A Worthy Heir

by Pat Ballard

  “So who is Ronald?”

  “I don’t know, Reese, I thought you knew him.”

  “Pam, please don’t play me for a fool. Don’t you think I know that your being here has something to do with one of Fiona’s schemes? And I can’t help but believe that this Ronald plays a big part in it. Now who is Ronald?” Although Reese’s voice still held the tenderness that he’d shown since making love to her, there was a determination there now that let Pam know she would have to tell him the truth.

  A loud, frantic pounding on the door saved her from having to answer right then. Casting a questioning look at Pam, Reese went to the door and opened it.

  “Mr. Bainbridge, I’m Tony and this here’s Ronald. I hate to interrupt you, but we have some bad news. Your grandmother is dead!”

  Chapter 9

  Tears slid unheeded down Pam’s cheeks as she gazed at the casket that waited to be lowered into the ground. There were so many questions swirling in her head. Was Fiona really gone? Had she known all along that she was dying? What was going to happen now? How on earth was she going to explain the marriage to Reese without Fiona’s help?

  She glanced at Reese, who sat stone-faced and unapproachable, as he had remained since the news of Fiona’s death. She’d tried on one occasion to talk to him about the marriage, but he’d brushed her off, saying he didn’t have time to talk to her. So what had he been doing? She’d only seen him a couple of times since they’d returned from Vegas.

  He didn’t have to take care of the funeral arrangements. Fiona had everything planned, down to the last detail. She had been organized and in control even in death.

  A kindly old minister was speaking comforting words to the few people who had come to the cemetery to show their last respects. And then it was over.

  As the little group drifted away, the funeral attendants lowered the coffin that held Fiona’s frail body into the gaping hole. Pam heard the dull thump as it settled into place at the same time she heard the groan rip from Reese’s throat. She glanced up in time to see him, his back rigid, walking toward his waiting car.

  Tom, who had sat stunned and quiet through the entire ordeal, took her hand. “Let’s get out of here,” he whispered.

  Wanting to stay and say a last goodbye to Fiona, yet not wanting to watch that cold dirt pile up on top of her, Pam let Tom lead her to their car.

  “Well, I guess this leaves us in the house-hunting position,” Tom said, getting into the driver’s seat. “And who knows what’ll happen with my job! Just as I think I’m getting ahead again, the old gal snatches the rug out from under me!”

  “Tom! I can’t believe you’re talking like that! You’ve been hanging around the Bainbridges too long. You’re beginning to sound as cynical as one of them.”

  “I’m sorry, Pam. That was uncalled for. I’m just pissed that she died on me before I had a chance to pay her back for all she’s done for us.”

  “Well, don’t make any long term plans before the reading of the will this afternoon.”

  “What do you mean? Do you know something I don’t?”

  Should she tell him everything now? But what if Fiona had changed her mind? She didn’t want to set Tom up with the wrong information. “No, I don’t really know anything, I just think we should wait. We’re to meet at six o’clock for the reading.”

  “And I think, little sister, that you’re holding out on me.”

  Thankfully, they were pulling into the Bainbridge estate, so she didn’t have to argue with him.

  As the small group gathered in Fiona’s office, Pam’s breath came in short pants, and she was afraid she was going to hyperventilate if her tension grew any worse.

  Dan Smythe, the family lawyer, sat at Fiona’s desk and waited for everyone to be seated.

  “First, I want to tell everyone the cause of Fiona’s death. She had known for about a year and a half that she had a rare type of leukemia. She didn’t want friends or family to know. She said people would assume she was a weaker person if they knew she was sick. The cancer was in remission until about a month ago, when it reoccurred with a vengeance, according to her doctor. In fact, he said she should have been gone weeks ago, but she seemed to be willing herself to live for some reason. And, as we’re all saddened to know, she lost the battle a few nights ago. She just went to bed and didn’t wake up. If it’s any comfort, her doctor said she died with a smile on her face. Knowing Fiona, she’d probably just wrapped up a deal she was pleased with,” he said with a chuckle.

