Ladd Fortune

by Dianne Venetta

  Delaney clamped a hand to Nick’s arm. “He knows.” Her voice was a barely controlled panic as she hooked her gaze into her man. “He must have talked to Clem.”

  “Clem Sweeney?” Lacy asked, then glanced about. “What’s he got to do with all this?”

  Nick covered the hand on his arm and drew Delaney close. “We don’t know that for sure. There could be a dozen reasons why he was there.” He looked to Malcolm. “What do you think?” he asked, though both men knew better.

  Jeremiah Ladd in the forest near the site of the gold? Not a coincidence. “He was with another man and the two seemed in quite a hurry.”

  “I’ve never seen the man before in my life,” Lacy added eagerly. “He’s nobody we know.”

  Ever the helpful one, Malcolm mused, noting Delaney’s displeasure wrapping itself around Lacy like a python. But if Lacy’s lack of familiarity helped narrow down the man’s identity, then so be it. Let her chime in all she wanted.

  “What did he look like?” Nick asked.

  “Thin, scraggly,” Malcolm began. “Definitely a local type, but one who looked pretty hard up.”

  “Was he wearing a hat, special clothes?” Nick probed.

  “He had a ratty black hat, maybe a band of metal around the crown.” Malcolm looked to his trusted eye-witness for assistance, but when Lacy remained quiet, he said, “I can’t be sure. Like I said, they were in a pretty big hurry.”

  Nick and Delaney shared a knowing glance. “Willie,” she said to Nick, then to Malcolm, “Did they see you?”

  “I don’t think so,” Lacy replied. “We were sitting by Zack’s Falls, on the far side by the old rope swing tree. Remember it, Delaney?”

  Malcolm sought Delaney’s response but none was forthcoming. If she did remember, she didn’t concede the fact. “I’m willing to bet they would have said something if they had.”

  “I agree.” Nick turned to Delaney, still clinging to his arm. “Jeremiah must have talked to Clem. There’s no other way he could have known.”

  “He’s going to steal it!” Delaney cried.

  “Delaney.” Nick took her gently by the arms. “At this point there’s nothing he can do.”

  Anger slinked into her brown eyes. “Other than rob us blind.”

  Malcolm remained mum. It wasn’t his place to reveal the presence of gold on Ladd Springs. Delaney wanted to remain pretty tight-lipped about the subject and with good reason. Word would spread like wildfire, most folks heading in for a look-see themselves, probably leaving with a souvenir or two, for their time.

  “It’s not like we can stand guard, shooting any looters on sight—” Delaney stopped as if a thought just occurred to her. “Or can we?” She looked to Malcolm, then back to Nick. “Maybe that’s exactly what we should be doing. We should stand guard and make sure Jeremiah doesn’t get anywhere near it, shooting him on sight if he tries.”

  “Near what?” Lacy asked.

  Delaney, claws exposed and ready to pounce, honed in on Lacy. “Nothing.”

  Lacy looked to Malcolm. It was clear she didn’t believe Delaney. “Nothing?”

  “Nothing your ex-lover should be anywhere near,” Delaney jabbed at her.

  “Delaney, please,” Nick said calmly and pulled her back. “Lacy has been helpful so far. She’s not conspiring with Jeremiah.”

  “I have nothing to do with Jeremiah, I told you. I’m here to visit family.”

  Lacy was so earnest, so genuine, but Malcolm could see Delaney was losing control. The stress was unraveling her before their eyes, and if he and Lacy stayed much longer, all hell could break loose and tie these two in one mess of a fight. Malcolm ushered Lacy toward the door and, with a hand to the knob, stated, “The point remains. If Jeremiah knows, he’s not going to let it go without a fight. We need to keep our defenses up.”

  Surprising Lacy, the four of them left the cabin together, Nick and Delaney deciding they had to search the woods this instant, while Lacy and Malcolm chose to finish their picnic. Too bad it was interrupted in the first place, Lacy thought, although she had no idea why. What was Delaney so worried about Jeremiah stealing? Was it in the woods? Were they hiding something?

  Following Malcolm step for step down the steep trail, Lacy couldn’t shake her curiosity. Her brain kept peeling back the layers like a sweet Vidalia onion knowing there had to be a reason Delaney was wound up tighter than a fur ball. It was so unlike her, it had to be something big.

