Buch lesen: «The City Girl's Homecoming»

Chapter One

Megan Jennings parked her midnight-blue Mercedes sedan on the edge of the driveway of the Whitaker sisters’ house and stared in amazement. Could she actually be seeing what she thought she was seeing? Leaning forward, she peered through the windshield. She blinked several times but the image remained. No, she wasn’t hallucinating. A man really was wrestling with the biggest pig she’d ever seen in her life. Judging by the sweat glistening on the man’s muscular chest, the battle had been going on for some time. From the squealing and fighting the pig was doing, the match wasn’t going to end any time soon.

The pig shoved the man against the side of the truck. The man grunted and temporarily lost his hold on the pig. Seeing an opportunity, the animal made a break for it. Cursing, the man threw himself on the pig, and the two rolled around on the grass.

Growing up in New York City, Megan had seen many strange sights in her twenty-eight years. In a few minutes spent walking around Times Square she could see everything from a naked cowboy to people dressed as cartoon characters. Over time, the sights had become humdrum and hadn’t caused her to even take a second look. But this? This was something beyond even her imagination.

She’d moved to Spring Forest, North Carolina, from Manhattan a couple of months ago. She liked the small town and was adjusting to the slower pace and different lifestyle. And yet, in all that time, she’d never seen anything remotely like this. Or a man built quite so well. And after having lived in a city filled with models and actors whose livelihood was at least in part based upon their good looks, that was saying something.

Intrigued, she turned off the car and crept closer to the action. She didn’t know much about pigs or the men who wrestled them, so she stepped cautiously, ready to return to the safety of her car if necessary. Her four-inch heels made walking on the gravel driveway a bit of an adventure, but she wouldn’t have dreamed of wearing flats. Even though she now lived in a small town, she still retained some of her big-city habits. She still wore the suits she’d worn while working at a major New York law firm. The professional garments gave her the confidence that had been stripped from her after her family’s unexpected deaths and the years spent in foster care.

Close up, the pig wrestler was something to behold. Tall, with muscles that clearly came from years of hard work, and a face that could only be described as sexy, he could make a fortune as a model if he ever wanted a career change. Looking at what he was doing now—the enormous pig froze, then threw its entire body at the man—any job would be a step up. Of course, that was all contingent upon his surviving the encounter with the gigantic animal, something that was not assured at the moment.

The man’s lips were moving, but he was speaking too quietly for her to hear what he was saying. Curiosity got the better of her and Megan came as close as she dared.

“Keep it up and you’ll be roasting on a spit,” the man threatened under his breath. His voice was deep, and despite the words he was muttering, quite sexy. The pig shoved against the man in response, drawing another grunt. “The sisters like me, so they’ll totally believe me when I say you escaped. Meanwhile you’ll be Sunday dinner and leftovers for the week.”

The pig didn’t seem to appreciate the comment and in response bucked and jerked, making the man hold on for dear life. It looked like he was riding the pig like a wild horse. Megan wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d tossed his cowboy hat—which had somehow managed to stay on his head during the entire encounter—into the air and yelled yee-haw! Unable to contain herself, Megan giggled at the absurdity of it all.

Startled by the sound, the man looked up at her and temporarily lost his grip on the pig, who broke free and turned toward the man. The man jumped in front of a ramp leading to the back of the pickup truck. Megan’s breath caught in her throat as the angered animal lowered its head and charged. A strangled cry broke through her lips as the pig drew within inches of the man’s bare torso. At the last second the man stepped gracefully out of the way and the pig ran up the ramp and into the back of the truck. In the blink of an eye, the man removed the ramp and then slammed the tailgate shut.

Whew. Megan realized she’d begun to perspire and drew a couple of fingers across her damp brow, removing the moisture before the man could notice. Relief that the pig-wrestler was all right mingled with amusement at the spectacle, and she began to laugh. “Oh, my goodness. I have never in my life seen anything like that.”

The pig-wrangling man glanced over his shoulder at her, a fierce glare twisting his handsome face. At his look, the laughter died in her throat and her smile melted away. Clearly he didn’t find her delight amusing.

She started to apologize, then gave herself a mental shake, stopping just in time. She wasn’t going to let the man make her feel guilty for finding humor in the situation. She’d let several foster families squash her natural joy, making her feel bad about showing any expression of happiness. It was as if they’d wanted her to be as miserable as possible. Some had gone out of their way to make her so.

Well, she was in control of her life now and she wasn’t going to let anyone determine what she should feel or how she should react.

The man grabbed a plaid shirt from the bumper of the truck and used it to wipe his sweaty face and torso before shoving his arms into the sleeves. He buttoned the bottom four buttons and jerked on the fabric as if trying to remove the wrinkles. He wiped at a huge grass stain a couple of times before dropping his hand, apparently deciding there was no sense fighting a losing battle.

