High-Stakes Inheritance

by Susan Sleeman

  Ryan let the worry he’d kept in check in Mia’s presence whoosh out in a large breath. Using a flashlight, he looked at the concrete where she’d hit her head. A large splotch darkened one side.

  Mia’s blood.

  Terror shot into his chest.

  He cared for her. How much he didn’t know, but she’d become important to him again. Without God’s grace, she might have been hurt much worse.

  Ryan had been powerless to help her. This couldn’t happen again. He couldn’t lose her. He had to protect her. This time he wouldn’t let Russ turn down his request.

  “Hey, bro,” he called out to slow Russ on one of his trips into the office. “I need to talk to you about something.”

  Russ stopped. “Make it fast. I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

  Ryan joined him. “Earlier you said you wouldn’t put a man out here to watch Mia, but things have changed. You have to admit with what just happened, she’s in real danger.”

  “She wouldn’t have gotten hurt if the two of you had waited for me to arrive.” Russ tossed an extension cord to his officer.

  Ryan clenched his fists. He opened his mouth to let his brother have it, but Russ continued. “We’ll probably be here most of the night so she should be fine. I’ll check the duty roster tomorrow and see if I can do anything.” Russ looked down as if he didn’t want to see Ryan’s gratitude. “That all?”

  “Yeah, go back to tormenting your rookie.”

  Russ laughed and grabbed a box from the hood of his car.

  Weary, Ryan hopped into his truck and drove the short distance to the lodge.

  Gladys answered the door, flinging it wide. “Good, now you can tell Mia it’s foolish to go out looking for that dog after all she’s been through.”

  “Bandit?” Ryan asked. “Didn’t he come back here?”

  “No…and Mia’s worried to death over the little thing. I’ve got her all cleaned up and she should rest, not go tromping in the woods at night.”

  Ryan pushed past Gladys and looked for Mia so he could reinforce Gladys’s point of view. “Where is she?”

  “In the bedroom putting her boots on.” Gladys clutched his arm. “You will stop her, won’t you?”

  Would he be able to talk some sense into her for once? Not likely. But that wouldn’t stop him from attempting it. “I’ll try, Gladys, but you know how stubborn she can be.”

  “Don’t I ever,” Gladys spit out. “She hasn’t even looked at the DVD I gave her. She thinks it’s a waste of time.”

  Ryan didn’t have the heart to tell Gladys he thought the same thing. “She’s been busy.”

  Gladys crossed her arms. “Well, she has time tonight. I put it in her laptop and loaded the file. Next time she checks her e-mail it’ll be open and waiting. It’s for her own good, you know.”

  “Whose good?” Mia asked as she strolled into the room.

  “Never you mind.” Gladys toddled over to Mia. “Now why don’t you sit down, and I’ll make a cup of tea.”

  Mia shook her head, setting the wet tendrils of her hair slapping her shoulders. “First I’m going to look for Bandit.”

  Gladys jabbed Ryan in the ribs.

  He rubbed the ache from her punch. “It’s not a good idea to go out there. What if the burglar is still hanging around?”

  “Are you kidding? With Russ here…not likely.” She went to the door and pulled a jacket down from a peg mounted on the wall.

  She had a point; the same one Russ made. Ryan really didn’t have a good argument to stop her.

  “Wait, Mia.” Gladys glared at him. “Ryan will go with you.”

  “I’m a big girl, Gladys,” Mia said, her shoulders pulled back. “I can do things without a man.”

  “Give Gladys a break, Mia. She’s just worried about you.” Ryan left off the fact that he was also worried for her safety, and he joined her at the door.

  “Fine, you can tag along, but don’t get in my way.”

  As Mia exited, he turned back to Gladys. “Go ahead and get the water boiling for tea. This shouldn’t take long.”

  At least he hoped it wouldn’t take long because he wanted to get to the bottom of her snarly attitude before she rushed off into the night like this again.

  Shining the flashlight, Mia charged down the stairs and toward a stand of pine trees lining the property. Irritation with Ryan hung on her shoulders like heavy weights.