  One after another they filed down the narrow wooded path. Hitting the small clearing, they crossed the bridge. Lacy worried the deteriorating structure would collapse beneath their weight, dumping them into the cold creek water rushing below. Several boards had been replaced, but in her opinion the whole bridge should be redone. It plumb wasn’t safe!

  “Looks like we’ve got company,” Malcolm said, slowing.

  Lacy’s pulse quickened as she caught sight of Jeremiah, his bright orange shirt more like a hunter’s vest than fashion statement and a stark contrast to the dilapidated old cabin. Standing on Ernie’s front porch, Jeremiah was banging on the front door something fierce. Lacy feared he might break it. Next, he grabbed the door handle.

  “If he thinks he’s going to alert Ernie to his little discovery, he’s in for a surprise,” Nick commented.

  “What discovery?” Lacy asked. And why wouldn’t they tell her? Nick and Delaney were acting more secretive than the FBI.

  Malcolm and Nick traded looks. Divulging nothing they kicked into action and headed for Jeremiah. Delaney was right behind them.

  “What’s going on?” Lacy wailed under her breath, trailing close at their heel. This was ridiculous and so unfair! After all, she was on their side.

  As they neared Ernie’s cabin, Jeremiah spotted them and stilled. The look on his face was pure evil, even from this distance, and the quickest way to ruin his otherwise handsome face, Lacy. Jogging down the front steps, he waited for them.

  “Trying to break in?” Malcolm asked, leading the pack.

  “As if anyone would try and steal something from this rat hole,” Jeremiah pitched back. Although he acknowledged Lacy, he was more interested in Delaney. Circling around her in a conceited swagger, Jeremiah held her in his gaze. “You thought you could get away with it, didn’t you?”

  Delaney remained mute, Nick and Malcolm standing guard to either side of her.

  A wicked glimmer lit up Jeremiah’s expression. “Does the old man know?”

  “It’s none of your business, Jeremiah. You don’t own Ladd Springs, Felicity does—or will—and I’d advise you to keep off private property. I catch you trespassing again, I’ll call the police.”

  He laughed. “Oh, Delaney, you floor me, you really do. You always were good at bluffing.” Jeremiah set hands to his hips and said, “Remind me to invite you to Vegas on my next trip. I could use you by my side at the poker table.”

  “I wouldn’t set foot in a casino with you.”

  He paused, staring at her with an odd look. It occurred to Lacy that Jeremiah still cared for Delaney—though he had a funny way of showing it. “The scowl on that pretty face of yours would prove distracting enough for my fellow players but it might distract me, too. Better we leave you home.” Jeremiah glanced between the Malcolm and Nick. “So tell me, do your boys here know what you’re hiding in the woods?”

  “I’m not hiding anything,” she replied, but Lacy noted a tinge of color rise in Delaney’s cheeks. “And even if I was, it’d be no business of yours.”

  Jeremiah snickered. “So aggressive, Delaney. And here I’m the one who should be pissed off, what with you stealing my inheritance right from under my nose.” He iced the men with a look of sheer contempt. “I hope she’s paying you well for your trouble.”

  Nick stepped forward and growled, “I oughta cram that smirk straight down your throat.”

  Jeremiah’s face twisted with pleasure. “Go ahead and try.”

  “Don’t do it, Nick,” Malcolm said, grabbing his arm.


  Malcolm stood between Jeremiah and Nick and Lacy reveled in his courage. What Malcolm and Nick didn’t realize was that Jeremiah had a black belt in karate. Add those ostrich boots of his and he could really hurt them if he wanted to. Yet look at them, brave as soldiers. Lucky for Delaney. She was thin as a twig and Jeremiah could break her in two, if he had a mind to do so.

  A flash of sunlight glinted off the windshield of an incoming truck, its tires pummeling the gravel as it sped in. Lacy looked to see who the driver was, wondering why they were in such a hurry, but a puff of dust obscured her view as the red vehicle turned and stopped. Then Ernie Ladd jumped out and she gasped. My God, he was thin. He’d never been a big man, but he was half of what she remembered!

  “Well, if it isn’t the man of the hour,” Jeremiah said, turning only slightly, maintaining a wary eye on Nick and Malcolm. Jeremiah had always been clever when it came to his adversaries. Lacy had seen him fight for less than a blink back in Atlanta, but never did she know him to be sucker-punched. He was too smart. Deviously so.

