A Worthy Heir

by Pat Ballard

  Dream on, girl, the little voice inside said, bringing her abruptly out of her reverie. Just for a moment she’d forgotten she could never live in this house with Reese like a real husband and wife. She’d forgotten that she had to set him free. That she had, along with Fiona, cheated him out of the freedom he cherished so much. That she had trapped him into a life he didn’t want, just like his ancestors had been entrapped and forced to live a life they didn’t want.

  All of a sudden it became of utmost importance to Pam that she leave this place. She must get away before she became more attached to it than she already was. She’d never felt the love for Bainbridge Hall that she did for this place. She never dreamed of, or wanted to live at Bainbridge Hall, so it would never have been a problem to walk away.

  But after being with Reese for the past few weeks, after growing to love him in every way possible, and now already feeling an attachment to this house and land, she knew she had to go, or she would never be able to go on her own.

  But how? How would she be able to get away without interfering with Reese’s writing? She didn’t want to slow him down any and cause him to miss his deadline.

  Maybe Sharon could take her down to Cherokee and she could find a way to the airport. As much as she hated the thought of asking Sharon to do anything for her, that seemed to be the only way. She was sure Sharon would be happy to get rid of her.

  She’d ask her right now. Maybe Sharon could even take her this afternoon. Urgency drove Pam to take her cup to the sink and rinse it out before heading up the stairs to find Sharon. Urgency made her determined to get out of this house before night. She couldn’t spend the night with Reese and wake up in the morning here. If she did, she knew she’d never want to leave.

  Hurrying up the stairs, Pam went in search of the room where Sharon worked at a computer. She was about to walk past Reese’s room when words stopped her in her tracks.

  “I’m telling you, Reese, she thinks she’s going to live here. She says she loves this place.” Sharon’s voice almost convinced Pam that she really was concerned for Reese’s welfare.

  “Sharon, this isn’t something you need to worry about. I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself and my house.”

  “But Reese—” now desperation tinged her whining voice—“I’m just concerned for you. You said that no woman would ever live in this house with you, but you just don’t know how determined she is. She tricked you into marrying her so she could get your company and Bainbridge Hall. Now that she knows about this place, she wants it, too.”

  “Damn it, Sharon! You stress too much over things that don’t concern you. I’ve made arrangements that will protect this house from anyone! From you, and from Pam. Nobody gets this house and land unless I change those arrangements. Pam may be able to get Bainbridge Hall, but she’ll never be able to touch this house. So you need to just go back to work and finish typing what I’ve written!”

  As they turned toward the door, they spotted Pam leaning against the doorframe listening to their conversation. Both stopped, their mouths open. Then a wicked, delighted smile spread over Sharon’s face.

  “Pam—” Reese came toward her with his hands outstretched.

  Pam held her hands up to stop him. “Reese, you refuse to believe that I don’t want your homes, your money, or anything that you have. You refuse to believe that all I’ve ever wanted was to get Tom’s health back. You won’t accept the fact that I was just as much a pawn in Fiona’s hands as you were. She used me, Reese, to get to you. She—”

  “HELLO? Anyone up there?” The voice came from the bottom of the stairs, interrupting Pam’s outburst.

  “John Littlefoot, is that you?” Reese called, brushing past Pam and heading for the stairs.

  “That’ll teach you to cross me,” Sharon’s waspish whisper grated as she, too, left the room.

  Pam stood for a moment listening to the two men’s booming voices coming from downstairs. What was she going to do? How was she going to get away from here? Because now she knew she had to get away.

  “Sure, I’ll take them to Cherokee for you, Cuz. You know I don’t mind doing that.” John’s voice rang up the stairs loud and clear, giving Pam the answer she’d been desperately searching for.

  Running to the room where Reese had put her personal belongings, Pam grabbed her wallet and a few other things that she’d need to travel with, but no bag or clothes. She stuck the items under her shirt, hoping she could hold onto them and get past Reese without him noticing. Neither man looked up as she quietly went down the stairs and out the front door.

