Ladd Fortune

by Dianne Venetta

  Malcolm stood silent. Vigilant.

  Jeremiah’s façade showed the first signs of cracking. “Take your shots now, funny man, because soon there will only be one us laughing and I’ll take great pleasure in watching you run out of town with your tail between your legs.”

  Nick stepped toward him and Delaney braced for impact.

  “Gentlemen,” Malcolm interceded, placing a hand to Nick’s forearm. “I think these matters are better discussed in a court of law.”

  Malcolm knew his partner well, Delaney thought, heartened by his presence. No sense in giving Jeremiah an assault charge to add to his list of grievances. Lawyers lapped that stuff up like butter on a biscuit. Privately she doubted Malcolm was physically capable of putting a stop to a fight should one break out. Loafers, linen slacks and silk shirt suggested a man unaccustomed to the bull ring.

  “Believe me, we will.” Jeremiah squared his shoulders to the men before him. “Take this as your notice. You will be served.”

  Nick chuckled derisively. “Fancy words for a country boy.”

  Malcolm turned to Nick, but said nothing.

  “Expectations have a way of surprising,” Jeremiah said, as though his confidence had never escaped him. He looked to Delaney and winked. “See you later.”

  The three of them watched him go, Malcolm tossing the door closed behind him. “What the hell were you doing?” he said to Nick. “Are you trying to stoke him into attack?”

  Nick glowered. “He’s a cocky bastard who deserves a firm one across the jaw.”

  “Whether he does or doesn’t is not relevant. You hit him and you’re adding to the problem.” Anger rippled through Malcolm’s calm. He lobbed a glance between Nick and Delaney and said, “The man may have a case.”

  “Do you think he does?” Delaney asked.

  Malcolm nodded. “I think it’s a possibility. And a headache we don’t need.”

  Chapter Four

  “Aw, sugar, you haven’t touched your coke,” Aunt Frannie said as she rubbed Lacy’s back in the quiet of the diner. Fran’s Diner was the place to go for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but at the moment, the main lunch crowd had cleared. Cooks prepared for dinner, the air drenched with the sumptuous smell of Lacy’s favorite fried chicken and fried okra. Mixed with the scent of her aunt’s Shalimar perfume, it reminded Lacy of her momma. It was the perfume of choice for both women, one that held fond memories. Every time she’d caught a drift of the fragrance in Atlanta, Lacy had been transported back home, to the wonderful world of family, friends and fun.

  None of which her hometown resembled at the moment. Hitched up to the eat-in bar, her elbows propped on the counter, she dropped her chin to her palms. Home wasn’t as sweet as she remembered. It was downright bitter.

  “Annie will come around,” Frannie added quietly, her loving blue eyes filled with compassion. Red hair tucked up in her hair net, her uniform the same white-collared dress she’d always worn, the red apron a match to her checkered curtains, Aunt Frannie and her diner hadn’t changed a bit. Red, red, red—booths red, chairs red. Red was Frannie’s favorite color.

  “I don’t think so,” Lacy replied glumly. “You didn’t see her face. She hates me.”

  “You stop that nonsense, right now. Annie Grace doesn’t have a hateful bone in her body.”

  Lacy turned and shrieked, “She does for me and uses her hateful bones like bats, I tell you!”

  “C’mon, child,” Frannie hushed her. Seizing her neck, she massaged with a strong hand. “You’ve got to pull yourself together. She needs time, that’s all. She’s been dealing with that wicked Jeremiah since the day he left town. You need to see it from her point of view.”

  “Jeremiah’s been in Atlanta. How’s she had to worry about him?”

  Frannie loosened her hold, slid her hand down Lacy’s back. “She has a daughter, Lacy. That changes things.”

  Lacy shrugged. She didn’t have any kids, though she wanted some. Bad. And she was getting old. At thirty-five, her clock was ringing like crazy. Alarm bells were clanging so loud, the roosters were envious. Lacy needed to find the right man and quick! But she wanted a good man, a nice man. Atlanta had been full of slick men who wanted nothing but sex and she was high tired of it. Every last one of them claimed to want her forever, but none wanted to commit. None saw the beauty in who she was. Then she read her horoscope. The stars said she had to return to her roots to find love. Next thing you know, Jeremiah walked into the lounge and she knew what she had to do. Without a second thought, Lacy packed her bags and followed him and Loretta Flynn back home to Tennessee.

