Her Last Chance Cowboy: A Sweet Western Romance (Prairie Valley Book 5)

by Ellen Joy

  “I’m coming home right now,” Olivia said.

  Emma was at school, Maggie out with some friends, and Mae didn’t seem at all interested in this new development. What would Joel Destin have to give away, anyways? All she had seen at his house was a lot of junk; old refrigerators in the garage, air-conditioning units, broken clocks and lamps and all kinds of furniture. There were several cars and trucks in the yard behind the garage, vehicles that hadn’t moved in years. He hadn’t done more than minimal upkeep on the house itself.

  Olivia pulled up to the farm, and Hannah tried to clear her head.

  “Have you read it?” she asked.

  Olivia shook her head. “Should we go into the living room?”

  She was so thankful Olivia was there to read it for her and help her understand what she had to do next.

  “This was written just a couple months ago,” Olivia said, as she pulled out the documents from a manila envelope. “Would you like me to just read it?”

  Hannah nodded, looking at the date. It was after she had stopped by the house, after he found out he was sick.

  “‘I, Joel Destin, direct my executor, Hannah Destin Higgins, to pay my enforceable unsecured debts and funeral expenses, the expenses of my last illness, and the expenses of administering my estate.’”

  “What does that mean?”

  “He’s giving you legal permission to pay for any debts he has incurred, like funeral expenses or medical expenses, as his executor.” Olivia looked back at the document and her eyes widened. “Hannah, he left you everything… ‘I give all my tangible personal property, and all policies and proceeds of insurance covering such property, to my daughter, Hannah.’”

  Olivia passed a copy of the house deed to her. “You own his house. You own everything.” Olivia shook the paper. “He has IRAs and stocks.” Olivia kept reading the fancy lawyer terms as Hannah’s head spun with the news.

  “Does he have debts? Like, will I have to pay stuff off?” She knew he had a truck, but it wasn’t new. “Maybe there’s a loan against the house?”

  “He owns the house outright.” Olivia shook her head. “It has to be worth a lot, too.”

  Hannah made a face. “That house is falling apart.”

  “The house may be falling apart, but property in that area is worth a lot, now,” Olivia said.

  Her father’s place sat on the south hill in a neighborhood that had been gaining in popularity. His ramshackle house stuck out like a sore thumb. “This is all so confusing,” Hannah confessed. “What should I do?”

  “Hannah, it’s yours!” Olivia laughed. “You can sell it, live in it, rent it out. Whatever you want to do. You could finally go back to school!”

  Hannah tried to take in the information. A lump rose in her throat. She didn’t know why she was about to cry. She didn’t know exactly what she was feeling, but she wasn’t sad.

  “I can’t believe he actually gave me everything.”

  Olivia continued to explain the process and promised to handle everything. Hannah decided to wait for Emma to come home from school before heading to the house. She picked up the phone to dial Jake’s number, but stopped as the school bus pulled up to the farm.

  She intercepted Emma as she headed to the barn. “Hey, how was school?”

  Emma shrugged. “Fine.”

  She wanted to blurt everything out, but felt equally guilty and giddy at the same time. If everything panned out the way Olivia said it would, they wouldn’t have to worry about having a home ever again. Her eyes stung with gratitude.

  “What’s wrong, Mama?”

  Hannah started laughing. “Would you like to see where I grew up?”

  Jake went to look at a house that day, too. A two-bedroom, two-bath, ranch at the north end of town. Relatively close to the Boudreau farm, but they’d have to drive. It had a smidge of land, just enough for a horse, and Millie, which at this point was all he felt he could expect. He had already talked to the Gundersons about selling the cows and closing down. It had been a fun ride, and he was pretty sure Victor would’ve been proud of his efforts. But sometimes, in the end, dreams just didn’t pan out.

  He would buy this house for Hannah and Emma and him. He would ask her to marry him as soon as he had sealed the deal. The Wilsons already had a few people interested in their place. He needed to settle on something before he had no place to go.

