A Lost Love's Legacy (Sons Of A Gun Book 5)

by Brenda Sinclair

“Close enough,” AJ interjected.

  “Congratulations, little brother. And you, too, Rosie. I’m certain you’ll both be very happy,” Jackson called from the other side of the table. “Now, can we eat? I’m starving.”

  Adam returned to the room with a tray filled with glasses. “Not until we have a toast to the newly engaged couple,” he announced.

  Rosie gasped. “I didn’t even notice you’d left the room.”

  “This is very thoughtful, Adam.” Michael extended his hand. Adam set the tray on the table and the brothers shook hands before Adam distributed the glasses.

  AJ stood at his son’s side. “To a wonderful young lady and my youngest son. The last one to find the woman especially for him. May you be as happy as Michael’s mother and I were every day of our time together.”

  “Hear, hear,” Jackson shouted.

  “And as happy as Willow and I are,” Adam added.

  Jackson added, “And Lily and me.”

  “Boys… marriage is not a competition,” AJ reminded them as everyone clinked glasses.

  “To your future together,” Anna offered, looking directly at her daughter. “May your marriage be long and happy, and may your life with Michael be full of love and everything you ever hoped for.”

  “Thank you, Mother,” Rosie replied and then took a sip of her sherry. Had her mother’s toast resulted from recollections of her own unhappy, loveless marriage? It appeared Anna wanted a better life for her only child, and Rosie appreciated the sentiment her mother had voiced. Rosie totally disagreed with everything her mother had instigated, especially regarding the ranch, but Anna was her mother and she supposed she loved her despite her upbringing and their current differences.

  Now, if they could only solve the mystery concerning her mother’s parentage, Rosie’s life would be perfect, and she would be free to marry Michael without any hurt feelings or unresolved issues hanging over their heads.

  Rosie looked into Michael’s eyes. “I love you,” she whispered, clinking glasses with him.

  “I love you, too,” he replied, kissing her cheek. “And I always will.”

  “I can’t wait until we’re married. I don’t want to waste another day without you in my life.”

  “We do need to set a wedding date and plan our celebration. Pa will insist on a proper wedding, despite the turmoil surrounding the future of the family and the ranch.” Michael smiled.

  Rosie nodded and sipped her sherry. Was it too much to hope that they could find a means to bring all that to an end before she and Michael said the I dos? Or was that simply wishful thinking?

  * * *

  While cleaning tack, Michael found himself surrounded by his brothers in the horse barn the next morning.

  “So you proposed to Rosie?” Adam began.

  Jackson chimed in, “And she accepted. No surprise there.”

  “Of course not. We love each other.” Michael defended his fiancée.

  “Are you sure you’re not marrying the enemy?” Simon offered, clarifying the purpose of this ambush.

  “I thought you were happy for us? Last night, you—”

  “That was for Pa’s benefit. He’s a mite fond of Rosie. Don’t mean we are,” Adam clarified.

  “Well, she’ll be a member of this family soon. Carry the name McLennon like the rest of us. And you couldn’t be more wrong about her.” Michael’s gaze moved from one of them to the other. “Rosie hates what her mother is trying to do. She firmly believes Michael Miller wasn’t her grandfather, and she’s as determined as the rest of us to learn the truth. Pa claimed Michael wouldn’t have compromised Lucille’s virtue, and Rosie is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Although, I don’t think Rosie doubts a single word Pa says.”

  “You truly believe she’d go against her own mother in this?”

  “Yes, Jackson, I know she would. In a heartbeat. She’s never been close with her parents, but her grandmother couldn’t have meant more to her.” Michael scratched his chin. “Rosie wants to learn the truth as much as we do. And she would never forgive herself if her mother succeeded in taking this ranch from us.”

  “Why’d she send for her mother then?” Adam blurted. “If that witch hadn’t shown up here…”

  “Rosie informed her mother where she was so she wouldn’t send out the authorities looking for her. It certainly wasn’t Rosie’s intention for Anna to travel to Montana.” Michael stood, hands on hips. “No one was more surprised than Rosie when Anna showed up at the Double M. Rosie told her mother to leave. It was Pa who invited Anna to stay.”