  She went to the side of John Littlefoot’s 4-door Crew Cab pickup truck, which was faced away from the house. She desperately hoped she wouldn’t be seen by anyone looking out the door or window. Testing the back door, she was relieved when it opened to her touch. She crawled into the back seat and hunkered down and waited. Thankfully, the windows were slightly tinted, so it would be hard for anyone to spot her unless they were really looking. Now if Reese just wouldn’t follow John out to the truck, all would be fine.

  After what seemed a long, uncomfortable time, she heard voices as the two men came out the front door.

  Stay away, she willed Reese. And to her great relief she heard him saying goodbye and that he would see John later.

  John got into the truck without even looking in the back seat, started the truck and pulled out onto the road.

  Pam wanted to get one last look at the house, but didn’t dare raise up enough to look back at her quickly departing happiness. A lump the size of her fist settled into her midsection as she felt the truck smooth out onto the highway. Before she remembered to stop it, a groan slipped from her throat.

  “What the hell?” John slammed on the brakes and guided the truck to a screeching halt beside the highway.

  Chapter 15

  Pam watched Dallas fading into the distance through her rearview mirror. She couldn’t believe all that had happened in the two weeks since she’d left Reese’s mountain.

  It had taken all of her persuasive abilities to convince John Littlefoot to take her into Cherokee with him. His first determination was to take her back to Reese, but Pam finally made him realize that it was best for Reese’s work if she left. So John had wound up taking her on to the airport in Ashville.

  Her first stop had been to visit Tom and let him know she was okay and what she planned to do. He went with her to see Dan Smythe to make sure there were no clauses in the will that would keep her from divorcing Reese. Dan assured them that Tom’s inheritance of Bainbridge Corporation was in place and would stay that way even if Reese and Pam divorced.

  “She really thought if you two spent a honeymoon together, you’d realize you loved each other,” he said to Pam. “She only wanted the best for Reese, you know. And she thought you were the best.”

  But, in the end, he agreed to start the divorce proceedings. Pam assured him she wanted nothing from Reese Bainbridge or the Bainbridge estate. She just wanted out. She just wanted to give Reese the thing that she had taken away from him—his freedom.

  Then she had written Reese a long letter, telling him she had filed for divorce and that now maybe he and Sharon could be together like Sharon said they wanted to be.

  Pam smiled slightly, remembering throwing that little zinger into the letter. She was pretty much convinced Reese didn’t care for Sharon, but he needed to know Sharon had made that claim. It was also Pam’s way of getting the last word in on Sharon, through Reese. But, she thought with a mental shrug, maybe Reese did want to marry Sharon. Good luck to both of them, she thought miserably.

  So here she was heading into the west Texas sun, going nowhere. She’d let Tom talk her into taking his newly acquired Cadillac Escalade SUV and going on a driving trip for at least a year, or until she felt like she could come home and start life over.

  “It’s the least I can do, Pam,” Tom insisted. “After all, you’ve pretty much screwed up your entire life for me, so at least take the Escalade
and I’ll give you a monthly allowance until you decide what you want to do.”

  She’d argued a little, but finally gave in. After all, she didn’t want to be in Dallas if Reese decided to come and look for her. She didn’t want to see him again until the divorce was final. In fact, it’d be better for her if she never saw him again. Just let the pain she felt from loving him and losing him wear itself down to a dull ache so she’d be able to live with it.

  She’d made arrangements with Sam Winger to take a year’s leave of absence from her job. Sam hadn’t wanted her to be gone that long, but finally told her to get her life together and hurry back.

  She was trying to make herself believe she’d enjoy an entire year of just driving and seeing the country. She planned to visit the few states her parents hadn’t managed to take her and Tom to when they were kids.

