by Becki Willis
“Please, sit down.” The attorney’s tone was borderline testy, making it more of a command than a request. He reached for a folder from the table. “I have no idea which of the conditions your uncle may or may not have bothered with, but yes, there were conditions listed. The main requirement is that the inn must remain open and operational.”
“What? Are you kidding me?”
In contrast to her incredulous cry, Walker Jacoby’s voice remained quiet and oddly patient. “There is no need to yell, Miss Duncan. And yes, you heard me correctly. The inn is to remain in business.”
Hannah’s head whipped around as she surveyed the room. A lock of dark hair slung into her gaping mouth, but she hardly noticed. She did notice, however, that despite its ancient decor, the inn was tidy and well kept.
But operational? She had her doubts.
She spat out the mouthful of ebony curls. “People still stay here?” she asked incredulously.
“Actually, yes. There are a handful of loyal customers who continue to return here, year after year.”
“But… who’s been taking care of them?”
“Sadie and Fred Tanner are the caretakers, and the only other residents of the town. They took care of the inn, as well as the animals and the gardens, long before Miss Wilhelmina died.”
Her head began to spin. Of all the oddball gifts her uncle had given her over the years, this was the most ridiculous yet. “Animals?”
“You also own a small herd of goats, five head of cattle, several laying hens, one rooster, six horses, and assorted ducks and geese.” He made the announcement in a gleeful voice as he opened the folder and read from one of the papers inside.
Thank goodness, he had insisted she sit back down. Her knees never would have held her. “G—G—Goats?”
The look on her face obviously amused him. “Don’t forget the cattle. Which happens to include two good Guernsey milk cows, so serving fresh milk to your guests is never a problem.”
“F—Fr—Fresh milk?”
“Are you going to repeat everything I say? Because there are quite a few things we need to go over this afternoon, and saying them just once will take long enough.”
Hannah closed her eyes and concentrated on taking deep, even breaths. She owned goats and chickens. And milk cows.
Holy boomtown, JoeJoe has turned me into a farmer! She had a ridiculous image of herself in a pair of overalls and a floppy straw hat, munching on a piece of straw.
Fighting off a wave of hysteria, Hannah forced herself to remain calm. She opened her eyes and made a guess. “You’re telling me I have to reimburse the Tanners?” She vaguely wondered if she could pay them in eggs and fresh milk. Maybe a nice side of beef.
Much to her relief, the lawyer shook his head. “Not at all.” He flashed a smile that was charming enough to penetrate her fogged brain. “You were right. Your uncle did pay a God-awful price to win that auction. Luckily for you, the proceeds went into a trust for the property. Along with money Miss Wilhelmina put into it, you will be able to keep the inn running for years to come. Have no fear, the Tanners have already been compensated for all their hard work.”
“Wait.” She threw up both palms and waved them defensively, as if to stop the onslaught of his words. “Wait, wait, wait. I have no intentions of keeping this inn running, Mr. Jacoby.”
“Please, call me Walker.” Now that she was in a full-out panic, his demeanor had changed dramatically. Despite his earlier stiffness, he seemed completely relaxed now. Almost jovial.
“I have no intentions of keeping this inn running, Walker.” Changing the name didn’t change her tone. It was still vehement. “I’m not an innkeeper. I don’t want to be an innkeeper. My life is in Houston.”
“Oh? What is it you do in Houston? Where do you work?” There was an edge in his voice. A slight tilt of his dark head.
He knows good and well I have no job, she fumed.
Hannah lifted her chin. “I am an investment analyst. I am currently looking for new employment, as I think you well know.”
He appreciated her sharp retort, if the light in his eyes was any indication. Hannah ignored the glimmer, wishing she could as easily ignore the man.
“Did I mention the arrangement comes with a salary, as well as a very generous bonus?”
She sat up straighter in her seat, trying not to look as interested as she felt. She picked at a thread on her linen walking shorts. “Oh?” she asked coolly.
“The trust provides a generous yearly budget for the inn. This allows for operational expenses, including a salary for the new owner.” He took another paper from the file and slid it across the table for her inspection.
Okay, not a fortune, but decent. Particularly if I have no rent, no utility bills.
When she realized the direction of her thoughts, she gave herself a stern and visible shake.
Walker bit back a grin. It was as if he could read her very thoughts. “Naturally, you would be living here at the inn.” His tone suggested it might be a thought that hadn’t yet occurred to her, but the glint in his blue eyes said differently. “Most of your living expenses would be covered.”
She hoped she sounded suitably nonchalant. “Hmm. I suppose that would help. If I were interested.”
“From a monetary perspective, there is no reason the inn cannot be successful. No mortgage, no property taxes, no monthly utility bills. Even if you have no experience running an inn, you must admit, it’s an intriguing offer. Most every dime you make would be profit.”
She leaned in a bit closer, drawn to the possibilities.
“Of course, you would need to put the money back into the business,” he went on to say. “Miss Wilhelmina and I worked out a very comprehensive budget that hinges on re-investing in the trust. Even using a modest income projection and an overly aggressive rate of inflation, I feel confident the inn can maintain a fully-funded operational budget for years to come.”
