Tears blurred Rosie’s vision. She loved Michael McLennon so much. If her own father were alive and insisted she return to Boston, predicting she’d marry a Boston aristocrat with a promising future in business or commerce one day, she couldn’t endure the heartbreak. She would never forget Michael ever existed. How had her grandmother survived, especially after learning she’d conceived a child? It all seemed beyond comprehension.
But those six simple words I didn’t elaborate on the details kept Rosie awake at night, tossing and turning in her bed attempting to decipher their meaning. Didn’t elaborate. What did Grandmother mean by that? Elaborate. The one little word that could prove that her mother’s belief Michael Miller fathered her was actually a fallacy, and in truth, another fellow was to blame for her grandmother’s predicament. If her grandmother had taken the time to elaborate, they would know the true meaning behind her words.
“Will we ever learn the truth?” she muttered. Only the parlor walls witnessed her plea and they couldn’t offer an answer. Rosie gazed heavenward. “Grandmother, how I wish you could tell us what happened.”
Rosie swiped at the wetness on her cheeks and then pinched them for color. Supper should be ready and she refused to present herself in a weepy state. She would prove her mother wrong and prevent her from stealing this precious ranch from the McLennons, if it was the last good thing she ever accomplished in life. And she refused to lose the man she loved so dearly due to her mother.
“Grandfather, who were you? There has to be an answer,” she whispered aloud as she closed the parlor door behind her.
Rosie discovered everyone, even Mrs. Sheridan, already seated at the table when she strode into the dining room. Thankfully, her mother hadn’t put in an appearance, and most likely requested a tray be sent to her room. “I apologize for being late.”
“We hoped you’d join us. No one seemed certain where you’d wandered off to,” AJ observed, waving her toward the chair beside Michael’s.
Rosie heaved a sigh. “I needed time to myself in the parlor. Just thinking about… everything.”
Mrs. Sheridan patted her hand, seated on her other side. “I cannot say this often enough… no one blames you for any of this. Simple curiosity brought you to us, and no one would fault you for needing answers to your heritage.”
Rosie blinked back tears. “Thank you for being so understanding.”
“All of us couldn’t agree more,” AJ added. “You’ve been nothing but loyal to our family. We consider you one of us.”
“The problem remains,” Rosie whispered, extracting her handkerchief from her dress pocket and dabbing her eyes. “What will we do about Mother?” She stuffed her handkerchief back into her pocket.
“Jamieson Davies is busy working on our defense. We’ll win… I’m certain of it. There isn’t a judge alive who’ll side with Anna, considering the foggy wording in that diary.”
“Didn’t elaborate on the details,” Rosie repeated the most troubling words, in her opinion. “That most likely referenced the extent of Lucille’s relationship with Michael Miller. The depth of their love despite having known each other for such a short time. Love at first sight. Lucille’s mother may have scoffed at the entire idea.”
Michael cleared his throat and glanced away.
“Not the case for you, son,” AJ whispered, grinning.
Rosie recalled the turbulent beginning to their own love story. Accusing her of lying about Michael Miller being her grandfather. Accusing her being a fraud with ulterior motives. She could smile about it now, but at the time she’d never been more hurt or insulted.
Michael gazed into her beautiful eyes and smiled. “Doesn’t matter when a fellow finds that special person. Just that he finally does.”
Rosie noticed his carefully worded response, conveying his meaning perfectly without admitting aloud he’d fallen for her. Of course, the latter was the worst kept secret on the Double M. Even a blind person could sense how he felt about her. And her sentiment toward him couldn’t be clearer either. Their love for each other positively oozed from every pore on their bodies, resulting in a frequent girly blush from her and cow-eye affection for her in Michael’s expression, which his sister and sisters-in-law teased him about relentlessly.
She briefly glanced away, feeling him gently clasping her hand under the table. She smiled when he winked at her.
“We’re not going to allow this situation to put a damper on our lives. Chores require doing, our animals depend on us for comfort and care, meals need cooking, life goes on, nothing will change.” AJ settled his arm around Michael’s back.
