Chapter 13 #2
“I’d be breaking a code of trust,” he stated, glancing down at the drawer.
“Normally, I would agree with you. However, did you go looking for it on purpose?” she asked.
“No. I was trying to find a pad of paper because I saw something on your financials that bugged me and you weren’t here to ask,” he admitted.
Her eyebrow shot up again the minute he mentioned her financials.
“You came across it by accident. It has your name on it. The Marshall isn’t here to ask and you found it in his desk.” She shrugged and put her hands in the air. “Seems like fair game to me.”
“I’m going to table this now that you’re back.” He closed the drawer, knowing full well it was going to gnaw at him from the inside out until he knew what was inside.
She stood up and leaned a hip against the oak. Lucky oak.
“What did you see on my account?” One of her eyebrows shot up.
“Wade admitted to letting your grandmother’s property slip through the cracks, right?” he asked.
“Yes,” she confirmed.
He pulled up the spreadsheet and then pointed to line item after line item of charges coded, Lone Star Pass House, and Lone Star Pass Property.
“Wade was flat-out stealing from me?” She blew out a frustrated-sounding breath.
“It would seem so,” he said. “It’s tens of thousands of dollars over the past two years when you add it all up.”
“The spreadsheet shows positive cash flow if I’m reading this right.” She folded her arms over her chest. “I wonder what’s up with payroll?”
“It would be best to double-check the balance with your bank,” he suggested.
“I was thinking the same thing.” She fished out her cell phone and made the call.
As he listened, his fingers itched to open the drawer and pull out the file. Was it really snooping if it had his name on it?
Again, the thought of rummaging through someone else’s desk hit him in a bad place. He was protective of his own personal space and the Marshall deserved the same respect no matter how much Brax wanted to open the file.
Raleigh ended the call with a sigh of what sounded like relief.
“The good news is that the band isn’t broke. I’ve arranged for payroll to be pushed through direct deposits today.” She smiled and those eyes sparkled.
“That is the first good news out of this entire situation,” he agreed.
“The balance on that sheet doesn’t match the one I was just told by a long shot. I need an accountant to go through the books with a fine-toothed comb. Takeover for Wade on a permanent basis,” she said.
“You might want to lock him out your accounts for the time being,” Brax suggested.
“Right. Good point. How do I do that without going in to the bank?” she asked.
“Call them back and put a freeze on the account after payroll is deducted,” he said. “They could take a couple of days to sort through the books. An accountant would need time, but Manny should have a good suggestion there.”
She got back on the phone and made the call.
“That was easy enough, after jumping through half a dozen hoops to verify my identity again,” she said. “I should have thought to do it when I was on the phone a minute ago.”
“It’s done now. That’s the important thing,” he said.
She filled him in on her conversation with Randy.
“They were right to be suspicious of him,” Brax said.
“I need to tell the guys payroll should hit their accounts tomorrow.” She pushed off the desk and walked around it before stopping at the door. “You coming? I’m pretty sure I owe you a cup of coffee for this one.”
He held a finger up and then fired off a text to get Manny working on hiring an accountant.
“If you’re buying, I’ll take an extra-large cup,” he teased.
Her smile was lighter now and he was proud of the fact he’d helped ease some of her burden. Her band might be like family, but she was definitely the one everyone looked to for leadership.
“That’s a deal,” she quipped.
He joined her in the hallway and walked beside her. She reached for his hand this time and the jolt of electricity no longer caught him off guard.
His mother stood in the kitchen at the table, talking animatedly. The Italian in her came out full force as she talked with her hands. She seemed to be entertaining the troops as Adam and Prudence joined them.
“She’s right in her element,” Adam said as he stopped next to Brax.
“No signs of stress today,” Brax agreed. Losing the Marshall had thrown everyone off balance, including their mother. He was starting to realize there was more to her stress and the pull toward the file became stronger.
She spun around as Raleigh handed Brax a cup of coffee. He thanked her and took the offering. The first sip was always the best.
“I didn’t see you in the playroom,” Mom walked over and wrapped her sons in a hug.
“I’ve been helping Raleigh on the computer in the Marshall’s office,” Brax said. The minute he spoke he felt his mother’s body stiffen.
“I’m so proud of that girl, I could burst.” She relaxed and put on a breezy smile.
Raleigh walked over to the table, no doubt sharing the news payroll had been made. She pulled up a barstool, sat down, and explained the financial situation.
Mom took Angel as soon as Prudence was finished burping the baby.
“I’ll take her back to the playroom while the grownups talk.” Mom was in hog heaven with a granddaughter. Her face lit up every time her gaze landed on that little girl. Angel was going to be one spoiled kiddo.
Brax talked with his brother while Raleigh conducted her meeting. Prudence headed upstairs to take a nap.
“Still no sleep?” Brax asked his brother.
“Kids feed all the time when they’re on a bottle,” Adam said. Brax had never seen his brother happier, or more tired, which said a lot considering calving season.
Mom came bouncing through the room, baby on one arm, diaper bag on the other. “I’m taking her outside before it gets too hot. I have my cell if you need me.”
Adam practically beamed. Brax knew his older brother better than anyone, and he never would have pegged Adam for fatherhood material. Boy, was he being proven wrong. Babies must hold a special power—power he had no intention of finding out for himself.
“I’m going to check on my new bride.” Adam wiggled his eyebrows.
“Too much information, bro.” Brax refilled his coffee cup before heading back to the office. He reclaimed the Marshall’s chair and grabbed onto the drawer handle.
Figuring he might as well go all in since he couldn’t seem to stop thinking about it, he opened the drawer.
The file was gone.