THE PRODIGAL DAUGHTER

by Ginna Gray

  Martin charged around the end of a line and stomped toward them. Willing the color in her cheeks to fade, Maggie squared her shoulders and waited, braced for a fight.

  Dan calmly went back to work.

  "Dammit, Maggie! Just what the hell are you up to?"

  "Me?" Maggie batted her lashes and flashed an innocent smile. "Why, I'm just holding the light for Dan. See?" She held the shop light up to Martin's face, making him blink and take a step back. Suppressing a smile, she hooked the light over the edge of the machine, close to Dan's shoulder.

  "Don't give me that. I saw the ledgers and files spread out on my desk upstairs. Elaine telephoned me in Albuquerque last week and told me you'd been snooping around the office, but when you didn't come back I figured you'd just done it to annoy me."

  So Miss Udall had reported to Martin, had she? From the start she'd had a hunch the two were thick as thieves.

  "But you've been poking your nose in where you have no business, haven't you," Martin charged. "Well, I won't have it. I expect Jacob will toss you out again any day now, but for as long as you're here, the cannery is off-limits to you. Got it?"

  Outrage left her speechless. She couldn't believe the man's gall. Before she could find her voice he turned and jabbed his forefinger in Dan's direction. "And as for you, what the hell do you think you're doing, Garrett?"

  "What does it look like? I'm repairing a downed filling unit."

  "I didn't authorize you to make any repairs. If I want something repaired, I'll hire a professional. Pack up your tools and get out of here. Now. And in the future, you're not to enter this building outside of normal working hours. In fact, hand over your keys. Right now."

  Maggie's mouth dropped open. Dan was the company's general manager, for Pete's sake.

  Dan merely shot him a dismissive look and kept on working. "Forget it. I don't take orders from you, asshole. I answer directly to Jacob."

  "Why, you—"

  Martin's face turned purple. He was so furious the veins in his neck stood out. He looked as though he would explode at any second.

  Maggie had seen that look before, and as his hands curled into fists at his sides she took a quick step back.

  "That's it! You're fired, Garrett. Get the hell out. I'll give you one hour to pack up your possessions and vacate the superintendent's house. If you're not off this property by then, I'll call the sheriff and have you thrown off."

  Dan's face registered no reaction, but Maggie saw his shoulders tense and the icy glitter in the look he shot Martin. He calmly finished what he was doing, then pulled the shop rag from his back pocket, wiped the wrench and laid it in the open toolbox. Wiping his hands on the rag, he turned to face Martin.

  A contemptuous smirk twisted her brother-in-law's mouth as he watched him, and Maggie marveled at his arrogance. The fool seemed oblivious to the danger behind Dan's precise, unhurried movements and steely control.

  "You can't fire me. You don't have the authority."

  "The hell I don't! Now that Jacob is so ill, I'm running Malone Enterprises."

  "That's where you're wrong, Martin."

  Maggie had not planned on showing her hand quite so soon, but Martin's presumptuous claim was more than she could take. She stepped forward, positioning herself between the two men, and looked her brother-in-law square in the eye.

  "Regardless of what you think, you are not in charge here. In Daddy's absence, I will be running Malone's, not you."

  "You?" Martin gave a contemptuous bark of laughter. "That'll be the day."

  "Oh, I don't know about that. I have more right to the job than you. I'm a member of the family, after all. And a shareholder."

  "I wouldn't count too heavily on your status as a family member if I were you. You're hanging on by a thread these days. And that measly six percent of stock your grandfather left you hardly entitles you to run the company."

  "Oh? And just how much stock do you own, Martin?"

  The flush of angry color that had just begun to recede came rushing back to his face. "That's beside the point. I'm an officer of this company. And if it comes to that, I own just as many shares as you do."

  "Correction. Laurel owns those shares. Not you."

  "Same difference. Laurel's my wife. What's hers is mine."

  "I'm sure you'd like to think so, but I doubt a court of law would agree. My sisters and I all inherited the same amount of stock, but there's one big difference between us. Neither of them wants to get involved in the company. Nor are they trained to do so. I am. Whether you like it or not, I'm taking charge."

