Ladd Fortune

by Dianne Venetta

  Lacy giggled. Malcolm caught a glimpse of Nick and Delaney, staring. Delaney’s face was wrenched in disgust while Nick’s bore the spark of amusement. He didn’t care what they thought. He was happy. “Any word on Jeremiah?” he asked Nick, ignoring their prurient curiosity.

  “None,” Nick replied, clearly enjoying Malcolm’s new friendship with Lacy.

  “Shouldn’t take them this long,” Malcolm grumbled.

  “They have to find him first.”

  “Speak of the devil.” With a flick of his eyes, Malcolm indicated the front door.

  Nick and Delaney turned in unison to see Jeremiah Ladd walk into the diner. Hanging by the cash register, he glanced around, the brightly-colored paisley of his shirt out of sync with the traditional red and white country-style around him. Once he spotted them, his forehead smoothed and he made a bee line for their table.

  Delaney turned her back while Nick tracked Jeremiah’s every step toward them.

  “Well, well, well, what a cozy little group we have here,” Jeremiah said, sarcasm oozing from his voice. “What happened to my invitation?”

  “What do you want, Jeremiah?” Delaney snapped.

  “I want my gold and my land back.”

  “It’s not yours,” she replied.

  “So you’ve been saying. But I’ve spoken to a lawyer who says otherwise. In fact, you’ll be hearing from him soon.”

  Delaney’s expression reflected the hit. She was obviously still worried about Jeremiah making headway with regard to the title, but Malcolm didn’t see that he stood any real chance. Duress was a hard case to prove, the life estate deed a logical choice for a sane, terminally ill man to make. “Why don’t you do a magic trick for us and make yourself disappear,” Malcolm cracked.

  “Funny man,” Jeremiah jeered. “Feeling all big and strong because you’ve hooked up tight with my little lady?”

  Lacy clutched Malcolm’s hand under the table. “Back off, Jeremiah,” Malcolm warned.

  “Or what? Gonna finish what you started?”

  Lacy gasped. “Malcolm had nothing to do with your face!”

  “Oh, didn’t he?” Jeremiah glanced to Nick and added, “With a little help from his friend, which is the only way this pretty boy could manage it. I have my sources. I’ll get to the bottom of it and when I do, you’ll be sorry you ever messed with me.”

  Malcolm and Nick both held steady. And quiet.

  Which Lacy found odd. Peering over at Nick, she wondered if they had something to do with it. After all, Malcolm had not been with her that night. Lacy looked over at Delaney, who seemed to be wondering the same thing.

  “See,” Jeremiah said. “No denial.”

  “As much as I’d like to take credit for your beating,” Malcolm replied, “I can’t. I had a business meeting with my partner, here.”

  He did? Lacy considered the revelation. So that’s what he did instead of dinner with her.

  “Great alibi,” Jeremiah mocked. “Tell the police.” He lowered and came very near to Malcolm’s face. “I suggested they might want to come and talk with you gentlemen. They’ll be happy to listen to you explain your whereabouts and check out your flimsy alibi.”

  “Jeremiah—you leave him alone, this instant!” Lacy cried. “You have no business throwing accusations around.”

  “Does your new boyfriend know about your old hobbies, Lacy?” He flicked a glance to Malcolm. “Your money-making hobbies, I mean?”

  “Hush your mouth, Jeremiah!”

  Malcolm slid out of the booth and stood. Jeremiah took a step back but Malcolm leaned close, his tone raw and gravelly. “I’d suggest you get out of here right now, before your little fishing expedition sinks.”

  Jeremiah chuckled. “You should ask her sometime. It’s real riveting stuff.”

  Lacy hated the suspicion crawling in Delaney’s eyes. She was so judgmental, and she didn’t even know what Jeremiah was talking about but simply went straight to the most horrible thing she could think of.

  Malcolm remained doggedly in place, and it occurred to Lacy that he was defending her honor. Like a warrior blocking Jeremiah’s path, Malcolm knew what Jeremiah was referring to and there he was, fighting against any and all insults. Lacy gazed up at Malcolm. Sleek white hair, silky black shirt, inky black pants—he was gallant, elegant, more attractive than any southern man she knew. It didn’t matter what Delaney thought, or her boyfriend Nick. It only mattered what Malcolm thought, and he thought she was wonderful.

