by Ivy Jordan
“I wish,” I laughed.
As we said our goodbyes, I started to relax, but the feeling immediately faded once my mind started churning with reasons for the changed meeting date. I picked up the phone and called the judge’s chambers, getting only the voicemail. I gathered all my paperwork and tried to tell myself that the meeting was a good thing; that maybe it was to work things out without fighting in court, but a large part of me knew better than to get too comfortable. Those damn kids were out for blood, and they’d proven they would do whatever it took to win.
I left a message for the judge and waited until time to leave for a response. Nothing. What the hell is going on?
Inside the courthouse, people wandered in and out of the main courtroom. I peeked inside at a court magistrate perched at the bench. Axel hadn’t received any information about the judge after his accident, and as far as his nurse informant was concerned, he’d been discharged from the hospital. It was peculiar that he wasn’t posted at his bench, handling his own cases.
The clickety-clack of heels echoed through the large room as women rushed back and forth, some lawyers, some clerks, and some defendants. I watched the front doors anxiously for any sign of James, the Jasper kids, or their attorney.
Finally, James emerged from the crowd, moving towards me with his proud swagger. A smile spread across his face as he took a seat beside me. I knew I was blushing when I smiled back. I tried not to picture him naked as I filled him in on the kid’s absence, the magistrate in the courtroom, and my suspicion that something just wasn’t right.
A clerk with cat glasses and a sour expression approached us, her lips puckering like an asshole on her face.
“The judge will see you now,” she smirked, motioning us towards the door marked ‘private.’
“See, that’s why there’s a magistrate; he’s busy with us,” James whispered as I opened the door.
John, Jill, and Eliza sat at the large walnut table with their attorney. The judge, not the regular judge, sat across from them. He was a large man, his hair grayed, a beard that was nicely trimmed on his round face, and his eyes lacking any sign of an invitation to join the meeting already in progress without us.
“Evelyn Pierce and James Laurie,” the clerk introduced us and abruptly rushed from the room.
The judge looked up as the door slammed shut, his eyes cold and uninterested.
“Take a seat,” he ordered.
I nodded, biting back what I wanted to say, swallowed it, and slid into the empty seat on the opposite side of the Jasper kids and their attorney. James took the seat next to me, immediately rubbing my clenched fist under the table.
“Why has the date been changed?” I questioned.
“It’s not been changed. I just thought it was imperative to have mediation beforehand,” the judge spoke with a raspy smoker’s voice.
“Mediation, on such a simple case?” I questioned.
“It’s not so simple,” the judge grimaced.
“Honestly, how could it not be simple? We have a signed will, notarized statements from his nurse, several employees, and even the chief of police that his mind was sharp, and he was in no way incapable of making his own decisions,” I argued.
“He was scammed from day one,” John grumbled under his breath.
I reached under the table for James’s hand, squeezing it lightly as it clenched into a fist on his leg.
“We have documentation that proves the relationship between my client and Martin Jasper was mutual, respectful, and most importantly, father-son like, more so than he shared with his own children,” I spoke directly to the judge.
“Father-son like relationships are not the same as real father-child relationships,” the judge snapped.
The comment he made was so inappropriate that it left me speechless. I wanted to stand up, push away from the table, and scold each and every one that sat across from me, especially the judge.
“I find it reprehensible that you’re passing judgment in such a way,” I exalted.
“How so?” the judge glared.
“You’re stating that the relationship between my client and Martin Jasper was less than the ones he experienced with his children who now sit here and demand that his last wishes not be carried out,” I explained.
“They have rights,” the judge replied.
“As does my client, and as does Martin Jasper,” I insisted.
“You brainwashed my dad,” John scolded James with a pointed finger.
“You didn’t even know your dad,” James stood, pushing his chair back so abruptly that it fell onto the floor.
A screaming match evolved quickly between John, James, and Jill. Eliza slunk into her seat; a look of exhaustion took her over, one shared by the attorney on the case. I thought the judge would intervene, but he let it continue for far longer than expected. When he finally stood, slamming his gavel onto the table to quiet the group, James was fuming, his body shaking with rage, John and Jill were red-faced and looked as if they were ready to fight. I was confused, completely in awe of the chaos that took place, and how uninterested the judge appeared in creating any type of resolution.
“We’ll see you Wednesday,” Jill snorted, ripping Eliza by the arm and pulling her from the room.
Eliza looked over her shoulder towards James and I as she was hauled off by her sister. She looked like she wanted to apologize, but she didn’t say a word.
“I guess we need to prepare for a battle,” I sighed, staring into James’s rage-filled eyes.
“This is bullshit,” he growled as we walked towards the court’s front doors.
I nodded, unable to say anything to soothe him due to my own rage.
“Will I see you tonight?” he asked.
“I’m afraid I’ll need all the time I can get to prepare. This isn’t going to be simple, even though it should’ve been,” I sighed.
I wanted to fall into James’s arms, but I couldn’t. In the parking lot, he walked me to my car, stood there with pouty lips and sensuous eyes for what felt like an eternity. I wanted to kiss him, to comfort him in some way, but the Jasper kids stood no more than twenty feet away with their attorney, both Jill and John glaring in our direction.
