Page 70 of Plentywood
“Twenty-one, sir,” he confessed. “And, sir. You should be made aware that there are actually two trusts.”
“Hmmm. Two trusts,” I confirmed. “And who owns the other?”
“You do, sir. The second one holds the deed to a large amount of land in Montana. I’m unsure of the exact name of that specific holding off the top of my head, sir.”
“Could that be the trust that expires next May, Mr. Goldberg? The one holding Triple H Ranch within it?” I asked.
“That is the one, sir.”
“That will be all, Mr. Goldberg,” I said, disconnecting the call.
“Motherfucker!” I raged under my breath. “Nice fucking try, Dad!”
I had an apology to make and a new life to take control of. The days of being manipulated by my father were over. I’d deal with his unforgivable ass later. I had a man I needed to make up with.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: Hunter
When I came out of the Sheriff’s station and headed to my SUV, I noticed something on my windshield. I glanced at my watch. I’d arrived at the station at eight AM and it was now almost noon. Two minutes before, to be precise. I hadn’t seen anyone near my rig during that time.
Is that a flower?A pang hit my heart hard. Mark used to leave flowers on my rig in different locations and at different times. How he continued to escape me catching him was the running joke between us back then. As impossible as my wish was, seeing a single red rose there now flooded my emotions in the hopes I had been stuck in a nightmare for two years. And that somehow he hadn’t died.
I lifted the rose off of the windshield, a note wrapped around the stem. After unwrapping the note, it was revealed as a sheet of paper from a prescription pad.Hawthorne Clinicwas the name at the top of the notepaper.
‘Patient Hunter Copeland’ was handwritten below the clinic’s name. ‘Is hereby prescribed an apology from Dr. Hawthorne. Fill prescription at twelve noon at Jill’s Diner. Side effects to be described by attending physician,’ finished the note.
I couldn’t stop grinning. What were the odds that Ben would do such a personal thing that had been such a memorable part of my previous relationship? I glanced in the direction ofthe cemetery, wondering about the way life can be sometimes. Jennie’s so-called vision. Someone like Ben appearing in Plentywood. The little coincidences and oddities that surround our daily existence.
“Mark?” I whispered. “Leave people alone, my love.”
The diner’s parking lot was empty when I pulled in. Mondays were slow, but this was ridiculous. The sign on the door readclosed,but the front door was unlocked. This time of day was the lunch rush. Where was everyone? When I stepped into the diner, Ben was in the corner by himself.
“You’re late, Sheriff Copeland,” he said, standing and waiting for me.
“What is this?” I asked. “How’d you know I’d come?”
“What day do younoteat here?” he joked, motioning toward a chair across from him. “Well, that and Jill called you earlier about the lunch special. She did that for me. She said you never miss the meatloaf, sheriff. Or can I still call you Hunt?”
“I’d like it if you called me Hunt,” I replied. “I’d like it a lot.”
I sat down, setting my rarely worn cowboy hat on the chair next to me. “So that’s why you get your hair buzzed, isn’t it?” he asked.
“Maybe,” I admitted. “That and hair gel is too expensive.”
Ben gazed at me for a moment, perhaps deep in thought and unable to share just yet. “I’m sorry, Hunt,” he whispered. “And I suck at this stuff. I’m just going to warn you ahead of time.”
“Which part?” I asked. “The apologizing part, or the part where unfortunately you just got blindsided the other night, and I was the unlucky person with you when it happened?”
“You’re really going to let me off that easy?”
“I do that when I like people, Ben. Can I still call you Ben?” I teased.
“I’d like it if you just called me. Period. Maybe ask me out on a date?”
“I could ask you right now if you’d like to get our food to go,” I offered. “I have this favorite spot out by the lake to watch the ducks. I know that’s a country thing to do, but it is a pretty sight.”
“Would we be able to dip our feet in that lake you’re talking about?” he asked, smiling in a way that absolutely melted my heart. Those brilliant eyes of his had me picking out china patterns. “I know you think I’m citified, but I’d like to learn a few new things while I’m in this town of yours, Hunt.”
“How much time you got, doc?” I asked, playing along, but truly wondering.