  Lightning ripped through a distant thunderhead, reminding Pam of the storm that she and Reese had endured in the tent, and of their tender lovemaking after the storm was over. A heartrending moan tore its way from her throat. Overcome with emotion, she pulled to the emergency lane of the interstate and put her head on her hands as they rested on the steering wheel.

  “Oh, God, how am I ever going to get through this?” she cried.

  Dumbfounded, Reese read the letter from Dan again. Divorce? Pam had filed for divorce? Then, picking up Pam’s letter, fury blurred his eyes as he reread, “I’m sorry I played along with Fiona and tricked you into marrying me. But now you’ll have your freedom back. Freedom to marry Sharon, like she said you wanted to do. She said you two had always loved each other and that you’d be married now, if not for me.”

  “SHARON!” Reese bellowed.

  Sharon bolted into his office. “Yes?”

  “You’re fired!”

  “Whaaat?” Disbelief clouded her well-made up face. “But, Reese, why?” She reverted to the little-girl voice he detested.

  “Bainbridge Corporation no longer needs your services. You were mainly employed for Fiona’s sake, and now that she’s gone and I’ve finished my manuscript, you’re just not needed anymore.” He couldn’t stand to even look at her while he talked. Because of her, he was losing Pam. Rage burned in his chest.

  “Pack your bags. We’re leaving for Dallas today.”

  “But Reese—”

  “Just do it!” Reese yelled, flinging the letter on his desk and brushing past her.

  As he left the room, Sharon carefully picked up the letter and read it. Reading the last words of the letter, she knew Pam had used her own words to destroy any chances she had of ever winning Reese. Dejectedly, she put the letter back on the desk and went to her room to pack.

  For Pam, day four of her journey to nowhere started like the others. She started the Escalade and drove. She passed many tourist attractions, historical markers, and little out-of-the-way places that she knew under any other circumstances she would have loved to visit. But not in her present state of mind. All she could think about at this point was Reese.

  She spent mile after endless mile just remembering their time together. She’d never dreamed she could love anyone as much as she loved Reese Bainbridge. In spite of his disagreeable moods, in spite of the things he accused her of, in spite of him believing only the worst of her, she still loved him. She loved the soft spot that she saw in him occasionally. She loved the tenderness he showed when they made love. Anyone who could be that tender and giving during lovemaking had to have a good heart, in spite of the outward façade he showed to the world.

  And how could he make love to her like he had if he didn’t care for her just a little? How—

  How long had that State Patrol car been following her with its lights flashing? She pulled to the emergency lane and stopped. She let her window down and waited. What had she done wrong? Mentally, she went over any road rules she could have broken, and couldn’t come up with anything.

  “Ma’am, step out of the car, please,” the state trooper directed.

  Step out of the car? She was expecting him to ask for her driver’s license, which she had already taken out of her purse and had in her hand.

  “Ma’am! Step out of the car!”

  Beginning to feel the slow rise of anger, Pam slowly got out of the Escalade.

  “You have the right to remain silent—”

  “WHAT? Right to remain silent? Are you arresting me for something?” Pam’s indignant voice had risen, and now the other trooper, who had been standing beside the patrol car, made his way toward them.

  “As a matter of fact, we are,” the first trooper responded. “You’re under arrest for auto theft. This car is reported stolen. You have the right—”

  “Hold it one damn minute! This is my brother’s vehicle. He loaned it to me for as long as I need it. You can call him and check for yourself!”

  “Well, we’ll do that when we get back to the station, but right now, if you’ll stop interrupting me, I have to read you your rights. You have the right to remain silent—”

  Pam sat silently in the back seat of the patrol car and fumed. What was going on? The big goon driving the car kept glancing in the rearview mirror at her as if he expected her to pull a gun and shoot him. She found it odd that they hadn’t patted her down in search of a weapon. He’d told her his name was Jim as he helped her into the back seat. Like she gave a rat’s ass what his name was. She just wanted to know what was going on.