  Pam hardly heard his voice as he droned on about the legal ramifications of the will, and that Fiona’s last wishes were unequivocally final.

  “Anyone who wants to argue with Fiona’s last desires can consider themselves completely out of the will,” he admonished dogmatically. “And now the will.”

  “To Tom Spencer, I leave Bainbridge Corporation. The company shall remain his until his death, or until he is no longer capable of managing the property. He is to be in total charge of the running of the company. In my sound mind and judgment, I am convinced he is the only person I know who is capable of operating Bainbridge Corporation in the manner that my husband would have wanted it handled.”

  Pam heard Reese’s quickly indrawn breath. She stole a glance at him to find him glaring at Tom.

  “Spencer, I have to give it to you. I don’t know how, but you managed to wrap her around your little finger!”

  “Reese, as you know,” the lawyer started reading again, “I promised your grandfather on his deathbed that I would do all I could to leave the family business to a family member. Since you were so dead-set and determined not to be any part of Bainbridge Corporation, I did the next best thing. Tom Spencer is as close to being a part of the family as I could get. You’ll understand when the next part of the will is read.”

  Pam got the uncanny feeling that she heard a familiar cackle as the lawyer continued to read.

  “To Reese and Pamela, Mr. and Mrs. Reese Bainbridge, I bequeath my remaining properties. These will be instated in full after you return from the honeymoon of your choice. But there must be a honeymoon!

  “So you see, Reese, Tom is now your brother-in-law, and can be considered a family member.”

  Absolute silence engulfed the room. Pam kept her eyes glued to the lawyer, afraid to look in any direction.

  “Dan, could you please read that last part again?” Reese’s voice was dangerously quiet.

  Pam had handed over the marriage license to Dan as soon as they’d returned from Las Vegas. She’d wanted to see if it were really binding and legal, and he’d assured her that it was.

  “Reese,” Dan calmly addressed him, “Fiona was only doing what she thought was best—”

  “Read-the-last-section-again!” Reese ground out between clenched teeth.

  Dan read the section again.

  “You conniving bitch!” he said, standing abruptly and sending a blue glare at Pam. “There’ll be a honeymoon, all right! We fly out of Dallas in the morning at six o’clock. I’m on assignment to finish a project in the Appalachian Mountains. But I’d pack something a little sturdier than those flimsy things you’ve been wearing around here, trying to temp me with. They won’t be too practical climbing around on the mountains!”

  The door slammed loudly as he left the room.

  “Pam, what have you done?” They were back in Tom’s room, and he had turned on her as soon as the door closed.

  “It seems that I have sealed our future!” She tried to make light of the situation, even though her insides were heavy with unknowns.

  “Don’t!” She’d never heard this note in Tom’s voice. “Don’t even try and make light of this horrible thing that you’ve done!”

  “But, Tom—”

  “No! Pam, no.” His voice cracked as tears finally spilled over and rolled down his cheeks. “You’ve sacrificed your own life to give me back mine. That’s a price that’s too high to pay. And there’s nothing I can do to save you from what you’ve done, is the
re? I can’t save you from that jerk! What on God’s green earth were you and Fiona thinking about? What?” He didn’t even try to hide the look of horror on his face.

  “Tom, I’m in love with the jerk,” Pam’s quiet voice reminded her brother as she put her arms around him, trying to comfort him.

  “So this is it? This is the way it has to be?” He sat down in the nearest chair.

  “Yes, I’m afraid it is.”

  “But we can have the marriage annulled! Forget the will! I don’t give a damn if we cause Reese Bainbridge to lose everything. We don’t have to go through with this.” Again he was on his feet, as if he had solved the problem.

  “We’ve consummated the marriage.” Pam couldn’t bear to look into her brother’s eyes as she revealed her latest secret.

  “Oh, Pam. God help us! You’ve sold your soul to the devil!”

