Chapter Nineteen
Shelley sat back in her chair and smiled at Jim. “You realize that I’m not even licensed in the state of Montana yet, don’t you?”
He winked at her. “Aye, I’m aware. I also know that there’s not many who are licensed here that I’d trust with knowing my business like this.”
“I’m honored that you trust me. Do you want to take some more time to think it over before you share anything too personal with me?”
“I don’t. I know what I’m doing, and while I appreciate you looking out for my interests, it’s not necessary. I know the general idea of how I want to set things up. I’ll need you to advise me on the best way to do it. I want to make sure that it’s all watertight—that no one can contest it or try to undo it after I’m gone.”
“Of course.” She smiled. “That was my specialty.”
“Is your specialty,” he corrected her.
She gave him a puzzled look. “Have you checked me out?”
“I have. As you’d expect me to. I’m not talking about leaving a couple of trinkets to pretty girls and a field full of heifers to my old friend. This here’s one of the largest ranches in the valley. It doesn’t come close to the biggest in the state in terms of size, but when you get to looking at the value of the land…”
He slid a folder across the table toward her and nodded for her to open it.
She inhaled sharply when she saw the land valuation on the top sheet. She stared at the number, then looked back up at Jim—suddenly seeing not just the sweet, gruff old rancher, but a man with serious legacy decisions on his hands.
Jim smiled. “Have a flick through them papers and you’ll get a better idea of why I need you.” He chuckled. “And maybe you’ll understand a bit better why young Deacon gets so twitchy when he thinks anyone might be trying to take advantage of me.”
His smile faded. “Used to be that I was the one who got all protective toward other folks—now I’m just the old geezer who needs looking out for.”
Shelley looked up at him. “Now, that’s not true, and you know it. I might be a newcomer, but I saw the way everyone was with you one Friday. You’re not some old guy they’re trying to look after. Yes, they feel protective toward you, but that’s because they respect you and… I’d say that every single one of them loves you.”
He gave her a small smile. “Aye, I reckon you’re right. And thanks for calling me out—I need it sometimes. So, it’s good to know you’ll do it.”
“I will. If you decide that you want to work with me after we’ve had our chat, then I’m going to be helping you make some big decisions. I won’t be holding back; I’ll be giving you my honest opinion—about your options and your choices.”
She smiled. “I’m mostly mild-mannered—but I don’t pull any punches when it comes to my clients and my work.”
“I’ve already decided that I want to work with you. I wouldn’t have shown you that if I wasn’t certain. And I know you’re not all outgoing like your friend, Harper. I wouldn’t want to work with you if you were. I admire you for entirely different reasons. And now we’re clear on that, where do we start?”
Shelley looked down at the folder again. Jim’s estate was going to be one of the biggest she’d ever worked on.
“Like I said, I need to make sure that I can work for you first of all. We don’t want to leave your estate open to challenges because of an unlicensed lawyer!”
“Aye, you’ll look into that—but if it’s an issue, we can have someone local sign off on what we decide.”
“Okay. And you don’t currently have even a will? You’ve never done any estate planning or…?”
He rubbed his cheek against his shoulder. “See, that’s the thing. I do have a will in place, but I need to change it.”
She waited, wondering what he was about to say. She was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that the sweet old rancher she’d gotten to know and like over the last few months was actually one of the wealthiest men she’d ever met.
Jim took a sip of his coffee. “You know we never had kids of our own. But we had brothers and sisters, Kitty and me. We had one of each.”
He stared out the window at the mountains for a long moment before turning back to her. “I never thought I’d outlive the lot of ’em. But I have. The way things have worked out, if I kick the bucket tomorrow, my nephew will get everything.
“We had it set up as a family succession deal—you know, if she died first, it all went to me, and the same if I’d gone first. With us both gone, it went equally between the brothers and sisters. With them gone, all that was left were my nephew Gavin and Kitty’s niece Elaine.