  Aunt Frannie came up behind Jeremiah and hovered near, her tray of coffee and orange juice held close in hand, a stern look steeling the blue of her eyes. “You aren’t welcome here.”

  “I wouldn’t eat here if you paid me.”

  Frannie held her ground, and Jeremiah seemed to think twice about adding another retort. To the group he cracked, “Have a nice breakfast.” Turning, Jeremiah strode down the aisle and clear outside the restaurant. Lacy watched him through the window to be sure he really left.

  Aunt Frannie swooped in, dishing out coffee cups, creamer and juice. “That man is meaner than a wet cat spittin’ mud.” Pouring coffee, she grumbled, “Why, I have a mind to call the police next time he comes cavorting around here.”

  “I don’t think you’ll have to worry about a next time,” Malcolm said.

  “Well if he does, I’m bootin’ him out.”

  Lowering to his seat beside Lacy, Malcolm slid a protective hand to her thigh. She intertwined her fingers with his and squeezed. “Thank you.”

  Malcolm leaned over and kissed her neatly on the lips. “You’re welcome. I’m sorry you had to listen to any of it, at all.”

  In that instant, Lacy knew the love she felt for him was real and true. Any man who would stand up and defend her honor was a man who loved her and one she would always love in return. Forever.

  “Nice restraint,” Nick commented, raising his coffee cup to Malcolm in toast.

  “Oh, believe me I would have taken great pleasure in finishing his beating if I didn’t think he was already wrapped up in a pretty box and on his way to Vegas.”

  Delaney drew back. “Finishing?”

  “We didn’t do it, Delaney,” Malcolm said flatly and brought coffee to lips, sipping slowly.

  “Well,” Aunt Frannie piped in, “as far as I’m concerned, next time he’s here it’ll only be a pit stop on his way to jail.”

  Lacy didn’t hear a word Aunt Frannie said. Annie’s daughter walked in, accompanied by the Parker boy. Should she go over and talk to her? Talk to them? Annie might get mad, see it as interfering. But now that she and Annie were making amends, Lacy wanted to get to know her niece. Maybe she should ask Malcolm.

  “Lacy? Child?” Aunt Frannie stared at her. “Blow the cotton out your ears and tell me what you’re fixin’ to have for breakfast.”

  “Oh!” Her cheeks flushed. “The usual, Aunt Frannie.”

  “Eggs, grits and biscuits, coming right up,” she said and departed their table. Aunt Frannie stopped and talked to Casey, leading her and the boy to a table on the opposite side of the restaurant.

  Breakfast was served, eaten and cleared without any more disturbances. Lacy found it strange how Delaney continually looked over her shoulder, checking on Casey and Troy. What was so interesting over there? Otherwise, Lacy was grateful for the fact that Delaney was being nice to her. Probably because Malcolm was Nick’s business partner and she didn’t want to look bad for being rude, but Lacy wasn’t fussy. She’d take what she could get when it came to peace in the neighborhood.

  “So, while I hate to ruin a lovely breakfast with business,” Malcolm said, tucking his napkin alongside his plate, “we need to get the ball rolling on the hotel. I can have a lease drawn up in a week,” he said to Delaney. “You can have your attorney look it over, and we can go from there.”

  “Can we sign it, though?” Delaney asked. “I mean, between Ernie and Jeremiah and...”

  Malcolm silenced her with a hand. “As far as I see it, n
othing’s up in the air. Once Ernie passes, Felicity owns the property. The two of you will need time to look over the lease, make sure it’s in line with your expectations, and we’ll sign when appropriate. Until then, Nick and I have a lot to do,” he said, drawing Nick into the conversation. “Belinda has some preliminary drawings, but we’ll need a site plan, a topography study. We also need to get the architects here as soon as feasible to work their vision into ours. The potential for working the hotel in the natural scope of the land is incredible.”

  Lacy thought Malcolm sounded intelligent, commanding. He had to be the brains behind the business.

  “Have you thought about layout?” Nick asked. “Any changes you want to make?”

  “I have.” Pitching elbows to the table, Malcolm continued, “I agree with you on the main hotel location, but I say we add a restaurant along the river for a little al fresco dining. I want to hike the property a bit more before I agree to anything specific, especially for the Meditation Trail location.” Malcolm looked to Lacy before adding, “I need to scout for the perfect location before I can decide on anything final.”

