The Rightful Heir

by Angel Moore

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “Then, as the Good Book says, take heed, lest ye fall.”

  Chapter Five

  Mary Lou looked out her front window on Tuesday morning. Her heart still stung from the rebuke Jared had laid at her feet on Monday.

  She’d come across as arrogant. Confidence had united with stubborn defensiveness and she’d allowed them to rob her of her objectivity.

  Lord, please help me not to be lifted up in myself. I know You give grace to the humble. And I feel like I’m going to need a lot of grace to get through working with Jared Ivy until the judge comes to town.

  After checking her hair one last time in the mirror by the front door, she added another earnest plea to her prayer.

  Please let me keep the paper. It’s all I have.

  When she entered the back of the office, she found Jared at her desk.

  “Good morning, Mr. Ivy.” She wasn’t surprised when he followed the pattern of his grandfather and ignored her. He filled another page with the words that flowed from his pen before she cleared her throat with deliberation.

  The pen stilled and he looked up at her. “Oh, good morning.”

  “You’ve taken great liberty with the use of my desk.”

  “I consider it to be my desk, Mary Lou.”

  “And that’s another thing. I am uncomfortable with your use of my given name. We are business partners, not friends of long standing.”

  “So you admit that I am an equal partner in the newspaper?”

  He was quick with a turn of phrase. “I do not. I point out that you have taken liberties without so much as a by-your-leave.”

  Jared stood and offered her the chair he’d just vacated. “Please do have a seat and let us work out the details of these liberties.”

  She twisted her hands together behind her back and said, “I’ll sit here,” as she lowered herself into the chair facing the desk.

  The corners of his mouth tweaked for a brief moment but he turned the threatening smile into a neutral expression and sat. “Let’s talk of the office and desk first.” He put his palms flat on the desk. “I think we can share the desk. In the mornings, I like to make notes on what I’d like to accomplish during the day. If that works for you, fine. If not, I can come in earlier and use the desk before you arrive.”

  “I use the desk to write articles for the paper. I have no idea from one day to the next what time I will need it.”

  “What if I’m willing to relinquish my time to you in the event you need to write a story?”

  He was being reasonable. Rational and reasonable. If she didn’t accept, he could tell the judge she’d refused to cooperate. If she did accept, she’d have to watch him work at the desk every morning. Watching the confident way he put pen to paper without pause reminded her of the elder Mr. Ivy. He always knew what he was about. Never did he stop and question his course.

  She wished she could be that bold. The boldness she exuded was manufactured nightly in earnest prayer that she wouldn’t falter with each new day. Could she keep up the facade of successful business owner, ready to face the world on her own, in the presence of his natural confidence?

  He must have taken her silence for disagreement. He offered another solution. “What if we decide to treat everything as belonging to the Record? The furnishings and everything. Then it won’t be as if either of us is using the other’s personal property. It will be both of us sharing the duties and responsibilities of the paper.”

  “That seems reasonable.” She had taken ownership of all the contents of both buildings when Mr. Ivy died. Save her clothing, there really wasn’t anything here that belonged exclusively to her.

  The front door swung open and a gust of October wind came in with Andrew.

  Jared stood again. “Andrew, just the person I need to see.”

  Andrew closed the door and cast a leery glance at Mary Lou before turning to Jared.

  Jared came from behind the desk. “I need to buy a horse. Mary Lou tells me you reside at the livery.”

  “Mr. Robbins always has a couple of horses for sale. He’s got two fine animals right now.”

  Jared snagged his hat from the coat tree near the door and thanked Andrew.

  Mary Lou asked, “Aren’t you going to work today? I intended to show you how to take last week’s plates and prepare for a new paper.”

  “I’ve got some things to take care of first. You and Andrew go ahead without me.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “You need to know all the aspects of publishing the newspaper.” He couldn’t just waltz in and out of the office—and the work—like he didn’t have any responsibility.

  “I’m sure that can’t be the most difficult part to learn. I’ve got an idea I’m following up on. If I’m right, I’ll have a contribution of my own to add to the next edition.” He gave her a smile that she knew meant he expected her to grant him permission.

  “I won’t do your work for you. And nothing will go into the paper without my approval. Perhaps you’d like to share this idea before you waste your time on something we won’t print.”

  “Oh, we’ll print it. I’ll try to be back before supper.” He snagged his saddle from its place near the front door and left.

  “Wonder what he’s working on.” Andrew shrugged out of his jacket.

  “I don’t know.” Mary Lou pushed her sleeves up and reached for her garters to hold them safely away from the ink while she worked. “But if it’s anything like what I’ve heard since he got here, it will never see print.”

  She and Andrew set to work removing the type from the articles that wouldn’t run again and sorting the letters into trays. The next edition would be easier to prepare if they kept the work area organized and clean.

  The two of them worked the remainder of the morning, but Mary Lou’s mind was on Jared. Where was he? What idea was he pursuing? If he proved to be a better journalist than she was, would Mr. Ivy have wanted her to turn the paper over to him? The thoughts became a jumbled mess in her mind, but she pushed them away after lunch when she set off in search of the next article worthy of the front page.

