Please know that I loved you like a daughter.
Be happy. Love well. Build a good life.
All my love,
Uncle Angus
A large tear rolled off her cheek and splattered in the middle of the page, smearing the ink. Seemingly out of nowhere, a box of tissue slipped between her and the letter in her lap. She jerked a couple out and blew her nose.
“Thanks,” she said with a sniff. “That old coot. How dare he make me cry like this.” God, she would miss him.
The chair beside her creaked as KC lowered herself into the seat. She put an arm around Caroline’s shoulder. Caroline rested her head against KC’s arm and took a deep breath.
“What can I help you with, Caroline?”
She sat back and looked at KC. “Uncle Angus basically tells me that I can do anything I’d like with his ranch except sell it to a member of your family. Why? I don’t get it. He came to you as his lawyer. Until I came to town, he saw Jason Montgomery’s fiancée as his doctor. He never said an unkind word about any of the Montgomerys. I’m baffled.”
KC chuckled. “Angus and I got along fine. In fact, he got along with all the Montgomery women, even doted on us. His feud was with my great-grandfather, and even after Great-Grandpa Henry died, Angus just couldn’t let go.”
When KC didn’t explain further, Caroline frowned. “So? What did they fight over?”
“Great-Grandma Helen.”
“Are you kidding me?”
KC shook her head. “Nope. But back in the forties, there was also some deal with some water rights, which between you and me was probably the real issue. But that was so long ago that I’m not sure of all the details. I was born after his wife died. Did you never meet Bernice?”
Caroline shook her head. “No. She died when I was just a baby.”
“From what I understand, he was crazy about her, so that’s why my money is on the water-rights disagreement. Nevertheless, there always seemed to be a competitive disposition between our two families. But even that had waned a great deal over the past ten years or so.”
“Well, I have no idea what was behind some ancient feud. I promise he never said anything to me about y’all except to complain that my medical partner snagged the only good Montgomery man before I could. Seems he really liked your cousin Jason.”
They both laughed and Caroline found her tension—coiled like a stiff bedspring—easing.
“But…” Caroline handed KC the letter, “…look at the last paragraph about selling Singing Springs.”
KC read it and tsked. “Still trying to control things from the grave. That is so much like something Angus would do. I know Travis has been trying to buy that property for years, but Angus wouldn’t sell. Don’t know why. Honestly, men can be so silly sometimes.” She handed the letter back. “But he’s made it clear that you can do whatever you want with the property. Should you decide to sell, I’ll be glad to help you any way I can. I’m sure you can get a good price for the ranch. But let me just say I agree with Angus about you staying here. I know Lydia would be thrilled. Anyway, I think we’ve covered everything…unless you have questions?”
“I don’t right now.”
“Fine. If you think of something, you know you can call on me anytime.”
Caroline stood when KC did. “Will do.” She hugged her friend, the charms on her bracelet rattling with movement. “Thanks for everything.”
“Any time. Let’s have dinner soon, okay?”
“Works for me.”
As Caroline left KC’s office, Jason called to her. “Caroline. Can you come in here for a minute?”
“Sure.” Caroline walked into his office. “What’s up, Jason?”
“Lydia and I are having dinner with my parents this weekend. I was just talking with my mother, and she asked me to invite you to join us. Can you?”
After talking with KC about the infamous Fitzgerald-Montgomery feud, she briefly wondered if discovering she was related to Angus Fitzgerald would affect her friendship with the Montgomerys. After seeing the entire Montgomery family at the funeral, Jason’s warm consolation, and now Jackie Montgomery’s invitation to dinner, she decided she was being foolish to even have such thoughts.
She smiled, warmed by Jackie’s dinner invitation. “I’d love to, Jason. Tell your mother thank you.”
“Great. Once I have all the details, I’ll let you know.”