  “It’s a really nice layout,” Julia said, standing in the empty living room.

  He nodded, looking around. It wasn’t the ranch, but it was enough. He was sure it had potential, maybe with new hardwood floors, or he could finish the basement. “How much, again?”

  She handed him the listing. The number was fifty thousand above his price range. “Why did you even show me this place?” he asked, exasperated.

  “Because I think they’ll come down, it’s been on the market for a while.”

  “How long?”

  “Three months,” she said.

  Why had it been sitting for so long, in this seller’s market?

  “Can I make an offer now?” he asked, thinking of lowballing to get the negotiations started. He still had a sinking feeling they’d refuse what he could afford.

  “I think that’s a good choice, you could really do something with that barn.” Julia pulled out a tablet. “I’ll send you everything through email as well, when we’re done.”

  Jake looked around the small house, then focused out the window at the barn. It was a metal structure with four stalls, and enough room for some equipment. A chicken coop and enclosed pen were built up against one wall.

  He imagined little feet running around the grassy knoll out front or chasing after Millie. It wasn’t the Wilson’s place, but it was good enough, wasn’t it? The moment his offer was accepted, he’d ask for Hannah’s hand. The barn, the land, that was all icing on the cake. It was time. He was ready to have a family. He had the ring in his pocket.

  After the showing, he returned home and sent Hannah a text to let her know he was back, then sat gloomily down to his paperwork. He was so engrossed that he jumped when, a few hours later, there was a heavy knock on the door. He glanced out the side window.

  What was Ted doing here?

  Jake opened the door but didn’t invite him to come inside. “What can I help you with?” He wasn’t here for a friendly chat, that was for sure.

  Ted’s eyes slanted off to the side, his expression annoyed and uncomfortable. He held up his hands. “I’m here to apologize.”

  Jake did a doubletake. “You?”

  “Look, you made it very clear you couldn’t stand working for me.”

  Jake just stared at him flatly.

  “It’s just that… I can’t… ugh…” Ted turned and faced the barn. “It’s hard to deal with someone who hates you. And never bothers to hide the fact.” He held up one hand. “And I know you were just a kid, but you never gave me a break, even then.”

  “Yes. I was a kid.”

  Ted turned around, then dropped his head. He shrugged, then said, “I didn’t really mean to fire you, I just wanted you to appreciate what I’ve done for you.”

  “Whatever, man. You never gave me anything of your own free will, you did the bare minimum necessary to appease my mother.” He and Victor had discussed this on all those nights standing guard, with nothing to do besides talk. “I was nothing but a burden to you, and you made that very clear. It was no different when you fired me. Even after I’d done damned good work on that project. I’m no charity case, I earned my pay on that job.”

  Ted’s cheeks flushed and sweat started to bead on his forehead. “I shouldn’t have let my ego get in the way, I’m sorry.”

  Jake didn’t say anything. As much as he’d dreamed of this moment, now that it was happening, it left him quite cold.

  “Look, Julia told me about the house, and I’d like to help with the down payment.”

  If Julia had told her father about the house, his offer probably hadn’t been accepted.
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  He let out a heavy sigh, looking out at the pastures, at the cows grazing off in the distance, at Trigger in his paddock near the barn, then over at Millie lying under the kitchen table, fast asleep. He wanted all of this, he wanted it so badly.

  “No, thanks.” He could never put himself in a position where he’d choose to be indebted to this man.

  Ted pressed his lips together, his jaw flexing. “Well, the offer’s there.”

  He left without another word. In his strange universe, this was Ted’s way of making amends. And Jake felt sorry for him. He would never understand what he’d lost by refusing to accept Jake. Jake knew, because he had come to love Emma. Opening up, letting her and Hannah into his life, had made everything right. He didn’t need Ted’s approval or acceptance, and he would never be manipulated by him again.