  “Sounds good.” Nick leaned back into his seat, an outstretched hand lingering on his coffee cup. “I think the back meadow is the spot for the stables.”

  Malcolm nodded. “It’ll be an easy walk from the hotel location. A short buggy ride if the guests prefer. In fact, I think we should—”

  “Stop.” All eyes turned to Delaney. “We can’t decide any of this yet.”

  “Why not?” Nick asked.

  “Because.” Lacy thought Delaney looked panicky, her brown eyes nervous, unsettled.

  “Because why?” Malcolm asked.

  Delaney glanced over her shoulder. “Because I need to speak with Casey, first.”

  A knowing gaze sank into Nick’s expression, but Malcolm simply appeared confused. “Casey?”

  Delaney looked like the saddest dog Lacy had ever seen, but she held her breath hoping Delaney was about to say what she thought she was about to say. “Casey may be entitled to half of the property.”

  Lacy’s insides cheered. She could kiss Delaney—if she wasn’t wearing the face of a possum, that is. Delaney was really going to give Casey a chance! She was going to consider giving her half. Annie would be thrilled. Lacy was thrilled! Glancing about the table, Lacy decided Annie would have to appreciate her now.

  “Is this because of the paternity suit?”

  “If Casey is really Jeremiah’s daughter,” Nick interjected, “legally she’s no different than Felicity. Children of unmarried parents—once paternity is proven—can claim a share of the parent's estate.”

  Malcolm turned to Lacy with a small smile. “I know someone who will be happy.”

  She could hardly contain herself. She grabbed his arm. “Isn’t it great?”

  He nodded, but when he looked away, Malcolm groaned. “So long happy days, hello misery.” Lacy’s pleasure collapsed. She thought he was happy for her. “Don’t look now, but trouble just walked in.”

  Lacy’s gaze dashed to the front door. Nick and Delaney followed suit. A dark-skinned woman stood at the entrance. She was tall and slender, raven black hair falling in a glossy sheet behind her. She slid off a pair of oversized black sunglasses and surveyed the restaurant’s interior.

  Who was she? Lacy’s insides buzzed and popped. Did Malcolm know her?

  Nick dug a hand through his hair. “Aw, hell.”

  “Who is she?” Delaney asked.

  “Jillian Devane, Harris Hotels arch enemy.”

  Malcolm chuckled. “That’s a little rich, don’t you think?”

  “Who’s she a problem for?” Lacy asked.

  “Jillian is a problem for everyone,” Malcolm replied.

  When the woman spotted them, a smile pulled at her mouth. With a gentle shake to her shiny hair, the Jillian woman headed straight for them. She walked like a runway model, Lacy thought. And her eyes were hypnotic, amber gold on brown skin, her brows manicured into well-defined, dramatic arches.

  Malcolm didn’t look happy to see her. Was this an ex-girlfriend?

  Jillian Devane paused tableside. She took in the four of them and smiled, the sheen of the plum lipstick she wore almost liquid in its gloss. Hers wasn’t a happy smile, quite the opposite. In fact, Lacy found it rather condescending.

  “Hello, Nick,” Jillian said, her soft-spoken voice thickly accented. “Malcolm.”

  “What brings you to Tennessee, Jillian?” Nick asked casually, as though it were normal for a foreign woman to stroll into a country diner in Tennessee.

  She flicked an insulting glance toward Delaney and said, “Business.”

  “So I hear,” Malcolm put in. “How’d you find us?”

  “Small town, two gentlemen who don’t belong...it was quite simple.”

  Don’t belong? Lacy huffed silently. They sure do belong here!

  “You’re wasting your time,” Nick told her. “We’re two steps ahead of you.”

  Jillian tapped Lacy and Delaney with a snooty look and said, “Yes, it appears you are.”

  Lacy stiffened. She didn’t like this woman one bit.

  “Well, I wanted to tell you in person, amorzinho, that I will not be beaten.”

  Huh? Lacy looked to Delaney. What the heck was she talking about? Delaney ignored Lacy, clearly engrossed by the woman standing before them.

  “I will be located not far from you,” she said, adding with a catty smile, “so I can keep an eye on you. You know how well we work together.”