Friday afternoon, Travis Montgomery pulled his truck under the only shade tree in the Montgomery and Montgomery Law Offices parking lot. He hoped his brother had some news for him about Fitzgerald’s place. After ten years of unsuccessfully trying to get Old Man Fitzgerald to sell, Singing Springs Ranch would finally be his. He could feel it in his bones.
He hadn’t known Fitzgerald had family, so finding out Caroline Graham was his great-niece was a tad of a surprise, but no big deal. Other than Caroline, no other Fitzgerald family members mentioned in the obit lived here. He couldn’t imagine that old tightwad leaving his ranch to any of them. And even if he did, there was no way anyone would up and move to Texas just because they inherited a rundown ranch, especially if that person knew nothing about ranching. Yup. Whoever ended up with Singing Springs would be thrilled to unload it, and Travis wanted to make sure that person unloaded it right into his hands.
He let himself in the back door of his brother’s office, stopping long enough to grab a bottle of cold water from the kitchen, then headed for the reception area.
After removing his beige straw cowboy hat, he leaned over the reception desk to give Jason’s secretary a wink. “Hi, Mags. Is little brother available?”
“Hey, handsome,” Margaret said then sighed. “If only I were twenty years younger and not married…”
Travis slapped his hat across his heart. “My bachelor days would be over.”
She smiled and nodded toward the closed door down the hall. “He’s on the phone. I’ll let him know you’re here. I’d offer you something to drink, but you seemed to have helped yourself.”
He rolled the dewy bottle on the back of his neck. “Can’t decide if I want to drink this or pour it over my head. Man, it’s a killer out there. What about KC? Is my lovely cousin around?”
Before Margaret could respond, Jason’s door opened. “I thought I heard a reprobate out here. Stop flirting with my secretary and c’mon back. I’ve got a date with Lydia tonight and you know she hates when I’m late.” He ducked back into his office, leaving the door ajar.
Travis groaned. “I’m coming.” He looked at Margaret and hitched his thumb toward the door where his brother had just been standing. “He been in this bad mood all day?”
She shook her head. “Nope. He was quite pleasant when KC headed out about thirty minutes ago. Your cousin’s got perfect timing. She always knows to clear out and avoid the Montgomery brothers when something’s brewing.”
“Lucky me. Wish I knew her magic.”
Travis entered his brother’s office and closed the door behind him. He dropped onto the thick leather sofa running along the office wall then set his hat crown-side down on the cushion beside him. He draped his arm along the back of the sofa. “I hope you’ve got some good news for me. I’ve had a bitch of a day.”
“What happened?”
“One of the Webster kids spooked a new stallion I’d just unloaded. The bastard almost trampled me, John and a couple of hands before we could get him under control.”
Jason frowned. “I’d think your foreman’s kids would know better than to get near a stallion, especially one I suspect was antsy to begin with. Which kid?”
Travis’s mouth cocked up on one side in a grimace. “Rocky. He had a classmate visiting, and I think he was trying to impress him. But after John and Nadine get done with him, I suspect his ears will be ringing for the next week.” He gave a small chuckle. “And I’m getting my stalls mucked out for free for at least a month, maybe two.”
“I hated mucking stalls.”
“So I remember
. What’s the good news?”
Jason took a seat closer to the sofa. “Well, I’ve got good news and bad news.”
“Great. Bad news first then.”
“Fitzgerald had KC prepare his will about a year ago, so his estate won’t be going to the state to resolve.”
Travis scowled. “I was afraid of that,” he growled. “So what can you tell me now?”
“All the beneficiaries have been notified and the will duly probated. It was fairly straight forward. I don’t foresee anyone challenging it.”
“So don’t keep me waiting. Who do I need to talk to about buying Singing Springs?”
“Dr. Caroline Graham.”
Chapter Two
The breath left Travis’s lungs as though he’d been kicked in the gut by a wild stallion.
He leaned forward. “Are you shitting me?” His brother flinched, which made Travis realize how loud he’d just yelled.