  The other trooper was following them in Tom’s Escalade. This was just great! Tom was not going to believe she’d been arrested for stealing his SUV.

  Soon they pulled into a police station in a small west Texas town. Once inside, Pam was led directly to a jail cell. “Don’t I get a call?” she asked as the doors clanged shut in her face.

  “You’ll get your call soon enough,” Jim answered, and walked away humming “The Yellow Rose of Texas.”

  Even more dazed than she was before, Pam sat numbly on the cot in the tiny jail cell and stared into space. She felt herself start to tremble with anger. Here she was, locked up in a jail in a small town in west Texas, where she knew no one, and she hadn’t even been allowed to make a phone call. Was this possible? She could stay here for a very long time and no one would know where she was. She had called Tom every night, but they had both agreed that if she got busy with something, she might not call him. How many nights could pass before Tom got worried about her?

  Feeling panic rising inside her, Pam leapt from the cot and grabbed the bars.

  “HEY! SOMEBODY! I NEED SOME ANSWERS! I NEED TO MAKE A PHONE CALL! I DO HAVE A LAWYER, YOU KNOW!”

  Nothing. Not a single sound from anywhere in the building. Had they locked her up and left? What if the building caught on fire? What if—

  Okay, Pam, get a grip! Dully, she went back to the cot and sat down. She had to think of something, and if she panicked, she wouldn’t be able to think at all. Making a concerted effort, she started to calm down.

  “Okay, you can make your phone call now.” Jim’s voice brought Pam roughly awake. Had she actually lain down on that dinky little cot and gone to sleep? And for how long?

  “What time is it?” she asked, glancing at her wristwatch. “Eight o’clock! How on earth did I sleep for that long?” she squeaked.

  “I don’t know, but the boys are sure glad you did. All that yelling was about to get on their nerves,” Jim said, leading her to the front of the building. Was he trying to joke with her? He’d think “joke” when she finished slapping a lawsuit on him for wrongful arrest. She’d make him sorry—

  “Okay, boys, here she is. I don’t think she’s suffered too much.”

  Pam stopped in her tracks. There in front of her stood Reese and Tom, with huge grins on their faces.

  “Hey, little sis,” Tom spoke first. “I hear you’ve been on a tear with the guys, here.” He pulled her close in a big bear hug.

  But even though Tom’s arms felt better than almost anywhere else she could imagine being right now, Pam pulled away and sc
owled at him first, then Reese, who watched her intently with those amazing blue eyes.

  “What’s going on? Will someone please tell me what’s going on?” Pam pleaded, still too weak from relief to allow her full ire to kick in.

  “Well, it’s like this,” Tom started. “Reese came back to Dallas yesterday and found out you’d departed for parts unknown, and he kind of went berserk. He called his friend Jim Blalock, here, and told him to find you and arrest you for stealing my SUV. Then he and I jumped on the next flight out of Dallas and came after you. But I believe Reese needs to take the story from here. I might not get it right.”

  Pam slid her eyes to Reese. How she would love to go into his arms and tell him how much she loved him. The desire was so strong that she must have leaned in his direction, because before she knew what was happening, she was in his arms, his lips crashing down on hers, right there in front of everyone!

  As breathtaking as it was, the kiss didn’t last long. Reese stepped back from her, but kept his hands on her waist. “There are so many things I want to say to you, Pam, but not here with this hairy-legged audience. But I will ask you this, while I have witnesses. Will you marry me? I mean, again? This time I want to be sober and not stoned out of my head. I want to know that we’re getting married for real.” This brought a roar of laughter from the troopers standing around.

  With tears flowing down her face, almost unable to believe that Reese Bainbridge had just proposed to her, Pam answered, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”

  Again Reese pulled her to him and lowered his lips to hers, as the men standing around them cheered.

  Everyone, that is, except Tom, who was too busy wiping the tears from his eyes.