When it became obvious that the man wasn’t going to introduce himself, she took a step in his direction, hand extended. Before she could reach him, the back door of the house opened and Bunny Whitaker, one of the women she’d come to see, came down the stairs. “Yoo-hoo. Did you get Little Piggy into the truck, Cade?”

Little Piggy? Megan shook her head at the name. That pig was anything but little.

“Yes, ma’am.”

If only Bunny knew that her friend had threatened to take that Little Piggy to market, she wouldn’t be smiling at him right now.

“He didn’t give you any trouble, did he?”

“No, ma’am. Not even a little bit.”

Megan felt her eyes widen at his falsehood. If that fight hadn’t been trouble, she didn’t know what was.

“That’s because he’s such a good boy, aren’t you, Little Piggy?” Bunny leaned into the back of the truck and rubbed the pig, who snorted.

Bunny straightened. “I really appreciate you taking him in for us. We hate to part with him, but Birdie and I don’t have the room to keep him. I know you’ll give him a good home.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Bunny looked up. When she noticed Megan, she smiled. “Hello. Is it time for our meeting already?”

“I’m a little bit early,” Megan said, closing the distance between them. “I’m still trying to get used to small-town traffic. When I leave my office I still factor in time for traffic jams that have yet to materialize.”

“We don’t have many of those. Not unless geese are crossing the road or somebody’s cows get out. And don’t worry if you’re a little bit late. People around here aren’t ruled by the clock. When you tend animals, you understand that things beyond your control can happen.” She dusted her hands on her denim skirt. “Have the two of you met?”

“No.” Megan said.

Bunny smiled and waved for Cade to come closer. He dragged his feet as he walked over, clearly reluctant to join them. Since he’d smiled at Bunny, Megan decided she was the reason for his reticence.

Once he was near, Bunny put her arm around Megan’s waist. “This is Megan Jennings. She’s new to town. Pretty as she is on the outside, she’s even prettier on the inside. She’s the new lawyer that Daniel Sutton hired to help him.”

Megan felt her face and the tips of her ears grow hot, but she managed a smile that she hoped hid her embarrassment. She hadn’t known Bunny long, but she knew the sweet older woman wouldn’t deliberately hurt or embarrass anyone. Still, looking at the expression on the man’s face, it was clear he didn’t find Megan’s looks or anything else about her appealing.

“And this is Cade Battle,” Bunny continued. “He’s a great friend of mine and Birdie’s. He’s part owner of Battle Lands Farm and one of the best people I know. If you ever need help with anything, Cade is the man you should call. He’s completely trustworthy.”

Megan noticed that Cade seemed embarrassed at Bunny’s effusive praise and color crept beneath his light brown skin. Knowing she wasn’t the only one who was ill at ease made Megan feel slightly better. She held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Cade.”

He wiped his hand on his shirt, then shook hers. His grip was firm, but not the too-tight handshake men often gave when trying to intimidate her. Of course, those men had been opposing counsel, who—if they were any good—would have known squeezing her fingers didn’t scare her. It pissed her off.

Cade’s palm was covered with calluses, no doubt a by-product of the hard work he did on a daily basis. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Jennings.”

His voice was even sexier when he wasn’t out of breath, and it sent shivers dancing down her spine. What was that about? She smiled. “It’s Megan.”

“Megan,” he repeated, although he didn’t return her smile.

“Well, good. Now you’ve each made a friend.” Bunny beamed with satisfaction and turned her attention to Cade. “I came out here to let you know lunch is on the table. And Megan, you’re more than welcome to join us. We have plenty.”

Cade shook his head and backed up. “I won’t be able to stay after all, Bunny.”

“No? Why not?”

The deliberate way he didn’t look in her direction gave Megan a sneaking suspicion. She wasn’t the paranoid type, nor was she so conceited that she thought she was the driving force behind everyone’s actions, but in this moment, based on his behavior, she believed she was the reason Cade didn’t want to stay.

“I need to get going. There’s a lot of work waiting for me. And getting Little Piggy settled may take longer than I had anticipated.”

“Okay,” Bunny looked crestfallen for a moment, but then she rallied. “At least let me give you a couple slices of cake.”

“You don’t have to do that,” he said, but Bunny had already made her way up the stairs and into the house.

Neither Cade nor Megan spoke for a moment. She’d seen Cade around town a couple of times, but they’d never actually interacted with each other. Every time she’d gotten near him, he’d frowned at her like he was doing now. She’d heard that everyone had a twin somewhere in the world, so she’d comforted herself with the thought that he’d mistaken her for someone else. Someone who’d done him wrong. But now that Bunny had introduced them, it had to be clear to him that they’d never met. Yet he was still being incredibly unfriendly to her. He had to be the grumpiest man in town.

