Secrets and Lace (Lonely Lace #2)

by Bonnie R. Paulson

  Long strides carried him up the steps to the front door and into the foyer. Sobbing – that he’d caused – signaled him from the kitchen. Exactly where he’d imagined she’d be.

  He stopped in the doorway, just shy of being seen. The bright red, chipped teapot whistled cheerily into the room. The sound slammed Robbie into memories of Amelia crying about things the kids at school would say like calling her a slut because she dated him, the trouble her parents gave her because of him, and all the other times Robbie would find her nursing loose leaf tea and its soothing qualities.

  Never having appreciated all she’d done for them… for him… the pain she’d suffered over the years because of him came to the forefront and the guilt ate at his gut. He had to make it right for her. He had to make her see that he’d never wanted her in pain – ever.

  He loved her. Loves her. Always.

  She sniffed. “I know you’re there, Robbie. You’re ruining my tea. Just go away.” Her deadpan delivery gave Robbie pause. Emotional screaming he expected. Sobbing outrage with things thrown his way he’d accept. But apathy seemed so out of character for Amelia concerning them, Robbie worried he might have lost her for sure. The possibility tore through him with serrated reality.

  “I can’t. You sent me away before. I’m not missing out on any more of my son’s life because you don’t want me here.” He stepped into the kitchen and crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall.

  Her humorless laugh fell between them like a porcelain plate, cracking on the edges. “I didn’t send you anywhere. You ran and you told Ronan to tell me goodbye. Remember?” She lifted her green eyes to him, the heated pain reassuring on so many levels.

  Her emotions he could handle, it meant she still cared. But wait — “What? No, I—”

  “For Hell’s sake, Robbie, quit the damn lying!” She slammed her hand on the granite counter and stared with such anger. “I’m done with it. You didn’t have to sleep with Bethany. Of all people.” She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “Bethany James. That’s like… I can’t even.” She straightened again and shook her head. “I actually feel sick and now Ronan thinks I should ask for a divorce.”

  Robbie lifted his hand and tilted his head to the side. “Wait, you James people are twisted. I didn’t marry you. I would remember that, okay?”

  She stood from the stool, brusquely pouring hot steaming water from the pot to a bowl-sized mug. She repeatedly dipped a greenish-hued teabag in and out of the water. She let it fall into the water, grabbing the sugar dispenser from the side bar and a small spoon. Finally, she stopped. “No. We didn’t get married. Not you and I exactly. But I…” She swallowed, pink coloring her cheeks differently than the tears had. “Ronan gets everything that belongs to Mac and the guardianship of him, if I’m not legally married. I don’t know quite how it works, but his lawyers assure me it’s legal and the judges are all on Ronan’s payroll.”

  She sighed. “Slate had an ID card of yours and we went on the Salish reservation and got married. He pretended to be you. Same look, same signature. We even have wedding photos. It was about a month after you left.”

  Robbie’s shoulders sagged, well the bad one as much as it could when any movement caused it pain. “Why didn’t you tell me? You and my brother kept so many secrets. My son. My land is almost lost. Apparently I have a damned wife. What else did you keep secret?”

  Slate stepped into the kitchen, turning to rest his butt on the island counter. “Amelia, I put Mac down for his afternoon nap. I suspect he’s in your room playing on the Ipad you left on your nightstand.”

  He looked at Robbie from one eye framed with a nasty cut and swelling and spoke from lips oversized and discolored with abrasions down his chin. “How about this one for secrets, little brother? If we lose the ranch to Ronan’s bank, we also lose any claim to the mining rights in the caverns. We will literally lose everything. Everything, Robbie. We’ll be kicked out of here. Ronan has already said he’ll take Amelia and Mac when that happens, if she’ll marry whomever he picks. But you and me? We’re gone. Off MacAllister land.”

  Losing family land that had been owned by a MacAllister for multiple generations wasn’t an option. Robbie had always known he’d have a place to return to at Lonely Rivers. He couldn’t lose the only home he had. “How much debt do you have with Ronan?”

  Slate delivered what felt like a slightly rushed speech. “Just for Lonely River we only owe back taxes that we borrowed for which comes to about twenty-thousand. But it’s the costs of staying in business that have buried us.”