  Only her plan for a family reunion wasn’t working out like the stars had promised. Her first day back and already her sister was trying to kick her out of town.

  Frannie leaned onto the counter and scooted close, her brown eyes assumed a sudden heaviness. “You’ve got to understand. Annie has had a rough time of it, especially since the overdose.”

  Lacy whirled. “Overdose? Annie?”

  Frannie shook her head, saddened. “Her daughter, Casey.”

  Lacy covered her mouth with a hand as the news trickled through her heart. How dreadful! “Is she okay?”

  “Physically, yes, but the girl’s going through a difficult time and Annie’s real sensitive about it.”

  “Why? Because of Jeremiah?”

  Frannie nodded. “Him and this whole mess about the property. Annie has it stuck in her craw that Casey deserves half of Ladd Springs and she won’t let it go. She’s like a pit bull, I tell you, and it’s causing her a heap of turmoil. Part of me wishes she’d just give it up and move on, though I understand why she won’t.” Frannie shook her head. “It’s a plum shame she and Delaney don’t get along anymore.”

  Lacy absorbed the information, calculating its significance. Annie was trying to get her hands on Ladd Springs? Lacy had always loved the place and it would make a great place to live, to raise a family. She looked into her aunt’s eyes and asked, “Do you think she has a chance?”

  “Aw, sugar, I don’t know. Jeremiah is the one with any possible claim to the property and even he’s gonna have a hard time. Ernie Ladd has already signed it over to Felicity.”

  “Felicity?”

  “Delaney’s daughter. She’s about Casey’s age and stands to inherit the entire property upon Ernie’s death.”

  Lacy blew out her breath. “Wow.” Thoughts zipped to and fro through her mind, bounced off the walls of her skull. Delaney’s daughter gets everything? “But if Jeremiah is Casey’s father like Annie’s been claiming, wouldn’t that make his daughter entitled to half? I mean, Delaney and Jeremiah are cousins. The daughters are cousins...that makes them equally entitled, doesn’t it?”

  Frannie’s blinked. “Child, what are you thinking?”

  Lacy pressed her lips together. Did Aunt Frannie know that Jeremiah was back in town?

  “C’mon, now. Fess up.” Frannie cupped her chin firmly. “I know you and I can see those wheels spinning a thousand miles an hour.”

  “Well...” Lacy’s gaze darted toward the kitchen but returned to the sharp brown eyes of her Aunt Frannie. Thickly brushed with mascara, her lids were colored in shimmery blue. Same as they had been for thirty years. “Well, if Casey did get part of the property,” Lacy proposed, “maybe Annie would let me live on Ladd Springs—for a while—just until I get settled, you know.”

  Frannie furrowed her brow and demanded, “Where are you staying right now, child?”

  Lacy’s shoulders sagged. “At a motel.”

  “Lord a’mercy!” Frannie exclaimed. “You better go pack your things this minute! Why, I never.” She slanted her gaze toward the front door. “No niece of mine is staying in a motel when I have plenty of empty rooms in my very own house.”

  Lacy’s heart caught and she ventured a smile. “You do?”

  Smacking the countertop she cried, “Course I do! You know that. Ever since my sweet old Deacon died, my footsteps have been echoing through the hal
ls of that big old house. You are moving in this afternoon and I won’t hear another word about it.”

  Lacy knew Aunt Frannie wasn’t kidding when she said big and old. Her house was one of the original homes in the area, three-stories in height, complete with wide interior halls, beautiful wood floors, and a wrap-around veranda the whole town envied. The third floor of Aunt Frannie’s home used to be one of Lacy’s favorite hideouts. When she was little, she’d sneak up there and read and sing, play with her stuffed animal moose. Aunt Frannie never cared that she was up there. Said it made it easy to find her when her momma called looking for her. “You sure you wouldn’t mind?”

  “Mind? What I’ll mind is if you stay another second in that motel, young lady.”

  Lacy hugged her with all her might. “Thanks, Aunt Frannie! I’ll pack my bags this afternoon.”

  Bells clanged at the front door. Aunt Frannie looked over Lacy’s shoulder and called out, “Hey, sugar!”