  If Jared was going to compete with her for ownership of the Pine Haven Record, he’d have to prove himself a strong challenger. She might need to pray for strength every night, but she set about her job with determination every day. If anything, Jared only made her more determined than ever to succeed.

  * * *

  Jared went straight from the newspaper office to the livery. He entered through the open doors and stopped as his eyes adjusted to the shadows of the interior. “Mr. Robbins? Are you here?”

  A man in his forties came from one of the stalls. “That’d be me.” He wiped his hands on a rag and stuffed it into his hip pocket.

  “I’m Jared—”

  “Jared Ivy. Jacob’s grandson. You’re Ben and Agnes’s boy.”

  He hadn’t thought about what it would be like to meet people who’d known his parents. Jared put out his hand. “I am. It’s good to meet you, Mr. Robbins.”

  “I’d have known you anywhere. You’re the spitting image of your pa and your grandpa.”

  Jared chuckled, mostly to clear the awkward feeling that filled his throat. He’d been so long without either man that he hadn’t known he looked like them. Only when Mary Lou had pointed it out had he realized it. The picture on the wall in the news office floated to the front of his memory. He’d missed so much. “So I’ve been told just recently.”

  “I’m guessing Mary Lou Ellison was surprised when you showed up in town. That’s a fiery girl if ever I saw one. She’s been committed to the success of the Record since your grandpa took her in. Never seen a girl more focused. You’d think she’d want to get married like all the other young ones.”

  Jared’s curiosity pushed
to the front again. “Surely she had offers.”

  “One or two, but no one could get her attention. She’s always off in search of the next story. Can’t tie a woman like that down. Not many men would be willing to try. They want a woman to be at the house taking care of the little ones while the man runs the business.”

  Jared shook his head. “From what I’ve seen of Miss Ellison, she wouldn’t be content without a challenge.” He dare not push for more information on the woman he hoped to have removed from his business. If word of his snooping into her personality got back to her, he’d have more trouble than he wanted.

  “Mr. Robbins, Andrew told me you keep a few horses for sale. I’m in need of a new mount.” He cast his eye around the livery and noticed two exceptional animals. “Something like this fellow would do nicely.” He stepped up to a stall and put a hand on the nose of a black stallion. “He’s a beaut.”

  “That one’s not for sale.”

  “Are you sure? I’ve brought cash. And I’ll need to board him here with you, too. I think we could come to a fair agreement.”

  “That’s Midnight. You’re right. He’s a fine horse. But he belongs to Andrew.”

  Surprise kicked off another line of questioning in his mind. “How can a boy like that afford such a horse?”

  “He brought me a little money every week. Sometimes twice a week. He’s worked here doing a man’s chores for about three years now. Set his eye on Midnight the day I got him. Wouldn’t let me sell him to another soul.”

  “It’s unusual for someone his age to be so determined.”

  “Andrew’s no stranger to hard work. He’s so busy, you’ll see him coming and going all over town. Never know where he’ll pop up wanting to lend a hand and make a few coins.”

  That agreed with everything Mary Lou had said about Andrew. But it didn’t sit right with Jared that the boy had been able to raise that kind of money by mucking out stalls and working as an apprentice.

  Mr. Robbins pointed to the next stall. “This is Noel. She’s a bit headstrong, but a good horse. I daresay she’s only bested by Midnight in the livery.”

  Jared took the horse for a brief ride. When he returned, he haggled with Mr. Robbins and made the deal for Noel, a chestnut mare with good lines.

  He left the livery on Noel and turned toward the Circle W Ranch. The hotel owner had told him that Mr. Willis ran the largest ranch in the county. Jared wanted to meet the man and put forth some of his ideas for expanding the topics covered by the paper. He caught sight of Mary Lou as he passed the office and lifted a hand in greeting. Her expression let him know he’d be bombarded with questions from her as soon as he returned.

  His meeting with Mr. Willis took longer than he anticipated, but the man confirmed his instincts about a new direction for the paper. More articles on changing cattle markets and any news in the business world that related to ranching could help the ranchers not only stay in business but make more profit in the long run.

  On his way back into town, Jared decided to go to the church. He hadn’t been to Grump’s grave. It was time.

  There was no sign of Mary Lou at the paper when he rode by. The noise from the saloon still confounded him. How did so many men have time in the middle of the day to carouse? When he turned right in the middle of town, he noticed the preacher going into the Pine Haven Hotel. That was a good thing. He’d rather find the cemetery empty than have Reverend Dismuke see him and seek him out for conversation. He preferred to pay his respects in private.

  The church was at the edge of town at the end of Main Street. The river ran alongside the church property. It was a peaceful setting. The cemetery stood on a hill behind the church and its parsonage. Stone markers rose from the ground to honor the dead. A large water oak stood like a sentry at the back of the graves.

  Jared slid from Noel’s back and ground-tied her near the church. He took off his hat and let the early afternoon sun warm his head. His stomach rumbled to remind him that he’d missed lunch. At first, he walked with his head down, reading the stones. After making his way through several disorganized rows he looked up to search the landscape for a fresh grave.

  Then he saw her.