  “Cut the explanations. Just tell me how much.” Robbie eyed his brother. He guessed at fifty, maybe seventy-five-thousand. He could help do something about that.

  Slate cleared his throat. “Three-hundred-thousand.”

  “Three-hundred?” He couldn’t say thousand. The amount was farther away on the achievability scale than even he could comprehend. His voice fell to a whisper and he ignored the issues with Amelia for a second. “How could you get that high into debt with a James?”

  “How could you accrue enough gambling debt that someone wants to kill you?” Amelia bit out.

  Touché. “He wants to kill me because I beat one of his hired hands to death out of self-defense. But you’re right. Debt is debt and it sounds like combined, we’re sitting at about half-a-million bucks. Who has that much money?” Robbie rubbed the bridge of his nose between his forefinger and thumb. Besides Ronan. He looked up, taking in both Slate and Amelia. “What happens if we are married? What does Mac get?”

  Amelia shrugged. “Everything when he turns eighteen, but the male guardian – you as his father – would get fifty percent control at this stage. And with each birthday you get like two more percentage points until he turns eighteen at which point they all roll over to him. It’s really weird. Lots of legalities.”

  “Break the will.” Robbie didn’t understand.

  Amelia sipped her tea, lowering her cup after a long drawn out drink. “We’ve had lawyers and estate specialists who all have worked so hard but can’t get past the knots. I tried. Slate has tried. Even Ronan tried to see if it could be done.”

  “So, why not live with Ronan? Give him what he wants?” Robbie tried not staring hard at her. She’d have to admit how she felt before he’d choke down his own pride.

  Amelia huffed. “Is that what you want? Do you want me out of here? So I’m not in the way? Hell, Robbie, me being here didn’t keep you from screwing your sister-in-law, did it?”

  Gross. When she put it that way, she had a point. “I hadn’t realized you had married me against my will. I guess technically you’re married to Slate.” They both stopped talking, their breathing shallow and uneven as they held in so many things they wanted to say.

  Slate tapped his fingers on the counter. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but it would take a whole helluva lot of… I don’t know… something powerful to make me sleep with Ronan’s wife. She’s not from around here, you know?”

  Deep in thought, Robbie stared unseeing at his brother and wife-by-proxy. When he’d found out about Mac he couldn’t believe he’d ever feel more betrayed. And then this happened. And now… Robbie wondered if he’d ever be able to trust anyone again.

  Slate glanced at Amelia then back at Robbie. “Look, Robbie, this wasn’t planned. We did what we could to save Amelia and Mac as well as Lonely Rivers. We’ve noticed an uptick in clientele over the last three summers, but with the snow, this season is taking longer to get us money. Frankly, I’m worried the vacationers will have already gone somewhere else by the time we get thawed out and ready to camp.” He rubbed his face with one hand, careful to go around the swollen, purple flesh puckering around his eye and down his jaw.

  His brother’s injuries fed Robbie’s guilt. He should’ve been the one to marry Amelia since she’d been pregnant with his kid – even if he didn’t know. He had to do what he could to fix his mistakes. Maybe then he could convince Amelia to give him anoth
er shot… maybe he could convince himself that he deserved another chance.

