Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
W ith her GPS programmed, she started heading toward the McKeegan Ranch. Gus had asked which McKeegan she needed the address for. How many were there? Gus did tell her Stewart was the best of the bunch, whatever that meant.
Montana’s beauty was undeniable, with stunning majestic mountains and tall grass swaying in the breeze. The brilliant sunlight and the often-cloudless blue sky filled her with joy. Her view stretched endlessly, unobstructed by skyscrapers. Inspired by the limitless opportunities in Montana, she couldn’t wait to begin her new job.
The large ornate gates were open. She drove under an arch with The McKeegan name on it. The driveway was unusually long compared to most.
A gasp escaped her. The house was beautiful. The big house appeared to have been constructed using logs. It had a spacious wraparound porch. Both impressive and welcoming.
She exited her car and smoothed out her pencil skirt. It had taken her a while to pick out her clothes for her first day. She wanted to be polished and stylish but not like a walking fashion statement. Given that she owned mostly designer items, she opted for a simple outfit consisting of a dark green skirt paired with a lighter green blouse. She had matching shoes, but ultimately decided to wear plain black ones. She grabbed her black Birkin bag, hoping it looked like a briefcase type of bag.
She could have sold her things for the money she needed to live on, but there wasn’t a market for them in small towns. She’d had limited time to pack before departing.
The heavy wooden door swung open just as she reached the porch.
A middle-aged woman with hair pulled into a neat bun offered a smile. “Come on in. Stewart is waiting for you. I’ll show you the way.”
“Thank you, I’m Aurora.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Flora. I run the household. If you need anything, feel free to ask. Stewart’s office is down these three steps. Go on in.”
Flora’s familiarity confused Aurora. No one would have ever referred to her stepfather as Paul.
Inhaling deeply, she walked past a small reception area as she headed toward a large office.
The furniture was undeniably masculine in its design. Everything, from the dark wood and bulky sofa and chairs to the massive, imposing desk.
Smiling a welcome, Stewart stood. “Early. I like that quality in a person. Have a seat.”
He took in her entire appearance, from her face to her shoes. Hopefully, she was dressed properly.
Two chairs, high-backed and leather-covered, sat in front of the desk. It felt heavenly to sink into one.
“I see you got here—without any problem, I hope?”
“I asked Gus for the address, and my GPS navigated me here. It’s a truly spectacular drive. Montana is very lovely.”
“Good.” He handed her a packet. “Read this over and we’ll discuss what needs to be done. First, I need you to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Everyone who works for me signs one.” His gaze held hers, implying a challenge, but she had signed similar documents countless times.
After a quick reading of the document, she signed it and handed it back to him. Judging by his expression, she seemed to have passed a test.
“I have paperwork on your desk to fill out for taxes. What is your cell number?”
“I lost my phone somewhere in my travels.” She’d purposely left it behind so no one could trace her.
Though he nodded, a look of doubt washed over his face, but it cleared quickly. “Let me show you where you will be working.
The desk in the outer room was now hers. The chair was comfortable. The paperwork she was supposed to fill out sat before her on the desk. It might as well be a snake lying in wait; she couldn’t touch it.
Ruby Lou had paid her under the table. Filling out those papers would be a mistake. She was too afraid of being found to take any chances. What if she used a fake social security number? She could say she didn’t have her card with her. Was he able to search for it online?
No. This wasn’t going to work. She wasn’t going to lie. There were other towns, and maybe if she could get to a bigger city, she could sell many of her things. She could lie low for a while.
She refused to deceive herself. It was going to be a lengthy process before the storm her stepfather had created would calm.
She sighed. The accent wall on the other side of her desk was distinctive. Gold frames, not wood molding, outlined the different-sized panels. The room had a more modern feel than his office.
She needed to be bold and enter his office, giving him as little information as possible to make him understand why she couldn’t fill out the paperwork. To be honest, additional courage was needed. The mere thought made her hands tremble.
Despite the door being open, she knocked. A good sign.
“Did you get those forms done already?” He fought back a frown. There was something off about her expression.
“We need to discuss this.” Dropping into a chair before his desk, she looked utterly crushed.
“I take it there’s a problem. Could that be the reason you’re not carrying a cell phone?”
“Yes. My parents were accused of stealing money, and my father was sent to jail. I’m searching for a small town to make a fresh start. If I use my social security number… I was getting death threats before I moved out of the house…” Her voice faded away.
He said, “I see,” but he didn’t.
“I was going to change my name, but people can get into almost any records they want. I simply need a place to catch my breath. A sanctuary where I don’t have to be constantly on guard. I wish I had informed you about this before I took the job and your money. I’m so sorry. I can work off the money you gave me and then I’ll leave.”
Her big blue eyes were playing havoc with his determination to stay away from trouble.
“I’ll tell you what. I’ll take you up on your offer. I gave you two hundred. Working at fifteen dollars per hour, that would come out to around thirteen hours. How does three four-hour days work for you?”
A worried look crossed her face as she hesitated. Then she sucked in a quick breath. “That would be fine. Thank you.”
“Now that’s decided. Go read the file about the fundraiser. It might take up most of your day. There are binders too. I’ll get them for you in a bit.”
She got to her feet, nodded, and walked toward her office.
Now what? He never learned his lesson. Two hundred dollars was a lot of money to just give away. He wanted to help her because they were both experiencing a difficult day. But death threats? Really?
“Stewart, we need to talk!” McKenna declared, striding into the office.
“Come on in,” Stewart said calmly. He suppressed a groan. McKenna always enjoyed a good tirade.
“I demand a re-vote. You are not fit for the job of board president. This is a complete disaster, all thanks to you.”
“I suppose you could do it better?”
“I wouldn’t have invested millions of dollars into equipment. I wouldn’t have been cheated, that’s for sure. You’re a na?ve pushover, who has no common sense. I demand you vacate this office. It’s not yours anymore!” Mckenna shouted, his face flushing crimson with anger.
Stewart didn’t react. It drove Mckenna crazy when he just stared while the other man yelled.
“I suppose you think I should move out of this house, too. I’m curious. Who do you think should step into my role?”
“I’m taking your place. I’m overthrowing your authority as of now.”
“First of all, I am the CEO, not the president. We don’t have a president. My authority is not up for debate. A vote of no confidence was already brought about. You lost. I’ve owned up to being scammed by Stingster, a mistake on my part. I’m drawing up a plan of action.”
“Are we facing a situation where we don’t have any money to operate the ranch?”
McKenna drew his gun. “Get out of my new office.”