Trying not to focus on her statement that she didn’t know when—or if—she’d be back, Cord roamed aimlessly, Truman right behind him, room to room, trying to put a finger on his huge sense of loss. He ended up in Piper’s room, standing just inside the doorway staring at her perfectly made bed.

  Her scent still lingered. Strawberries and peaches. Truman whined, appearing confused. “It’s all right, boy,” Cord told the dog, scratching under his collar. “I’m sure she’ll come back and visit you.”

  Truman only stared, before jumping up on Piper’s bed and settling in to wait.

  Cord’s heart ached, both for him and his pet, who clearly adored Piper. He wondered how long Truman would lie on her bed before he realized she wasn’t coming back.

  Ever? The notion seemed unbearable. Shaking his head at his own foolishness, he turned and headed toward the farmyard. Best to get outside and keep busy. Overthinking the situation wouldn’t do anyone any good.

  Chores waited. Maybe if he got busy, he’d feel better. Mucking out stalls would make his body sore, but might help his heart ache less.

  He spent several hours cleaning out the barn, moving hay, and doing every single minor chore that he’d been putting off for months. Finally, he headed back to the house and took a long, hot shower, wishing he could wash away the haunting loneliness he felt at Piper’s absence.

  This. Was. Ridiculous. Or so he told himself. She hadn’t gone far. It wasn’t like he would never see her again.

  He decided to head into the kitchen and make himself something to eat. At the last minute, he stopped and went back to her room. He couldn’t believe he’d come to care so much in such a short period of time. She’d left. He couldn’t blame her, with so much going on with her family. No, it was more the way she’d gone. With a casual wave and without a backward glance.

  But then what had he expected? They’d made no promises to each other. He’d known she’d return home eventually. So why did her absence make him feel like he’d been punched in the gut?

  His world appeared to be shrinking. He’d almost lost Ms. Berens, and he’d had to face the fact that eventually, he would. No one lived forever. She’d seemed at peace with the idea, and he’d try his best to help make things easier for her for as long as he could.

  Truman still slept on Piper’s bed, refusing to budge until she returned.

  “Come on, boy,” Cord said. “Are you hungry? It’s time to eat.”

  Barely blinking, the dog didn’t move a muscle.

  “Suit yourself.” Cord sighed, wondering how long his pet would remain there before realizing life had to go on. Just then Truman jumped up and gave a joyous bark, leaping from the bed and racing past him.

  “Did you miss me?” Piper’s voice, from the doorway behind him. Half-afraid he might be dreaming, he turned. Crouched down with her arms wrapped around the dog, she eyed Cord with a curious mixture of self-confidence and hesitation. “I’m back.”

  Hands clenched into fists at his sides to keep him from touching her, he nodded. “I see that. What’s going on?”

  Disappointment dimmed the sparkle in her beautiful eyes. Cursing himself for putting it there, he closed the distance between them, yanked her up against him and kissed her until they both were senseless.

  “Wow,” she murmured after, her head against his chest. “I guess you did miss me. I wasn’t even gone all that long.”

  It took a moment for his head to clear. He didn’t tell her that even such a short period of time had felt like eternity. “What are you doing here? I thought you were going home to be with your family.”

  “Here’s the thing.” She gave him a half smile, her gaze questioning. “I did. Fowler pressed for the will to be read, so it was. Hugh Carrington was left controlling interest in the company.”

  “Wow.” Reluctantly, Cord released her. “The family attorney? I’ll bet that didn’t go over well.”

  “It didn’t. I thought Fowler was going to deck poor Hugh. And Hugh seemed as stunned as everyone else. Apparently Eldridge had another attorney draw up the will.”

  “What about the rest of the assets?” he asked.

  “That was about what you’d expect. Whitney gets the ranch and all their homes around the world. The bulk of the fortune is divided between the kids, including me.” She shook her head. “Odd how that simple gesture, including me with the others in the will, made me feel as if Eldridge really loved me.”

  “Of course he did. What’s not to love?”