  All of the information was a lot to take in, but he needed the reality check, something that would help him act, help him do what was needed.

  ~~~

  “MacAllister. I didn’t expect to see you here.” Ronan wiped his mouth with a linen napkin, resting his wrist on the gleaming mahogany dining table. “What do you want?”

  Robbie strode forward, dropping the unopened manila envelope onto the table beside Ronan’s half-filled dinner plate. “I want to work out a deal.”

  Leaning into the high-backed cushioned seat like a king in his castle, Ronan considered Robbie with narrowed eyes and lips pressed into a thin line. He prodded the package. “What makes you think you have anything I’d be interested in?”

  “You’re not interested in the money? It’s a lot of dough, R.J.” Robbie used the nickname from when they’d been friends way back before adulthood had taught them to be wary of each other. “You’re telling me you’re seriously not interested in that?”

  Ronan shrugged, his face tight. “I have more money than even my soon-to-be-ex-wife can spend. Your little offering is more like a slap in the face. What do you want anyway? You earned the cash to get out of debt. What else do you want?”

  Heat flushed Robbie’s face and neck. He wanted Amelia and Mac, but Ronan played life like poker. And Robbie gambled with the best of them. Shit, he usually lost, but this was more than money on the line. This was a chance at having what he’d only ever dreamt about. And he’d be damned if Ronan would spit on it.

  “I want the loan forgiven on Lonely Rivers. I want you to leave Mac alone. I want you to leave Amelia alone. But most of all, I want to see you happy. Settled.” Throughout his list, Ronan’s jaw had tightened, but on the last one, his mouth fell open and he stared wide-eyed at Robbie who desperately wanted to smirk.

  But smirking would take the sincerity out of his words.

  Robbie braced his good arm on the table and pretended to do the same with the other. The pain had heightened and when he had a chance to sit down, he’d probably pass out from it, but right then, he had so much to fight for. “I know you don’t like me. I’m sure it’s because of Slate and Kelsey. Maybe it’s because I knocked up your sister, married her, and left. Maybe you don’t really have a reason. I’m not sure.” Robbie poked his finger down onto the table. “But, R.J., you and I used to be close, man. And I have information that will help you get the freedom you want without having to go through any ugly courtroom battles and save you all the money you owe Bethany… as well as take the pressure off about the heir.”

  Skepticism marred Ronan’s face. He clearly didn’t believe Robbie had anything to offer him, even after hearing the vague promises.

  Robbie waited for his words to sink in, giving Ronan a second to be tempted. “If you don’t take me up on my offer, however, I will help Bethany screw you over. I’ll fight you for ownership of Lacey Caverns. And I’ll make sure you’re broke before the year is out.” He waited. It wasn’t a bluff, but it’d be damned hard to pull off.

  Chin lifted, mouth closed tight, Ronan jerked his chin up in something of a nod. “Go on.”

  “Here are my terms. I’m going to give you the evidence you need to get an annulment from Bethany – not a divorce – an annulment. For that evidence, you’re going to give me a signed statement that you paid me to sleep with her, but that I didn’t do it. You know I drugged her, don’t you.” The last wasn’t a question. Robbie continued. “You’re also going to give me in writing a paid-in-full or loan closed or whatever statement for Slate to take to the bank tomorrow so we will no longer be in debt to you.” He raised his hand to stop Ronan from balking. “All of the debt will be gone.”

  Ronan nodded slowly. “What else?”

  “I think it’s important this next one stay between us. Do you understand? No one else will know about it. I’ll accept a gentleman’s handshake on it after I declare the terms so there isn’t any evidence.” Robbie sucked in a deep breath. “I will forfeit Mac’s share of the property to you, if you give an honest effort in the next month to get married. I don’t care who she is. I don’t care if you love her or not. But the annulment will go through in the next week or so. That will give you enough time in the remainder of the month to get married. Once you’re married and can prove pregnancy, I’ll sign over all of the shares – including Amelia’s. However, you won’t get the caverns rights. Those will be split between our children.”

  “That’s Amelia’s inheritance. You can’t just give her rights away.” Ronan shook his head.

  “Amelia is my wife and we don’t need Lacey Caverns to be happy.” Robbie hoped he wasn’t just speaking off the cuff. He wished desperately for his words to be true. So he faked the hell out of it.

  Irritation marred Ronan’s calm expression. “If I could do an annulment, I’d have it done tomorrow. But that’s impossible. Bethany hasn’t done anything heinous enough for that. All she’s done is screw half of Montana. She’s not the first.” He opened his hands and offered a downturned grimace. “Only grounds for divorce, I’m afraid.”

