by Delta James
“Thanks, Charlie.” Sierra walked up to the house and grabbed one of the hand pies Ruth had made for later.
“That is not a proper breakfast and you know it,” Ruth scolded.
“Ruthie, when have you ever known me to want to be proper?”
Ruth laughed and threw a kitchen towel at her. “You go on upstairs and get showered and changed. People will be arriving soon.”
Sierra turned to look at her. “People? What kind of people? How many? Isn’t it just you, me, Charlie, and Martin Scott?”
“Apparently, the thing has to be official. I talked to his secretary this morning. They’re going to set up a video camera. Then it’ll be the lawyer and his secretary, plus you, me and Charlie, and three other men.”
“Who are the three other men?”
“I don’t know, honey, she didn’t say. Sierra? What’s wrong? You have a funny look on your face.”
“I’m not sure anything is wrong, Ruth. I’m just starting to get a funny feeling about all of this. You know one of the last things Daddy said to me right before he died was that I would be in good hands. Now, I’m starting to wonder what he meant by that.”
“I have no idea.”
“Well, guess we’ll find out in about an hour. Do you need any help with anything?”
“I’ve got everything under control.”
Sierra crossed back to her and hugged her hard. “You always do, Ruth. I love you.” Sierra ran upstairs.
When she came back downstairs Martin Scott and his secretary were already set up in the kitchen. The doorbell rang and Sierra answered it. Some guy in a suit was looking at her.
“I’m Tom Black. I’m with the State Parks Department. Mr. Scott told me to be here.”
“Mr. Black, I’m Sierra Morgan. If Marty said you’re supposed to be here then I suppose I’d best show you to the kitchen as that’s where we’re setting up. I’m Sierra Morgan, by the way.”
“Ms. Morgan. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you. Come on. Ruth has some food ready.” She turned to lead him into the kitchen when the doorbell rang again. This time, it was Doc Walker. Sierra embraced him. “I’m happy to see you, Doc.”
“It’s good to see you too. I just wish it was under better circumstances.”
“The circumstances are what they are. Daddy would be the first to say life goes on and we’d best get to it.”
Doc laughed. “That would be your dad all right.”
Sierra led Mr. Black and Doc Walker into the kitchen and its adjoining eating area. She saw Marty, the woman she supposed was his secretary, Ruth, Charlie, and surprisingly, Ryder Malone.
“What the hell are you doing here, Ryder? I thought I was pretty clear that you weren’t welcome at the Flying M.”
“You were exceedingly clear, Sierra, but so was Marty’s secretary, Shirley. I was told I needed to be here in order for this to be done, so here I am. Marty, if I don’t need to be here, I can leave.”
“I don’t mean to distress you, Sierra, but it is imperative that Ryder stay. Otherwise we’ll have to find another time everyone can meet. I cannot read the will to satisfy probate unless all of the people named in it are present at the same time.”
“What? Ryder’s named in the will?” She turned to Doc. “Had my father gone senile?”
“I’m afraid not, Sierra. I’m not sure why Ryder was invited to come, but if your dad wanted him here, maybe it’s best we just let him be here.”
Martin Scott could sense that things might devolve quickly if he didn’t step in. “All right, let’s all sit down.”
Ruth piped up, “Why doesn’t everyone get a plate and help themselves then we can get on with it while we get food in our bellies. Some of us,” she said, staring pointedly at Sierra, “haven’t had a proper breakfast.”
Ryder grinned. “So, some things never change. She used to think leftover cold pizza was a proper breakfast. Yuck. Never could understand that considering she had your good home cooking available.”
“And Ryder was ever the one for empty flattery if he thought it would get him what he wanted… especially where women are concerned.”
“Sierra,” Ruth admonished under her breath.
“Not to worry, Ruth. Ryder is quite aware that I am a right and proper bitch where he’s concerned. If Marty says he has to be there, then so be it. But as soon as this will is read, Malone, I’ll thank you to get off my ranch.”
