Chapter Eleven
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Attorney Matthew Caulder has asked that I release a statement regarding the revelation that he is the son of Sidney Matthew Roberts.
“The discovery that I am the son of the late rodeo and horse whisperer legend, Sid Roberts, was an overwhelming shock that affected me in so many positive ways and forced me to take time to process this revelation. Now I am ready to officially share this news publicly.
“While I regret never having had the opportunity to meet my father, Sid Roberts, I am proud to be his son and committed to honoring his memory. I will work diligently with the Sid Roberts Foundation to preserve his legacy and love of horses. My father was more than a rodeo hero and horse whisperer, he was especially committed to protecting and safeguarding wild horses that are currently being slaughtered in some states. I have established a national advocacy group within the Sid Roberts Foundation for this purpose. For more information, please visit the foundation’s website under the tab Save the Horses.
“I will not be making any further public statements at this time as I continue to process this discovery of being Sid Roberts’s son. Thank you.”
Matthew Sidney Caulder
Contact:
Iris Michaels, The Knight Group
irism100@
(213) 100-9999
Matt thought the press release was right on point.
It was short, precise, with a “don’t contact me before I contact you” ending.
In other words, no follow-ups. He had discussed the creation of the advocacy group with the triplets.
They’d thought it was a great idea to get the word out regarding the wild horses and the threat that they could be slaughtered.
His response to Iris’s email confirmed his approval, and she promptly replied that she would send it out immediately and included a list of media outlets as an attachment.
Wanting to hear her voice, he picked up his cell phone to thank her personally.
She picked up on the first ring. “I was just about to call you, Matt.”
Was she? That surprised him. “You were?”
“Yes. Instead of this job being project based, I suggest you put me on retainer for a few months. That way, I can handle any inquiries.”
He was okay with that arrangement. “Sounds good to me. I will have Luna contact you to work out the details.”
“Luna?”
“Yes, my administrative assistant.”
“That would be great. And why were you calling me? How can I help you?”
If only she knew. “I just wanted to thank you for handling this.”
“That’s why you hired me. I hope you have a nice day.”
He wasn’t ready for the call to end. “Have you talked to Pam and Dillon lately?” he asked quickly before she could hang up.
“Yes, I spoke with Pam earlier this week. All is quiet in Westmoreland Country.”
“I bet it is,” was his response.
“I meant to ask you how the poker game went and who won.”
He smiled, remembering. “The game was eventful and enlightening. Zane won.”
“Did you enjoy yourself?”
He wanted to tell her he’d been tempted to cut out to find her, but knowing she had an early flight and needed to pack had kept him from doing so. “Yes, I did. There’s never a dull moment around those Westmorelands. Did you know some of them even made bets as to the outcome of the gender reveal?”
She chuckled, and the sound stirred something inside of him. “I’d heard that. Not surprising though. Some of those Westmorelands will bet on anything.”
Now he was the one who chuckled. “I can believe it. Already, they were taking bets as to whether Aidan’s twin sons are identical. Sixty percent of those participating think the twins will be, and forty percent think they won’t.”
“Which way did you bet?” she asked.
“I didn’t. There were a few of us who just looked on and found the entire thing amusing.”
“Hmm…had you betted, which way would you have gone?”
Matt thought that was easy enough to answer. “I would have gone with identical twins.”
“I would have, too,” she replied.
Matt leaned back in his chair. What he should be doing was reviewing the file on his new case, but he wasn’t in the mood right now. He much preferred talking to her. “Why?” he asked, curious to hear her reason.
“Because the odds of such a thing happening are low. Like one in two hundred and fifty. What was even lower were the odds that Bane and Crystal would have a second set of triplets. Those odds are about one in eight thousand. But they have five sons and a daughter to prove there are times when you can beat the odds.”
He smiled. “You’ve done your research, I see. I didn’t know you were into that sort of thing.”
“Hmm, I think there’s quite a lot you don’t know about me, Mr. Caulder. And on that note, I’ll let you go. Enjoy your weekend.”
“And I hope you enjoy yours, too, Iris.”
When he disconnected the call, he thought she was right. There was a lot about her he didn’t know. But she was wrong about letting him go. He might fade into the background for a minute to give her space, but he honestly wasn’t going anywhere.
* * *
Iris leaned back in her chair and tapped her mouth a few times, knowing one day it would get her in trouble.
Why was it that every single time she talked to Matt, she managed to say something that could be taken as flirtatious?
That comment about him not knowing a lot about her sounded like a challenge for him to learn more.
That wasn’t what she wanted, nor had it been what she’d meant to insinuate.
Was it her fault he had such a sexy voice and she enjoyed listening to him talk?
It wasn’t like she didn’t have work to do.
Thanksgiving was a few weeks away, and her office would be closed the entire week.
She was excited at the thought of seeing Garlan again.
He had remained three additional days at Westmoreland Country before heading back to Harvard.
A part of her was a little disappointed he hadn’t accompanied her back to LA and hung out with her those extra days.
Pushing the disappointment aside, she was about to get up and place a folder in the filing cabinet when her cell phone rang. She knew that ringtone. “Hello, Shauna. How are things going?”
“I’m in a bind.”
Iris lifted a brow. “What’s up?”
“I have two tickets to that huge charity event sponsored by one of the local hospitals.”
“And?”
“I know this is short notice and all, but I need a date.”
“A date?”
“Yes.”
Iris threw her head back and laughed. When she finished moments later, Shauna had the nerve to ask what was so funny?
“You. On what planet would actress Shauna Barnes, who just last week was on the cover of People magazine, need a date? I’m sure men would stand in line at your door if they knew you were in that sort of bind.”
“Well, there’s a reason I prefer not having a date for this particular event.”
Iris lifted her brow again. “What’s the reason?”
“Whoever I come with, the media will put a spin on it like we’re involved.”
Iris shrugged. “They always do, and it’s never bothered you before. You enjoy the publicity since it benefits you.”
“I know, but not this time.”
“Why?”
Shauna paused, and then she said, “Dylan Emanuel and the Techstones are performing.”
“Oh, I see.”
“I don’t think you do, Iris.”
“Trust me, I do. I noticed your interest in the drummer, Graham Ives, while in Westmoreland Country.”
“You did?”
“Yes. You were all but drooling whenever you looked at him.”
“Oh, my gosh. If you noticed, then I’m sure you noticed he wasn’t looking back at me. It was like I didn’t exist.”
Iris frowned. She thought Shauna sounded worse than disappointed. She sounded wounded. “He was there to perform, you know.”
“I know, but still…”
“But still, what?” Iris wanted to know.
“Nothing.”
She figured that whatever it was, Shauna would share when she was ready. “So, what’s the plan?”
“No plan, I just want you as my date.”
Iris smiled. She wondered if these young people often forgot that people her age had once been young and had already played the games they were trying to play.
Iris would be a disposable date if Graham Ives invited Shauna to an after-party or something.
The saying “two’s company, three’s a crowd” would certainly fit that scenario.
“No problem. I will be your date, Shauna. It will give me something to do Saturday night.”
“Great! I’ll call you tomorrow with all the details. Thanks, Iris. You’re super.”
“You’re welcome, and I think you’re super, too.”
“You do, why?”
There was no way she would say she thought Shauna was super since she had no problem going after whatever she wanted. Something Iris hadn’t had the nerve to do at that age. “Because I do. I’ll see you Saturday night.”