  Lacy turned to see Delaney Wilkins walk in, accompanied by two men. Two very handsome, tall men. Lacy perked up on her soft cushioned stool. Things were continuing to look up! Fussing with the frilly layers of her blouse, she slapped on her biggest smile and called out merrily, “Hey, Delaney!” Lacy waved happily.

  Delaney scowled, but the men with her smiled. One was tall, dark and handsome, reminding Lacy of a lumberjack in his plaid shirt and jeans while the other was sleek and sophisticated with a shock of white hair against tanned skin and blue eyes. The first wore Levis and a denim button-down, the second boasted a silky navy polo and fancy tan linen pants that looked expensive. Shame on Delaney for being so unfriendly, Lacy thought. Annie may have shunned her but what did Delaney have against her?

  Delaney and her men neared but didn’t take seats. “Long time no see!” Lacy greeted cheerfully.

  Giving Lacy the once-over, Delaney crossed her arms over her chest. “So you’re back in town, too, I see.”

  “I am.”

  “Ain’t it great?” Frannie piped in, patting Lacy’s arm. “She’s back for a spell.”

  “For a spell?” Delaney eyed her. “What’s the occasion?”

  “Well,” Lacy began, conscious of the men staring at her. “Jeremiah told me he was coming back and I thought, you know...” She twirled the short hair at her ear. “I haven’t been back home in while and maybe it was time for a visit.”

  “Jeremiah’s back in town?” Aunt Frannie asked.

  “Yes,” Delaney replied, eyeing Lacy like a bird on a worm. “Didn’t Lacy tell you?”

  “Now we haven’t had near enough visiting time to get to that silly fool,” Lacy defended, evading Frannie’s direct gaze as guilt seeped into her heart. Would Frannie be mad?

  The white-haired man reached a hand between the squabbling women. “The name’s Malcolm Ward.”

  “Lacy Owens,” she replied, placing her hand in his palm. He bowed slightly, lifting her hand to his lips where he placed a gentle kiss. Excitement flitted across her breast.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” he said smoothly, branding her with a heated gaze.

  “Nice to meet you,” she quipped, admiring his silken white hair shaped by an expensive layered cut—striking for a younger man like him. Add his remarkably blue eyes, pale blue, yet penetrating within his browned complexion and she found it a fascinating combination. The shirt he wore hung straight as a board past his pants, suggesting a lean build, and the unmasked desire in his eyes warned Lacy he was a man accustomed to having his way with the ladies.

  She could see why. He was intoxicating to look at.

  “Nick Harris,” the other man said, drawing her attention from the first. Much darker than Mr. Ward, this one kept close to Delaney’s side. Territorial, Lacy mused. He must belong to Delaney. She returned her focus to Malcolm. Did that mean this one was available?

  “Y’all hungry?” Aunt Frannie asked them.

  “Starving,” Nick replied. Lowering to a stool on the opposite side of Aunt Frannie, he ordered, “Cheeseburger and fries, please.”

  Aunt Frannie turned to Malcolm. “And for you, young man?”

  “I’ll have what she’s having,” he said, indicating Lacy with a flirtatious grin. Lacy giggled.

  “Then you’re going to go hungry,” her aunt remarked. “That girl plum don’t eat.”

  “Oh, Aunt Frannie!” Lacy set a hand to her breast, spreading her fingers wide, showing off her fiery red nails she had manicured before leaving Atlanta. “Don’t be silly, of course I eat.” Lacy batted her eyelashes at Malcolm. “Your fried chicken and okra are out of this world.”

  Malcolm sniffed the air. “Smells like it.” He turned to her Aunt Frannie and said, “I’ll have the chicken and okra.”

  “Coming right up!” She pushed up from the bar stool, headed for the kitchen.

  Lacy trailed her aunt’s figure until Delaney lassoed her attention, demanding, “So what are you really doing here, Lacy?”

  “I told you. I decided it was time for a visit. Haven’t seen the kinfolk in ages.”

  “Last I remember, you couldn’t wait to get out of Dodge,” Delaney said, taking a seat next to her man. “You high-tailed it out here with Jeremiah faster than a wild hare. What happened?”

  To Lacy’s delight, Malcolm Ward settled in on the stool vacated by her aunt, bringing him up close and personal. She suppressed a rush of nerves. Why did Delaney have to bring up the past and ruin her afternoon?

  “Well?” Delaney persisted. “What happened to bring you home?”