Caroline Graham was the first woman he’d been seriously attracted to since his wife died ten years ago. He hadn’t acted on his attraction to her and didn’t plan to. She was a short-timer. No reason to start something that would leave him alone when she left…and she’d made no secret of her traveling lifestyle.
And now to find out he’d have to deal with her to get Singing Springs made his insides ache. That might require too much close interaction.
He lowered the volume when he continued, but the shock of the information continued to stun him. “Solely to her? Nobody else?”
His brother nodded.
“But why?”
Jason shrugged. “Apparently, he adored Caroline.”
Travis flopped against the back of the sofa and blew out a long, exasperated breath. “Apparently.” Damn. So close and yet not close enough. “Did you get any other news out of our dear closed-mouth cousin?”
“Don’t be pissed at KC. She was just doing her job.”
“Damn woman has heard me talk about getting that ranch for years. She could have tipped me off to be nicer to the good doctor.”
Jason chuckled. “Like you haven’t had your eye on Caroline Graham already.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Right.” Jason’s mouth twitched as though he was struggling not to smile. “Sorry. Don’t know what I was thinking to accuse you of being attracted to a beautiful woman.”
Travis gave his brother his best eat-shit expression. “She’s still planning on leaving at the end of the year, right? Inheriting Singing Springs hasn’t changed her plans, right?”
Jason shrugged again. “Not that I’ve heard. Lydia has talked to her about staying on full time, but she insists she’s off to Montana in January, so it doesn’t appear she has any plans on remaining in Whispering Springs past December.”
“Well, tell your fiancée to stop asking her to stay, damn it. Lucky for me, she’s just passing through.” Even as he said the words, a pang of regret at what might have been hit him in the solar plexus. He took a long draw on his water to staunch the pain. It didn’t help much. If only he could have a stiff shot of bourbon… “And what are you smiling about?”
Jason made like he was zipping his lips.
“As I was getting ready to say, she’d probably be glad to leave town with a nice chunk of change in her pocket. I want to make her an offer before anyone else has the chance. Why don’t you draw up a bill of sale and I’ll run by this weekend. Leave the sale price blank, and I can fill it in when we come to terms.”
Jason held up a hand. “Whoa there, bro. Slow down. Caroline just lost her great-uncle, and now she has all these decisions to make about the estate. Give her a chance to catch her breath.”
“But what if someone gets to her before I do?”
“I suppose that’s possible, but the way your holdings wrap around three sides of Fitzgerald’s place, I can’t see anyone else wanting Singing Springs.”
“Did she say anything to you or KC about selling?”
Jason shook his head. “KC said Caroline’s a little overwhelmed at the moment. Angus hadn’t clued her in that she was his heir, so she’s still processing the ramifications and all her options. If you start pushing her, I’m afraid she’ll just shut you down. Maybe in the next week or so.”
Travis scratched his head. “Okay, but no later. Go ahead and draw up a bill of sale for me to have just in case.” He studied his brother’s face. “What? You’re looking at me strange.” He grinned. “Stranger than usual.”
“Nothing. I’ll put together something for you. On a different subject, you going over to Mom and Dad’s for dinner Saturday night?”
“Probably. You and Lydia going?”
“That’s the plan.”
Travis stood and collected his hat. “Okay then. I’ll see you tomorrow. And for Pete’s sake, keep your ear to the ground about Singing Springs though. If the good doctor even hints she wants to sell, I want to be the first to know.” He reached for the door.
“Travis.”
He turned back. “What?”
“Caroline will probably be at dinner tomorrow night. Lay off her, okay?”
“Yeah, sure. No problem.”
“I’m driving up tomorrow, Mamie.”
“You don’t need to do that.” Mamie’s cough rattled through Caroline’s phone receiver.
“I want to see you. I should be there about noon or so.”
“How long can you stay?”
“I have to get back to Whispering Springs on Monday.”
“I wish you could stay longer.”
