by Marta Perry
“It was an adventure.” He tucked his wallet away. The two days he, Christa and Sadie had spent hunkered down at his place had been memorable for many reasons. Not the least of which was having the opportunity to get to know his beautiful neighbor a little better.
He touched the brim of his cowboy hat and grabbed the cardboard-sleeved cup. “Reckon I’d better go say hello to the fellas.”
Bum stood and held out his hand as Mick neared the group. “Whatcha know, Mick?”
He shook his friend’s hand. “Not much.”
“Things gittin’ back to normal?”
Mick rubbed the back of his neck. “Bum, I’m not even sure I know what normal is anymore.”
The older man chuckled. “You’ll figure it out, son.” The front door opened, widening Bum’s smile. “Well, look who’s here.”
Turning, Mick saw Christa heading toward the counter, wearing jeans and a Bliss Hardware sweatshirt. Still, all he saw was that red dress from the other day.
He gave himself a stern shake as she started his way. “You’ll have to excuse me, Bum.”
Meeting him halfway, Christa looked concerned. “I thought you’d be at Cole’s office.”
“Not until nine. Figured I’d grab some caffeine.” He gestured to the cup.
She peered up at him. “Are you nervous?”
Sucking in a breath, he thought for a moment. “The optimistic side of me isn’t. Kyle and Jen stated in their will that they wanted me to raise Sadie. That should stand in a court of law. But the pessimist in me is scared to death. I’ve seen the news. I know things don’t always turn out the way we think they should. Common sense is thrown aside, and decisions are made that defy logic.”
“I’m sorry you’re having to do this.” Sincerity filled her hazel eyes. “I’ll be praying.”
“I appreciate that.” More than she would ever know.
“Here you go, Christa,” Rae called from behind the counter.
“Sorry, I’ve got to run. I’m just picking up an order I called in.”
“That’s all right. I should probably get on myself.” He started toward the door as she picked up the drink carrier and fell in beside him.
“Keep me posted, okay?”
Opening the door for her, he said, “I will.” He watched her head in the opposite direction, until she rounded the corner. Then he returned to his truck to retrieve the file folder of legal documents before moseying a few doors down to Cole Heinsohn’s office. Though Cole had been four years ahead of Mick in school, they’d both grown up in Bliss and had become friends over the years. Cole was a no-nonsense kind of guy, so Mick knew he could count on Cole to be honest with him.
He pushed open the dark green door and stepped inside the office.
“Hello, Mick.” Brenda Myers looked up from the large wooden desk to his left.
“You doin’ all right, Brenda?” He pushed the door closed behind him, eyeing the seating area opposite her desk.
“I sure am. Now that that ice is out of here.”
Mick chuckled, wishing he could say the same. Instead, his life seemed to be in chaos.
“Hey there, Mick.” Holding a tall, insulated travel cup in one hand, the dark-haired attorney strode across the dark green carpet, wearing a suit that made him look more like he belonged in Austin or Houston than Bliss. But then, lawyers did tend to dress a little nicer than ranchers. “Come on into my office.”
Mick followed. “How’s your father?”
Dementia had forced Mr. Heinsohn into a local nursing facility after Cole’s mom passed away three years ago.
“About the same.” Cole closed the door. “Doesn’t know me or remember what happened yesterday.” He motioned toward one of two chairs in front of his desk. “Have a seat.”
Unlike his suit, Cole’s office was understated and strictly business. College diplomas and other legal certificates were the only things on the plain beige walls. The dark wood desk held a computer and three neat stacks of folders, while the bookshelf in the corner was laden with law books.
Continuing around to the back side of the desk, Cole said, “I’m sorry to hear about Jen. I’m sure that came as quite a shock.”
“You’re not kidding.” Mick set his hat on the empty chair beside him and ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t think I’ve really even had time to process everything. What with bringing Sadie back here and then the storm and this stupid lawsuit.” He gestured to the folder.
“Has the probate process been initiated yet?”
Mick shook his head as Cole eased into his leather chair. “I reckon you can add that to my bill.” He shoved the folder across the desk. “Both Jen’s and Kyle’s wills, as well as the summons I received, are in there.”
“All right.” Cole opened the file. “Let me have a look.”
Mick waited, rather impatiently, his right leg bobbing up and down. His palms began to sweat. He swiped them across his jeans, hating that he was so nervous. He didn’t get nervous. He could stare down a bull without breaking a sweat. Yet these last few weeks he’d been turned inside out. And just when he thought things couldn’t get worse, that he was finally adjusting, the bottom had dropped out.
“Your brother-in-law was quite thorough.” Cole continued to stare at the papers.
“He was a Sanderson. Even if he didn’t act like one, I’m sure it was ingrained in him to protect his assets.” Who would have thought it was his parents he’d need the most protection from?
“Under normal circumstances, these wills would be considered straightforward.” Cole looked him in the eye. “But I’m not going to kid you, Mick. The biggest problem here is who we’re up against. I’m sure you know that nothing is ever easy with Chuck and Belita Sanderson.”
“That’s why Kyle was so adamant about having everything in order. Just in case.”