  Mary Lou knelt at a grave with a new marker. She put a gloved hand on the stone and traced the letters. Jared felt like an intruder as he walked closer and heard her talking.

  “Lord, if I only knew what to do. You gave me Mr. Ivy when I needed him most, and now that You’ve seen fit to take him back, I’m not sure who to ask for advice. The grandson he wanted so desperately to know has shown up, and I don’t know what Mr. Ivy would want me to do.”

  Her prayer was sincere and without malice. Jared wasn’t sure he could pray with that kind of openness if he were in her situation: threatened with the loss of her home and livelihood. Yet, no bitterness rang in her tone.

  Guilt at overhearing made him clear his throat. Mary Lou stumbled to her feet and wiped at her cheeks. “Mr. Ivy, I didn’t know you were here.” She kept her focus on the grave.

  “I’m sorry you didn’t hear me approach.” He pointed over his shoulder, not that she would see, and said, “I left my horse closer to the church. I didn’t know exactly where to look for Grump’s grave.” He stood beside her now. “Please forgive my intrusion on such a private moment.”

  She sniffed and shook her head. “You’ve just as much right to be here as I do.”

  “The stone is nice.” He read the verse below Grump’s name aloud, “‘Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.’” He nodded his approval. “Very fitting.”

  “It seemed the best way to honor his work on the paper and his commitment to the Lord.” She turned to Jared. “He loved God. Lived every day hoping to please his Maker. God’s got the record of that.”

  Her eyes glistened in the sun. Her jaw twitched as if Grump were her kin and she felt the need to convince Jared of his character.

  “Mary Lou, you’ve honored him well.”

  Her face softened a bit at his tone. “Thank you. It’s nothing compared to how he cared for me.”

  She took a step back and indicated the next grave. The stone was weathered but stood straight. Twenty years had faded the color but not the words: Benjamin Ivy. Beloved Husband, Father and Son.

  Tears stung his eyes. He didn’t expect to react physically to seeing his father’s grave. The tears coursed down his cheeks and he dropped to his knees. He didn’t hear Mary Lou walk away. His mind was filled with the flashes of events that made up his memory of his father. A man who stood on the riverbank and taught him to cast a line. A man who laughed when Jared teetered and fell from a hitching post as he tried to walk the straight board while holding his father’s hand. A vague voice that sang in church. A smile for his mother as his father looked over his head at her during the service. His father and Grump laughing at something. Being tossed in the air and the wind swooshing from his lungs as he landed in his father’s strong grasp.

  These snatches in time were the only things he had left of a loving father, but Jared hadn’t really known the man at all.

  Jared mourned at the graves without realizing the passing of time. The legacy these two men had left him had cost them all they’d had. His father had given his life constructing the building. His grandfather had used his life to build the paper. In that moment, at their graves, Jared vowed he would dedicate his life to carrying it on. It was all he could do to honor them.

  Nothing and no one—not even a sweet, determined young woman—would stop him.

  * * *

  Mary Lou didn’t know what was the most sad, Jared’s grief for the loss of his father and grandfather or the fact that he could have known one of them but didn’t. In any case, he suffered from the loss.

  She walked away from him toward the parsonage. Perhaps the preacher’s wife would know if anything of in
terest was going on in the community. She needed a good story. A trip to see Liza Croft might be a quicker route if Mary Lou was just in search of gossip, but she wanted to spend a few minutes with Peggy Dismuke. The woman’s calm nature always soothed her soul.

  “I’m so glad you stopped by today, Mary Lou.” Peggy invited her into the kitchen of the parsonage. “David isn’t home, and I’ve just pulled a cake from the oven. I’ve always believed pound cake should be eaten while it’s still warm. At least the first few slices.” A trill of laughter punctuated her confession.

  “It smells delicious.” Mary Lou pulled off her gloves and reached for the plates Peggy always used for dessert. The parsonage was a place where anyone in the community could come for advice, comfort or just a visit. Most of the ladies in town knew where everything in the kitchen was stored. “I’ve come to ask if you know of any upcoming events or situations that I should include in the next edition of the Record.”

  Peggy put teacups on a tray with the cake slices and led the way to the front parlor. “What about the wedding of Jasmine and my brother?”

  “I’m interviewing Jasmine tomorrow at lunch.” Mary Lou tried to sound neutral but a bit of anxiety crept into her voice. “Jared Ivy will be joining us.”

  “That shouldn’t be too awkward for you. You’ve been working together for several days now.”

  “We’ve been working in the same space, but I don’t think we’ve managed to work together on anything yet. Certainly not a story. It won’t surprise me if he’s got ideas for making a lot of changes to the paper. My goal is to maintain the tone and character his grandfather established. But let’s not talk about Jared. I need a good story. Unless I want him to bring in something better than I do. If that happens, he could take over the spirit of the paper before the judge comes to town and decides who will keep it.”

  “So you don’t want to talk about Jared, do you?” Peggy was gracious and didn’t point out how much of Mary Lou’s conversation centered on the newest resident of Pine Haven. “Let me see.” She poured tea, and the two of them soon were deep in conversation about the upcoming social planned for Christmas Eve.