  He’d ask Jesse and Olivia about that job. He’d keep looking for a place to live. He’d make some business cards, look around for some equipment, and let people know he was starting his own construction company.

  The shabby blue house had peeling paint and rusted gutters. The interior hadn’t been updated since the early eighties. The carpet was a flattened shag that hadn’t been manufactured in years. The formica counter tops were avocado green. And none of it was in good shape.

  There were three bedrooms, a decent-sized kitchen, separate living and family rooms, and an empty dining room. It was decorated with random castoffs that didn’t seem to have any connection to her father. As she picked up the figurine of a horse, she had a quick flashback to her childhood. It was the very one she’d been forced to leave behind when she fled with her mother. She put it back down on the table next to Joel Destin’s worn spot on the couch.

  Why would he have that sitting next to him?

  Emma finished roaming and came back into the living room.

  “What’s that?” She pointed to the figurine.

  “Just a toy from when I was little.”

  Emma picked it up. “Can I have it?”

  Hannah looked around, almost afraid Joel Destin’s ghost might appear and yell at her to get out. But she shook the thought away and nodded. “It’s yours.”

  When Olivia arrived, she went straight to business. “We should stop by the bank for his statements, tomorrow.”

  “Come look at mom’s old bedroom!” Emma said, pulling Olivia down the hallway. The room still looked as stark as it had when she’d lived there. The bed was made up with the same plain, cheap comforter he’d bought when she returned as a teenager. She remembered him mumbling about what a waste her mother was, and how he wasn’t going to deal with a waste of a daughter if she gave him any trouble.

  She returned to the living room, suddenly just wanting to get out. Anxiety crawled up her arms and legs. She had been there long enough.

  “You should have an estate sale,” Olivia said. “There are things you could donate, too, like his suits and stuff. Do you think you’ll want to live here?”

  Hannah shook her head. That was the last thing she wanted. The house was dark, and dusty, and full of memories she wanted to forget. “I’m going to sell.”

  “I think that’s for the best,” Olivia said. “You know you could stay on at the barn forever.”

  Hannah smiled at Olivia. “I do know that.”

  Emma walked back into the room, holding a heart-shaped locket in her hand. Hannah recognized it right away. She had bought it herself, the day she found out she was having a baby girl.

  “Where did you find that?” she asked, taking it from Emma.

  “On top of your old dresser.”

  That day flashed in her head like yesterday. She’d never forget coming home and seeing him just standing there, waiting for her with the velvety jewelry box in his hand. “Where did you get the money for something like this?”

  She hadn’t known what to say. If she told the truth, he’d be mad. If she lied, he’d be mad. So, she just waited.

  “Did you steal it?” He loomed over her.

  “No!” She couldn’t believe he’d think such a thing. “I’m not a thief.”

  “You seem to be a whole lot of things, lately,” he sneered at her, looking down at her pregnant stomach. She was nearly eight months along at that point, and her hormones and emotions were out of control. She started to cry.

  It only intensified Joel’s anger. “As long as you’re living under my roof, eating my food, and planning to raise a kid here, you don’t get to buy expensive jewelry! Any money you have is coming to me!”

  He stood so close to her that his spit sprayed her face. She could smell the day-old hangover on his breath.

  “What else are you hiding from me?”

  She hung her head, wrapping her arms instinctively around her belly. “Nothing, I promise.”

  “Liar!” He rushed down the hall toward her room. He yanked a drawer from her dresser and threw it on the floor, spilling the contents. It didn’t matter. Her whole room had already been torn apart, her clothes tossed around, her journals torn up, books thrown off the bookshelves, and her picture frames broken.

  What did she do to cause all this? Was it really just because of a cheap necklace? She didn’t understand.

  “What else are you hiding from me?” he screamed in her face again.

  When she didn’t answer, he stalked away and then returned, tossing a box of trash bags at her. “That’s what you are, just a piece of trash. Pack up and get out.”