“I have no doubt the Sandersons conferred with their lawyers before filing this suit. They wouldn’t do it unless they thought they stood a chance of winning. That means we’ve got an uphill battle.”
“Why? I mean, Kyle and Jen had all of this done a long time ago.”
“And to us that seems reasonable. However, the grandparents are a two-parent household, are well-known throughout the state and have a lot of money. Meaning they can afford to drag this out until you throw up your hands in defeat.”
A fire started in Mick’s belly. He shot to his feet and leaned across the desk. “I would never do that, Cole. I made a promise to my sister. One I fully intend to keep.”
Remaining calm, Cole looked up at him. “Even if you run out of money?”
Mick sank back into his seat. While he lived a comfortable life, he wasn’t wealthy by any means. What if he ran out of resources? How far was he willing to go?
Seemed all he could do was pray it wouldn’t come to that. Because if he lost Sadie, he wasn’t sure what he’d do.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Christa clicked the Submit button on the computer screen in her office later that morning, successfully transmitting the order for a specialty door one of her customers wanted. Too bad she hadn’t been able to help them with the flooring they also wanted.
What could possibly be taking that leasing agent so long? Five days and still no response.
Huffing out a breath, she rolled her chair across the colorful area rug and away from her white, sawhorse-style desk. At this rate, she’d never pull off an expansion before Cranes moved into the area.
Okay, so the building supply chain had yet to announce plans for a store near Bliss, but everyone knew it was coming. In the meantime, residents were forced to shop at the big home improvement centers in the city, when what they really wanted was to do business with merchants they knew and trusted.
She grabbed a piece of chocolate from the emergency stash she kept in a galvanized bucket atop the row of white two-d
rawer file cabinets. Savoring the peanut butter and chocolate confection, she stared out the small window, toward the store’s front door, wondering how Mick’s meeting had gone. It had been almost two hours since she ran into him at Rae’s. Perhaps he and Cole were still talking. Or maybe Mick just figured he’d talk to Christa later, unaware of the fact that she was just as nervous as he was about this lawsuit. If it had been anyone else but the Sandersons doing the filing, she might not be so concerned. But the Sandersons had a pack of attorneys at their beck and call, no doubt ready to pounce on unsuspecting souls in order to make sure their clients came out on top. And so help her, if they tried to pull something underhanded with Mick—
The man in question walked into the store just then. Stepping out of her office, she waved to catch his attention and motioned him her way. He looked weary as he approached. As though the stress of the last few weeks had finally caught up to him.
He stepped inside her office and she promptly closed the door to keep their conversation private.
“How’d it go?” Crossing her arms, she leaned her backside against her desk as he dropped into one of the metal side chairs.
He shook his head, removed his hat and jammed a hand through his hair. “I think I’m in over my head, Christa.”
She ached for this poor man who was trying so hard to do the right thing. Pouring himself into caring for his niece. “Why? Did something else happen?”
“No. It’s just—hearing Cole lay out his concerns only amplified my own.”
“Such as?”
“He’s worried that the Sandersons will drag things out.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad. At least it’ll keep Sadie with you.”
“I think he was referring to the cost of a lengthy trial. Wearing me down, as Cole put it, until I run out of money.”
She looked at him matter-of-factly. “That will never happen. Not as long as I’m around. And I guarantee the people of Bliss would rally around you, too. They’d be having bake sales, fried fish and barbecue suppers until they were blue in the face just to help raise money.”
“He also said that a two-parent household can carry a lot of weight.”
She puffed out an incredulous laugh. “Yeah, if they’re actually willing to raise the child and not pawn her off on nannies and boarding schools.” Pushing away from the desk, she began to pace. “This whole thing irritates me to no end. As if a single man can’t raise a child. Boy, I’d like to tell them a thing or two. After all, I was raised by a single man and I turned out just fine.”
“There’s no telling what the Sandersons will use as ammunition.” Hands clasped, he rested his forearms on his denim-clad thighs. “Not just that I’m single, but the fact that I’m a rancher.” He tilted his head to look at her. “As you’ve already figured out, I don’t get days off.”
“Could you hire somebody to help you? I know Bum was checking on things while you were gone to get Sadie.”
“He was just doing me a favor. And about the only time we bring in help is when we work cattle, and that’s usually a trade-off. They help me, then I turn around and help them.” He fell quiet for a moment. “I have no doubt, though, that the Sandersons will likely harp on the fact that I have no help with Sadie. As in, I don’t have a wife to care for her.”
Every time he said that, Christa’s blood boiled a little hotter. This time it had ignited an idea. “Fine, if that’s the way they’re going to be, then we’ll just call their bluff.”
Mick straightened, looking confused. “How?”
She sucked in a breath, finding it difficult to believe she was about to say this, but desperate times called for desperate measures. “Let’s get married. You and me.”
Mick’s expression went from dumbfounded to completely horrified in a matter of seconds. “Woman, have you lost your mind?”
Ignoring the direct hit to her ego, she said, “Perhaps. But if that’s what it takes to protect Sadie, then so be it.”