“I’ll have everything ready Wednesday,” I assured him, touching his arm gently before sliding into the driver’s seat.
I watched him in my rearview mirror as I pulled out onto the road. My heart ached at the thought I may have gotten in over my head, with him, and his case.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
James
My back was aching from overworking myself on the ranch after the court meeting. My rage was rolling like thunder through my veins, and caring for the land I loved so much was the only thing that kept my feet grounded, and my mind in a place that wouldn’t allow me to go after the kids.
Tuesday morning, Pedro stood in front of the barn doors, refusing to allow me inside.
“We handle work today. Rest,” he insisted.
“Work is the only thing keeping me sane right now,” I argued.
“You need rest,” Pedro stood firm.
I nodded. I couldn’t argue with him, especially knowing he was right. The work was too much, my rage throwing me into high gear. My back already throbbed, my leg trembled with a pinched nerve somewhere in my knee, and I knew another twelve hours of hard labor would do more harm than good.
“I’ll ride out to Axel’s,” I slapped the old man on the back as I watched his eyes filling with concern.
Pedro had been on this ranch for as long as I could remember. It was his job, his livelihood. I couldn’t stand to think what it would mean to him and his family if the place was up and sold to the highest bidder.
I gathered everything I needed for court and headed towards Axel’s, not even calling him until I was half-way there.
I shook my head, still in disbelief that Axel’s place was so domesticated, as I made my way to the door. The key was under the mat, just like he’s said. I looked arou
nd at the sidewalk-lined streets, kids on their bikes, men mowing perfectly manicured lawns, and wondered why he would even need to lock his door in a place like this.
Inside, I found a beer, the TV remote, and the couch. I drank, watched the National Geographic channel, and tried my best not to think about the court date.
Evelyn was a smart woman, an amazing lawyer, and I knew that she had more than enough proof to ensure I got to keep the ranch. But, still, something wasn’t right. The meeting being pushed to a last minute time and date, the way the judge seemed only interested in taking the kid’s side. It felt as though there was nothing she could do that would ensure my ownership. I already had the taste of defeat in my mouth. I couldn’t imagine myself in a place like this: a house with a fence so close you could reach out the window and touch it. Tiny shrubs in landscaped sections of the yard, neighbors that would wave each time you walked outside or pulled into your drive, no, this was not a place I could see myself living.
Evelyn called to go over a few last minute items, and to reassure me that everything would be fine. Something in my heart told me to believe her, but something in my gut wouldn’t let me.
“I really appreciate everything you’ve done,” I told her.
“I’m not done yet. You can thank me after you win,” she said with confidence.
“You really think we’ll win this thing?” I questioned.
“There’s no reason we shouldn’t, legally,” she sighed.
“But, we still could lose?” I asked.
“Yes,” she hesitated.
“Why don’t I come there for the night?” I suggested.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. For all I know, the kids have a private eye watching our every move,” she scoffed.
“It’s not like they don’t already know,” I pouted.
“Don’t remind me, but remember, that evidence is gone,” she growled.
I wanted to remind her of our weekend together, to use that as an advantage to say if they wanted evidence, they could’ve already gathered it, but I didn’t. I knew it would upset her, make her feel uncomfortable that she’d stayed with me, and possibly cause her never to again.
“What are you wearing?” I whispered as I snuggled under a blanket on Axel’s couch.
Evelyn giggled.
We talked until we were nearly asleep, nothing dirty, just flirty and fun. It was nice not to talk about the case, even though guilt pushed from deep in my chest, my heart. I realized that my relationship with Evelyn was a huge hindrance for her career, so much so, that if she lost this case, rumors spread about us, she’d probably not be able to work in this town ever again.
My eyes closed as I thought about how hard it would be not having Evelyn in my life. If I lost the case, I had to come to terms with the fact, Evelyn may leave Texas and go back to New York.
“Hey,” I woke to Axel’s voice.
My eyes opened to his tall frame and slicked bald head hovering above me.
“You better get up and get ready. Big day today,” he smiled.
I grumbled as I lifted my stiff body from the couch. My hands rubbed my eyes, pushing them into my head until they nearly popped.
“I’m up,” I groaned, taking the coffee cup he handed me.
Caffeine flowing through my veins, a hot shower soothing my aches, and a sharp outfit had me ready for the day. My big day, as Axel called it.
I drove separate, meeting Axel in the parking lot of the courthouse before going inside. He offered words of encouragement, and I struggled to believe them as the Jasper kids smirked in my direction before going through the front doors.
“Don’t mind them,” Axel insisted.
We walked inside, finding Evelyn standing outside the courtroom doors. She looked confident, sexy, and ready to fight.
I loved the way her green eyes danced under the bright lights of the courthouse. She smiled as I approached her, a slight blush to her cheeks.
“You look good,” Evelyn blushed a bit more as she spoke.
I smoothed my tie against my light blue dress shirt as I grinned in her direction.
