Authors: Maya Stirling
Tags: #Romance, #historical 1800s
"Are you feeling well, Eva?" Mrs. Bell asked.
Eva couldn't bring herself to reveal the depth of her feeling to her kindly housekeeper. She composed herself as quickly as she could but she knew there was no fooling someone who'd known her so intimately for so many years.
"I'm fine, Mrs. Bell," she said.
"Would you like me to come with you? I've got a few things I'll need to get together first, though," the housekeeper explained.
"I'm going over to the ranch to take a look first. Thought I'd like to see it for myself. I'm sure Aaron can bring you later," she said.
Eva saw Mrs. Bell's features set rigid with concern. Eva glanced out through the open door. Aaron was seated there, gazing straight ahead. He must have heard what had been said, but there had been no reaction from him.
Mrs. Bell glanced out at Aaron. "I understand," she said with a quiet, measured voice.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Lang," Eva said to the other woman, who looked every bit as concerned as Mrs. Bell.
"It's been a pleasure getting you back to full health, Eva," Mrs. Lang said.
Eva said no more and turned, striding out onto the porch. When Aaron heard her footsteps he turned and looked at Eva. She felt her heart sink when she saw the look in his eyes. It wasn't indifference she saw there. It was more like pain, confusion, consternation. What had she done?
"You ready?" Aaron said softly.
Eva nodded and strode over to the buckboard.
Aaron looked down at her. "You sure this is what you want?" he asked her. It was all she could do to contain the urge to tell him that it was the last thing she wanted. But she didn't tell him that. Couldn't say that to him.
In the end she merely nodded. Aaron held out a hand and, when he grasped her fingers with such a gentle touch, Eva hesitated.
"What is it, Eva?" he asked.
Eva gazed up at Aaron, peering into his eyes. She opened her mouth and was about to say the only true thing which was in her heart at this moment, when her attention was caught by the sounds of horses. She turned and saw two riders pulling up to a halt in the yard.
"What in tarnation! Zack?" she heard Aaron ejaculate.
Eva saw the two men get off their horses and tie them up in front of the house.
Aaron got down off the buckboard and went around to greet his friend. Eva looked at the other man. Her ears filled with a roaring sound, her heart started to race, her throat went tight and all of a sudden breathing became almost impossible.
It was John McRae. Her father's lawyer of so many years standing.
"Eva. So good to see you at last," McRae said coming to her. The tall, grey haired, elegant looking man took her hand and shook it in the friendly manner she remembered from so many previous visits.
"May I offer my condolences on the passing of your dear father," McRae said. His voice was filled with deep and genuine sincerity. "A sad loss. You know that your father and I had our differences, but he was always straight with me, even if I didn't usually agree with what he wanted."
"It's so lovely to see you John," Eva said to him.
"I only heard about your father's passing when this fine fellow came and gave me the sad news," McRae said gesturing toward Zack.
Zack lowered his head. "It was the least I could do," he said.
Eva realized this was the same Zack who Aaron had told about her proposal to him. "You shouldn't have taken such trouble," Eva said to Zack. She recalled her outburst only a short while before and found it difficult to look Zack straight in the eye. This man, who she barely knew, had taken it upon himself to find the one man who might be able to offer Eva a way out of her predicament. How could she have been so mean, so callous?
Zack took a step closer to her and looked Eva straight in the eye. "I would have done anything Miss. Gillespie to aid you in your difficult situation," he said bluntly.
Eva looked at Aaron whose features were tight with concentration, hardly revealing anything about how he was really feeling. Eva could only imagine what was going on inside Aaron's mind.
John McRae cleared his throat and addressed Eva directly.
"I came here today because our good friend here described to me what has been going on at the Gillespie spread. I have to tell you that when I heard about it, my first port of call was the sheriff in Great Falls," he said.
Eva stared at McRae. "The sheriff? Why?"
McRae glanced at Zack and tapped the black bag he was carrying. "What I have in here may be just the thing you need to clear this whole mess up, Eva" McRae said.
"Why? What have you got in the bag?" Eva asked.
McRae glanced at Aaron. Eva saw a glint of expectation in Aaron's widening eyes.