  Hope that he had Ronan’s attention fueled Robbie. He pulled out the chair next to Ronan and sat down. “But if I could give you information even the way to prove it, would you do it? Would you agree to everything?”

  “Yeah, tell me. I’ll do all that other stuff.” Ronan waved his hand as if pushing everything away from him.

  Robbie’s hands shook slightly. The adrenaline racing through him increased his heart rate and he tried not letting Ronan see his nerves. He produced a pad of paper and pen from the large inner pocket of his duster. “Write it down. Everything I’ve asked you for. And then you hold it, until I’ve given you the information you need. Once I tell you, I’ll expect the paperwork. Got it?”

  Ronan held Robbie’s gaze with his own, as if seeking some sign that he was being tricked or worse, that maybe it was the truth. He slowly nodded and bent over the pad, pen in hand. He wrote in a scrawling script words that Robbie couldn’t read from his angle. Ronan then placed his hands over it, and nodded. “Okay, let’s hear it.”

  “Bethany isn’t sterile.” There he’d said it. At least a large portion of it.

  Ronan chuckled. “You think that’s enough for everything you asked for? Not even close. Yes, she is. She can’t have children. I’ve tried more times than I know. I’ve been checked and I’m fine. So, it has to be her.” He hung his head, and then looked up. “I’m not proud to say this, but I’ve even turned my head when she’s gone out and screwed around because I hoped she’d come back pregnant. The kid would still be mine. Even if I couldn’t get her pregnant.” He glanced at the papers, pushing his chair away from the table. “Well, I’m sorry to say you’ve wasted —”

  “I’m not done.” Robbie cleared his throat. He waited for Ronan to sit back in his seat. Robbie folded his hands and spoke very deliberately. “When I was getting Bethany a drink last night, she tossed me a condom. I asked what it was for and she proceeded to tell me about three pregnancies she’d lost since being married you.”

  The blood drained from Ronan’s face, his skin ashen under the golden hair combed just so. “She miscarried?” His whisper demanded it be true, refused to accept anything else, but the question itself had to know.

  Robbie paused, how far did he go? He didn’t want to shatter Ronan, but the man needed the information, needed the freedom attached to the knowledge. “No. She aborted the babies, all three. Your insurance covered it. You can most likely get statements from them on the procedures covered. If I remember correctly, your prenuptial stated plainly that any attempts to get in the way of producing an heir would null and void the marriage consummation and would result in an annulment. Right?”

  Staring at the tabletop, Ronan nodded very slowly.

  “Then I suggest you break free of her. I also suggest you take me up on my offer. Don’t think of it as extortion or anything, think more along the li
nes of a trade. Lacey Caverns for Lonely Rivers. And we continue to share the mining rights.” Robbie leaned forward and clasped Ronan’s shoulder, shaking him enough to get his attention. “Ronan, we need to work together. Caracus will be back and he’s going to want what’s in those mines. If we don’t unite at least on the front lines, we’re going to have a fight on our hands. Who knows if we both survive, you know?”

  “The rights are tied up in legal tape since Slate owes – owed – me so much money. I’ll see what I can do to get them back to us.” He didn’t look higher than Robbie’s chin, focusing instead on items around the room. Ronan shoved the papers to Robbie. “Here. I… I don’t know what to say. But since I can check the insurance, it must be true. Right? She killed my children?” He shook his head. “I need some time to figure this out. This is… well, I…” He stood abruptly, holding out his hand. “Thanks for coming this way. I’ll take you up on your offer for trade as well as the month contract to get married. Can you come into the bank tomorrow with Slate so we can work out the finite details?”

  Ronan didn’t wait for Robbie’s agreement. He left the room.

  Robbie watched him go. He didn’t try to stop him. Unfortunately, Robbie might have broken R.J. that night with information meant to help not hurt.

  He read over the admission and froze. Jumping to his feet, he ignored the toppled over chair as he rushed from the house to get to Revenge.

  One more deal and maybe, just maybe, Robbie’s future would be built on a more solid foundation.

  Chapter 17

  “You don’t have to go, Ames.” Slate hugged his nephew with tears streaming down both their faces. “Please. Don’t let him run you off.”

  Thrusting her cosmetics bag into the back seat of Ronan’s four-door rig along with the rest of her custom-made Italian leather luggage, Amelia turned and forced a smile. “It’s okay. Robbie’s right. He and I aren’t married. I should be at my own home.” But the dichotomy of the statement with how she felt nearly choked her. She was home. At Lonely Rivers, she was home. She was so pissed that Robbie was running her off. But…