  “I bet he regrets that,” Jackson scoffed.

  “No doubt he does. But you know Pa’s generous heart. Always thinking of others to a fault,” Adam muttered.

  “What’s done is done. Now we need to see to it Anna doesn’t get her way.” Michael settled the saddle back in place, finished with the oiling. “We won’t win against Anna if we’re fighting like a bunch of alley cats on a hot summer night. We need to stand together in this, united in our convictions, and prove we belong here. Convince any dang judge that we deserve to own the Double M. That it was Michael Miller’s intentions we remain here as we have for decades now. And will for generations to come.” Michael stood hands on hips. His brothers had riled him up a mite. He’d spewed more words in the past minute than anyone normally got out of him in a week. But he’d stand by the woman he loved until his last breath.

  Jackson rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re right. I’ll trust Rosie, if you say she’s on our side. Can’t say as I’ve seen her do anything that would suggest otherwise.”

  “Me either. Yet,” Adam conceded.

  “What about you, Simon?”

  His brother nodded.

  “Good then.” Michael adjusted his Stetson. “Then let’s get back to work. This ranch ain’t gonna run itself and the McLennons will be living here for decades longer. At least, if I have any say in it.”

  “Hear, hear,” Jackson and Adam added in unison.

  “All right.” Simon headed for the door. “I need to get back to my own ranch. Good luck with this easterner. I hope she gets set straight and hauls her tail feathers back to Boston as soon as possible.”

  “That’s the plan, little brother,” Jackson called. “Say hello to Violet for us.”

  Simon waved his hand and disappeared out the door.

  “Back to work, boys.” Jackson waved a hand in their direction. “I’ll let you know what Pa learns in town once he talks to Sam Perkins’ grandfather and a couple other old fellows. I just hope one of them recalls something.”

  Michael gazed heavenward. He hoped for the same. Otherwise, he hadn’t the first clue what they’d do.

  Chapter 32

  Michael slumped in the chair across the desk from his father.

  Jamieson Davies stood. “I’ll be heading for home. But I encourage the McLennons to reason with Anna in hopes of settling on a compromise.”

  “By ‘the McLennons’, you mean me,” AJ suggested.

  The lawyer nodded. “Your best move is to reach… a compromise that appeases both the family and Mrs. Dalton, despite her seemingly unfounded claim.”

  Reading between the lines, Michael figured the lawyer hinted a monetary offering might settle the matter. Giving that woman even one penny riled his sense of fairness, but something needed to be done and soon.

  “So you fear we’ll never know the truth, but some judge just might believe her,” AJ muttered, crossing his arms over his chest.

  Jamieson shook his head. “Your word against Anna’s.”

  “If only Lucille had spelled out the truth in her diary, we wouldn’t be speculating what she meant exactly,” Michael grumbled.

  “That’s true. There’s too many ways to interpret Lucille’s words that serve the reader’s own purposes. And Anna’s doing just that.” AJ shook his head.

  Just then a loud knock on the door drew their attention from their conversation.

  “Mind if I come in?”<
br />
  “Come in, Sammy,” AJ offered. “Something wrong in the cookshack?”

  Sammy Anderson shook his head and wandered into the room. “That’s not why I’m here.”

  “I was just leaving.” Jamieson stuck his bowler on his head.

  “You’d best stay and hear this, Mr. Davies,” Sammy suggested.

  “All right, if you think it best. No reason to rush back to town.” The lawyer removed his hat and returned to his chair.

  Michael straightened in his seat and stood. Sammy sat quietly, not making eye contact with AJ. “Here, Sammy, sit here.” Michael walked over to the window and settled on an armless wooden chair, wondering what the old cook had to say. He would swear the old fellow seemed nervous, worried even. Had he done something and feared a reprimand? Had he and Eric disagreed over the cookshack operations? Had he fired Eric in a heated moment and feared a scolding? Surely, Sammy didn’t think he needed a lawyer to represent him.

  “What’s this about?” AJ opened the conversation.