“She was a good girl, Elaine. I wouldn’t have minded her getting the lot, but her time came too soon.” He shook his head sadly. “I never think of women having heart attacks, but she did. She was only fifty-three.”
He blew out a sigh. “Forgive me rambling. The point is, Gavin’s the only one left now, and I don’t want that devious little weasel getting his hands on any of it—let alone all of it.”
She hadn’t met Gavin, but if Jim’s instincts were right—and she expected that they were—she’d be ready to fight like hell to keep him off the land.
“And do you know who you do want your beneficiary—or beneficiaries—to be?”
He nodded happily. “I do. I have one main one for the ranch, and there are lots of smaller gifts I’d like you to help me set up. There’s the investment stuff, too, but that was more Kitty’s interest than mine. The portfolio’s done well over the years, and I reckon we can do some good work in the world with the kind of money that’s built up there.”
He leaned back in his chair. “So, are you in?”
“I am. I’m looking forward to helping you get it all set up the way you want it.”
“It’ll be a big job, you know.”
She looked back down at the folder and laughed. “I’m aware!”
“I’ll pay you good money—and I reckon working with me will help put your name on the map. Folks don’t always take too kindly to newcomers out here, but we can show ’em.”
“Thanks, Jim. I won’t look to take on any other clients until we have you set up, though. I’ve been out of the game for a few years now—I don’t want to divide my attention.”
“That’s what I was hoping. And like I said, I’ll pay you well—and if you want, I’ll throw the cottage in as part of your compensation package.”
“The cottage?”
“Aye. What did she call it—your friend? That adorable little place ?” he asked with a chuckle. “We used to put our visitors up there.”
He winked. “My Kitty used to love having visitors—and I didn’t love sharing my space with ’em. So, we had that cottage built. It’s a shame for it to stand empty, especially when you and Harper are going to need a place to stay.”
She just stared at him, kind of annoyed at Harper that she must have told him about them needing to move out of the house in town.
He gave her a stern look. “Don’t go getting mad at her. She didn’t tell me—and I don’t think she would. I know Derek Lang, and he’s another little weasel.
“If I guessed wrong, then I’m sorry—but I reckon you ladies will be looking for a place to stay soon, and I’m offering you the cottage if you want it. I won’t be offended if you don’t.
“And I’d rather see you move straight in with young Jack. I don’t reckon either of you is the kind to rush into it, though, so…”
He leaned back in his chair and rested his hands on the table in front of him.
“Do you have enough information from our initial consultation, Miss Shelley?”
She smiled. “I do.”
“And you’ll think it all over and let me know?”
“Of course. I do want to work with you, Jim. As for the cottage…”
He chuckled. “We can go and find Harper and see what she has to say about it.”
It was almost four by the time she and Harper were ready to leave Jim's place. Shelley smiled as she watched Harper hug him and thank him for the afternoon. She was glad the two of them got along so well.
Harper wasn’t everybody’s cup of tea, and Shelley hadn’t been sure how people out here would react to her. So far, it seemed she had no worries. Jim, in particular, had taken a shine to her.
When Harper stepped back, Shelley leaned in to give Jim a hug, too. He winked as he stepped away.
“I’m glad we’re still on hugging terms. I didn’t know if you’d think it was appropriate now that you’re my lawyer.”
She smiled. “I don’t think affection and professionalism are mutually exclusive, Jim. Do you?”
He shook his head. “I don’t. I’m just glad I know where we stand. And just to be sure that we all know—you ladies are going to take a couple of days to think over my offer of the cottage. Like I said, there’s no strings. It'll be part of your compensation package, Miss Shelley. The two of you can move in whenever you’d like.”
He chuckled. “I’ll understand if you want to stay where you are as long as you can. I doubt you’ll get any money back from Derek, and I don’t see why you should pay him for nothing. But if you want out of there, you’re welcome here just as soon as you want to get here.”
“Thanks, Jim.”
He turned to Harper. “And if you can manage to talk her into moving straight in with Trip, you do that. I’m only calling the cottage compensation because I think you’ll accept it easier that way. But even if Shelley doesn’t come, you’re welcome to it.”