Ryder got close enough so only she could hear him. “Behave yourself, Sierra. You’re going to have to abide by the terms of your daddy’s will whether you like it or not. Don’t make this any more difficult for everyone else than it has to be.”
“What do you know?” she hissed under her breath.
“Nothing specific, but your father asked me to be here. That’s good enough for me and ought to be good enough for you. Now sit down and stop acting like a spoiled brat.”
“You know, Ryder, I’m not sure what it is I ever saw in you. But given what I know now, I’m quite certain that my opinion of you was highly overrated.”
Ryder went to pull out the chair at the head of the table opposite the lawyer, and Sierra promptly took her seat. She was quite certain he’d meant to sit there, but this was her ranch, her kitchen, and her table.
People were trying hard to ignore the small display of fireworks going off between the two antagonists.
“I think Ruth told you to get something to eat,” Ryder said, trying not to become completely exasperated at her.
“Ruth knows I’m not much good at doing what I’m told. I’m not particularly hungry but I am particular about with whom I eat.”
The others who were gathered for the reading of the will sat down and began to eat in the uncomfortable silence. Ruth, Charlie, and Doc made small talk, which lessened the tension. Sierra did nothing but drink a glass of juice and then go get herself a Diet Coke.
Sierra helped Ruth clear the table and Marty and his secretary got everything set up for the reading of the will. The lawyer went through the normal preambles and the fact that if anyone contested the will the entire estate would be given to the State of Idaho… thus why the man from the Parks Department had been invited.
“Well now, let’s get down to the individual bequests. To Charlie Lawson, my foreman and best friend, I leave the sum of $5,000 per year for every year of his service to the Flying M and an additional one percent of the annual net profits from the Flying M for so long as he chooses to stay in any capacity including that of retiree. I believe, Charlie that you’ve worked here for twenty years, that’s $100,000.”
Sierra giggled. Charlie looked like someone had punched him in the gut. “Unless you have your own will made out, Charlie, you’d better breathe.”
“Holy shit, Sierra. Pardon my language, ladies. I had no idea, I can’t accept that much. What the hell am I going to do with all that money?”
“I hope you have a long time to figure that out and won’t leave the Flying M for many years to come.”
Charlie reached out and squeezed Sierra’s hand. “Don’t you worry, Sierra, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”
Marty cleared his throat. “To my friend and personal physician, Doctor Lucius Walker, I leave the sum of $250,000 for him to use to set up that clinic he’s always wanted to have.” Doc Walker shook his head. Marty smiled at him. “He knew you’d never take a dime for yourself, but to help others? He figured you’d never say no.”
Doc looked chagrinned. “He knew me all too well.”
“To my long-time housekeeper, who keeps the Flying M well fed and stepped into help guide my beloved daughter to womanhood, Ruth Spalding, I leave the sum of $10,000 per year for her devotion to Sierra, myself, and all the souls of the Flying M up until the year of my death and an additional one percent of the annual net profits from the Flying M for so long as she chooses to stay in any capacity including that of retiree.” Ruth gasped. “I believe, Ruth, you’ve been here at the ranch for thirty years. Tha
t’s $300,000.”
“Good lord. I don’t need that kind of money. This has been my home and family. They took me in…”
Sierra reached across to her. “And you saved us all. Daddy and I would have been lost without you. And I’m sure you saved Doc Walker from countless cases of food poisoning by feeding all the hands.”
Everyone laughed. Marty cleared his throat.
“The rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, I leave to my beloved Sierra. The Flying M and its legacy are in her hands where I know they will be safe with one caveat.”
Sierra looked at him. “Caveat? What do you mean by that?”
“It’s a condition of the will; if you don’t fulfill the condition, everything including the bequests to Doc, Charlie, and Ruth goes to the State.”
Sierra looked at Ryder. “What do you know about this?”
“Best you hear it from Marty.”
“But you know, don’t you?”
Marty interrupted. “Sierra? I need to finish this. If you want to talk to Ryder afterward, you can. You have forty-eight hours after the reading of the will to agree in writing. I can then disburse the bequests to the others providing the executor and trustee agrees.”