“We better get inside. We’re up first,” she smiled.
I followed her inside. The Jasper kids were in the front row center, so we sat off to the left a few rows back. She told me she had everything documented and entered into the courts, and that nothing they said could stand against the law, which was on my side.
“Where’s the regular judge?” Axel leaned in and whispered.
“I thought he would be here today,” Evelyn sighed.
I wasn’t sure what to feel about the old man from the meeting sitting on the bench. He hadn’t been too fair during what he called mediation, and he didn’t seem concerned that things got heated during what was supposed to be a calming session before court.
“Is this a problem?” I asked.
Evelyn looked fearful as she hesitantly shook her head.
“It shouldn’t matter; the law is the law,” she whispered.
I took a deep breath as my case was called. As I walked to the front of the courtroom and took my spot next to Evelyn, I let go of my worry and gave into the faith I had in her.
First, Evelyn spoke, offering up the will as the first piece of documentation to support my case. Next, the kid’s attorney spoke, giving a story of poor children who loved their father and cared for him in his days of sickness.
Evelyn presented the court with signed documents from Jasper’s nurse, employees, and others in the community who stated I was the only one with Martin Jasper during his last weeks on this earth. Everything the kid’s attorney presented to put them in a better light, Evelyn knocked down with fierce professionalism. Watching her tear through the obviously less experienced attorney was hot.
When the other attorney started to bicker with Evelyn, talking over top of her, the judge didn’t interfere. He sat on the bench, barely listening, and didn’t throw his gavel down until Evelyn started to win yet another argument against the attorney.
“I’ve heard enough,” the judge scowled.
My chest tightened as the anticipation of a win settled in. Evelyn had done a great job, and I had confidence that she’d won the case fair and square.
“There is not enough documentation to prove that Martin Jasper was in his right mind at the time of his death, nor that he wasn’t coerced into creating the original one. Therefore, I rule in the favor of the biological Jasper children,” his words nearly knocked me off my feet.
The room started to spin, and my stomach growled as it became unsettled by what was just heard, just echoed in that courtroom.
“You, James Laurie, have thirty days to vacate the premises, taking only your personal possessions with you when you go,” he slammed the gavel hard onto the wood.
My entire body shook from the rumble of the rubber mallet against the oak bench. Darkness filled my mind, my soul, as Jill’s voice erupted with a whoop.
I turned to Evelyn, heart-broken, confused, and thanked her for trying. I walked away before she could respond, before she could say anything to try and soothe my pain. I needed to be alone with my own pain.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Evelyn
My jaw dropped at the judge’s ruling. It didn’t make any sense. While John and Jill celebrated, Eliza looked uninterested in the win. I fumed with anger, my teeth gritting hard against each other as I watched James walk from the courtroom.
“This is not the end,” I told Axel.
“I don’t get what happened,” he admitted, his eyes filled the same confusion as mine.
“Me neither. The law states that James should get the land, and the only way they could stop the will from being carried out as it stood was to prove that Martin Jasper was not in his right mind when he created it, or that he was coerced in some way,” I explained.
“But, they didn’t prove anything,” Axel said.
“I know. The will was written up years ago, when James was in the service with you, an
d he didn’t even know about it until he returned back to the ranch,” I gasped.
Axel pulled me by the hand, guiding me from the courtroom and away from the cheering kids.
“Evelyn, do you think there’s a reason for the regular judge not being here?” Axel asked.
“I know there is,” I growled.
I tried calling James, but the call went straight to voicemail. I sent a text, an e-mail, and tried calling again, leaving a voicemail for him to call me back.
Axel stood by my car, going over everything that had happened. I shook my head, still in disbelief that they won, that James was going to lose his ranch.
“He can’t lose that place,” I groaned, leaning against my car.
My body was weak and my heart aching. The feeling of defeat was wearing hard on me, but I wasn’t prepared to give up until I knew the truth.
“What can you do?” Axel asked.
“I’ll try to find out why the regular judge isn’t here, and you dig up what you can on this one,” I instructed.
“And then what?” Axel queried.
“Then, we file an appeal, possibly get the case thrown out due to prejudice, incompetence, whatever we find,” I snarled.
Axel nodded, giving me a quick hug before loading me into my car. My hands on the steering wheel, I sat there fighting back tears as I watched the Jasper kids exit the courthouse.
I reached down, starting the car with a quick twist of the key, and put it into reverse. Axel was already pulling out onto the main road as I made my way through the parking lot. My foot stiffened and felt heavy against the gas pedal as I approached the kids standing in the middle of the aisle where they parked. My tongue slid across my lips as the thought of running them over rolled through my mind. If they were gone, James wouldn’t have anyone else to contest the will.
Jill smirked in my direction as Eliza dropped her eyes to the ground. I took a deep breath, pushed the brake pedal, and waited for them to move out of my way before passing. I hated myself for not having the strength to go through with the plan.
James’s phone continued to go to voicemail each time I called. The e-mail and text I sent were still marked unread, and I was beginning to worry that he was more than upset about the case and that he was upset with me.