  What was with men anyway? Why did they have to take charge all the time?

  She reached the edge of the woods and called Bandit’s name. A scurrying sound in the trees caught her attention. She checked it out, but found nothing. These woods were full of small nocturnal animals, and her tromping around had upset their nightly routine.

  Ryan clasped a hand on her shoulder. “After that head injury, you should take things a little slower.”

  She counted to ten so her tone would come out less terse. “I don’t need you to take over my life and protect me. I can take care of myself.” Never mind that she’d not been doing a very good job of it lately.

  His eyes darkened. “When are you going to learn accepting help isn’t a sign of weakness? Even if the help comes from a man.” He said a man as if it were poison he was spitting out.

  Mia marched off. He rustled behind and stopped her by the arm, then gently turned her to face him. “Look, I’m sorry if I sounded so mean. I know your father did a number on you, but not all men are the same. Some of us really want to be helpful with no strings attached.”

  His sincere tone broke through her anger, and she considered his words. Though she hated to admit it, he was right. Through the years, she’d transferred her father’s controlling nature on to every man she’d dated or who’d tried to help her except Uncle Wally. She had to find a way to put her father’s betrayal and oppressive ways to rest, but that didn’t mean she was ready to admit she’d overreacted.

  “So, what’re you waiting for?” she said, ending with a forced laugh to let him know she’d gotten his point without having to discuss it. “Let’s find Bandit.”

  They searched for the next hour to no avail. Her head pounded and the cool damp air settled into her soul. She was growing more irritable by the minute and knew it was time to call it a night before she snapped at Ryan again. She told him as much and like the perfect gentleman he was turning out to be, he walked her home.

  Wanting to end the night on a good note, she rested against the post on the porch to think of how to thank him for his concern without encouraging him to overreact in the future. Maybe she could start with something neutral and ease her way in. “Do you think Bandit will be okay?”

  “He’s a dog. A night outside won’t hurt him.”

  “What if he runs into a bigger and more powerful animal?” Her voice broke at the end as she thought of her little defenseless friend at the mercy of wild animals.

  Ryan climbed the stairs, invading her personal space and coming eye to eye with her. “Why, Mia Blackburn, I think you actually care about something of the male persuasion. Maybe there’s hope for me in the future.”

  Picking up on his light mood, she stabbed her finger in his firm chest. “What? A future? For someone who just told me he never wanted a long-term relationship again, this sounds to me like you’re hoping to start one.”

  He latched on to her finger and pulled her against his chest. His eyes were smoky and irresistible in the shadowed light. “Newsflash, Mia. Women aren’t the only ones who can change their minds. I may have found a reason to reconsider.”

  She opened her mouth to issue a snappy comeback but his lips descended on hers before she could speak. Soft and warm, they melted the cold that had taken hold of her body. She slid her hands over his shoulders and up his neck, past the rough stubble of his jaw. Just as her fingers tickled the ends of his hair, he set her away.

  Breathing deep, he traced his finger down the side of her face then leaned close. “I’ll see you in the morning,” he whispered with his breath tickling her neck.r />
  He jogged down the steps and to his truck. She reached her hand up to touch the spot on her neck and listened to the pebbles ricochet from under his tires.

  Had he just asked to pursue a future with her or was he simply flirting? She shook her head and went inside. Didn’t matter what his intentions were. She wouldn’t get involved with him for the long run.

  Problem was, she’d proven she was barely able to resist his tender charms for a few days. So how would she do so for an entire year?

  SEVENTEEN

  Dressed in her favorite jeans and a soft white T-shirt, Mia was ready for whatever the new day brought. When the sun had shone bright, she’d convinced Gladys she was safe and the overpowering woman went home. Mia was now on the porch calling for Bandit who failed to return.

  Hands cupped around her mouth she called several times. As much as she had claimed she was brave, the chilling events of the last day filled her with enough unease that she’d opted not to go off on her own in search of him.