“We’ve put our faith in Jamieson Davies and I’m confident he’ll win in our favor,” Michael added.
“We’ll keep searching for the truth. Michael Miller was not your granddaddy, Rosie. But we’re all hoping to learn who was.”
Rosie nodded. “Thank you, AJ. I don’t know where this tale will end, but the truth is not in those diaries or we would have found it already.”
“I agree.” Mrs. Sheridan patted her hand. “But no one is giving up on learning the real story behind your grandmother’s visit to Montana.”
After AJ offered the blessing, Rosie took the bowl of potatoes from Mrs. Sheridan’s hands and served herself. She couldn’t have accidently toppled into the lives of a more generous, accepting, kind-hearted family. She hadn’t a doubt in her mind that together they would eventually learn the entire truth of her existence. She prayed the discovery process didn’t destroy the family or her relationship with them in the meantime. Especially her relationship with Michael.
She couldn’t lose his love.
The loss would destroy her.
Chapter 23
Anna Dalton sipped a cup of coffee, seated in one of the rocking chairs on the front veranda. Sunshine warmed her on this lovely mid-July morning while pretty colored songbirds chirped and flitted from branch to branch in the cottonwood tree overhead. Although surrounded by the large McLennon family and her daughter, she couldn’t feel more alone in the world.
Of course, her current situation resulted from her own doing.
No one believed her.
Not even her own child.
Well, that wouldn’t prevent Anna from pursuing her personal agenda. She truly believed herself in the right. The proof lay in her own mother’s words, contained within the pages of the leather-bound journal her daughter had discovered hidden somewhere under Anna’s own roof. How had she never learned of her mother’s habit of keeping a diary? They’d never been what anyone would consider a close-knit family, but Anna truly hadn’t known her mother at all.
“Rider approaching,” someone called from across the yard near the horse barn.
Anna’s head whipped up and she gazed toward the well-trodden road leading to the ranch buildings. Sure enough, a lone rider drew closer, riding directly toward the house. A shiver raced up her spine. Had AJ sent for the authorities, having tired of her objection to his interpretation of the journal entries? Would she be arrested for disagreeing with him and initiating legal action against his inheritance of the Double M?
She swallowed hard, her heartbeat racing. She set her coffee cup down and stood, considering her options. Stand her ground and find herself arrested? Run to her room and bar herself inside? Race to the garden and hide among the fruit trees like a misbehaving child until the lawman left? Every choice seemed more ridiculous than the former.
She continued to gaze as the rider approached. The man appeared familiar, for some reason. And then she realized the visitor to the ranch was Randolph Barnes. What would her lawyer be doing here? Why would he venture all the way from Butte to the Double M? Had he doubted her story and come to check out the validity of her claim? She straightened her back, miffed by the very idea. Perhaps she hadn’t hired the right man for the job after all.
“Good morning, Mrs. Dalton,” he called, dismounting and tying his horse’s reins to the hitching rail.
Anna clasped her hands and mutter
ed, “Good morning.”
Randolph Barnes climbed the veranda steps and removed his bowler. “I hope I haven’t come at an inopportune time?”
“I suppose not,” Anna conceded. She might as well hear him out and be done with this. At least she wore one of her nicest dresses and she’d fixed her hair properly this morning.
“Excellent. We have a lot to discuss.”
Anna waved him toward one of the rocking chairs and settled onto the one she’d vacated minutes ago. “Why did you travel all this way?” she blurted, feeling her face redden. She hadn’t intended the question to sound so blunt but he’d surprised her, arriving so unexpectedly.
“What I have to say seemed best related in person,” he offered.
Just then, the front door opened and Mrs. Sheridan stepped outside. “Don’t mean to interrupt, but I thought perhaps you and your visitor would like a cup of coffee?”
“Certainly,” Anna replied, smiling while silently scolding herself for such a display of poor manners. She should have offered Mr. Barnes a refreshment herself. He truly discombobulated her by showing up without warning.
“That would be much appreciated.” Mr. Barnes accepted the cup of coffee the housekeeper handed him from her tray.