  She stood in the middle of the mess, holding her belly and crying, promising her unborn child she’d always protect her.

  She packed as much as she could into two bags. Then she called Georgie.

  She remembered feeling so ashamed she only had a teacher to call. No mother. No friends. Only an undependable drunk of a boyfriend. But moving to the farm forever changed her life, changed it so much for the better.

  She popped open the locket. “I bought this for you.” She showed Emma a black and white ultrasound picture of a tiny little peanut-shaped blot. “That’s you.”

  She pulled back Emma’s long blonde hair and clasped the fine chain around her neck as her daughter hung onto the locket, studying the photo. “That’s a baby? That’s me?”

  “Mmm Hmm,” Hannah laughed, hugging her from behind.

  The locket reminded her of her old dreams, and some brand new ones.

  “Do you think you could take Emma back to the farm?” she asked Olivia.

  “Sure. Where you going?” she asked.

  “I think I’m going to buy a ranch.”

  Olivia smiled.

  Emma started clapping her hands. “Yes, Mama, do it!”

  She sped through town, hoping she wouldn’t run into any police on the way, but she was suddenly terrified that the Wilsons might sell the place before she could talk to them. There had already been offers, from what Jake had told her. She raced all the way to Quail Ridge Road, but slowed on the gravel, watching out for the Gunderson kids.

  She pulled down Jake’s driveway and saw Millie first.

  He came walking out of the barn, wiping his hands on a rag. He shaded his eyes and smiled.

  “Hey, this is a nice surprise,” he said.

  He had no idea about the will, or the house, or how she had been hoping and dreaming for this exact moment her whole life.

  “I want us to be together,” she said, out of breath from her panicked state. “I want to be with you, and live here on this farm, and start a family.”

  His face fell. “Hannah, you know I can’t afford this place.”

  She pulled out the will and handed it over to him. “We can afford it now, together.”

  He looked down, shaking his head. “Hannah, I can’t.”

  “Jake, this isn’t a loan. I want to do this with you.”

  He frowned.

  “Look. I know you’re scared, I am, too. But together–”

  “Hannah, you should use that money for you and Emma.”

  “Emma and I want this.” She held her arms out. �
��I love you. I love all of this, and my father finally was able to do right by his daughter. I know this is real. This thing between us is real. I don’t want to spend another day without you in it.”

  Jake stared at her for a moment. Then he went down on one knee, pulling a box out of his pocket. He took her shaking hand and held up the most beautiful diamond ring she had ever seen in her life, sparkling in the sun.

  “Hannah, will you marry me?”

  Tears came before her answer. “Yes, Jake, I’d love to be your wife.”

  He stood, took her into his arms, and kissed her.

  Chapter 20

  Jake called the Wilsons that night. The couple were happy to wait until everything was cleared with the bank. They were just pleased to know the farm would stay a farm for another generation.

  Then he called Julia, and she met them at Joel’s place that night. “Hannah, you’re going to get a really good price for this place. But if you’re looking for the best profit, you two should put in some elbow grease, fix it up. You’ll get a lot more. A few coats of paint, new counters, maybe new floors.”

  Hannah looked around, and Jake knew that face. Her wheels were spinning.

  “How much are you talking about?” Hannah asked.

  “Thousands, tens of thousands, maybe even more.”

  “More?”

  “I can’t believe anyone would want to pay anything for this place. But maybe with some work….” She looked at Jake, who was walking around the kitchen, opening up cabinets. “Do you think we could do it?”

  “Yeah…” He got down on the floor, picking at ancient linoleum that curled at the corners. “These are hardwood floors underneath.”

  “The house isn’t huge,” Julia said, “but you know what they say, location, location, location. The river is only a few blocks away, there’s shopping and restaurants right along the water on Main. Plus, Pioneer Park is just down the street.”

  “We don’t have the money for a full reno,” Jake cautioned.