  She grinned. “Thanks. Oh, and there’s more. One thing for sure—it’s never boring around Colton Valley Ranch. Turns out Eldridge isn’t dead. Someone in the medical examiner’s office got suspicious of the first rush autopsy and double-checked the results. That body wasn’t Eldridge’s. Dental records positively identified it as another person entirely—a drifter from Kansas who’d been living on the streets of Dallas.”

  “What?” Stunned, he could only stare.

  “I know, right? Turns out they think someone paid off the guy that did the first autopsy. Before they could arrest him and find out who, he disappeared.”

  “But why? Why would someone do such a thing?”

  “We don’t know. Reid thinks it was all a ploy to get the will read quickly. Eldridge has been missing a long time and everything is in limbo.”

  “Fowler?” he asked, still trying to wrap his mind around this newest development.

  “I thought that, too, until Reid reminded me we don’t know who would benefit the most by having the will read.”

  She exhaled an exasperated puff of air and combed her fingers through her hair. “Now that we know it’s Hugh, that casts an entirely different light on things. However, with there being no proof Eldridge is dead, Hugh has no control over anything.”

  Cord’s cell phone rang. “Fowler,” he told Piper. “Just a sec.”

  Bracing himself for more ultimatums, he answered.

  “All the charges against Piper have been dropped,” Fowler said, his voice uncharacteristically defeated. “Your services are no longer needed.”

  Bemused, Cord knew he should stay silent and let it go, but he had to ask. “I thought you wanted me to bring her home. Remember, you gave me a two-week ultimatum.”

  “I know what I said,” Fowler snapped, sounding much more like his old self. “But she’s been here and gone. I can’t say I blame her for leaving after the uproar around here.” Fowler went silent, apparently realizing he’d come too close to revealing private information to Cord. “Anyway, she’s in the clear. Everyone believes that Eldridge is still alive.”

  “They do?” Cord played along, curious to see how much Fowler would tell him. “What happened?”

  “That’s family business. Don’t worry, you’ll still get your money. I’m going to get you the balance of what I owe you. You tried, but I guess you’re not as good as I thought you were if you couldn’t even find Piper.”

  Again, Cord knew the smart thing to do was keep his mouth shut. But once again, for whatever reason, he couldn’t. Maybe the fact that he felt like all along he’d been skirting too close to outright lying. “I did find Piper,” he said. Across from him, Piper’s eyes went wide.

  Silence. Then Fowler swore, the sound low
and guttural. “When?” he demanded. “How long ago? Was it before she showed up at the ranch today?”

  “Yes.” It felt good to finally tell the truth.

  The swear words that came out of Fowler’s mouth astonished Cord. He wouldn’t have guessed the other man could sink to that level of vulgarity.

  Cord waited for Fowler to get it all out of his system. Finally, the other man wound down.

  “I’m sorry,” Fowler apologized, another surprise. “It’s been a very upsetting few days, but I shouldn’t take it out on you. Piper’s adoptive mother—Whitney—is extremely worried about her. They didn’t get a chance to talk today.”

  Even now, Cord couldn’t help but notice how Fowler had to point out that Piper had been adopted. “I’ll pass that information on,” he said.

  “You do that.” And the other man hung up without saying goodbye.

  “What’s going on?” Piper asked, her clear gaze wary. “I heard a lot of yelling on Fowler’s end, which since he hardly ever gets his feathers ruffled, shows exactly how upsetting today was for him.”

  Cord grimaced. “I agree. I think he’s so used to being in charge and now that everything is continually spiraling out of control, he’s losing it.”

  “You told him that you’d found me.”

  “I did. And it was the right thing to do. I feel like I’ve been lying to him all along. It doesn’t matter that I had no legal grounds to bring you in. I took his payment and then failed to do the job he hired me for. I have no choice but to return his money.”

  Her concerned gaze searched his face. “You can’t. I know you gave some to Ms. Berens.”

  “True.” He sighed. “And I used quite a bit to catch up on bills. It’s been no secret that I’ve been running low on funds. I let my business go so I could have time to search for Renee. And then you found her on your very first attempt. I’m good at what I do—damn good—but I don’t understand how I could have messed this up so badly.”

  “You were too close to the situation.” She rushed to his defense, which made him smile. “Kind of like the reason they won’t let surgeons operate on their own family.”