  At the sound of her ringing phone, she gave up and ran inside. Maybe Ryan was calling with news about Bandit.

  “Hello,” she answered in a breathy voice from the run.

  “Did I catch you at a bad time?” Kurt Loomis asked.

  Disappointed it wasn’t Ryan, Mia slipped on to a bar stool and put her brother’s business partner at ease. “Not at all.”

  “Well, I’m glad I caught you. I just spoke to Russ Morgan about the files he dropped off earlier, and I wanted to give you a heads-up before this news hit the grapevine.” Kurt sounded worried, but Mia was intrigued more than concerned. “You might not believe this, but the folders hold clear evidence of Verna’s embezzlement from Pinetree.”

  Mia shot to her feet. “Verna stole money?”

  “A considerable amount, actually. Not that I had a clue. I spotted a decline in income, but the records showed higher vacancy rates so it seemed normal.” The accountant sighed. “I feel kind of stupid for not seeing it, but as the owner, Wally would’ve been the one to question lower income, not me.”

  Mia tried to wrap her mind around what this meant. If Verna was embezzling, she might be trying to get rid of Mia before she discovered the crime.

  “Did Russ tell you how he was going to proceed?”

  “No, but I’d imagine you’ll need to press charges before anything can happen.”

  Mia fought to keep the excitement out of her tone. “Thank you for letting me know, Kurt.”

  Promising to keep her in the loop as he reviewed additional files, he said goodbye. So Verna was up to something. This certainly explained her odd behavior. Plus she could’ve had access to the bracelet and would definitely know it would hurt Mia. She could’ve locked the barn, too. But kill someone? That was too far-fetched. Of course, the murder could be unrelated.

  A knock sounded on the door.

  Mia crossed the room and peeked out the window. Ryan.

  She jerked the door open. “Have I got news for you.” She told him about Kurt’s call with her words tumbling out like a rushing river. “Where do you think Verna is? Do you think Russ will arrest her? Should we go down to the office and see?”

  Ryan clamped his hands on her arms and stilled her anxious fidgeting. “Slow down. Let me think.”

  She didn’t want to wait. She wanted Verna in jail and paying for her crimes. “Verna could be getting away.”

  “That’s a little rash. She doesn’t even know Kurt looked at the files.” Ryan stroked her arms as if he thought it would appease her, but nothing would stop her now.

  “She may not know Kurt looked at them, but she will know they’re missing after the break-in. Wait! Why would she have someone break into the office to steal the files?”

  He shrugged. “To get rid of the evidence, I guess.”

  “But she could just take the files. Or shred them. Like she was doing last night before the break-in.” Mia clutched Ryan’s shirt. “Oh, my gosh! She was destroying evidence right in front of me, and I didn’t know it. We have to get down there before she shreds any more.”

  Mia grabbed her jacket from the peg and rushed out the door without waiting to see if Ryan followed. She headed straight for the John Deere, revved the engine and then turned to see if he was coming.

  Face expressing his exasperation, he jogged across the space. “I’m surprised you waited.”

  “Sorry.” She shifted into gear and aimed the vehicle down the driveway. “I’m so happy we’ve figured this out that I can’t wait to get it resolved.”

  “I’m happy, too, but I think we should talk to Russ first.”

  Ryan was right, but she’d felt helpless for days. She had to do something—now.

  “Did you hear that?” Ryan asked.

  “What?”

  “A dog barking. Did Bandit ever come home?”

  She shook her head and slowed the vehicle to listen. An excited yipping echoed from the north end of the barn.

  “Sounds like Bandit. I hope he’s okay.”

  “Shut this thing down, and we’ll check.” Ryan’s voice rang with relief.

  She didn’t know if he was glad they’d located Bandit, or glad her energy had moved in a different direction. Either way she turned the key and followed him across the lawn and into the soggy muck. They climbed under the restrung crime-scene tape and found Bandit very near the spot where they’d found the body.

  Bandit scraped the cone through ashes as he rutted around like a pig. Memories of the gruesome discovery assaulted her brain. No way she wanted to go closer.