Eva looked back at McRae who leaned in closer.
"What I've got in this bag is your father's real, legally certified will. And it's not the one you got given to you a few days ago by that useless good for nothing Dunn," McRae concluded with a sour expression.
McRae continued. "Eva. You, me and Mr. Stewart here can go inside, and I can tell you both exactly what your father wanted to happen after his passing," McRae said with a barely disguised grin of satisfaction.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Eva sat next to Aaron at the parlor table. Not wishing to delay matters, after the three of them had taken their seats, John McRae had quickly opened up his bag and taken out a large envelope. There was a wax seal over the edge.
Eva glanced at Aaron and saw that his attention was fixed on the envelope.
McRae tapped the envelope with his index finger. "Before I open this, I have to explain one or two things first. I know you want to know what's in here, but it might be best if you know the rest of what's happened," he said.
Eva wondered what the lawyer could be talking about. "Please. Go on, John," she said.
McRae's eyes narrowed in concentration. "I'm sorry I didn't make it to your father's funeral, Eva. I was away on business. It was only when Zack came and told me about Gabriel's passing that I knew I had to come here as soon as I could," he said.
Eva gave McRae a sympathetic smile. "I understand, John."
McRae sighed heavily and composed himself. "First off, I'll come straight to the point about the so called will that Dunn read to you. It was a forgery," he said bluntly.
Eva's mouth dropped open and she felt the color drain from her face. "A forgery? What are you talking about. I saw it for myself. I saw my father's handwriting."
"All faked," McRae said. "I don't know how they did it, but it was obviously good enough to fool even Gabriel's beloved daughter," McRae said looking at Eva, eyes filled with sympathy.
Eva looked at Aaron. There was a look of incredulity on his face.
Aaron rested an arm on the table. "Wait. Are you saying that Dunn forged that will?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying," McRae answered.
"But, my father trusted him," Eva declared. "I know he was only new and all, but nevertheless, my father told me that Dunn was a good lawyer,"
McRae shook his head. "That's not what I've been hearing. Dunn's name is getting known about these parts. And not for the right reasons," he said.
"What do you mean?" Aaron asked.
"Let's say there have been complaints about him. Land deals that have gone belly up, property purchases that haven't worked out the way everyone wanted. A whole load of stuff. None of it good. Dunn's not from around here. He came from New York. Seems like he left things behind him. Figured he could make a new start out in Montana. Maybe figured the folk out here are simple, easy prey."
Eva scowled. "He obviously doesn't know the people out here, then. If he thought he could take anyone for a free ride out here, then he was sadly mistaken," she said.
Eva glanced at Aaron and saw that he agreed wholeheartedly with her statement.
"Why did Dunn fake the will?" Aaron
McRae frowned and looked at Eva. "Dunn knew that Eva was going to inherit the Gillespie spread. So it looks like him and Jude Arabin got together and cobbled together this scheme to cheat Eva out of her true birthright," he said his voice soft, but tinged with indignation.
Eva's fist clenched and she slammed it down on the table. McRae and Aaron stiffened and peered at Eva. "Those lowlife, no good scum! How dare they. You can't imagine what I've been through these past few days," she said. McRae looked at Eva. His hand began to reach out to her, but he hesitated on seeing the strength of Eva's feeling.
"And I'm sorry you've had to go through that, Eva," said McRae. "If I'd known about your father's passing sooner, all of this could have been avoided."
Eva took control of herself and smiled gently at John McRae. Of course none of it was his fault. He hadn't known. All that mattered was that he had come, and that he'd brought the authentic will.
"So what's happened to Dunn and Arabin?" Aaron asked.
"Arrested. Both of them."
"Really! On what charges?" Eva asked breathlessly.
"Conspiracy to defraud," McRae said with a visible smile creasing his lips.
Eva gasped. She leaned back in the chair and glanced at Aaron. This could only mean one thing. She wouldn't have to marry Jude Arabin after all! Her nightmare was over. The ranch would belong to her, after all. Just as it should have all along.
John McRae peered at Eva. She got the sense that he was sizing her up, assessing her reaction.