  His face tightened. The look in his eyes turned murderous. His hands curled into fists again, and he took a half step toward her before restraining himself. Maggie knew that if Dan hadn't been there he would have struck her.

  Or, at least, he would have tried. She wasn't quite the same defenseless girl she'd been seven years ago. Since then she'd regularly taken kick-boxing and self-defense classes. She might not win against him, but this time she'd sure as heck inflict some serious damage.

  "We'll just see about that," he snarled when he'd regained enough control to speak, and turned on his heel and stomped away.

  Watching him, Maggie just couldn't resist getting in one more dig. "Oh, and Martin," she called after him. "Please leave through one of the cannery exits. I'll be using Daddy's office, so in the future it's off-limits to you. Unless I send for you, of course."

  She had the pleasure of seeing him jerk to a halt and stiffen. His whole body quivered with barely controlled rage. Even from behind she could see his jaw muscles work.

  After a few tense seconds, without a word, he changed direction and stomped away, out of sight. His angry footsteps echoed through the budding for a few seconds, then the outer door by the loading bay slammed with a bang that reverberated through the cannery like a cannon shot.

  The jarring sound brought Maggie back to reality, and the brief crest of victory she'd dared to ride collapsed like a breaking wave. She exhaled a long sigh.

  "Nice going, Red. I'm impressed," Dan drawled. "I doubt anyone has ever put him in his place like that before. He'll be smarting for a month."

  Maggie turned around in time to see Dan relax. Only then did she realize that he had been braced and ready to defend her.

  The corners of her mouth twitched. "Yeah, well. Don't be too impressed, sugar. To tell you the truth, he just made me so damned angry I kinda got carried away. My tenure as head of the company probably won't last past tomorrow morning. Martin is sure to complain to Daddy, first chance he gets."

  "I wouldn't worry about it. I've always found Jacob to be a fair man."

  The only response Maggie could manage was a sad smile.

  After a restless night and a punishing long run, Maggie was the first one to arrive on the terrace for breakfast.

  She had barely settled down with her first cup of coffee when Dan came through the garden gate. She winked and raised her cup in a mock salute. "Hi, handsome. You're early this morning. You come to witness the beheading?"

  "Why do you assume that? Maybe I came to prevent one."

  "Why, sugar," she purred, batting her lashes. "I didn't know you cared."

  He sat down beside her, poured a cup of coffee and took a sip before answering. "Nice try, Red, but you're not fooling me. I spotted you running through the orchard this morning before dawn. You looked like a demon was after you. I figure you'd had difficulty sleeping and were trying to outdistance your nerves." His silver gaze did a slow inspection of her face. "Even now, gorgeous as you look, you seem edgy."

  Surprise flashed through Maggie, at both the compliment and his perception. Before she could think of a response the back door opened, and her nerves ratcheted up several more notches when Charley wheeled Jacob out on the terrace. Nan, Lily and Jo Beth followed right behind them.

  As soon as the greetings were exchanged and Jacob was helped to a chair at the table, the nurse disappeared back into the house and they settled down to the
ir meal. Nan and Maggie's parents got into a discussion about an article in the local paper concerning a disturbance at Rowdy's Bar and Grill the night before.

  "You ask me, that place should've been shut down years ago. Nothing but a hangout for riffraff and troublemakers."

  "Oh, Jacob, don't be so stuffy," his sister chided.

  "It's just a place where young people gather to relax and let off a little steam."

  "That's right, dearest," Lily added. "You even took me there a few times when we were dating."

  Jacob frowned and looked uncomfortable. "Yes, well … things were different back then."

  As usual, beyond an occasional rude remark to Maggie, Jo Beth said little.

  They had just finished eating when Dan leaned toward Maggie and murmured, "Brace yourself, Red, here he comes."

  "Jacob, we have to talk," Martin snapped, striding toward the table.

  "Certainly. But first sit down and have something to eat. There's plenty left."

