Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
T hings were chaotic, to say the least. The wedding was tomorrow, and tonight was the rehearsal dinner. After she showered, she went into the lobby to pull up some paperwork and then she was going to search for Edward. He had to be here somewhere.
Hearing someone clear their throat, she glanced up to see a man standing in the doorway.
“Can I help you?” she asked, wondering if he was a guest for the wedding who had not checked in yet. They had no more rooms and she had no idea where she could put him or even where to tell him to go spend the night.
“I’m looking for Edward Anderson,” he said.
“Good luck. I’m searching for him too,” she said. “I’m his sister. Is there something I can do to help you?”
The man smiled. “Maybe so.”
He walked up close to the counter and when he moved, she saw a pistol stuck in his pants. “I’ve been sent to collect.”
The man wore a black ski jacket, his dark hair was slicked back, his eyes dark and cold, and inside her head was screaming warning. There was just something about the man she disliked. Maybe it was the smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Collect what?” she asked, a scurry of fear trickling down her spine.
“He owes us a lot of money and the boss sent me to collect,” he said and glanced around at the house. “I don’t think this will cover what he owes us.”
Stunned, she stared at him shock radiating through her. Was he with the mob?
“Are you talking about the house? How much money does he owe you?”
Beneath the counter, she felt like her knees were about to buckle.
“Let’s just say that it involves six figures,” he said, grinning that wicked smile. “You could come to work for us?”
The man must’ve enjoyed delivering bad news because he laughed and she knew he was enjoying seeing her shocked expression.
“Get out,” she said. “Get out before I set off the alarm.”
Thank goodness, her mother had insisted that they install a security alarm beneath the counter.
His hand reached and touched the gun at his waist. “Go right ahead. I’m prepared are you?”
No, she wasn’t. And she didn’t want anyone to get hurt. Especially not today. How would their guests react? How would Francesca deal with a security problem?
“Tell Edward we expect payment and that I’ll be back tomorrow to collect,” he said.
“Don’t come back here,” she said. “You and my brother can settle your business anywhere but here. Next time, I’ll be prepared.”
The man grinned and nodded. “I’m not going to make any promises. You tell Edward if he doesn’t want us here at his home tomorrow, he needs to get in touch with the boss now.”
The man whirled away and walked out the door.
With her knees knocking, Samantha stumbled to the nearest chair. What the hell was Edward into and why were seedy characters coming all the way out to the ranch, right after a blizzard to speak to him? To threaten them.
Right now, she doubted most people could get down the snowy highway.
Sitting there, she collected her wits. Time to find her brother and demand he tell her what was going on.
As she rose from the chair, her mother walked into the room. “Are you all right? You’re white as that soon-to-be bride’s wedding veil.”
This was the bad part. Her mother didn’t deserve this kind of pain. She somehow had to keep this from her. But for how long? Especially if characters like that man came back. What if her mother had been behind the counter when he walked in the door?
“I’m fine. I didn’t sleep very well last night and I think it’s getting to me,” she said lying through her teeth, but to protect her mother.
“Maybe you should go lie down,” she said.
“I will just as soon as I talk to Edward about the cupola. They did such a great job installing it and I want to make certain that we paid Garrett for his help. He didn’t have to do that,” she said.
Her mother grinned. “It does add a special touch doesn’t it?”
“Yes,” she said, wanting to walk away.
“I’m going to work on the flowers for the wedding. Make certain we have everything we need,” she said.
“Good idea,” Samantha said and watched her mother walk away.
As soon as she was out the door, Samantha hurried down the hall to her brother’s office. Glancing inside, she noticed he wasn’t there.
Racing up the stairs to the family’s quarters, she knocked on his door and then slowly opened it. Nothing. Just nothing.
Quickly she dialed his cell phone and it went to voicemail. She was going to find him if she had to send the hounds searching for him.
She went out to the barn to a room where he liked to watch television. When she opened the door, he jumped.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Resting. I’ve got a headache,” he said.
The man did look tired. There were dark circles beneath his eyes and his skin was pale.
“Hey, thanks for going out and finding Cameron,” he said. “I told him to come back with me, but he refused. This wedding idea is not working out, Samantha. This has been a terrible idea,” he said. “It’s cost us so much money.”
The nerve. The gall. “Excuse me, but this wedding idea was mine. The money I took out of my portion of the inheritance. It’s only cost the ranch the cost of sprucing up the outside, which needed it badly.”
Turning, he faced her. “After this wedding, I’m shutting it down.”
“The hell you are,” she said suddenly angry. Why was he doing this now? “That business is mine, not yours.”
“Daddy left me in charge of the ranch and I’m telling you, we’re closing this down as soon as this wedding is over.”
Everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours overwhelmed her and she raised her voice.
“What are you doing? You want to shut down the only business we have left that can possibly save this ranch. What have you done with the money? I just had a man walk in the front door who wanted to speak to you. He said you owe him a lot of money. Six figures. Where did you get that kind of cash, Edward? Where?”
Standing, her brother faced her, his dark brown eyes flashing with anger.
“He’s a grifter looking for a handout,” he said.