  Life happened. The city happened. Disappointment happened. Must she be chained to one decision? “I was bored with Atlanta,” Lacy replied as casually as she could, maintaining a sharp eye on Mr. Ward. Seemed he too was interested in her answer.

  “Bored?”

  Lacy nodded and tapped the tip of her straw. “Bored. Plain B-O-R-E-D,” she spelled out.

  Delaney cocked her head and retorted, “I don’t believe you.”

  Malcolm smiled. “I’ve been to Atlanta and I have to agree. Once you’ve seen the magnolias and peaches, you’ve seen it all.” He winked. “I like Tennessee much better.”

  “Are you from here?” Lacy asked sweetly, grateful for the distraction.

  Malcolm laughed. “No, darlin’, I’m not,” he drawled, mimicking a southern accent. “But I sure do like what I see.”

  Desire was something Lacy had become accustomed to seeing in a man’s eyes and she never tired of it. She liked to play the game of cat and mouse and she liked to get caught—once a man proved he was worthy of catching her. Though admittedly, these days she wanted more. Lacy reached for her coke and politely inquired, “Where are you from, then?”

  “Everywhere,” he replied evenly.

  “Everywhere?”

  “What he means,” Nick pitched in, “is that he travels a lot. We own a hotel chain and Malcolm here travels the world.”

  Astonishment poured into her. “You travel the world?”

  “I do. But the best places I’ve found are the small towns.” He leaned toward her ever so slightly and lowered his voice, “That’s where the best people can be found.”

  Lacy grinned broadly. Things were definitely looking up!

  Delaney led the way out of Fran’s Diner and stopped mid-sidewalk to wait for Nick and Malcolm. Pulling up the rear, warmed by the sunshine and thoughts of Lacy, Malcolm loitered a moment. Damn, but she was fine. A pixie of fresh-faced beauty and flirtatious attitude, he’d been particularly drawn to her mouth. With a heart-shaped face and short-cropped black hair, round cheekbones and blue eyes that could draw men from across a crowded room, it was her mouth that had garnered Malcolm’s attention. Naturally pink, her lips were full, but not overly so, and when she ate, all he could think of was kissing her. Not that her body didn’t have curves in all the right places, it did. Forget breast men and butt men, he’d take a sexy mouth and a woman who knew how to use it any night of the week.

  Swells of pleasure rippled through him. Lacy Owens was
a surprise find for a small town, a find that would make his stay all the more tolerable. Delaney was attractive, he’d give her that, but hers was a country appeal and he, a city man. While he appreciated a cowgirl in jeans and on horseback, Malcolm preferred the savvy smile of a city girl, a girl who’d been around the block, enjoyed the late night scene and filled her gaze with a knowing tease. Had he not been dining with Nick and Delaney, Malcolm would have scooped that woman up and taken her for the ride of her lifetime.

  But he was here on business, and business had to come first—though it shouldn’t preclude him from seeking her out in his spare time. Heading back to the car, Nick and Delaney flanking his side, Malcolm asked, “So who is that Lacy, anyway?”

  “Trouble,” Delaney quipped.

  “Trouble?” Now she had his attention. “What kind of trouble are we talking about?”

  “The kind you want to steer clear of.”

  “Lacy Owens is sister to one Annie Owens,” Nick clarified.

  Malcolm let out a low whistle. The same Annie Owens responsible for inviting one Jeremiah Ladd back to town. “Talk about complicating matters.” Glancing at Nick over Delaney’s blonde head, he said, “No cavorting with the enemy, right?”

  Nick grinned and Delaney snapped, “Exactly.”

  Malcolm chuckled. “And just when I thought this town was getting interesting.”

  “If it helps to cool your engines,” Delaney pitched out, “Lacy ran off with Jeremiah as a teenager.”

  “Ah...and the plot thickens,” he said, intrigued by the connection.

  “Thickens, hardens, turns into dried spit gum, if you ask me. Annie wants nothing to do with Lacy, which is why I’m surprised she’s here.”

  “Doesn’t she have other family in the area?” Malcolm asked.

  “Only Fran,” Delaney replied. “Fran is her aunt and the only blood relative she and Annie have left around here. Her father died of a heart attack when they were little and her mom moved to Chattanooga. Just up and left after Lacy took off for Atlanta.”