The silence stretched out, and neither of them made a move to break it. They were engaged in a strange battle of wills that Megan was determined to win. She didn’t know why it mattered, but it was important that she let him know that she wasn’t going to fall at his feet. Even as gorgeous as he was, she wasn’t inclined to tolerate his unpleasant attitude.

“Here you go,” Bunny said, coming back down the stairs. She handed him a paper bag and winked at him. “I added a couple of pieces of chicken just in case you get hungry on the way home.”

“Thanks,” he said. He smiled at the older woman. “I appreciate it.”

Bunny stood on her tiptoes to give Cade a kiss on his cheek. He was so tall that he needed to lean over so she could reach him. Cade glanced at Megan, tipped his hat, then without a word got into his beat-up truck and drove away.

“Well now,” Bunny said, taking Megan’s arm. “I hope you’re hungry. We have a feast.”

Megan smiled, determinedly putting Cade Battle out of her mind. “I’m starved.”

“Good,” Bunny said as they climbed the stairs.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Megan asked as they stepped into the kitchen. The aromas of fried chicken, fresh rolls, corn on the cob and pound cake greeted her as she stepped inside. The delicious smells reminded her of home. Or at least the home she’d had the first fourteen years of her life.

“No. I have it all under control,” Birdie said stepping into the kitchen and going immediately to the stove. “Just have a seat and make yourself at home.”

Megan pulled out a chair and sat down at the old oak table. Though the farmhouse was a hundred years old, the kitchen had clearly been renovated recently.

Megan first met the sisters a month ago when she’d been assigned their case by her boss, Daniel Sutton. Birdie and Bunny had grown up in this house and had lived here all of their lives. Neither sister had ever married. They were different as night and day, but fit together like puzzle pieces. If there was an area where one was weak, the other was strong enough to compensate for it. Bernadette, who was called Birdie by everyone, was tall and thin and in great shape. She was a no-nonsense type who didn’t tolerate fools, but underneath the gruff exterior, she was as generous and kind as could be. Gwendolyn, or Bunny, as she was affectionately called, was short and plump, with a heart of gold. She was a bit of a dreamer and a little too gullible and naive for Megan’s comfort—thank goodness she had Birdie around to protect her—but she was always positive and encouraging. Megan liked them both very much.

“Cade still outside?” Birdie asked.

“No. He left. He had something to get back to,” Bunny said.

Birdie only grunted. Megan hadn’t known Birdie long enough to know what that sound meant, but apparently Bunny did.

“Exactly,” Bunny replied. “I wrapped up some chicken and cake for him for the road.”

Working in tandem, the sisters filled three plates to overflowing. Once they joined her at the table, Megan spoke. “I have some information for you.”

“Not at lunch, dear. We never discuss business at meals. It’s not good for digestion,” Birdie said. “There’s plenty of time for that later.”

During her years of practice, Megan had had many business lunches and dinners. And she’d always discussed business between bites. Most times business had been wrapped up before dessert. But then, that had been in New York, where everything moved at a much faster pace and no second could be wasted. Some days there had been barely enough time to breathe, much less eat a leisurely meal. But she was in Spring Forest now, and clearly, they did things differently here.

Since discussing business was forbidden, Megan picked up her corn on the cob and took a bite. It was delicious. Before moving to North Carolina, she’d shopped at farmers markets twice a week. She’d been impressed by the fruits and vegetables she’d purchased there, which tasted so much better than anything she’d bought at the store. But as good as that produce had tasted, it didn’t compare to this. She’d never enjoyed such flavorful food before, and her taste buds smiled with pleasure.

“How are you adjusting to small-town life?” Birdie asked.

“It’s different from New York, but I enjoy it. I like the peace and quiet and the sense of community. I like the way everyone pulls together to help those in need.” Not that she hadn’t experienced a sense of support and community in New York. She’d had two good friends she could count on. And they would continue to be her friends whether she lived in the same building or in an entirely different state. But she’d needed a change. She’d had to get away from Tim, her former fiancé, and his family.

She and Tim had met on their first day of law school and quickly fallen in love. They’d gotten engaged after they’d both passed the bar. His parents and his sisters had welcomed her into their family. She’d spent holidays and vacations with them, and they’d always made a big deal of her birthday. She’d been so sure that after all those years of bouncing from place to place in foster care, she’d finally found a family again.

Then she and Tim had broken up. Since the breakup had been friendly, Megan had believed she would remain friends with his family. She’d been wrong. She’d made excuses for them when they stopped returning her calls. But when her birthday came and went without acknowledgement, she’d realized they’d well and truly cut her from their lives.