  “Come here, boy,” she called. “You’ll get your stitches dirty.”

  He looked up at her as if he understood then whined and scrounged in the same spot, upping his motions to frantic.

  “He’s being stubborn,” Ryan said.

  “Looks more like he’s found something and doesn’t want to leave it alone.” Mia carefully picked her way through the mess.

  “I’ll get him.” Ryan pushed past her, plopping his booted feet into the muck and splattering gunk all about.

  As Ryan lifted Bandit from the debris and held the dirty little fella away from his chest, she searched his body for injury. He aimed his tongue at Ryan, but with the cone still circling his neck, the cause was hopeless.

  She turned to the spot where Bandit had cleared the rubbish. The tip of a small brown object poked from the ruins.

  “That looks like a wallet.” Mia retrieved the item and held it up to Ryan.

  “A man’s wallet. I bet this belongs to the man we found out here.” Ryan locked eyes with her. “Let’s get out of this mess and see if it holds any ID.”

  They retreated to an area of lush lawn free from standing water. She ignored Bandit’s frantic squirming, flipped open the wallet and pulled out the driver’s license.

  Holding the wallet away from her, she gaped at the picture. Her legs turned rubbery, and she dropped to her knees sinking into the thick grass.

  How could this be? Another person she loved dead. This one murdered and thrown out like trash.

  She sucked in gulps of air as panic ricocheted through her.

  “What is it?” Ryan sat next to her.

  Bandit wiggled free and yipped at the wallet.

  “I know this man.” She handed the driver’s license to Ryan then rested her chin on her knees.

  “Franklin Springer from Dunwoody, Georgia.” Ryan looked at Mia. “Did you know him well?”

  “We called him Fuzzy. He was Wally’s good friend. Kinda like my uncle. In fact, I sat with him at Uncle Wally’s funeral.” Her voice gave out and tears began to roll down her cheeks. Her head felt heavy, filled with so much pain it might explode.

  “I’m so sorry.” Ryan wrapped an arm around her shoulder and held her.

  She worked hard to control her emotions. She pulled back and peered at him. He wiped her tears with a gentle finger.

  He was being so kind. So nice. He’d proven himself trustworthy. She could get used to turning to him when life
kicked her around like this.

  But then what? He’d die or betray her again just like everyone else she loved. No way she’d open herself up for that kind of hurt.

  She shrugged off his arm and stood. “I don’t know why I’m surprised to learn Fuzzy died. This is the kind of thing I’ve come to expect in my life. Everyone I care about either dies or turns on me.”

  Ryan pushed to his feet, his eyes contrite. “I’m in no position to say anything about betrayal except to remind you my actions weren’t what they seemed at the time.”

  “I know that now. That means God will have to take you away from me in another way.”

  “Is that what you really think? That God is causing all of these things to happen to make your life miserable?”

  “Don’t you?” She let her gaze fall away from his confused eyes. “Right…I forgot. You used to share this opinion with me but that’s changed.”

  “Back then I really didn’t know God. Now that I have a relationship with Him, I know He doesn’t cause bad things to happen.”

  “Really? Then why do they happen?” She let sarcasm shoot through her words as she watched Ryan’s face, waiting for him to convince her that God was not her enemy.

  “This is a tough thing to understand. Even those who have a much deeper walk with God than me struggle with it. But here’s how I see it.” He came closer and clasped her hands in his. “God doesn’t cause bad things to happen, but He allows them to happen for a variety of reasons. For me, it’s usually to get my attention and draw me closer to Him.”

  She pulled her hands free. “That’s pretty lame, if you ask me. I did bad things in high school to get my father’s attention and that was wrong. So why can God do the same thing and believers think it’s a good thing?”

  “It’s different, Mia. God has a perfect understanding of what’s good for us so He knows what to allow. We, on the other hand, don’t have a clue what’s in our best interest, just what our feelings tell us we want.” He paused as if waiting for her to stop him, but she was actually interested in hearing a logical explanation. “I’m listening.”