McRae cleared his throat and glanced at Aaron. "The thing is, Eva. Your father drew this will up last year. It was lodged in the proper fashion, and not superseded by any other." He tapped the envelope again with a finger. This time Eva was sure she could see McRae's fingers shake ever so slightly. Was he nervous about something?
McRae glanced again at Aaron. "I asked you in here Mr. Stewart for a reason," he said to Aaron.
Aaron's brows rose in surprise. "Really? Why?"
McRae swallowed and glanced at Eva. "The truth is you figure in Gabriel's final wishes, Mr. Stewart," McRae said flatly, with another glance at Eva.
"What?" Eva exclaimed. "Aaron? How does he figure in all of this?" she asked.
McRae took the envelope up. "Maybe I should just read the contents. Then things will be a whole lot clearer," he said.
He broke the seal and withdrew the single piece of paper, laying it down flat on the table. He glanced up at both Eva and Aaron and started to read the contents.
"I, Gabriel Gillespie, being of sound mind and body do hereby declare that this is my last will and testament, and that the final instructions written down here are a true reflection of how I wish to divest myself of my estate."
Eva glanced at Aaron and saw that his lips were tight, his shoulders rigid, his eyes fixed on the paper that McRae was hunched over.
McRae continued. "In the matter of my ranch holdings I wish the entire estate to be passed to my beloved daughter Eva Gillespie in recognition of the years of care and love she has provided me," McRae said. He paused and looked up at Eva. She did her utmost to hide the surge of emotion that had risen up inside her.
"However, it is my assessment that the time has come to acknowledge that, for my daughter to be both secure and have the best possible chance to prosper in the future, I have decided to attach one condition to her taking possession of my ranch holdings."
Eva's heart stopped momentarily. It was happening again. Her father was attaching conditions to Eva getting what she felt was rightfully her own. Why would he do that? Again. Eva felt a rush of panic. The nightmarish memories of the past few days seized her once again.
McRae cleared his throat, ran a nervous finger around his collar and continued. "My relationship with my neighbour Aaron Stewart has often been a challenging one. We haven't always seen eye to eye on everything. But one thing hasn't escaped my notice in the last few years. His obvious affection and respect for my daughter, Eva," McRae said.
Eva looked at Aaron, seeking any kind of reaction. But, he merely glanced at Eva for a second, before fixing his gaze on John McRae worried features.
McRae continued reading looking like he wanted to get to the end as soon as possible. "I believe Mr. Aaron Stewart to be a honorable man of his word. He has demonstrated to me his skill as a rancher, as well as his fine qualities as a man. And, on more than one occasion he has made it plain that he thinks most highly of my beloved daughter. Therefore, I have decided that he would be an entirely suitable companion and husband for Eva. So, I make it a condition of Eva taking possession of the Gillespie ranch that she agree to marry Aaron Stewart," McRae concluded leaning back from the table and removing a handkerchief from his pocket. He wiped some sweat from his brow and looked across the table at the two stunned individuals sitting across form him.
There was a long silence in the room. Eva couldn't find the words to describe how she felt. She sat rigidly in the chair. Her entire body had gone completely numb. Her heart was racing so fast she was sure that both of the men next to her could hear the rapid thudding in her chest. Eva felt the sensation in her arms and legs disappear for a brief few moments. She tried to draw in a deep breath, but somehow she just couldn't force it into her lungs.
John McRae looked across the table. He slid the document across toward Eva. "If you would like to see the will. Just so you know for sure that I have read it correctly," he said.
Eva shook her head and, from somewhere deep inside, she summoned up a few hesitant words. "No, John. Thank you. That won't be necessary," she murmured.
Aaron leaned across, suddenly close to Eva, and she saw him glance quickly at the document. He shook his head at McRae and the lawyer took the paper back and folded it into the envelope.
"Perhaps I should leave you both to consider things in private," he said standing up.
Eva breathed deeply and looked up at him. "Thank you, John," she said extending a hand to him. When he took her hand and shook it Eva realized that there was no sensation in her fingers.
McRae left the room and the silence that had begun moments before seemed to stretch on interminably as she sat next to Aaron.