by Christine
“You know, you could get further away from me if you sit in the back of the truck,” Sterling said as they pulled onto the road.
She was pressed against the passenger side door and hadn’t noticed. Moving a little closer, as much as her seatbelt would permit, she swiveled to face him. “Fine, but I don’t ever want to be around that man again.”
“Paige, he was a big part of my life,” Sterling said.
“Which part?” Paige tried to see things his way but couldn’t. “Think about it.”
“You don’t understand.”
“I don’t understand?” Paige faced him. “It’s you, Sterling, who doesn’t get it. That man is not who you think he is. He’s just like Elaine, a bully, and every minute you spend with him makes you a worse person. He was part of the reason your family was almost destroyed. Why can’t you see that?” She folded her arms and stared forward.
Sterling didn’t reply. He was staring forward, too.
In the distance she could see a large cattle hauler and several police cars with their lights flashing in front of the Keller home. Her stomach lurched. Two more days, and they would have been in the clear. How could this have happened?
As Sterling pulled up to the curb in front of the house, Paige leapt out of the vehicle before it had even come to a stop.
Misty was talking to Sterling’s dad. Paige approached them and listened in. “We got the warrant less than an hour ago. Normally, we would have investigated first, but there was a special injunction. It’s out of my hands.”
Austin was at the barn, yelling at the men in navy jumpsuits loading the goats. Josh and Tyler huddled in a corner with the younger boy holding Daffodil in his arms.
At the corner of the yard, Linda was engaged in a heated conversation with a man that Paige assumed must be Darryl. His head was bowed, and his hat was in his clutched hands.
Linda’s volume trumped everyone else’s. “How could you do this to us? To the boys? You’re going to break their hearts all because you can’t let a stupid prank go. It’s not important anymore.”
“I didn’t call the cops, Linda. I swear,” he pled.
Paige didn’t care if he had. It had been unfair of her to force this good family to shoulder the burden of her problems when they had plenty of their own. Linda walked away from her husband who turned his back to Paige, as if in shame.
Linda shook her head. “Paige, I’m so sorry.”
“No, Linda, it’s okay. We knew this could happen. Don’t blame your husband.”
“But he led them here. The police cars were following his truck.” Tears welled at the corner of Linda’s eyes. “The boys were happy again. Now all that’s gone.”
“Maybe not.” Paige peered over her shoulder and saw a man loading King onto the truck. “Wait here.” She sprinted toward him. “Excuse me, sir, but that buck is not part of the herd.”
“I was told to take them all,” he said.
“Could you load the others first while I get this sorted out?” Paige made her voice as sweet as she could muster.
Austin had come up beside her. “Good job, boss. You tell them.”
“The animals don’t look mistreated. Go ahead.” The worker handed King’s lead to Austin and went for another goat.
Paige rushed to Misty’s side and found Sterling already there. Paige addressed the deputy. “Misty, I’m so sorry we didn’t tell you about this dispute, but I need to know if there is a list of the goats to be removed.”
“I think so.” She pointed to another police car where a huddle of uniformed men was talking. “The state troopers have the paperwork and say they’re in the lead on this.”
“Two of the goats are not part of the herd. That white buck and the new kid the boys are holding. Can you make sure they don’t get touched?” Paige asked.
Misty considered the situation before agreeing. “Fair enough. Give me one minute.”
As Misty walked off to talk to the other officers, Sterling turned to Paige. “I’m so sorry about this.”
“I’m sorrier for your nephews.” Paige scanned the spectacle around them. With the lights and crowd, it looked like a circus. A handful neighbors had even come to watch. “Linda thinks Darryl called the cops.”
“That would be like him,” Sterling said.
“Even if he did, it’s his right. We broke the law and should have dealt with this legally from the beginning. Don’t blame him and destroy your family all over again. That’s more important than anything.” Paige stomped away. If she had a family like his, she’d be defending them, not tearing them down.
Chapter Forty
HALFWAY BACK TO THE BARN, Paige heard a siren ripped through the air. The sheriff’s car pulled into the driveway with the blaring announcement of its arrival continuing until Sheriff Newell opened his door.
“What’s going on here?” he said as though he alone was in charge.
He strutted up toward his deputy and ripped the papers from Misty’s hands. After listening to state trooper’s explanations for a moment, he muscled his way toward the livestock truck. “Alright, boys, move ‘em on out. Hustle!”
Sterling was off talking to his father, and Misty positioned herself by Austin and the boys. Paige straightened her shoulders and walked up to the sheriff. “Sir.” She tried to sound respectful, which was a challenge. “There are two goats here that are not on that list. . .”
“You can deal with that at your hearing come Monday morning.” He didn’t even look at her and called to the workers. “Take ‘em all, boys.”
“No.” Paige pointed to the papers and inadvertently touched Coach Newell’s sleeve. “Look at the paperwork. The buck and that little kid are not part of the herd.”
“I could put you in cuffs for assaulting an officer.” He tried to stare her down.
Paige met his gaze. “Really? Could you at least do your job and look at the stupid paper? You don’t even have to read it. All you have to do is count.”