  Chapter 10

  “Just put those packs down anywhere,” Reese directed the guide who’d helped carry the backpacks and bundles up the winding trail that seemed to lead them at least a mile up the steep mountain.

  The guide gladly dumped his heavy load on the ground, accepted Reese’s tip, and made his way back down the mountain.

  “Welcome to your honeymoon, Darlin’.” Sarcasm laced his voice as he spoke to Pam for the first time since they’d left Dallas early this morning. She was astonished at the cold fury that seared her as his eyes met hers. Again, the first time he’d even looked her way the entire day.

  “I hope you enjoy the luxurious surroundings. If you need anything, just ring for room service,” he said with a nasty chuckle, and picked up what Pam assumed was his camera equipment and stalked off.

  Pam glared angrily at his departing back, which was basically all she’d seen of him the entire day. They’d left Bainbridge Hall at six a.m. sharp and headed for the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, for what Pam thought would be a commercial flight. But after having to almost run to keep up with his ever-departing back, she was surprised—why she should be surprised was beyond her—to be led to a private Lear Jet with Bainbridge Corporation emblazoned in bold letters across its side. Upon boarding it, Reese had taken the pilot’s seat and proceeded to fly them to the airport at Ashville, NC, where they’d gotten into a Jeep and headed for a small town called Cherokee. There, Reese had made arrangements for the guide who’d helped carry their camping equipment up the mountain, where she stood now, alone, with resentment growing in leaps and bounds, forming a huge caldron of burning bile in the pit of her stomach.

  She sank slowly onto a big rock, glancing first to make sure no snakes or spiders lurked in the shadows. The camping spot Reese had chosen was a clearing that backed up to a sheer rock wall that seemed to go straight up. From all other sides, thick forest surrounded her. Songbirds were beginning to restart their chorus after having been interrupted by the human voices.

  From the steep climb on the way up, she’d thought they had to be close to the top of the mountain, but looking up at the rock wall she knew they weren’t even close to being at the top. This was just a flat outcropping on the side of the mountain.

  Glancing back at the camping equipment, a smile tried to make its way through her tightly clenched lips. Ah, the things Reese Bainbridge didn’t know about her! Like the fact that she probably knew more about camping than he did, having grown up with a father who was a faithful Boy Scout leader and a brother who had won every medal and badge of honor the Scouts had to offer. And that their summers, as a family, were spent traveling and camping in every out-of-the-way spot imaginable. “It’ll teach you survival skills,” her dad had said repeatedly.

  So should she make herself useful and go ahead and set up camp? Or should she just let the self-satisfied Mr. Reese Bainbridge think she was totally miserable, like he intended her to be?

  The smile grew larger as she made her decision. “I think I’ll just play the helpless maiden for awhile,” she said out loud. Her voice and the satisfied laugh that followed again hushed the songbirds to total stillness, allowing the sound of falling water to penetrate her thoughts.

  Water? Water! The last stream she’d seen was far below at the bottom of the mountain. She hadn’t even considered how they were going to bathe or cook. She was about to get up from the rock and try to find the source of water when she heard clumping in the thick undergrowth close to her.

  Jumping up and moving quickly away from the brush thicket, her heart pounding painfully in her chest, she watched as Reese made his way out of the bushes.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am, I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said, turning quickly from her to put his camera equipment on the ground. But he didn’t turn quickly enough to keep Pam from seeing the slight twitch of his lips, as if he were fighting a smile.

  “You did that on purpose, Reese!” she accused, fury rising in her throat.

  “I forgot to tell you that you need to be very careful in these woods. Bears still roam here.”

  Before she could do more than gasp at his words, he continued, “I guess we’d better get these tents set up, it’ll be dark soon. And it will be very dark out here in these woods. No city lights to scare all the monsters away. No big fancy house to keep you warm and happy. No one to fix your meals like you were becoming accustomed to at Bainbridge Hall. Poor Pam, just as she thought she’d landed in the perfect spot, it all falls apart. You been sitting on that rock feeling sorry for yourself ever since I left?” All the time he talked, he’d been busy unpacking the camping equipment.