  “It’s about Michael Miller.” Sammy sighed. “And Lucille Woodley.”

  “I reckoned it might be.” AJ crossed his arms over his chest.

  “I knew both of them, back in ’33 when Lucille and her family were in town. Everyone knew William Woodley traveled to Montana to take a gander at his business enterprises and ensure the partners and managers were working up to snuff. And he brought his wife and daughter along for the trip. Lucille’s pa held numerous financial interests in Butte and a couple in Milestone, as well.”

  Michael slid forward in his chair. “So you met the fellow?”

  Sammy shook his head. “Not me. After Michael and Lucille met at a social evening in town one night, Michael arranged a meeting with Mr. Woodley a few days later to ask if he’d allow him to court his daughter. Any fool could see the two of them were perfect for each other.”

  “Michael fell in love with her the first time they met?” AJ interrupted.

  Sammy smiled and chuckled. “Never in my life have I witnessed a man fall in love so fast after meeting a female. That first night, Michael simply gazed into her eyes and she done the same. He couldn’t have put a sentence together if his life depended on it. Then Michael got it into his head to court her, proper like.”

  “By asking permission,” Michael clarified.

  Sammy nodded. “I went about my business, keeping to myself. Never heard what became of the meeting with her pa until Lucille and Michael spoke to each other at the Milestone Hotel several days later. Michael and I were in town for another community social. Of course, Lucille and her parents attended also. Michael seemed troubled when he was talking to the girl. Next thing I know she’s crying her eyes out and she races out of the hotel. Nearly knocked me over when she run into me in the doorway. She muttered an apology and disappeared into the hotel gardens. It was well past dark and I reckoned she’d hurt herself if she weren’t careful, so I followed her.”

  “Where was Michael? Why didn’t he go after her?”

  Sammy met eyes with AJ. “Lucille explained to me that her father refused to let Michael court her. Her pa told him his daughter deserved better and to stay away from her since the family was returning back east next day.”

  AJ nodded, encouraging him to continue.

  “Lucille was a mite upset about that, let me tell you. She sobbed and sobbed and ranted about how unfair her father was being. I didn’t know what to do. Can’t abide a crying female,” Sammy admitted, shaking his head. “Couldn’t then, can’t now.”

  Michael sympathized with the old fellow. Female tears bothered him no end, too. Nothing sent most fellows into heart palpitations quicker than dealing with a sobbing woman.

  “So what happened next?” Jamieson looked enthralled with the story.

  “Well, I suggested she and Michael just go against her father’s wishes. They were perfect for each other to my reckoning. Lucille stumbled about, completely befuddled, still sobbing. I didn’t know what to do.” Sammy dragged his hand down his face. “No matter what I said, I couldn’t console her. She didn’t want to return to Boston, and she was muttering something about never marrying anyone her father figured was more suitable.”

  “Sounds like she definitely loved Michael Miller as much as he loved her,” Jamieson observed.

  “You’re right. I done some stupid things in my youth, and I wasn’t half as ambitious as Michael. I’d guessed he’d hired me as ranch cook because he felt sorry for me. Michael Miller was an excellent, honest businessman, but he was so busy starting his ranch and running his other business interests, the man hardly knew I existed. I remember being so blinded by jealousy of Michael I couldn’t see straight.”

  “I didn’t realize you felt tossed aside,” AJ said, softly.

  “Well, my reckonings were likely all in my head. But when I found his gal crying, I considered the possibility she’d fall for me instead. Plumb stupid thinking, I know. But it didn’t stop me from doing what I done.”

  Michael glanced at his pa. “What are you talking about, Sammy?”

  “Go ahead. Tell him what I’ve started to suspect,” AJ said.

  “Michael Miller was a moral man.” Sammy nodded and threw up his hands. “While I was comforting Lucille and we was akissing each other, one thing led to another, and well… it weren’t Michael who compromised that young lady’s virtue. It was me,” he whispered. “All mutual, of course, I never forced her into anything.”

  Michael sat, stunned. His pa nodded his head and dragged his hand down his face.

  “Michael weren’t Anna’s pa… I am,” Sammy voiced his confession.