“Me too.” Caroline’s head rested against the back of her sofa. She unsuccessfully struggled to suppress the tears welling up. She talked to her grandmother every day, saw her as often as she could make the seven-hour drive back to Arkansas. Her grandmother was dying. Caroline knew it. Mamie’s doctor knew it. And Caroline was pretty sure that Mamie knew it too.
“Is that Montgomery boy coming with you this time?”
Her heart thudded at the mention of Travis. “No. Not this time. Maybe next time.”
She hadn’t meant any harm when she told her grandmother she was dating Travis Montgomery. Mamie worried so much about Caroline being alone. Caroline had only meant to give her grandmother some peace of mind, but instead Mamie asked about him on every visit, with every call.
“Well, I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow.” Mamie’s years as a judge had groomed her voice into a strong, authoritarian tone. The whispery, weak voice on the other end broke Caroline’s heart. It didn’t sound anything like Caroline’s robust grandmother.
“Bye, Mamie. Love you.”
Caroline dropped her cell onto the coffee table. Guilt gnawed at her. Lying to her grandmother about dating Travis was so wrong, but the idea of her beloved grandmother on her deathbed worried about Caroline’s love life—or lack thereof—sliced and diced Caroline’s heart. How many times had Mamie said she wanted Caroline to love and be loved by a man worthy of her affections?
Caroline pressed the back of her head into the softness of the sofa. The deception had started so innocently. When her grandmother kept asking about Caroline’s life in Texas, Travis had been standing outside her office door talking to Lydia, and his name had rolled off her tongue before she could stop it. Once the idea was planted, her mind refused to let go. It was as though gasoline had been poured on her tiny spark of crush on him, exploding it into an inferno attraction.
Unfortunately, Travis hadn’t expressed any interest in her, so she’d never acted on her feelings. Besides, she had no plans to settle down with anyone, much less settle in Texas.
Mamie had never mentioned anything about bad blood between her brother and the Montgomerys. She’d questioned Caroline at length about Travis and how he treated her, but when Caroline had continued to sing Travis’s praises, her grandmother had seemed pleased—and relieved—that Caroline had found her true love. God, she’d felt so guilty when her grandmother used the phrase true love, but luckily it’d been on the pho
ne and Caroline had been able to hide her remorse at the lie.
She dipped her chin to her chest and rolled her head from side-to-side to stretch the stiff muscles in her neck. An elephant-sized tear rolled down her cheek and Caroline swiped angrily at it. She might have overdone the “sell the idea of being in love with Travis” to Mamie. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to fall in love, but she was nothing if not realistic.
Mamie and Grandpa Richter’s kind of love didn’t happen often and certainly would never happen to her. Besides, she wasn’t sure she had the capacity to produce that degree of emotional attachment to anyone other than her grandmother. Attraction to a man was a long way from love, right?
The gratitude she felt for her grandmother had no bounds, just like what Caroline would do for Mamie had no bounds. When Caroline let herself stew over the past, her guilt about crashing into Mamie’s life unannounced and uninvited made her nauseous. She never doubted for a minute that her grandmother loved her, but Mamie had had to give up so much of her personal and professional life to raise Caroline and then Noah. There was no way Caroline could ever repay her.
When Caroline’s parents had dropped her on Mamie’s doorstep to raise, freeing them up to return to their missionary work, Mamie had greeted Caroline with more hugs and kisses than Caroline could remember in all of her five years of being alive.
Then Mamie had stepped up again to take in Noah.
She’d been more than a grandmother to both of them. She’d been their lifeline, their anchor. At least Caroline had been blessed to be raised to adulthood by her grandmother. Noah had had only nine years with Mamie.
The reality of losing Mamie swamped her. She stood and went to the bathroom for a tissue.
Get a grip, Caroline. All this navel gazing about her life wasn’t solving the problem. Her problem was how could she convince her grandmother that she was in love and happy when the exact opposite was true?
Texas Tango: Texas Montgomery Mavericks, Book 2 Page 2