“Why—Why would she do that? Why would she set aside all that money? It would have to be a literal fortune, to fund all the bills for several years.”
The attorney flashed a disarming smile. With a smile like that, she could easily forget about his rakish personality and his invisible wedding ring. “Don’t forget your uncle’s very generous donation to the cause. As for the reason, it’s really quite simple. Miss Wilhelmina loved the town of Hannah and the Spirits of Texas Inn. She dedicated her life to keeping both alive.”
Hannah glanced out the window, to the ghost of a town outside. “Well, I’m not so sure she kept the town alive…”
“But she kept its chances alive, and that’s almost as important. There are many possibilities for a town like this. The purpose of the trust is to ensure that at least some of those possibilities are explored.”
One corner of Hannah’s mouth dipped south. “You’re telling me there are more conditions.”
In answer, he pulled out another sheet of paper.
He went over a list of a dozen do’s and don’ts. Although Hannah didn’t understand the logic behind some, none were so outlandish or so unreasonable that she balked. If she were interested, she could work with the conditions he listed.
Still, her head spun with the enormity of it all. Her, an inn owner? And not just any inn. An inn in the middle of nowhere. An inn in dire need of updating.
Breaking free of the whirlwind in her head, she practically snapped, “I believe you mentioned a bonus?”
His smile revealed a row of pearly white teeth. “Ah, I wondered when you would remember that. Yes, there are two very generous bonuses, actually. The second bonus wasn’t mentioned in the conditions of the sale. It is a ‘bonus’ bonus, you might say. On the first anniversary of your purchase, if three simple conditions have been met, you will receive a bonus check of five thousand dollars, to do with as you please. No stipulations.”
Her eyes widened when she heard the amount, then narrowed in suspicion. “And what are these three conditions?”
“One,
the inn must still be in business. Two, you must have a solid business plan in place. And three, you must continue to accommodate Miss Wilhelmina’s special guests.”
“None of those sound too difficult,” Hannah mused. “Actually, it sounds like an easy five thousand dollars.”
He did that thing with his eyebrows again. “If you meet the condition of the first bonus.”
“Which is?”
“You must remain on the property, without leaving, for the first thirty days after taking over.”
She stared at him in surprise. “You mean… like… a prisoner?”
“No bars,” he assured her with his most charming smile. “But no leaving.”
“No leaving the inn, or no leaving the town?” she clarified.
“The town, as defined by the fence surrounding the property. You are free to move about at your leisure, but you aren’t allowed to venture further than the gates.”
“Not even to buy groceries?”
“I will be happy to bring whatever you need.”
“What if I get sick and need a doctor?”
“We have a local doctor who can make house calls, if needed.” He frowned and gave her a thorough perusal. “You’re not suffering from an illness I should know about, are you?”
“No, of course not. And even if I were, you wouldn’t need to know about it. My health is none of your concern,” she sniffed.
“Actually, it is. It is my responsibility to carry out the terms of both the purchase and of Miss Wilhelmina’s will. If you aren’t fit to meet the conditions of either, it is important I know so now.”
“I am completely healthy, Mr. Jacoby.”
“Walker,” he reminded her. “We will be working closely with one another, Hannah. We might as well be on friendly terms.”
She eyed him with suspicion. “Why will we be working together? And why does she have this ridiculous stipulation in the terms?”
“I’m afraid I cannot speak on the behalf of Miss Wilhelmina, at least in that regard. I merely carry out her wishes. And it was her wish I act as trustee and financial planner for the trust.”
“So, you control the money.”
“That is one way of saying it, yes.”
Hannah let his words soak in before she finally gave a shake of her dark head. “I still don’t understand. Why would I agree to stay here for thirty days without stepping foot off the property?”
“Because if you fail to meet this one non-negotiable term of sale, the entire deal becomes null and void.” He saw the hopeful expression that crossed her face. “That God-awful price your uncle paid, as you so aptly put it, would be forfeited. Believe me, Hannah, you don’t want that to happen.”
“But—but—!” she sputtered in outrage before she found her voice. “You’re telling me that unless I agree to this ridiculous farce of a deal, my uncle losses his money? Unbelievable! And most likely illegal! That’s—That’s extortion!”
“The condition of the deal was clearly and visibly displayed on the auction site. Your uncle agreed to all terms before he placed his first bid.”
“My uncle was too caught up in the thrill of bidding to bother with the details!”
“Your uncle is a shrewd businessman, Hannah. He knows not to enter into a legally binding contract without reading the fine print.”
“And how do you know?” she snapped.
“I give the man credit for as much. At any rate, he initialed the stipulation when signing the papers. Like it or not, your uncle knew what was at stake before agreeing to purchase the property.”
She wanted to protest, but what could she say? He was right, of course. JoeJoe wasn’t only an adult who was responsible for his own actions, but he was an astute businessman. If he failed to read the contract, that was on him.