“I added a dab of cream and a spoon of sugar,” Mrs. Sheridan explained.
Their visitor smiled and nodded. “Perfect. And thank you.”
Mrs. Sheridan set the tray on a nearby table, pointing to the coffee pot. “Help yourself to another cup and the fixings, Anna.” She returned inside, closing the front door behind her.
Anna silently fumed, having been snubbed by the woman leaving the unspoken message the likes of you can serve yourself. Clearly, Mrs. Sheridan didn’t approve of Anna’s actions against her employer and his family. The woman would discover herself the first employee looking for another job the day Anna won ownership of the Double M.
She reached for her cup and refilled it, adding cream and sugar before returning to her seat. She smiled at Mr. Barnes. “Now, where were we?”
Mr. Barnes sipped his coffee and then sighed. “I come bearing news, both good and bad.”
Anna’s legs trembled beneath her skirts. Both good and bad? Whatever could that mean?
“After you visited our office, Father and I initiated work on your case immediately.” Mr. Barnes set his cup aside on the nearby table. “In the process of our investigation, I telegraphed your Boston banker, Mr. Albert Drake, whom you mentioned during our initial meeting, to confirm that you were who you claimed to be.”
Anna gasped and her mouth dropped open.
Mr. Barnes waved his hand. “Purely, our policy. Nothing derogatory intended against your character, I promise.”
“I understand,” Anna muttered, although a bit perturbed that the fellow would doubt her credibility. “I’m certain Mr. Drake confirmed my story about my husband’s passing and the sale of his business to the newly formed partnership by his colleagues.”
“Yes, everything you told us has been corroborated as we expected,” Mr. Barnes replied. “I’m afraid Mr. Drake shared other information, more troubling communications, as well.”
Anna waited for further explanation while he reached for his cup and drank the remaining contents before setting it down again. Why was he delaying relating his findings? And then she recalled he’d mentioned bad news. And he’d used the word troubling. Was there something she should be worried about?
“Your bank manager replied to our inquiry immediately. Albert Drake claimed he’d been informed you were traveling but he hadn’t been apprised of to where or for what purpose,” Mr. Barnes began.
Anna grimaced. All of that was true. She hadn’t wanted to risk her society friends learning she’d ventured off on a goose chase to retrieve her wayward daughter after all. The less divulged about this questionable paternity matter, the better.
“Anyway, apparently Mr. Drake and his banking colleagues had been frantic to contact you, Mrs. Dalton.”
She gaped. “Our family dealt with that bank for generations. Had he feared when he couldn’t find me that someone had done me harm or worse?”
“Perhaps, but regardless, he seemed relieved to hear from us.” Mr. Barnes leaned forward and met Anna’s eyes. “It appears you have much bigger problems than acquiring ownership of this McLennon fellow’s ranch. A case I must say you most likely won’t win anyway.”
Won’t win anyway? What could be worse than not winning her case? What were these bigger problems?
“I… I don’t understand what you mean?” she muttered.
“Did you fail to mention to my father and me that you’d recently remarried?” Mr. Barnes leaned back in his chair. “Mr. Drake has been contacted by your new husband, and the fellow instructed the manager to transfer all your money from your account into his, enabling him to care for you properly. Without bothering you about financial matters.”
New husband? Transfer all your money?
Anna swallowed the bile rising to her throat. What was he talking about? “I… I haven’t remarried anyone.” And then the realization of what he’d related struck her like a fist to the stomach. Had the banker believed this man? Had he transferred all of her money to this scoundrel’s account? Had her banker left her virtually penniless?
Anna slumped in her chair. If she hadn’t a cent to her name, what would she do? Mr. Barnes claimed she wouldn’t win her case against AJ. She leapt to her feet and gasped. Had her actions without a moment’s consideration for the McLennons caught up with her? Had greed, as her daughter claimed was her motivation, been her downfall?
Had she lost absolutely everything?
A wave of dizziness overtook her and then everything went black.