“A six-figure handout? I don’t think so,” she responded, pacing the floor. “And he had a pistol stuck down in his pants. He said you owed his boss money. He said to call him today or he would be back tomorrow to collect. We have a wedding here tomorrow, Edward.”
He shrugged and she knew he didn’t care. In fact, she honestly thought he wanted the wedding business to fail.
“Not my wedding. I didn’t want to get into this business, but you did and Mother went along with your idea.”
It was true. He’d never thought this was a good idea.
“You’re right. But someone had to do something or we would soon lose the ranch. Now I’m beginning to wonder if it’s too late. What are you hiding, Edward? Money was never a worry before and suddenly the bills are not getting paid. The food service stopped their delivery, even the employees are starting to whisper that something is wrong. What have you done?”
Grabbing his hat, he shoved it on his head. “Everything is fine. We got a little behind on things, but the spring calving season should take care of that. In the meantime, your wedding business is what’s causing us debt. And I’m putting an end to that as soon as this wedding is over.”
Yanking open the door, he walked out, leaving her staring at the man she no longer recognized. She’d waited too long to confront him. Feeling like danger was imminent, she walked out of the door and went to see Casey.
Her hands shook when she walked in the door to her cousin’s office.
“What’s wrong, Samantha? You look angry,” Casey said.
“I know you’ve been wanting to meet and discuss the books, but this wedding, our first, has taken so much time. Something has come to my attention. I need an audit of the books. I need to know how much cash Edward has pulled out of the ranch and if he owes anyone any money.”
Casey nodded and frowned. “I can tell you I’ve seen a lot of discrepancies. Something is wrong.”
“When can you get me that report?”
Her cousin frowned. “Give me until tomorrow. Let’s plan on meeting before the wedding tomorrow.”
Not great timing, but at least then she would know the truth.
“The banker is coming to visit this afternoon or I would have it then.”
“The banker?”
“Yes,” Casey said.
“But why?”
Her cousin grinned. “We’re kind of seeing one another. We didn’t start out as friends, but now, well, I like him.”
For a moment, there she’d been afraid that Edward had taken out a loan on the property and that the banker was there to collect as well.
Edward owed someone money, but Samantha had no idea who, and from the looks of the character, it wasn’t good.
“I’m happy for you,” she said, her mind wandering to Cameron. She hadn’t seen him since this morning. And she missed him already.
“Thank you,” Casey said. “It’s been unexpected and quick.”
The same could be said for Cameron.
Anna came to the door. “Samantha, I need your help.”
“Sure,” she said, glancing at Casey. “Just get me that report when you can.”
She walked out into the hall with Anna. “What’s wrong?”
“Bridezilla is accusing us of not cleaning the rooms properly. You know I pride myself on how nice the rooms are.”
Maybe Edward was right. Maybe she wasn’t meant to have a wedding venue place. Or maybe she was going to commit murder any second now and Bridezilla would not be walking down the aisle tomorrow.
“Don’t worry about it. I know that you take exceptionally good care of the rooms. Let me handle our FrankenBride.”
Anna reached out and touched her arm. “I’m sorry. I know how much stress you’re under. On Sunday morning, they’ll all be gone.”
“That can’t get here quick enough,” Samantha said.
“Thanks, Samantha,” Anna said and walked away.
How much more could she take? This was why she’d needed that night alone with Cameron and why she’d let herself sleep with a man she barely knew.
Tears welled in her eyes and she walked down the hall toward the family room needing some time alone. Somehow she had to get through this wedding and not let her mother know how worried she was about the ranch. She feared what the report would show.
With tears filling her eyes, she came around a corner and bumped into Cameron.
“Sam,” he said. She glanced up at him and shook her head. “What’s wrong?”
Taking her hand, he led her up the stairs and into his room. Shutting the door behind them, he sat her on his bed and wrapped his arms around her.
“Everything,” she said. For the next five minutes, she told him about the man who walked into the reception area looking for Edward. And when she confronted Edward, how he planned on shutting down her business.
“I put my inheritance into making this a successful business. Mother is going to be devastated when she learns the truth about Edward. What am I going to do, Cameron? Casey is pulling a report for me and should get it to me tomorrow. I’m terrified of what I’ll learn.”
With him holding her, the tears fell, and he made comforting sounds while letting her cry. What if they lost the ranch? What if she lost everything? Then what would she do?
“Sometimes things don’t work out like we want them to,” he said. “Sometimes life throws us a curve ball and we either have to get out of the way or catch it.”
What was that supposed to mean?
Leaning back, she gazed into his eyes and his lips covered hers. For just a few moments, she was getting solace in his arms. For just a few moments, she was being comforted by this man that she adored.
And yet on the other side of that door, her crazy world waited.
Releasing his mouth, she sighed. “I’ve got to go. The rehearsal dinner is tonight and then tomorrow is the big day.”
“If you need me, you know where to find me,” he said.
Reaching up, she caressed his cheek. “Thank you. The time spent in your arms has been the best part of this week. I’m going to be sad to see you go.”
“Me too,” he said, leaning down and kissing her softly on the lips again. “Me too.”