A niggling of suspicion wormed into her thoughts. Is that why he had urged her to come? He would be out of the country. For at least thirty days. By the time he returned, the screaming and kicking phase of her tantrum would be over.
“This is so like JoeJoe,” she muttered beneath her breath.
Walker Jacoby allowed her time to process all she had learned. He waited patiently as an array of emotions passed over her face, the strongest of which included anger, resentment, irritation, and, at last, resignation. She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and looked him in the eye.
“I suppose the first bonus is the fact that, if I stay the thirty days, my uncle doesn’t forfeit his money?”
“The bonus is that if you stay, you get access to the trust, and ensure operational expenses for the foreseeable future.”
“Controlled by you, of course,” she added coolly.
He arched his brows in answer, a gesture she was quickly coming to detest. “It also includes a very generous budget for whatever updates you might want to make.”
Her eyes inadvertently darted around the room, seeing a dozen things that needed doing. It would take a small fortune to bring this one room, alone, up to the standards she was accustomed to.
He deftly slid another piece of paper her way. “I did mention that it was quite generous, didn’t I?”
Eyes widening when she saw the amount, Hannah asked, “What did this woman do for a living, rob banks?”
“She was an innkeeper, Hannah.”
“There is no way keeping an inn, particularly this one, could make her that much money!” Hannah tapped the figure shown on the paper.
“Miss Wilhelmina was a sharp businesswoman. You would be wise to study her business plan.”
Hannah stood from the chair and dared to venture around, arms crossed over her queasy stomach as she studied the room. “You mentioned loyal guests.”
“Yes. If you consult your reservations, you’ll find you have several bookings for June. That should give you plenty of time to settle in, complete your thirty-day challenge, and start working on the changes you’d like to make.”
“You make it sound so simple…”
He gave her that smile again, that one that made her forget his more obnoxious qualities. “Unless you have a job or a significant other waiting for you in Houston, it really is quite simple. This is your town now, Hannah. You can move in immediately. The sooner you start, the sooner you earn those bonuses.”
She could think of thousands of reasons why his offer made sense. Enough money for renovations. A trust to ensure her business success. Another five thousand reasons—money to do with as she pleased—at the end of one year.
For the life of her, she couldn’t think of a single reason to refuse, not even the fact she knew nothing about running an inn.
“I—I’ll consider it,” she said.
“I need your answer by the end of the day tomorrow.”
“What?” she cried, throwing her hands wide. “That’s insane!”
“There is specific language in the will,” he explained, “as to expiration dates for all bonuses. Your uncle made the purchase almost six months ago. You came just in the nick of time.”
Hannah ignored the reproachful tone in his voice. She was known for over-thinking every situation. She loved to make lists. She had even been known to make a chart or two, to better analyze those lists. JoeJoe forever teased her about her obsession with pondering every possibility before making a decision. He claimed she never did anything spontaneous.
Well, JoeJoe was wrong.
Marching back to the table, her blue eyes blazed with a defiance the lawyer couldn’t possibly understand.
“Fine. I accept. Is there something I need to sign?”
He pulled out the thickest of the files and opened it. “As a matter of fact,” his smile was enigmatic, “there is.”
Chapter Three
Once the papers were signed, Walker handed her a ring of keys.
“I’d like to stay and show you around the property,” he said, “but I have to get back to the office. I can come back this evening, if you like.”
“When does the imprisonment begin?” she asked s
ardonically. “Am I allowed to at least go grocery shopping?”
“Certainly. Let’s say we start your thirty-day period tomorrow morning, at promptly eight o’clock. I’ll bring a paper to sign.”
“Of course you will. My hand is still cramping from all your other papers,” she complained.
“There’s a lot involved in owning your own town.”
“There’s also no need to delay the inevitable. My imprisonment may as well start at eight tonight.”
He ignored her cross attitude and merely nodded. “As you wish.”
“So, when do I get to meet the caretakers?”
“When they return from vacation. About two weeks from now.”
“Wait. I’ll be here, all alone?” she clarified.
“I’ll drop in at least twice a day.”
“To spy on me.”
“And to help you with anything you need,” he assured her. “I’ll even volunteer to help you feed the animals. How does that sound?”
“I have to feed them?” Her voice rose in something close to hysteria.
“They’re living animals, Hannah. They require food and water.”
“Yes, but… they can’t just scrounge around for it? This is the country. Surely they can fend for themselves out here.”
He gave her a stern look. “I’ll be back around six. Will that give you time to do your grocery shopping?”
“I think so. As soon as I find the nearest town with a grocery store.”
He pointed opposite the way she had come. “Fredericksburg, ten miles that way.” His light-blue eyes grazed over her. “You might want to pick up some suitable attire.”
“What’s wrong with my attire?” she asked. She wore a pair of fashionable shorts and a silk blouse, with sandals.
His eyes were dancing. “Nothing. You look like you just drove in from Houston.”
“I did.”
“Exactly. But you’re in Hannah now. As you pointed out, this is the country. You’ll need work clothes. I think you’ll be more comfortable in jeans and tees. And boots,” he added. “The kind without suede and five-inch heels.”