The men hired to remove the goats had finished loading all except for the two in question. Misty stood before Austin and the boys with her feet apart and her hands at ready, glaring at her boss. “Check the stats, Newell. I won’t let you take them unless you can prove they are on the list.”
He flipped around towards her. “You’ll do what I say, deputy.”
“I follow the law, not you, Newell.” Misty said.
Sterling and his dad had drawn closer, Linda and Darryl on either side.
“Coach, it’s okay.” Sterling stepped forward. “We can figure this out.”
“Stand down, boy. This is about obeying your superior officer. Misty, you do what I say, or you’re fired.” The sheriff marched forward and grabbed the lead from Austin’s hand, but Austin wasn’t letting go. After a tug of war where the sheriff was losing, Newell shoved Austin hard with his shoulder. He skidded to the ground. Austin regained his footing and brushed off his pants, ready to tackle the coach, but Paige shouted, “Don’t, Austin. It’s not worth it.”
Austin paced back and forth as Newell victoriously led King toward the truck, but Misty bolted forward. “No.” She yanked the lead from Newell’s hand. “Not this time.”
“Fine. We’ll start with the kid.” He marched up and tried to grab the baby goat from Josh’s arm, but Josh hunkered in the corner with Tyler hovering over him. Newell wrenched Tyler back, so he could get at the younger boy.
Darryl came alive behind them. “Get off my son.” He rushed forward, and Paige looked to Sterling who wasn’t moving. She couldn’t understand why he wasn’t doing anything. Sterling knew Newell better than anyone, and he was just standing there.
Right before Darryl reached the coach, Misty tapped Newell’s shoulder. The sheriff turned around in time to get jabbed on the chin with her fist. He went down to his knees and face-planted into barnyard muck. The state troopers looked stunned. Misty pulled the paperwork from the sheriff’s unconscious fingers and walked forward. “I believe you’ll find everything in order.”
The state troopers left without their sirens on. As the livestock truck pulled away with her herd, Paige didn’t know if she’d see the goats again, but she did know she had a lot to be grateful for. First, she went to Josh and Tyler, still holding Daffodil. If Sterling wouldn’t make this right, she would.
She knelt to face Tyler, whose parents had run to his side. “I’m so proud of you,” she said.
Tyler beamed. “We saved her, didn’t we?”
“You did,” Paige kissed his cheek then stood to talk to his parents. “Linda, I’ll get this whole thing straightened out by the end of the week. Is it possible to have the boys stay and take care of these two until then?”
Darryl stepped forward. “We’ll do it. We want to help however we can.”
“Thank you.” Paige smiled. “Sorry about this whole mess. There should be enough milk for the newborn from the last two milkings.”
While Misty called for an ambulance to haul away the sheriff, Sterling knelt by his coach’s side at the other end of the yard. He stayed with the man until he was loaded up and driven away.
Austin penned King and came over to Misty. “That was awesome. What I’d give for that right hook.”
“Well, it probably cost me my job.” Misty rubbed her knuckles.
“With a boss like him, is that really a bad thing?” Austin smiled. “I bet we could find you another?” He looked to Paige.
“Right now, Austin, I don’t think any of us have a job.” Paige felt defeated, but not alone. The whole family stood around her except the one person she expected to be at her side.
Sterling was still at the end of the driveway. The ambulance had left, but he stood there alone, doing something on his cellphone. He looked like he was texting. She thought he cared more about his own family than that. She thought he cared more about her. Obviously, he didn’t.
Austin smiled. “I’d like to stay here and make certain everything has been properly documented on this end, if that’s okay with you, boss.”
“How will you get back?” Paige asked.
“The bus or rent a car. It’s all good,” Austin said with a broad smile.
Paige wondered what had happened to the stiff young man she had brought here.
“Okay,” she said, suddenly feeling exhausted.
Finally, she hugged Sterling’s dad and thanked him for all he’d done.
Mr. Keller’s voice was low. “If Darryl did this, it’s because he thought it was the right thing to do.”
“I understand,” said Paige. “Please, don’t give it another thought. We never should have brought you into this.”
“But I’m glad you did.” His smile encompassed his whole leathery face. “Paige, you stand up to those scallywags and get your goats back. Whatever it takes.”
“I will, and when I do, would you consider having the milking division centered here? I was hoping Darryl could head it up. Maybe we could even buy back the dairy as we expand,” Paige said. “That’s my plan, anyway.”
Mr. Keller seemed to be focused on what was behind her, and Paige peered over her shoulder. Sterling finally pocketed his phone but wasn’t joining the family. His dad said to her, “Don’t let your hopes for him die just yet. If things are right, it’ll work itself out.”
Paige hoped Sterling’s dad wouldn’t be too disappointed that their continuing relationship would be only business because she had no intention of becoming romantically involved with Sterling Keller ever again. She couldn’t imagine what was going through his mind when he didn’t stand up to Newell, and frankly, she didn’t care. She headed to the kitchen door so she wouldn’t have to look at him. “I’d like to leave for Vancouver as soon as possible,” she said to Sterling as she walked away.
“I understand,” he answered.