Standing, he crossed to where she stood. “Christa, I appreciate what you’re doing here, but you can’t marry someone you don’t love.”
“Oh, as if there aren’t plenty of married people who don’t love each other. And I wasn’t talking about moving in together or anything like that.”
He set his hands on her shoulders. “No, you were thinking of a little girl who’s been tossed around by enough of life’s storms. And I admire you for that. But I would never dream of tying you down in some marriage of convenience. You’re a beautiful, spirited woman who deserves to love and be loved.”
Christa knew Mick was just being nice, that her suggestion they get married was totally ludicrous, yet staring up into his green eyes, she found herself wondering what it might be like to be loved and wanted by a good, hardworking man like him. To have someone you could lean on, count on to walk with you through life’s troubles.
Shaking off the notion, she turned away, hoping Mick couldn’t see the sudden heat in her cheeks. He probably thought that, given her age, she was desperate to get married and that was why she’d thrown out something so crazy.
“Sorry, I got a little caught up in my emotions. I guess, because of my own past, their supposition that you’re not fit to raise Sadie feels rather personal.”
“I understand. You don’t want to see Sadie hurt.”
“Or you.” She had to force herself to look at him again, balling her fists so she wouldn’t be tempted to rest her palms against his broad chest. “I’m willing to help you any way I can. If you need someone to watch Sadie, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“You’re sure?”
“Of course I’m sure.”
“All right. I was just checking.”
“Oh, and I’m still planning to come by to do that second coat of paint in her bedroom tonight. And I ordered the comforter set. It should be here tomorrow. Then I’ll just need to gather a few more things to pull the room together before the big reveal.”
Finally, he smiled. “Sadie’s going to be excited.”
Christa was, too. Except once Sadie’s room was finished, she’d have no reason to see Mick or Sadie, unless Mick needed someone to watch her. And knowing that they would no longer be an everyday part of her life had her feeling rather sad.
* * *
“Look! It’s Dixie and Miss Christa.” Sadie’s voice drifted from the back seat of Mick’s truck as he approached the driveway on the way home from school Wednesday.
They hadn’t seen Christa since Monday night when she’d finished painting Sadie’s room. The change in color alone had completely transformed the space. But he and Sadie were eager to see the finished product in a few days.
Yeah, he was starting to realize just how special Christa was. If he thought for one moment he could win her heart, he just might have taken her up on her offer to get married. After all, she’d been so wonderful with Sadie. The two of them had really connected.
Yet Mick and Christa were as different as night and day. She was well-educated and sophisticated, while he was just a humble cowboy. He’d learned the hard way that while women were enamored with the persona, they often found the man lacking. Christa would never be interested in someone like him.
So why was he still thinking about that whole exchange two days later?
“Dixie!” Sadie bounced in the back seat. “I wanna say hi.”
“All right, princess.” Turning into the drive, he eased to a stop and rolled his window down to the sounds of chattering birds. “You’re home kinda early.” Usually she didn’t make it back from the store until after five thirty.
“Plumber’s coming out.” She neared the truck, a gentle breeze carrying her sweet scent into the cab.
“It took him this long?”
She lifted a petite shoulder. “We patched the pipes, so I guess he figured that bought him some time. Besides, it’s not like I was
the only person in the area with broken pipes.”
“True.” He rested his elbow on the door. “Who’s coming out? Joe Lopez?”
“No, he hurt his back. Apparently he slipped on the ice, so I had to settle for Ronnie Cranston.”
Mick’s lip instinctively curled into a snarl while his heart pounded wildly with protectiveness. “Cranston? That creep’s been hitting on you since you got to town. Why on earth would you want him in your house?”
Her hands went to her hips, her hazel eyes narrowing. “Ashford, are you under the mistaken impression that I’m unable to take care of myself?”
“No, I just don’t trust that man in your house. What if he plants some of those hidden cameras somewhere?”
She puffed out a laugh. “I had no idea you had such an active imagination.”
“When it comes to Cranston, there’s not much I wouldn’t put past him. Do you know how many times they caught him sneaking into the girls’ locker room when we were in high school?”
She shifted uncomfortably. “How many?”
“Well, I don’t remember exactly. But it was more than a couple.”
“Come on, Mick. That was almost thirty years ago.” Chewing her bottom lip, she crossed her arms over her chest. “Though it is kind of creepy. But he’s already on his way out here, so it’s not like I can cancel now.”
“Can I go see Dixie?” Sadie had unbuckled her seat belt and was draped over his seat.
“Oh, sorry, princess.” He pressed the button to unlock the doors.
She hopped out and hugged Christa around the waist.
“How was school?” Christa smoothed a hand over Sadie’s back.
Squinting against the sun, she peered up at the woman. “We got to paint today.”
The endearing way Christa looked at his niece as she cupped her cheek almost made Mick forget about the fact that Creepy Cranston was on his way out here.
“You know—” he rubbed the stubble on his chin “—this might be a real good time for Sadie and me to pay you a visit.”
As Sadie knelt to hug Dixie, Christa turned her attention back to Mick. “Why?”