  Lacy gulped. Delaney’s temperature was heating. It seemed this Jillian might be intimately familiar with her man. This very attractive Jillian. Lacy circled a palm around Malcolm’s bicep. She was only glad Jillian was speaking to Nick and not Malcolm.

  “We don’t work together,” Nick corrected. “Hang around if you want, but it will only underscore your second place status.”

  A wicked pleasure lit up her dark eyes. “Conceited as usual, I see. Well...” She smiled. “I only wanted you to know that I’m nearby. My number is the same.” She bent slightly and, with very full lips, blew Nick a kiss before walking off, swaying her hips with a lethal swagger.

  Delaney’s cell phone rang. Although torn between the strange woman and the blaring ring tone at her waist, she lifted phone to ear. “Hello?” Her face paled.

  Lacy stiffened by Malcolm’s side. Nick’s antennae shot up.

  The hand holding the phone slid down from Delaney’s ear.

  “Delaney?” Nick probed.

  With a faraway look, she whispered, “Ernie’s in the hospital.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Malcolm left a fifty dollar bill on the table, and the four of them slid out of the booth. Fran refused to give them a bill, but a free-loader he was not. Malcolm helped Lacy rise, Nick and Delaney easing out behind them. A busboy hurried by them with a gray tub in hand. The restaurant had filled since they arrived, the crew handily clearing tables for the next patrons.

  Nick paused by the hostess stand and placed a hand to Delaney’s lower back. “Can you get a ride back to the hotel? I need to drive Delaney to the hospital.”

  Malcolm turned to Lacy. “I can drive him,” she replied soberly.

  “Thanks.”

  Delaney stood shell-shocked, quiet as a post. The normal flush was gone from her complexion, replaced by the lifeless look of distress. Ernie was in the hospital. The news wasn’t completely unexpected, but she seemed to be hit pretty hard. Malcolm imagined Jillian’s appearance couldn’t be helping matters.

  “I’ll call Lanny,” Malcolm offered, more to Nick than anyone. Lanny was their business lawyer. He’d draw up the lease and get it ready for signatures. To Delaney, he said, “Once you decide what you want to do about Casey, we can go from there.” She nodded dumbly. “Call me if you need anything.” In the meantime, Malcolm had other plans. A rush of nerves skated through him. Big plans.

  Officer Gavin Shore walked in, his posture alert, watchful, as
though he were on the hunt. Surprised by his appearance, Malcolm wondered if he had any news for them.

  “Hey, Gavin,” Lacy said.

  He smiled, strolling to a stop before them. “Howdy, Lacy. Long time no see.”

  “Any word on Jeremiah?” Nick asked.

  “Not yet.” The officer turned from Lacy. “I questioned Troy Parker about it, though.”

  The comment poked Delaney back to life. “Troy? What’s he got to do with it?”

  “Jeremiah gave his name as a possible suspect. Said he’s been stirring up trouble for him since he’s been in town, and could have had something to do with the robbery.”

  Nick cursed under his breath. Malcolm shared the sentiment. Bastard. Luckily, Troy and Casey had left about ten minutes ago.

  “Troy wouldn’t have anything to do with Jeremiah,” Delaney declared.

  Gavin raised his brow, hooking thumbs to his belt. “Except stepping out with his girlfriend.”

  “How do you know that?” she asked.

  “Paid the boy a visit last night.” Gavin slid a wary glance around the restaurant. “While I was there, Jeremiah’s girlfriend showed up to say goodbye to Troy.”

  “Goodbye?” Nick questioned.

  Malcolm agreed. Jeremiah was still in town. Why would Loretta have left without him?

  “You say Loretta left?” Lacy asked.

  Officer Shore nodded. “She seemed pretty sweet on the boy, too. Said she was fed up with old Jeremiah but wanted to say goodbye to him.” He snickered.

  “She didn’t even call me to say goodbye,” Lacy complained.

  “You knew her?” the officer asked.

  “Yes. We worked together in Atlanta.”

  “But you—” The officer cut himself off, as though embarrassed to finish his sentence.

  Lacy glared at him. “Doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”

  Delaney looked devastated, but Malcolm thought it was a good sign. Jeremiah had alienated his one ally in town. He was alone, with no support when he needed it.

  “Well, I can assure you,” Delaney said, “Troy had nothing to do with Jeremiah’s mugging.”