Page 33 of A Groom for Millie
“What does that have to do with me? I can’t control who moves their money.”
Beatrice leaned forward in her buggy. “But these funds were used to pay off the mortgage on this ranch,” she whispered.
Millie’s eyes flew open wide. “Really?”
“That’s not all,” Beatrice continued. There was an insurance policy placing everything in Mary Rose’s name should anything happen to you.”
Millie was never at a loss for words, but this news made her dumbstruck. When her brain finally slowed down, she looked at Beatrice. “Thank you for letting me know. I need to go to the barn. If you will excuse me.” Millie lifted her skirt and begin the jog to the barn.
“But that wasn’t the reason I stopped by,” Beatrice explained. She drove the buggy further in the yard and climbed out, walking with Millie towards the outbuilding.
“Then why was it?”
“Barnaby is pulling your teaching contract.”
Millie stopped in her tracks. “My teaching contract?”
Beatrice nodded. “There is the loose woman clause You’ve been seen in the company of a man that is not your husband.”
Millie took a deep breath. So, the Pastor was going to go this route, was he?Well, she’d take care of that. “Thank you, Beatrice, for bringing this news my way.” She turned on her heel and walked towards the barn. She could hear Robert grunting as he moved objects from one point to the next.
Beatrice was still on Millie’s heels as she approached the barn door. Suddenly, three shadows appeared from where Millie kept her cow.
“Well, what do we have here?” the man in the front said. He looked at Millie with eyes so dark there wasn’t any color to be seen. It was as if she was looking into the depths of hell. He held a gun pointed directly at Millie’s belly and she had no doubt he would use it if necessary.
The man was dirty with thinning hair. Millie held her breath as the odor of sweat and filth rolled from him in waves. His two companions moved forward. Millie could see that they were younger than the leader and they looked similar enough to be brothers.
“What are you doing on my property?” Millie demanded.
“I came for my money,” the man with the thinning hair said.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Millie glanced at Beatrice who looked like she might faint.
“I know the money is here. We got word that it was wired from Flat River.”
“Boss, I think if we are nice to these women, they might be willing to give us more information.” The man licked his lips in anticipation, and he moved closer. His dirty fingers reached out towards Beatrice. “I’d like to get to know her better.”
Millie stepped in front of Beatrice. “You back off right now, or… or.”
“Or what?” the leader asked. “Just give us our money and we promised we won’t hurt you.”
The youngest of the tree chuckled. “We won’t hurt you, one little bit.”
“I don’t have your money,” Millie insisted.
The man moved forward and slapped Millie across the cheek. “Don’t lie to me girly. I know The Deuce send his money here.”
The Deuce?Were these men somehow affiliated with Robert?
“I don’t know the Deuce,” Millie said firmly, holding her cheek against the pain that was blossoming.
“Then why did some of those funds go to buy this ranch?”
Millie’s eyes opened wide. “How would you know that?”
“Because we got people everywhere,” the middleman chuckled.
“Makes it easier to get in the banks,” the youngest chimed in. “Always need a friend on the inside.”
