Read Online Love on the Buchanan Ranch (A Romance Story) by Elizabeth Nelson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elizabeth Nelson
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out of his kitchen.”
Owen smiled again at the thought. Stacey smiled too. “I can’t say as I blame him. That had to be a lot of muddy boot prints on the kitchen floor.”
He laughed; Stacey liked the sound of it. “They wouldn’t have dared leave a muddy print on Mama’s floor. Those old boys took their boots off at the door and ate in their socks. Not one of ‘em ever complained about it either.”
Stacey sat there with him, talking, and for long periods of time, just being quiet while he reeled in his fish or stared up at the stars. She had gotten a text message at some point from Vicki, saying that she and Edith were home and locked in, safe and sound. That took a load off her mind, and she allowed herself to just sit back at that point and enjoy Owen’s quiet company. It had seemed to her like only minutes had passed, when actually it was over two hours later, when she finally glanced at the time on her phone, and realized how late it was getting.
“Oh my goodness,” she said, “I didn’t realize how the time had passed. I better get going or I won’t get up in time for work tomorrow.” As she stood up, Owen stood too.
“It was nice talking to you. Thank you for the beer,” she said.
“You’re welcome,” he said. When he didn’t say anything else she said, “Okay then, well, goodnight,” and started to walk away. She realized then that he had stood up because he intended to walk with her. She started to protest, but in all honesty she was impressed by his gallantry and not ready to part his company. When they reached the cottage, she said goodnight again, and when he muttered, “Night,” and tipped his hat, she found it endearing, and not the least bit rude as she might have before. She realized then that Emma had been right, and although he was quiet, he seemed to be a really nice man whom she should probably give a chance.
***
After running her morning errands the next day, Stacey called Lucious Grunwald’s office.
“Stacey,” he said, “How nice to hear from you. I’ve been wondering how you were getting on.”
“Were you?” Stacey asked, somewhat sarcastically, “I need to ask you something, Lucious. I want to know what trouble Edward was into, and with whom?”
“I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about, Stacey,” the lawyer said.
“Come on Lu, you’re the only one besides myself who knew the real him. He was no saint, we both know that. But now, the little girl he knocked up before he died is getting some scary phone calls and letters about money he supposedly left behind. Don’t deny knowing anything about this, Lu. They told her to take the money to you. I want to know the truth. What is going on? What did he get involved with?”
There was silence on the other end while Stacey assumed the lawyer was trying to think of how to word what he was about to say in order to lay as little of the responsibility on himself as possible.
“Stacey, I honestly don’t know what all he was into. I know he was gambling, a lot. He was also borrowing money from some pretty shady people. Right before he died, he told me he had hit some big jackpot or other. I don’t know any more than that about it, I swear. But, a few weeks ago, I got a call too. It was from a man who identified himself as Ray. He said that a girl would be dropping off a package that one of my clients, namely Edward, had left with her. It was something that belonged to this man, and I should call him when I received it. I haven’t heard any more about it, Stacey. I promise you. I actually all but forgot about it until you called.”
Stacey didn’t know whether to believe him or not. If she had to say so, she’d say that he was probably not being one hundred percent honest, but she didn’t think pressing him further about that would help. Instead, she said, “Lu, do you think these people are dangerous? Should Victoria be
Owen smiled again at the thought. Stacey smiled too. “I can’t say as I blame him. That had to be a lot of muddy boot prints on the kitchen floor.”
He laughed; Stacey liked the sound of it. “They wouldn’t have dared leave a muddy print on Mama’s floor. Those old boys took their boots off at the door and ate in their socks. Not one of ‘em ever complained about it either.”
Stacey sat there with him, talking, and for long periods of time, just being quiet while he reeled in his fish or stared up at the stars. She had gotten a text message at some point from Vicki, saying that she and Edith were home and locked in, safe and sound. That took a load off her mind, and she allowed herself to just sit back at that point and enjoy Owen’s quiet company. It had seemed to her like only minutes had passed, when actually it was over two hours later, when she finally glanced at the time on her phone, and realized how late it was getting.
“Oh my goodness,” she said, “I didn’t realize how the time had passed. I better get going or I won’t get up in time for work tomorrow.” As she stood up, Owen stood too.
“It was nice talking to you. Thank you for the beer,” she said.
“You’re welcome,” he said. When he didn’t say anything else she said, “Okay then, well, goodnight,” and started to walk away. She realized then that he had stood up because he intended to walk with her. She started to protest, but in all honesty she was impressed by his gallantry and not ready to part his company. When they reached the cottage, she said goodnight again, and when he muttered, “Night,” and tipped his hat, she found it endearing, and not the least bit rude as she might have before. She realized then that Emma had been right, and although he was quiet, he seemed to be a really nice man whom she should probably give a chance.
***
After running her morning errands the next day, Stacey called Lucious Grunwald’s office.
“Stacey,” he said, “How nice to hear from you. I’ve been wondering how you were getting on.”
“Were you?” Stacey asked, somewhat sarcastically, “I need to ask you something, Lucious. I want to know what trouble Edward was into, and with whom?”
“I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about, Stacey,” the lawyer said.
“Come on Lu, you’re the only one besides myself who knew the real him. He was no saint, we both know that. But now, the little girl he knocked up before he died is getting some scary phone calls and letters about money he supposedly left behind. Don’t deny knowing anything about this, Lu. They told her to take the money to you. I want to know the truth. What is going on? What did he get involved with?”
There was silence on the other end while Stacey assumed the lawyer was trying to think of how to word what he was about to say in order to lay as little of the responsibility on himself as possible.
“Stacey, I honestly don’t know what all he was into. I know he was gambling, a lot. He was also borrowing money from some pretty shady people. Right before he died, he told me he had hit some big jackpot or other. I don’t know any more than that about it, I swear. But, a few weeks ago, I got a call too. It was from a man who identified himself as Ray. He said that a girl would be dropping off a package that one of my clients, namely Edward, had left with her. It was something that belonged to this man, and I should call him when I received it. I haven’t heard any more about it, Stacey. I promise you. I actually all but forgot about it until you called.”
Stacey didn’t know whether to believe him or not. If she had to say so, she’d say that he was probably not being one hundred percent honest, but she didn’t think pressing him further about that would help. Instead, she said, “Lu, do you think these people are dangerous? Should Victoria be
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