  All eyes were on Ernie as he hobbled over on his cane, though at a pretty good clip, with legs that weren’t much bigger than his cane. Ernie didn’t have a spec of fat on his body, and instead reminded Lacy of a walking skeleton. His black boots were like cement blocks around his feet, his black belt cinched so tightly at his waist it was a wonder he could breathe. Even his ears stuck out from beneath his ball cap, like they were glued to a skull, one where they didn’t belong. “Ernie looks so thin. Is he okay?” Lacy asked Delaney.

  “Ernie is sick, Lacy,” Jeremiah said, flicking a spiteful glance toward Delaney. “Or didn’t you know?”

  “Sick? Oh, heavens!” Lacy looked to Delaney for explanation. “Is he going to be all right?”

  Jeremiah shook his head. “Afraid not. It’s terminal.”

  He spoke gravely, yet Lacy didn’t detect an ounce of sadness in his voice—only mockery—which angered her. She stole a peek at Ernie. Bless his heart, but he didn’t look well at all.

  Pushing the black-rimmed glasses up his nose, Ernie grimaced at Jeremiah. “What are you doing back here? Didn’t I warn you off this property once already?”

  “I came to tell you that your precious niece has been stealing from you.”

  Ernie didn’t say a word, only continued to stare, like Jeremiah was some kind of dangerous varmint that might attack at any moment.

  “Did you know you have gold on this property?”

  Lacy’s ears perked at the information. Gold? She flashed a glance to Delaney. The woman looked like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She checked with Malcolm. There was gold on the property? For real?

  Malcolm nodded, but kept a wary eye on Jeremiah.

  Oh my, Lacy thought. Didn’t things just grow worlds more interesting? And folks in Atlanta thought small towns were slow and sleepy. If only they had a clue!

  “I don’t care nothin’ about no gold,” Ernie said, then jabbed a crooked finger in Jeremiah’s face. “I want you gone. You hear me, boy? Gone. Right now.”

  Delaney came to life. “You heard the man. It’s time for you to go.”

  “You’re telling me you don’t care that Delaney and her kid Felicity are stealing from you? Taking you for what could be hundreds of thousands of dollars?”

  Ernie got in Jeremiah’s face and snarled, “Don’t you ever speak that child’s name again, you hear me?”

  Lacy pressed a hand to her mouth. Ernie’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head and clear through his glasses! Was the gold worth that much?

  Jeremiah’s posture stiffened. “Nobody tells me what to do, especially not you.” He whipped a glance around the group and said, “You’re a fool, you let them run off with this property. But not me. I’m entitled to what’s mine and I aim to get it. And I’ll take it from Delaney any way I can. Or her stupid daughter.”

  Ernie shoved Jeremiah and Lacy’s heart caught. Jeremiah raised his hand, but Malcolm and Nick were between them in seconds—Malcolm taking Jeremiah, Nick taking Ernie. Lacy watched in horror as Ernie tried to fight his way free from Nick’s grasp, shouting at Jeremiah.

  “Ernie, stop it!” Delaney hollered. “Don’t let him get to you!”

  Lacy couldn’t move, couldn’t think. Jeremiah would hit his father? His sick father? Really? She closed her eyes. It was too horrible a thought.

  “Get your hands off me,” Jeremiah yelled at Malcolm.

  Lacy opened back up to see Jeremiah break free from Malcolm. That’s when she saw Albert Ladd. Ambling toward the house, his body larger than she remembered his pear-shaped figure to be, Albert looked like he was trying to mind his own business, passing by the scuffle like he was invisible, his eyes riveted to the scene nonetheless.

  “You need to go,” Malcolm commanded Jeremiah.

  Jeremiah spit on the ground, then yanked the orange paisley shirt away from his body. “You are insane if you think I’m going to walk off and let Delaney have this property without a fight—a fight I intend to win.” Lacy swore Jeremiah was about to spit on Malcolm, but he didn’t. “It ain’t gonna happen, cowboy. This here land is mine and I’m going to get it, one way or another.”

  Standing several feet from Ernie, Nick said, “This property goes to Felicity. It’s a done deal.”

  “There’s no such thing as a done deal where I come from.” Jeremiah glowered at the group of them, with a brief glance to the passing Albert Ladd. “Never heard of challenging a deed?”

