Page 28 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
Emma straightened. The implication was that Emma was not respecting Dahlia’s privacy.
“Well, maybe she doesn’t know about any of us,” she said.
“Possibly. But even if she did, why would she seek us out? We’re complete strangers. The only thing we have in common is Frank’s blood.”
Emma wanted to argue that at least that’s something, but she doubted this dismissive woman would agree. She really needed to wrap up this call, but she had yet to explain about the inheritance.
Before she could, Dahlia was continuing her lecture on Frank’s offspring.
“All I know is that Frank and Sierra’s mother met in high school. They were high school sweethearts, from what I understand. Until Frank knocked her up, and then his true colors shone.”
“How so?” She should end this. Everything inside her recoiled at the bitterness in Dahlia’s tone.
“Sierra’s mother quickly found out he had no intention of marrying her. He gave her money, so that was something.” Her voice turned bland and bleak. “The man was good for that, at least.”
Emma opened her mouth to protest, but what could she say? It was the truth. All he’d ever given her and Lizzy was money.
“A birthday card, a Christmas card…” Dahlia gave a weary sigh. “At least the money was nice to look forward to.”
A long silence passed and Emma had the craziest urge to cry. Not just for herself but for the sisters she hadn’t known who’d all dealt with the same rejection.
“Who’s the seventh?” Dahlia asked suddenly.
“What?”
“I knew about you and Elizabeth—”
“Lizzy,” Emma automatically corrected. Her sister hated being called Elizabeth.
“I knew about you, Lizzy, Sierra, and my own sisters, obviously.” She paused. “Who’s the seventh?”
Emma glanced down. “April. The daughter of his last wife, Loretta.”
“Hmph. I guess the old man just didn’t know when to quit.” She gave another rueful laugh. “He should’ve gotten a vasectomy decades ago.”
Emma winced. Dahlia was kidding...she thought.
She hoped.
“Yeah, well, I’m sure you’ve heard that he’s left us all his property—”
“We don’t want it,” Dahlia said briskly.
“Well, if that’s the case, we’re all on the same page so far. Which is good,” she added. “Because Frank specified in his will that we have to have a unanimous decision in order to sell.”
Dahlia uttered a curse under her breath, before saying, “Of course he did. Had to make this difficult for us all, didn’t he?”
Emma didn’t answer. She wasn’t sure she was expected to. Dahlia seemed to be talking to herself.
“I’ll get my sisters to sign in front of a witness once the others give the okay to sell.” Dahlia’s tone said she was ready to wrap this up.
“Ifthey give the okay,” Emma said.
Another sharp laugh that made Emma’s stomach turn.
“Not if,when,” Dahlia said. “I can’t imagine any of Frank’s daughters will be emotionally invested in that man or his legacy.”
Maybe I am. Emma swallowed down the impulsive comment before it could slip out.