“Sorry, Marty. What’s the caveat?”
“Ryder is appointed as executor and trustee of the Flying M for the period of one year. All decisions have to be approved by him. If at the end of year he feels you’re ready to take over without his oversight, he will sign off and the ranch is yours completely. If he doesn’t, he can extend the executorship for an additional year, but then needs to decide whether to sign off or sell the ranch with the proceeds to be divided between the two of you seventy/thirty to your favor. If the caveat is fulfilled, Ryder will be given a sum equal to sixty percent of the net profit for each year he served as executor.”
Sierra stood up and slammed her fist against the table. “Are you fucking kidding me? I’ve worked this ranch my whole life. For the past five years, I’ve made all the day-to-day decisions so Daddy could semi-retire and Doc here can tell you for the past six months, I ran the whole damn operation. And now, I have to put up with Ryder looking over my shoulder and breathing down my neck? That’s bullshit, Marty, and you know it.”
“I didn’t agree with your father’s decision, but it was his decision to make and he made it of sound mind. If you contest the will or don’t agree, everything and I do mean everything goes to the State. You, Ruth, Charlie, and all of your people will have thirty days to vacate before it goes to the State. And you should know, Sierra, that one of the conditions of your acceptance is that you have to agree to live here and abide by Ryder’s decisions.”
Sierra looked around the table. No one, save Ryder, could meet her eye. Sierra reined in her temper and said in an icy civil tone, “Give me the fucking paper, I’ll sign it.”
“Sierra, you are entitled to forty-eight hours and you can have an attorney review it for you. That would not invoke the estate going to the State.”
“If it wasn’t legal, Marty, you wouldn’t have written it. And although I may never, ever forgive my father for this, I won’t deny Charlie, Ruth, or Doc what is rightfully theirs. As for you, Malone, stay clear of me. I don’t know how you got my dad to agree to this, but you and he can both rot in hell for all I care.”
Ruth looked at Ryder, then at the lawyer and then at Sierra. “Sierra, honey, you don’t mean that.”
“I don’t know that I don’t. Leave whatever papers I need to sign. I’m going for a ride. Charlie, I’m taking the rest of today and tomorrow off. Talk to the new boss there about what he wants done.”
Sierra stood up and headed for the back door. Ryder stood up and went to follow her. She whirled on him. “Don’t, Malone. Just don’t. Hey, Marty, what happens if Ryder dies during this bullshit caveat?”
“Then the ranch converts to your sole ownership with no executor or trustee.”
“Good to know. Keep that in mind, Malone. And remember, I’m an excellent shot.”
She walked out the door, trotted down the steps, and strode toward the barn. Ryder made to follow her, but Charlie reached out to him.
“I wouldn’t, son. She’s got her back up against the wall, feels like her daddy betrayed her and is being forced to deal with you—something she has avoided since you left.”
“She no longer has that as a choice. But, I’ll let her have a bit of space. If you have time, I’d like to go over with you where the Flying M is currently.”
“Happy to do it, but I’ll tell you that Sierra knows everything there is to know and from my point of view has done a damn good job. And for the record, Malone? I agree with Sierra. This is bullshit. And I mean to tell her, she isn’t to do anything because it might cost me money I never had, expected, or particularly wanted.”
“I can respect that, Charlie. And my intention is not to make her life more difficult. Her father came to me and asked for my help. I always liked and respected John Morgan so I agreed. And Ruth, if you could spare me an hour or so in the next day or two, I’d appreciate it.”
“I can do that, Ryder. But I’m with Charlie, and we’ve got her back regardless of her decision. With the possible exception of your buddy, Andy, I think you may find every man on this ranch is going to be of a similar bent.”
“Point taken and I appreciate the honesty.” Doc Walker had started out the door and Ryder followed him. “Well, Doc, don’t you have anything to say?”