  Lacy bet they had. Malcolm and Nick were smart. But Jeremiah was conniving. She frowned. Did they understand what they were dealing with when it came to Jeremiah?

  “Whatever I have to do, I’ll do it.” Jeremiah pointed at Delaney. “Watch your back, sweetheart. You’ve messed with the wrong man.”

  “I’ll kill you, you come back here again,” Ernie declared.

  Delaney flinched. “Ernie!”

  He smacked her with an angry glare and repeated, “I’ll kill him, I tell you. I’d kill him with my bare hands if I had to.”

  Jeremiah’s hazel brown eyes grew black as night. “I’d love for you to try.”

  A chill raced down Lacy’s spine. Her gaze went quickly to Nick. If there was a hothead in the bunch, it was him. But this time, he remained in place and merely watched Jeremiah walk away. All of them trailed his figure as he climbed into his truck, started the engine, and tore out away, tires skidding as he hit the street.

  Ernie shuffled toward his cabin and Lacy caught her breath. Kill Jeremiah? She turned to Delaney. “You don’t think he’s serious, do you?”

  “He’s not going to let this go without a fight,” Delaney muttered.

  “I’ve only known Ernie a few weeks and I wouldn’t put it past him,” Nick put in.

  “Why the love fest?” Malcolm asked, smoothing a hand through his hair. “I’ve seen bad blood, but this mix is lethal.”

  Delaney stared after her uncle. Lacy thought she looked torn. Did it hurt her heart to hear her uncle speak that way about his own son? His own flesh and blood?

  “Jeremiah caused Ernie a lot of grief before he left,” Delaney said, her gaze settling on Lacy who shrank under the spotlight of attention. Delaney took on a tough-girl stance, setting hands to her jean-clad hips. “He stole money and guns from Ernie. The money, so he could run off to Atlanta with his new squeeze,” Delaney’s eyes spit knives toward Lacy, “the guns because he was traveling with a rough crowd at the time. In fact, the night they left, there was a shooting downtown and word had it Jeremiah was involved.”

  “I didn’t know anything about any shooting!” Lacy cried, genuinely stunned by the accusation. “He never said a thing to me about it.” She sought Malcolm’s reaction, her heart suddenly in her throat. “Honest. I swear on my momma’s life!”

  Malcolm moved to her side. “I believe you,” he said softly and slid a protective arm around her shoulders.

  “Did they ever arrest anyone for the shooting?” Nick asked.


  “Albert’s son, Billy.”

  Malcolm let out a low whistle.

  “His other boy is on the run,” Delaney added.

  Lacy had no idea! “Robby? What did he do?”

  “Held up a liquor store.”

  “Oh, no...” Billy and Robby both? And they had been so nice to her in high school. A little rowdy, but she never imagined they’d turn into criminals.

  “They’re both worthless,” Delaney said without care, as though she weren’t speaking of two men’s lives, of two living, breathing human beings.

  “And both blood relatives to Ernie,” Malcolm said quietly.

  Delaney stilled.

  “You understand that under Tennessee law, both Albert’s sons are equally as entitled as Jeremiah to ownership should he challenge the deed and win.”

  Nick dropped his head back. “Perfect.”

  Delaney buried her face in her hands, then fell against Nick’s chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. Why, if Lacy hadn’t witnessed it with her own eyes, she wouldn’t have believed it. Delaney Wilkins falling helpless into the arms of a man? She shook her head. Unbelievable.

  About time, if you asked her. Women needed men. Lacy’s eyes went to Malcolm. Strong, brave men who would look after a female the way a man should. She smiled at him and he smiled back giving her a light squeeze. It was their job. After all, God made men strong and brave, and women sweet and beautiful and in need of protection and love. It’s what kept the world spinning in harmony.

  Startled by the sight of a white sedan pulling in, Lacy peered at the driver. What in tarnation is she doing here?

  Chapter Seventeen

  Lacy watched with displeasure as her sister drove over the bridge. Was Annie following her? Was she here to ruin her afternoon with Malcolm? If Aunt Frannie was to blame, Lacy would pinch her ear. She was only enjoying a picnic with the man. Her aunt didn’t have to spy on her.

  The white car rolled to a stop next to Malcolm’s truck, and Annie hopped out. Clad in her usual salon black, she marched straight toward them with nary a concern to her shiny black heels.