  "I don't want to eat, and this can't wait." He shot a venomous look at Maggie. "Well? Have you told him yet?"

  That got Jacob's attention. His gaze narrowed on Maggie. "Told me what? What have you done now, Katherine?"

  "She's trying to take over Malone Enterprises, that's what," Martin answered for her. "I found her at the cannery last night. She'd been going through the books and files in your office. When I ordered her to leave she refused and informed me that she was in charge now."

  "What? The hell you are! Explain yourself, girl. This minute!"

  Maggie glanced at her mother, but Lily shifted in her chair and kept her eyes on her plate.

  With a sigh, she met her father's glare and shrugged.

  "It seemed like the thing to do at the time."

  "Don't you dare take that flippant attitude with me. I did not, at any time, authorize you to take over the business. I won't have—"

  "What are you getting so upset about, Jacob? Maggie was merely doing what Lily asked her to," Nan said.

  "What?" Jacob's head snapped toward his wife. "Lily? Is this true?"

  "Well … I…"

  "Oh, for heaven's sake, Lily, spit it out," Nan snapped.

  "Ye-yes, I asked her to, uh … to take a look at the company and see if she could salvage it. I didn't know what else to do, Jacob. You're too ill to work, but if something isn't done soon we're going to lose the company. You told me so yourself."

  Martin made a derisive sound. "And you thought she would work a miracle? Yeah, right."

  Nan bristled like a cat whose fur had been stroked the wrong way. "I would be very careful if I were you, Martin. It so happens that I support Lily in this."

  Watching Martin, Maggie almost laughed. The arrogant bastard knew he'd made a tactical error. Because Nan was a woman, he tended to forget that she had just as much clout as Jacob. Or at least she did as far as he and everyone else knew. Biting back a grin, Maggie watched Martin scramble to undo the damage.

  "Now, now, Aunt Nan, we all know how fond you are of Maggie, but we can't let our emotions get in the way of sound business decisions, can we? I mean, let's be realistic. Jacob has all but disowned Maggie because he doesn't trust her. You can't expect him to now suddenly allow her free access to the company records. Posing for pictures hardly qualifies her to act as a corporate troubleshooter."

  Nan's eyes narrowed. "No, but graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Business School does. And as for you, Martin Howe, if you ever dare to address me in that condescending tone again I will smack you."

  Knowing he'd lost any hope of winning Nan over, Martin gave up all pretense of pleasantness. "Nevertheless, I'm in charge now, and I will not tolerate any interference, especially from the likes of her."

  "If you ask me, my niece is Jacob's logical successor," Nan fired back. "In fact, I think we should officially appoint her acting president of the company right now."

  "What! That's ridiculous. I'm an officer in the company. I should be the one running it."

  "No, that's where you're wrong. Malone Enterprises should be run by a Malone, the way it always has been."

  Nan's gaze switched from Martin to her brother. Though her voice softened, it was no less firm. "The time has come to make a decision, Jacob. Is the family business going to be run by an outsider? Or by your daughter … the way our grandmother intended."

  Jacob stared at Nan with the desperate look of a man who has suddenly found himself with his back against the wall. "Dammit, Nan—"

  "It's fish or cut bait time, Martin," she said, returning his glare with a steady look.

  Maggie watched the silent duel between brother and sister, and wondered what was behind it. She had the curious feeling there was more to the exchange than who to put in charge of the company.

  "Please, dearest. Won't you give her a chance?" Lily urged in a trembling voice.

  Jacob glanced from his wife to his youngest daughter, who had remained amazingly silent during the exchange, her gaze bouncing back and forth between the participants like a spectator's at a tennis match. "Well, Jo Beth. You're a shareholder, too. What do you think?"

  Maggie's heart sank when the girl shot her an unreadable look. If the decision were left up to Jo Beth, she didn't stand a chance. However, to Maggie's surprise, her baby sister assumed a bored expression and hitched one shoulder. "Why not? She is a Malone."

  "Jacob, you can't seriously be considering putting her in charge," Martin exclaimed. "So she has a degree. So what? She has no practical experience. Maggie has never run a company. She doesn't know anything about running a big operation or overseeing workers or making decisions."