  “You?” Michael exclaimed.

  “My, oh my, this does change things,” Jamieson muttered.

  Sammy nodded and sighed. “Michael returned to the ranch that night. And the next day, Lucille returned home to Boston with her folks. I reckoned she’d marry some feller her pa picked for her. Michael never mentioned her name again, and I sure as shooting never told him what happened that night.”

  “Doesn’t surprise me Michael never married,” AJ observed.

  “I never admitted nothing, but guilt almost ate me alive every time I thought of what I done to a feller who’d been nothing but kind to me. Then Michael passed years later, and I figured the matter was behind me. No one would ever learn the truth.” Sammy scoffed, “Until Miss Rosie arrived at the ranch spilling her story. When I realized that little girl had to be my granddaughter, the truth nearly stopped my heart.”

  Michael gasped. “That’s right. You’re Rosie’s grandfather.”

  “Why didn’t you say something earlier?” AJ demanded.

  “I never dreamed there’d be a baby, but when I learned the result of that stupid mistake I made decades ago, the guilt started up all over again.”

  “And then Anna decided to claim the ranch as her own.” AJ met his eyes.

  Sammy shook his head. “I didn’t figure anyone would believe Anna and her fool claims. But when she tried to steal this ranch from you, and it appeared she might actually succeed… I had to stop her. I told Anna that Michael wasn’t her pa, but she wouldn’t listen to a word of it. Mighty greedy, that girl.”

  Michael shifted on his chair. “And so you decided to fess up.”

  Sammy nodded. “I knew I couldn’t sit by and let her steal your pa’s inheritance. Michael Miller wanted AJ to have this place.”

  “He truly did. I recall the reading of the will,” Jamieson added.

  Sammy sighed. “You’ll probably run me off the ranch now that you know what I done, but the truth had to come out.”

  AJ shook his head. “Not when you’re the only person who can prove her claims are unfounded. Jamieson can put this to rights now, for all of us.”

  “Anything you want, AJ.” Sammy stuck out his hand. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am that the worst mistake of my life almost cost you the Double M.”

  A loud gasp sounded near the doorway, and Michael turned to see who’d overheard the
conversation. Anna stood there, her face white as a bedsheet.

  “I… I…” Her hand flew to her mouth. “You? You’re my father?”

  “I’m sorry, girl. But you wouldn’t listen to reason. I told you Michael wasn’t your pa,” Sammy muttered.

  “And you consider me nothing more than the worst mistake of your life?” Anna uttered the venomous-sounding accusation, and then stormed out of the room.

  “What have I done to that girl? My own daughter,” Sammy whispered. “If I’d only known about her…”

  “She’s hurting and she’s in shock,” AJ reasoned. “Not the best way to learn the truth about herself.”

  “You need to apologize to Anna. Tell her your true feelings,” Michael added.

  “I didn’t mean… I wanted you to realize…” Sammy slumped in the chair. “Dang it all. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut.”

  “No, you’ve done the right thing.” Jamieson stood and stuck his hat on his head.

  AJ rested a hand on Sammy’s shoulder. “Anna will understand. You’ll see.”

  “I surely hope so.” Sammy clambered out of the chair. “That woman is my daughter. I… I’m not certain how I feel about that. But she’s kin and I…”

  Michael watched Sammy age a couple more years before his eyes. He couldn’t imagine how the old fellow had been struggling, wrapping around his mind the idea of having a daughter. And to watch how unfair she’d been to the folks he considered family. Driven purely by greed most likely.

  “No man is perfect. No man is a saint, Sammy. Every man has made mistakes he’s not proud of.” AJ slapped Sammy on the back. “Give it some time, and everything will work out.”

  Sammy nodded and followed AJ and Jamieson out of the study.

  Michael sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. Finally, the truth had been revealed. But would that help Rosie? Or had that can of trouble Sammy mentioned awhile back just been ripped wide open and the contents stuck to the edge, waiting to spill all over?

  For weeks, he’d hoped to learn the truth. Now that he had, he wasn’t so certain that knowing the entire story would prove a good thing after all.