Page 84 of A Reckless Memory

Aggie wasn’t in her bedroom. Voices filtered down the hallway from Cody’s office. I had a strong aversion to going in there. Too much like returning to the scene of the crime. The devastation on Aggie’s face. That betrayal in her eyes had been the first time I’d really questioned what I’d done. Otherwise, I’d been taking money from a bastard to live a damn good life. Aggie had become one of my favorite people—no harm, no foul. Until that second when understanding blazed across her face. My chest ached at the memory of the hurt and how I hadn’t been able to comfort her afterward. Instead, I’d thrown it all in her face. Basically told her she was being unreasonable.

When I reached the living room, I found her staring out the giant picture window, her arms crossed in front of her like a hug. Her reddish-gold hair puffed around her head. In the glass’s reflection, I could see she’d tucked some strands behind her ear. The outline of her body was one I knew well, but I took a moment to appreciate her figure. The way her back tapered in before flaring out. Her feet were crossed at the ankles.

She caught sight of me in the window, and her smile was relieved. “Ready?”

No. “Yes.” I came up behind her and put my hands on her shoulders, looking out to see what she was seeing. Dark rolling hills, lit by yard lights and the moon. Clouds drifted through the dark sky, letting the brightest of stars peek out. I couldn’t see the horses in the distance or the cows dotting the pastures. Could this be an omen? A peaceful night meant a mellow reading of the will and trust? ”Everyone else here?”

“More than I expected.” She glanced toward the office and leaned into me to speak quieter. “Some of the women Daddy dated, including a couple of his home health nurses, are here. Though, what nursing qualifications they have should’ve been questioned.”

From what she’d said, Barns hadn’t been concerned with their lack of nursing skills.

“I guess,” she sighed. “Let’s get this over with.”

* * *

Aggie

Ten years ago, I fled Ansen and my family down this long hallway, but tonight I walked with Ansen back to Cody’s office. Were my brothers dreading this as much as I was? I wasn’t confident Daddy wouldn’t aim one final strike at Mama by shunning me. Time to find out.

We walked to the office side by side. A crush of faces turned our way when we entered. My brothers. Sutton sat next to Wilder, and I exchanged a small smile with her. Four women I knew from around town clocked my entrance. Daddy’s nursing help and a couple he’d dated. Two men whose land bordered ours.

Daddy hadn’t been friendly with the neighbors any more than he had been with anyone else in town, but at times they’d had to work together, like when cattle got out, or storms came through and damaged structures and fencing. Was Daddy doing a plot twist and showing everyone who played a role in his life that he appreciated them?

Two chairs were empty in front of the desk closest to the door. I took the seat by Wilder, still in uniform. Ansen sat in the chair on the edge of everything as if he could fade into the wall and people would quit staring at him. His visit would get out after this, and my gut twisted at what everyone would think. They’d assume what Eliot had, that he’d showed up like Lawson, hoping to get rich through me.

I’d almost forgotten about Lawson’s visit after I’d hopped into the pickup with my brothers for the funeral. If Ansen hadn’t been here, Lawson’s words would’ve gotten to me. But with a simple kiss on my forehead, he’d soothed away any damage done.

Cody was behind the desk, his ankle kicked over a knee and his fingers steepled in front of his mouth. The expensive watch Meg had given him was visible over his cuff, as if she was here with him, supporting him. The permanent furrow he was developing across his brow was in full force as he gazed at the bare top of his desk. His laptop was closed and pushed to the side, and only a notepad and pen sat in front of him. “We can begin, Lorenzo.”

My insides somersaulted. Would Lawson’s insults be the most minor of my hurt feelings today?

The stern salt-and-pepper-haired lawyer stood next to him, papers in hand. Lorenzo Ruiz and his law office had handled all of Daddy’s business. Mama had used a lawyer from Billings when she’d divorced Daddy. Lorenzo ran his fingers over his black-and-white-striped tie. Other than Cody, he was the only other guy in a suit. Cody’s was black. Lorenzo’s was gray with a vest.

He cleared his throat and dug a pair of readers out of his breast pocket. “All right. Welcome, everyone. As many of you know, Barnaby Knight formed a living trust that’s been in effect for years. He left a few final notes he wished to be read.” Just like Daddy, Lorenzo got right to the point. Probably why they had worked well together—that and all the money Daddy had paid Ruiz Law over the years. A smart businessman would make sure to work well with someone like Daddy, who’d always have legal issues because of his ambition or actions. “A final word from Barnaby Knight to Frank Bull and Darren Mapmaker.” The neighbors. They owned the cattle ranches that flanked either side of Knight land. “You’ve made a lot of damn money off Knight’s bulls; you’d better not give my kids a lick of trouble. If you do, my lawyer will pursue compensation for the bull seed you’ve stolen letting your goddamn heifers into the bull pasture.”

I held in a groan. Dammit, Daddy.

A gruff grumble came from behind me. “Keep your goddamn fences fixed, then.”

Eliot briefly closed his eyes, then held his hands up. “S’okay, Frank. I know how it goes.”

Lorenzo glanced around like he was waiting for more reactions. When there were none, he continued, “To Cindy Cullen, Kimber Lang, Karen Polski, and Tori Garza, you, uh...” He took a deep breath like he was steeling himself for what he said next. “Barnaby wanted you all to know he knew you were sleeping with him to get money, so he wanted you all here to make sure you knew you don’t get, and I quote, ‘Not a damn cent. No sex is that good.’”

I couldn’t stop my quiet groan and rolled my gaze to the ceiling. Was this how the rest of the night would go? Should I grab Ansen’s hand, tell Cody to catch me up later, and leave?

Startled gasps sounded from behind me. No doubt from Cindy, Kimber, Karen, and Tori. Cody dropped his forehead to his fingertips and sighed. Sutton and Wilder exchanged perplexed looks. Austen smothered his mouth with his hand, probably holding a cackle in, and Eliot glowered at the floor for a moment before he stood and turned toward the women.

Cindy was standing, her dangly earrings swinging from the way she was punching her finger toward Lorenzo. “I didn’t want a single dime from that man.”

Eliot held his hands up. For a guy who seemed permanently grumpy, he was very calming. “I understand, Cindy. You provided excellent care.”

Tori muttered, “Especially from between the sheets.”

Cindy’s golden eyes blazed. “Don’t you dare cast stones, hussy. We all know you were trying to put a ring on it from the moment Birdie left.”

I flinched at Mom’s name, but I doubted Cindy was wrong.

Kimber snorted and flipped her dyed-red hair over her shoulders. “And when she died, you were right there to console his dick.”

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