Harper reached out to touch his arm. “Thank you. And I’ll tell you now, even if we can persuade Shelley to move right in with Trip, I’d love to take the cottage.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “But only if you let me pay you the going rent. I imagine we’d both be in trouble with the natives otherwise.”
Jim laughed. “You may have a point there. And if it comes down to it, we’ll figure out what the going rate would be and decide between us what good cause we want to give it to each month. How about that?”
He glanced at Shelley. “It’s not like I need the money. And I reckon I’m capable of deciding for myself who is trying to take advantage of me and who isn’t.”
Shelley nodded, knowing he was right—and respecting him all the more for his suggestion about what they could do with Harper’s rent money. She swallowed—the money that Harper would only be paying him if Shelley herself decided to move in with Trip.
Not that Trip had asked her to move in. Well, he’d said that he’d love for her to… but…
She came back to the moment when she realized both Jim and Harper were watching her. She made a face.
“I’ll figure it out. I don’t need to decide today, do I?”
They both laughed.
“You don’t,” said Jim. “Now get along with you, the pair of you—and I’ll see you both soon.”
She and Harper didn’t talk much on the way back to Trip’s place. They rode in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
When Harper turned off the highway into Trip’s drive, she glanced over at Shelley. “You doing okay over there?”
“I am. I’m good. I’m just trying to process it all. Jim’s not just a wealthy man—he’s a very, very wealthy man.
Harper smiled. “I thought as much. You can tell that about him. He’s awesome, isn’t he?”
Shelley laughed. “He is. And he seems to think the world of you.”
“It’s mutual,” said Harper. “I wasn’t joking at the bakery the other day when I said that he might well be the best man I’ve ever met.” She let out a little sigh. “I wish I could have met his Kitty. I wish I could have seen the two of them together. A love like that…”
She sighed again. “I can’t even imagine. Well, no—that’s not true. I can imagine, but that’s all I’ll ever be able to do. Still, it’s good to know that love like that exists in real life—and not just in romance novels.”
Shelley chuckled. “I never knew you had such a romantic streak hidden away. And who says you’ll never find a love like that?”
Harper rolled her eyes. “I keep my romantic streak hidden because I know how foolish it is—for me to go hoping. You, on the other hand…” She smiled as they emerged from the line of cottonwood trees and the house came into view. “You I have high hopes for. And just for the record, I’m with Jim. I think you should move in with Trip just as soon as you want to.”
Shelley raised her eyebrows. “Are you saying you don’t want to share the cottage with me?”
Harper laughed. “You know damn well how much I’m looking forward to that. It’ll be fun—if it works out that way. Apart from vacations, we haven’t shared space since college. I’d love it.”
She shot Shelley a quick look. “And that should tell you just how excited I am for you and Trip. Would I love for the two of us to be roommates again? Absolutely. But I’d love even more to see you settled with Trip. Okay? And now I’m going to zip it,” she said as she pulled up behind the house.
“I know he’s invited us both to stay for dinner, but I’m thinking I can run up to the grocery store and get something for dessert for the three of us. I need to feel like I’m contributing some… Oh good lord above. Who on earth is that—and please, can I have one?”
Shelley followed her gaze toward the kitchen door, where Trip had just come outside, accompanied by…
He had the look of the MacFarlands about him, but he was older. And Harper was right—he was good looking. In a rugged kind of way.
“Oh! That’s Cash. He’s the eldest MacFarland brother.”
“Holy smokes. Please tell me he’s not taken?”
“He’s not, as far as I know, but…” Shelley realized that both Trip and Cash were smiling at them—and she and Harper were still sitting in the car, staring at them like a pair of idiots.
“Put your tongue away and let’s get out,” she told Harper. “And please—behave yourself.”
Harper laughed. “I’m always on my best behavior. You know this.”
Shelley laughed with her. “That’s what I’m worried about—your idea of best behavior isn’t exactly … Maybe you should head up to town like you were saying and get us something for dessert.”