  "Oh, you mean like the decision you made to fire Anna?" Maggie asked innocently.

  Jacob's face went slack with shock.

  Out of the corner of her eye Maggie saw Dan start. "I thought she was on vacation this week. Christ, what the man lacks in common sense he sure as hell makes up for in gall," he muttered under his breath.

  Martin shifted, looking as guilty as a thief caught with his hand in the till.

  "You fired Anna? You idiot!"

  "Now, Jacob, I thought—"

  "You thought? You thought! If you'd had a halfway intelligent thought in that head of yours you would've known that was the last thing you should have done!" Jacob shook his head, as though unable to accept that anyone would make such a monumental blunder. "I'm surprised Anna didn't come to me and tell me what you'd done. She should have known I'd set it straight."

  "She didn't because Martin threatened her," Maggie interjected quietly, drawing another startled look from her father.

  "What?"

  "Don't listen to her, Jacob. She's lying."

  "When I found out what Martin had done, I visited Anna at her home," Maggie continued as though he hadn't spoken. "She said he told her that you knew he planned to let her go, and that you approved. He also told her you were too ill to see anyone, and if she tried, he'd have her arrested for harassment."

  For a moment Jacob was so furious he lost the power of speech, but the look he shot Martin made words unnecessary. "You presumptuous little pipsqueak," he growled when he found his voice. "How dare you. If you weren't Laurel's husband I'd fire you on the spot."

  "Jacob—"

  "Shut up, Martin. I'll deal with you later. Katherine, go talk to Anna and explain that Martin overstepped his authority. Beg her, give her a raise, do whatever you have to, but get her back. Understand?"

  Relief and elation bubbled up inside Maggie. "Yes, sir. Right away." She started to rise, then paused. "Uh, just so we're clear, Daddy. Does this mean you're putting me in charge?"

  Jacob stared at her, hesitating, and she saw a muscle twitch in his cheek. "For now, I don't seem to have a choice."

  "Dammit, Jacob, you can't do this!"

  "I've made my decision, Martin," he ordered without taking his gaze from Maggie. He jabbed his forefinger in her direction. "But remember, Katherine, this is only temporary, so don't go getting any ideas. You mess up
or pull one of your stunts, and I'll jerk you outta there so fast you won't know what happened. You got that?"

  "Yes, Daddy." She tried to appear calm and businesslike, but she'd waited too long for this day and simply couldn't hold in her elation a second longer. Flashing a grin, she bolted out of the chair. "I'll go talk to Anna right now."

  Before he could change his mind she raced toward the garage.

  She left behind a taut silence, and as the others on the terrace watched her go, Dan sipped his coffee and watched them, waiting for the explosion. He didn't have long to wait.

  "I don't believe this," Martin raged. "How could you do this to me, Jacob? I've worked for you for seven years."

  "Worked? You've had a free ride for seven years. The position you hold was created for you because I couldn't think of another job in the company you could handle. Believe me, if you hadn't been Laurel's husband you wouldn't have lasted six months. Now, get out of my sight before I do fire you."

  Martin's face reddened.

  Every muscle in Dan's body tensed. If ever he'd seen a man ready to do violence, it was Martin. He stood up and stepped behind Jacob's chair. "You heard the man."

  Something flared in Martin's eyes. Something violent and hate-filled. Dan braced himself, but at that moment Maggie's Viper shot out of the garage and rambled down the drive past the terrace.

  Turning his head, Martin watched her with a look of pure venom on his face. When she disappeared from sight he spat out a curse.

  "All right, I'm going. But this isn't the end of it, I promise you."

  "Well. That was unpleasant," Nan drawled when he'd disappeared from sight. "And exhausting." She stood up and beckoned to her sister-in-law. "Come along, Lily. Let's leave the men to their business talk and take a walk through the rose garden. That always soothes my nerves. And you'd better get along to school, Jo Beth, or you'll be late."

  The moment the three disappeared around the corner of the house, Jacob turned to Dan.