  Great, Pam thought as she glared at him. All day he doesn’t say a word, and now he won’t shut up!

  She sank back to the rock where she’d been sitting before. So many responses tumbled through her mind that she didn’t know which one to hurl at him first. How dare he! What a jerk he was turning out to be! Even more of a jerk than she’d thought he was.

  “If you don’t mind, make yourself useful,” his voice interrupted her angry mental ranting. “That’s an air mattress,” he said, tossing a bag to her. “Unless you want to sleep on the hard ground, you’d best start blowing that thing up.”

  She carefully took the folded, deflated mattress from the protective plastic bag it was in, hoping to find an air pump inside the bag. There wasn’t one, so she proceeded to blow the mattress up with her mouth. Blowing up the mattress made good use of her pent up anger, and it was at the correct size in no time. She carefully placed the valve into the hole to keep the air from leaking back out before looking up to find Reese watching her. His eyes rested on her lips, which were now red and slightly swollen from blowing on the mattress. Just for a moment there was no anger in his eyes before he turned abruptly and went back to pitching the tents.

  Two tents, Pam noted. A large one, and a smaller one. She supposed the smaller one was for the equipment. For the first time today she considered the sleeping arrangements. Oh, hell! She was going to have to share a tent with him. Oh, hell!

  In what seemed to Pam like a very short time, Reese had both tents pitched. He then sat down on another rock, close to the one Pam had claimed, took out another air mattress and a portable air pump and proceeded to inflate a huge—twice the size of the one he’d given her—air mattress. His mattress was at least a queen size!

  Horrified, she watched him use the air pump. To her amazement, he had the audacity to laugh.

  “All you had to do was ask if we had a pump,” he said when he’d finally gotten his breath from laughing. “But no! You, Pamela Spencer, are not going to stoop to ask for anything, are you? Why, that would be beneath you! But wait—I forgot. You did stoop to ask for something, didn’t you? You asked for Fiona Bainbridge’s estate! You not only asked for it, you got it! But you wouldn’t ask for an air pump.” He shook his head as if he just couldn’t understand it.

  Pam had had enough. She was tired, she was hungry, she was totally frustrated, and she felt very close to tears. How could she ever have thought she loved this person, she asked herself, glowering at him all the wh
ile.

  “Reese,” she chose her words very carefully, keeping her voice calm, “if you’re quite finished, I think I’ll call it a day.” She picked up her mattress and claimed the small tent. Let him sleep with his damned equipment, she thought resentfully, as she threw her mattress inside the tent and followed it in.

  Miserably, she curled up on the mattress in the fetal position, with her back to Reese and any other harsh words he might have wanted to sling at her. She desperately wanted to cry, but sleep claimed her before she’d decided if that was a good thing to do or not.

  Pam came slowly awake. She was aware of several things at once. She was miserably hot, she was in an uncomfortably cramped position, she was hungry, it was very dark, and her bladder was painfully full.

  Great! Now she’d have to go out in the dark and try to find a place to relieve herself. If only she’d taken time to grab her pack before running away from Reese to hide in this tent. It had a flashlight in it. In fact, it had almost anything she could need for a short period of time.

  Suzy had been wonderful last night in helping Pam pack for her camping trip. According to Suzy, she’d been helping Reese pack for his excursions for years. So she not only knew what was needed, she had it in stock.

  There were energy bars and bottled water in that pack, Pam remembered, as her stomach gave a loud growl. But if she didn’t find a place to relieve her bladder, her air mattress was going to become a raft. She reluctantly crawled towards the tent flap to go outside.

  The sight that greeted her took her mind off her needs for a moment. A full moon cast a beautiful, clear light over the camping area, almost as bright as day. But just as Pam was caught up in the beauty, she realized it was going to be that much harder to find a place to do her private thing.