Chapter 24
Anna blinked and forced her eyes open, squinting against the bright sunshine streaming through a window, recognizing the interior of AJ’s study. “What… what happened?” she muttered.
“You fainted, Anna.”
Anna strained to hear Mrs. Sheridan’s muffled reply, as if the woman spoke the words from the depth of a well. Anna touched the cold cloth resting on her forehead. She truly must have fainted. Something she’d never done in her entire life.
And then she remembered why.
She hadn’t a penny to her name!
“I’m… I’m ruined,” she muttered, tears welling in her eyes and blurring her vision.
Someone touched her hand. “No, Mrs. Dalton. Your funds are safe.”
Anna’s heartbeat raced. Had she heard Mr. Barnes correctly?
“It’s true. Some fellow was claiming to be your new husband. Mr. Drake immediately became suspicious since you hadn’t mentioned anything of the sort to him, and there hadn’t been any mention of such an event in the newspaper.” Mr. Barnes shifted in his chair. “Wise fellow, this Albert Drake.”
“Yes, truly.” Anna processed little of what he reported beyond your funds are safe. Thank goodness for that. Being all alone in the world, she wouldn’t have known what to do.
“Mr. Drake impeded the fellow’s request by insisting on a letter from you requesting the money be transferred from your account to this new husband’s. And he insisted it be signed by you as well.”
Anna heaved a sigh. “Bless you, Mr. Drake. Since I’m hundreds and hundreds of miles away, his request couldn’t be met. That must be the end of it then.”
“Not the case.” Mr. Barnes shook his head. “The fellow presented the letter as requested, including your signature. Mr. Drake immediately suspected the signature was a forgery, since the man showed up with the letter the next day. And Drake knew you weren’t in town and the likelihood the fellow obtained your signature seemed highly unlikely.”
“More like impossible,” Anna blurted, raising her head.
“Keep this on a while longer.” Mrs. Sheridan replaced the cool cloth on Anna’s forehead. “The nerve of this fellow.”
“Who he is remains a mystery. But he obviously knows you’ve come into a substant
ial amount of money after selling your husband’s business.” Mr. Barnes perused several sheets of paper. “Here it is. The banker claims the fellow is Jonathan Wilson Walters.”
Anna shrugged.
“You have no idea who he is?”
“None whatsoever. I’ve never heard the name before.”
“The papers the fellow presented to Drake were signed ‘Anna Walters’ and the crook claimed you’d altered your signature since acquiring your new name.”
“Isn’t that a convenient way around obtaining a signature,” Mrs. Sheridan scoffed.
“Yes, the man doesn’t appear an amateur. But the banker insisted the name on the account was still Anna Dalton, and that the letter instructing him to complete the transfer of funds must be signed as such.” Mr. Barnes smiled at her. “Thankfully, for your sake, Drake is stalling this shyster at every turn. But we must act quickly to thwart this criminal’s intentions. Or your banker might be forced to transfer those funds.”
Anna gasped. “Albert Drake knows the man is a fraud. Why doesn’t he simply summon the authorities and have him arrested?”
“He certainly intends to, but he requires our assistance. You must inform him you haven’t remarried and assure him this Walters fellow is attempting to illegally remove the funds from your account.” Mr. Barnes shook his head. “Time is not on our side. Returning to Boston will take far too long. We need to act now.”
Mrs. Sheridan touched Anna’s arm. “You know I’m not fond of you, considering what you’re attempting to do to the McLennons. But I don’t want you ruined by this dreadful fellow either. I have an idea.”
Anna sat, stunned, as the housekeeper patted her hand and then hurried out of the room. Why would the woman who clearly despised her, offer assistance without hesitation? She may have underestimated Mrs. Sheridan. No wonder everyone on the ranch adored the selfless, caring woman.
A few minutes later, AJ strode into the room with Mrs. Sheridan on his heels.
“Nellie tells me there’s a bit of trouble brewing in Boston, concerning Anna,” AJ said, meeting eyes with Mr. Barnes.
A Lost Love's Legacy (Sons Of A Gun Book 5) Page 15