The ride home was quiet. Every time Paige started to open her mouth, she knew she’d yell at him for not comforting his nephews, for not supporting Misty, and, most of all, for caring what happened to that stupid sheriff.
Halfway home Sterling cleared his throat. “There’s only one lawyer that I know of who’s ever beaten Elaine. I’ll give you his number when we get back.”
He clenched his jaw and said no more.
“What’s going on, Sterling? Talk to me.”
Sterling kept his eyes on the road. “I can’t yet. Not until I know the facts. I’ll figure this out. Trust me.”
That was the problem. She wouldn’t. Never again.
It was twilight when he dropped her off. She took her suitcase from the trunk, and he carried the crates of soap they had finished. After the last of the crates were brought in, he dropped off a black duffel bag.
Paige picked it up. It was heavy. “This isn’t mine.”
“Yes, it is. Those are your clothes from the Texas trip.”
“Oh.” Paige let the bag drop to the floor.
He went to kiss her goodbye, but she turned away.
“I understand,” he said. “No means no, right?” He stepped out the door and winked her direction. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
She slammed the door behind him. The house was dark, empty, and she was alone.
STERLING DIDN’T EVEN DRIVE HOME. It had taken all his composure not to pull out his cell on the way home and tell Dotty what he thought of her. This was unforgivable. She had promised. The single word text he received right after Coach Newell got sacked, “Incoming,” was too little too late. She hadn’t return his texts or emails since.
He threw the gearshift into park, jumped out of his car and pounded on her front door. Dotty opened it and smiled as if he were an expected guest. She gestured for him to enter. He did, but after two steps, wished he hadn’t.
On Dotty’s pink sofa sat the person he least wanted to see in the entire world. Elaine.
Chapter Forty-One
THE ATTORNEY STERLING REFERRED PAIGE TO made time to see her right away. She entered the offices of Samuel Lewis at ten the next morning.
He was a jolly-looking man with thinning hair and thick lips. Paige liked him right off. “I took the liberty of contacting Erickson Holding and they responded immediately,” he said. “After reviewing the documents, I hate to say it, but I don’t see that you have a leg to stand on. “
“What?” It felt to Paige as if she’d been dealt a physical blow. “The stipulations in the Power of Attorney I signed said I could oversee the move of the goats. When that wasn’t honored, shouldn’t the document have been null and void?”
He held his head at an angle and jiggled it slightly, his double chin echoing the movement. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. They sent me were basically a Bill of Sale for the patent rights to your soap formula and your current herd, and a copy of your bank record showing the receipt of $300,000 in your account.”
“Wait, that money was for medical bills,” Paige said.
“And why would Elaine Erickson be paying for your medical bills?” The lawyer looked thoroughly confused. “She doesn’t have a philanthropic bone in her body.”
“They were for my uncle, and she knew him. He used to work for her. That’s why she was executor of his will.”
“The record shows your uncle died ‘intestate’ or without a will.” He flipped through the pages of his file. “There is no mention of any connection between Elaine and your uncle at all.”
Paige couldn’t believe it. Was anything Elaine told her true? “Then there wasn’t a lawsuit against me from some emu company for the formulas of my soap products?”
His eyes had grown compassionate. “Sorry, she really did a number on you.”
“Then it’s hopeless?” Paige said. “Can’t I countersue, so she can’t do this to anyone else again? So it’s on the public record?”
“Yes, you can, but I’d counsel against it.” He closed the file. “It may do more harm than good since she included a police report where an addendum by the police chief calls you delusional. If you try to fight this, there’s a chance she could have you commit
ted.”
Paige thought about Blanche and the emu farm next door. Of course Elaine had set that up, too. It was unthinkable that someone could be that conniving. How could Sterling endure being around her if he knew all of this?
“Well, thank you for your time.” She got up to go.
“Do you have any of the original documents you signed?”
Paige shook her head and chided herself again. She knew she should’ve kept a copy of any legal document with her signature.
“What about hard evidence? Receipts? Emails? Bruises?” Mr. Lewis seemed to really want to help.
Then Paige remembered what Sterling and Austin said about King. “I had a buck who’d been missing for three months before this all happened. We found him at the facility next door to me when we took the goats. He had obviously been stolen by her.”
“Or he wandered next door. The proximity makes it a hard sell. I’m sure she thought of that. I’ve got to hand it to her. If I hadn’t worked with Elaine before, I’d think you were crazy.”
The rest of what he said washed over her. He promised he’d continue to do what research he could and write an initial letter, but beyond that there wasn’t much he else to do. How could she have believed what Elaine told her? Why hadn’t she asked for proof? Elaine’s promises had seemed so real, just like her feelings for Sterling.
She left the lawyer’s office and went home, but the thought of chewing on her mistakes alone for a day was intolerable. Beside the front door, stacks of apple crates called to her. She still had an empty booth at the farmers’ market. Once the thought hit her, it wouldn’t go away. Packing what she could in her hatchback, she took off.
Paige arrived at her booth a little after ten. The florist’s daughter was working the booth next to hers alone and agreed to watch her product, so Paige could make multiple trips to the car. Right away there was interest in her new packaging and in the bright yellow daffodil soap. Two older women in red floppy hats asked her all about it.