“I do, but for now I’ll keep it to myself. Whatever you and John cooked up, you’d better know this gambit may cost you everything.”
“What none of you understands is that I have everything to gain and absolutely nothing to lose,” Ryder said quietly.
Walker looked at him and studied his face. A slow grin started to form. “You still love her. You didn’t come back for your family ranch or even because John Morgan offered you some kind of deal. You came back for Sierra.” Ryder nodded. “I don’t know that John did you any favors. If you hurt her, just remember that I’m the county medical examiner and can have anything that happens written off as an accident.”
Ryder looked at him, realized Walker was being serious and started to laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind, Doc.”
Ryder returned to the kitchen and helped the lawyer and his secretary pack up their gear. He helped get them on their way back into town. He thought about returning and trying to talk to Ruth, but decided discretion was the better part of valor and that both she and Charlie probably needed a bit of time and to know where Sierra stood. The latter was the only thing Ryder was sure of. He knew Sierra would never opt to do something that might make her feel better but would negatively impact others. Her generosity of heart and spirit were among the things he’d always loved. Ryder heard someone approaching and turned to see Andy.
“Holy shit, Ryder. Did you know about this before you came back?”
“You might not want to be seen talking to me. I don’t think I’m a real popular guy at the moment.”
“Oh, hell, they all know we’ve been friends since we were kids. If they close ranks, I’ll be on the outside either way so I may as well take up with the winning side. And you are going to win, aren’t you?”
Ryder grinned at him. “Yes, I knew. John came to see me in France and asked me to come home. As for winning… have you ever known me to lose?”
“Damn. I do believe things are about to get real interesting. You know I’ve got your back.”
“Thanks, Andy. Just be sure to let me know if she ever heads out with a rifle in her scabbard.”
Andy laughed. “Will do. I take it we’ll see you around more?”
“That’s a given. I’d appreciate you keeping an eye on things for me when I’m not around.”
“We’re a good crew, Ryder,” he said a bit defensively.
“I’m not worried about the Flying M. But Sierra is plenty pissed and she doesn’t always make the best decisions when she’s worked herself up into a major tantrum.”
>
Andy shook his head. “I knew it. I knew you’d come back for her.” Ryder said nothing but gave him a cold stare. “Not to worry. Your secret is safe with me. I’ll give you a heads up if I see her headed for trouble.”
“Andy? I’ve been thinking I need to get a better horse than my dad’s gelding. If John’s horse is still around, I think I’ll start using him. Can you make sure he stays up in the barn?”
“Will do.”
Andy watched as his old friend got in his truck and headed back for his ranch. Andy started to smile. He’d never told anyone, but he’d always hoped someday Sierra and Ryder would find their way back to each other. He really believed they belonged together.
Chapter Seven
Sierra had saddled Joker without saying a word to anyone. She managed to get away from the barn before the tears she’d been holding back began to flow. How could her father have done this? He knew, better than anyone, that Ryder Malone had broken her heart. Her father had her trapped. He knew she’d do whatever she needed to in order to ensure that others got what they were owed. She made a vow to make Ryder Malone’s life as miserable as she possibly could to stay just this side of abiding by the conditions of the will.
Her tears and thoughts of revenge were interrupted by a text notification from her cell phone. It was one of the riders for tomorrow confirming the time and location of the meet up before they gathered the roan stallion’s herd and moved them to safety. That now presented a problem. Her original thought had been to bring them on to the Flying M especially after her father had passed. But now with Ryder having an all access pass and sticking his nose in where it didn’t belong, she’d have to find a different long-term solution. But at least for the next few days they should be safe up in one of the high pastures. It was fall, but the heavy snows shouldn’t hit for at least another month or two.
Sierra made a last check on the roan stallion and his herd. They were where she’d left them yesterday. She sat a good distance from them but let Joker graze while she tried to let the peace and serenity around her soothe her soul. She soon realized it would take more than a tranquil setting to ease the tension she was feeling and more time than she had at the moment. It would be at least a year before her life could return to any semblance of normalcy.