Harper gave her an indignant look. “Dessert? Forget dessert—I’ll have him instead!”
Shelley could only laugh and follow as Harper got out of the car.
“Hey, ladies.” Trip greeted them. “I didn’t expect you back so soon. I just have to run Cash back to the airport, but I won’t be long. Why don’t the two of you get yourselves a drink and …”
Shelley tried to choke back a laugh when Harper interrupted him. “That’s okay. I was just telling Shelley that I need to pop up to town to the grocery store. Why don’t the two of you get yourselves a drink and I’ll give Cash a ride.”
Trip shook his head with a smile, and Cash burst out laughing. “Sounds like a plan to me, darlin’.” He grasped Trip’s shoulder. “Thanks for this, bud. I’ll give you a shout in the week and let you know how it’s going.” He came to Shelley and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “It’s good to see you, Shelley. You’ve got yourself a good man here—be good to each other. Sorry this is just a flying visit; I’ll be back soon and maybe you guys will come down to the ranch for Sunday lunch with the family.”
“Thanks, Cash. We’d like that.” She turned to check in with Harper, who grinned at her.
“I’ll call you from the grocery store to see if there’s anything you need—unless tall, dark, and rugged here wants to fly me away with him.”
Shelley loved seeing both Trip and Cash throw their heads back and laugh.
Before he climbed into the passenger seat, Cash winked at them. “Don’t worry, I won’t abduct her—I’ll send her back safe to you.”
Trip seemed pleased by his words, but Shelley didn’t know if she should feel a little offended on Harper’s behalf.
As they stood on the back deck watching Harper’s car make its way back down the long driveway, Trip curled his arm around her waist and pressed a kiss to her temple.
“What do you think he meant by that?” she asked.
He frowned. “Oh! It wasn’t anything against Harper,” Trip reassured her quickly. “Cash doesn’t … hm, how to put it? He doesn’t get involved in relationships. If he’s with a woman, it’s not for long and it’s only …”
“For sex?”
“Yeah. I don’t mean to make him sound like a … I don’t know what.”
“No, you didn’t make him sound like anything. And you helped me understand. He wasn’t insulting her—saying that there’s no way he’d fly her away with him; he was reassuring you that he wouldn’t just use her for sex, right?”
Trip looked pained as he nodded. “Right, but that makes him sound …”
She laughed and touched his arm. “Don’t worry about it—I don’t think any less of him. I understand; some people—women as well, not just men—are only looking for short physical involvements. I don’t see anything wrong with that, especially not when they’re honest about it.”
“Yeah, I guess.” He turned to look into her eyes. “I’ve never been that way, though.”
She smiled. “Neither have I.”
“This—us—what we’re doing … it’s more than just short and physical for me.”
“Me too. Although, we probably have time for something short and physical before she gets back.”
He chuckled. “Tempting, but I’d rather save it for something that can last longer—like all night tonight, if you want to stay again?”
She nodded happily. Harper had no issue staying at the house by herself, and Shelley missed Trip when she wasn’t here with him.
“Yes, please. I don’t sleep as well anymore when you’re not there.”
His eyes seemed to shine as he smiled. “My bed’s not the same without you in it—but on the nights you can’t be here, you can take my PJs.”
She laughed. “You know what? I think I will, thanks. On the nights I can’t have you, I’ll take the next best thing.”
Trip raised an eyebrow. “My pajama pants?”
She grinned. “Your scent. Your warmth. And the ridiculous comfort of knowing there’s a man out there who wants me in his bed even when I’m not in it.”
“Every single night.” He leaned in, brushing his lips along her jaw. “Just don’t forget whose arms you want to fall asleep in.”
She closed her eyes and smiled. “I never forget. Even when I’m alone in bed, I still reach for you.”
His voice dropped to a murmur. “One day, you won’t have to reach.”
She opened her eyes and looked up into his. “Promise?”
He nodded slowly. “Promise.”