She’d decided that the best way to deal with the painful situation was to make a clean break. On impulse, she’d written the names of the forty-nine other states on slips of paper and placed them in a hat. She’d pulled out North Carolina and had begun her job search there. Last month she’d been hired by Daniel Sutton, turning his one-man law firm into a one-man-and-one-woman firm. Sutton Law Office was very different from the five-hundred-lawyer firm where she’d worked before. It was a change, but not an unpleasant one.

While they ate, Megan and the Whitaker sisters chatted about Furever Paws, the animal rescue the sisters had founded on their property. The shelter, which was run mostly by volunteers, provided a necessary service in the community. Lost or unwanted pets were housed until new families could be found for them. The shelter held adoption fairs providing opportunities for the humans and animals to meet.

Once they’d eaten their cake and finished their sweet tea, Megan was able to steer the conversation to the reason she was here—their finances. She pulled a file from her leather bag and then looked from one sister to the other. Life had taught her that there was no such thing as sugarcoating bad news. Since Birdie and Bunny were going to be hurt, there was no use in beating around the bush.

“Well, ladies, I’m afraid what I have to say isn’t good. Your brother Greg has been embezzling from you.”

Bunny gasped and clasped her hands together against her chest.

Birdie shook her head. “Are you sure? I can’t believe Gator would do that to us. Can you, Bunny?”

“No.” Bunny’s voice was barely over a whisper, but Megan heard the pain there.

Even though Megan had expected this response, her heart still ached for them. Bunny didn’t want to believe anything bad about anyone, and Birdie had a blind spot when it came to her baby brother. Nothing he did would ever be wrong in her eyes. Even now, faced with evidence of his crimes, she still referred to him by the family’s old, affectionate nickname.

Megan had the proof that he’d been stealing from them for years, but whether she could convince the sisters to do anything about it was anyone’s guess. Still, she had to try. Bunny and Birdie were more than her clients. They were her friends. They were friends of the community. They cared about everyone and everyone cared about them.

“I have proof,” she said, passing over copies of the documents to each of them. Neither sister touched the stacks of papers. They barely looked at them. “This is the information from the forensic accountant I hired. I have time to go through everything now and answer any questions you have.”

“I’m sure you do. We just aren’t ready to think about any of this right now,” Bunny said. “We need time to process what you’ve told us.”

“I understand that, but it’s important that we act sooner rather than later.”

“We know, but we have other things to deal with right now and can’t handle another.”

“Like what?” Megan knew the news must be hard for them to grapple with, but putting off thinking about it wouldn’t do them any favors—not when they were at risk of losing their home.

“Rebekah,” Bunny replied immediately, and Birdie nodded.

“What about her?” Rebekah was the director of the animal shelter and one of Megan’s new friends.

“There’s something going on with her,” Bunny replied. “She seems a little run-down and tired these days. I came upon her the other day and she looked positively ill.”

“I saw her a few days ago and she looked fine to me,” Megan said, hoping to end this discussion so she could get the sisters back on track.

“Do you think it could be stress from dealing with Grant?” Birdie asked as if Megan hadn’t said a word. “That nephew of ours is such a perfectionist. He might be putting pressure on her.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Bunny said. “We should talk to him and make sure he knows how much we like Rebekah and how pleased we are with her work.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Megan said. “But what are we going to do about your money? If Greg continues to steal from you, you’ll be in big trouble. It’s possible that you could lose everything, including your home, the rest of your land and the animal rescue.”

At that bit of grim news, the sisters stopped talking about Rebekah and Grant and gave her their full attention. Birdie looked at her sister and then back at Megan. “Go on.”

“I’d like to set up a trust that would protect your property and money that your brother currently doesn’t control. Once we gain control of the rest, we’ll be able to protect that, as well. And if neither of you is interested or feels qualified to act as trustee, I’ll hire one for you.”

The sisters shared a long look. “That would be all right,” Birdie said finally.

“Great. I’ll take care of that right away. Now, the second thing we need to discuss is whether or not you want to bring criminal charges against Greg.”

“I don’t know. I can’t imagine putting my baby brother in jail,” Birdie said.

“Your baby brother is robbing you blind,” Megan pointed out. “If we hadn’t caught him in time, you could have ended up on the street.”

“Still...we need time to think about that.”

“Good enough.” At least she’d gotten them to take the first steps to protect themselves in the future. “Take your time and consider what I’ve told you. In the meantime, I’ll get busy setting up the trust. I’ll make sure that your brother doesn’t have the ability to make financial decisions for you any longer. Your assets will be protected, although I can’t promise we’ll be able to get any of your money back. No doubt it’s already gone.”

“Okay.” Birdie picked up the documents Megan had given to them and tried to hand them back.

“Those are your copies,” Megan said. “I have my own. Read them over at your leisure. If you have any questions, I’m always available to answer them.”