Read Online Castle Rock by Carolyn Hart - Free Book Online Page B

wouldn’t have to spend another night looking at the bare tan walls of a cheap motel room, hearing the faint but irritating murmur of the next-door TV, the rush of water in nearby baths.
    She reached the law offices at five minutes to four. The receptionist recognized her and smiled. “They are in the conference room down the hall, Miss Mallory. Go right on in.”
    Serena saw Julie first, of course. She was wearing a Kelly green blazer and a crisp white skirt. Her blonde hair hung softly, swirling onto her shoulders. For an instant, she and Serena stared at each other.
    â€œCome in, Miss Mallory, we’ve been waiting for you,” Mr. Williams boomed. “Take a seat here, my dear, and I’ll give everyone a copy of the will.” He bustled around the room, handing everyone, even Peter, a blue-backed copy of the will, then he took his place at the head of the table.
    Serena sat next to Danny. He turned and whispered excitedly, “Serena, I knew you weren’t gone for good. That’s what Julie said, but I knew it wasn’t true.” His blue eyes looked at her imploringly.
    She smiled and gave him a quick hug. “I don’t know, Danny. We’ll see.”
    Mr. Williams slipped on his horn-rim glasses. “I called all of the interested parties together . . .”
    Peter interrupted. “Miss Mallory is not an heir.”
    Mr. Williams nodded. “That’s right, Mr. Carey, but she is a legatee.” He cleared his throat, “Now, as I started to explain, I wanted to present the main provisions of the will to all of you in person because this is a very complicated instrument. All of you will be able to study it at your leisure, but, for now, I’ll sum it up as simply as I can.” He looked around the table and for the first time Serena noticed how intelligent and penetrating his eyes were. “To put it in a nutshell, Castle Rock belongs to Danny. Mr. McIntire had made earlier provisions for his sister, Jessica, and she is barred from inheriting from his estate.
    â€œThe bulk of the estate, the ranch and its operating capital, are left in trust to Danny. He will inherit all of it outright at his twenty-first birthday. Until Danny comes of age, Miss Serena Mallory will administer the ranch. Miss Mallory will receive a minimum of two thousand dollars a month in salary and, further, ten percent of the ranch’s profits every year.”
    â€œWait a minute,” Julie said angrily. “Wait a minute, Serena can’t just take over the ranch.”
    Mr. Williams looked at her quizzically. “I’m afraid I don’t understand, Mrs. Carey.”
    â€œShe’s nobody,” Julie said viciously. “She isn’t part of the family.”
    â€œLet me explain,” the lawyer said smoothly. “It isn’t a matter of taking over the ranch, Mrs. Carey. Not at all. This is the disposition Mr. McIntire wanted. He told me, as a matter of fact, that Miss Mallory knew more about the workings of the ranch than either you or your brother, Mr. Pritchard. For that reason, he named Miss Mallory to run the ranch until Danny comes of age. He felt that a monthly salary and a percentage of the ranch profits would be a fair recompense. And, of course, she would live at the ranch and therefore not have any living expenses.”
    The last was put in so smoothly, but Serena knew that Mr. Williams was making it absolutely clear, down to the last decimal, that Serena had her place at Castle Rock.
    â€œHey, it’s a wonderful plan,” Will said eagerly. “It’s a swell idea.” He looked at Serena hopefully. “You’re going to take it on, aren’t you, Serry?”
    They were all looking at her now, Mr. Williams, Julie, Peter, Will, and Danny.
    Serena stared down at the conference table, at the broad glistening expanse of oak, and she could almost, in her mind, see Uncle Dan’s face in the shining wood. Uncle Dan had loved