Summer understood everything now. Edward Adams and Associates financed and operated large resorts. It wouldnt surprise Summer if theyd offered Frank a management role as part of the package. And Jill Gardner, a dynamic young Realtor in the area, was Franks latest girlfriend. Only after he filed for divorce had Summer discovered how many dalliances hed had before Jill. People in Callantonher friends and neighborshad known. To Summer, that was the most humiliating aspect of this entire ordeal. The truths surrounding her sham of a marriage were unfolding in bits and pieces as townsfolk shed known all her life chose to line up behind her or behind Frank.
Frank Marsh was a former cattle tallyman, whose job was to count and record cattle at the local stockyard. Hed finessed his way into Bart Callans circle of friends around the time her father was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosisbetter known as ALS or Lou Gehrigs disease. Summer hadnt understood until later that Franks sudden interest in her coincided with Barts seeking a husband for his only child. A daughter hed raised alone from age nineafter his wife, Lucy, succumbed to a stubborn bacterial pneumonia. And Bart Callan, ravaged by illness and worry about leaving Summer alone to run the ranch, failed to see how long shed actually been at the helm. It was too bad the picture hadnt taken shape for Summer before her marriage to the man her father chose for her. Then it was too late. Exceptshe had Rory. Everything Summer did from now on would be for him.
Mrs. Marsh? Are you with us?
Summer blinked at the judge, realizing belatedly that he must have spoken to her more than once. I uhIm sorry, Your Honor. Im afraid the amount of money Mr. Blake mentioned confused me. She nervously tucked a strand of hair behind one ear. I thought he said seven million dollars. Did I hear wrong? My great-granddad homesteaded the first hundred and sixty acres of the Forked Lightning. His wife claimed adjacent land and they bought the rest for fifty cents an acre, I think.
Come on, Summer, Frank chided in a charming voicefor the sake of the judge, no doubt. Ive told you time and again the land is worth far more than those cows of yours can bring in. Would you climb off your high horse long enough to listen? Maybe then youll give me credit for knowing more than your precious dad. Bart refused to even discuss how much the ranch would bring if we sold the land.
Grinding her back teeth, Summer barely held her anger in check.
Dammit, I hate it when you clam up, and you do that on purpose. No longer charming, Frank delivered her an angry look. I told Perry you havent got a clue that weve entered a new millennium. Hell, you dont even know how to dress for a meeting like this. Your blouseare you trying to embarrass me, showing up looking like youve been wrestling steers?
An eagle, Frank. I wrestled a full-grown eagle into the trailer. It was shot by some of your city pals, out for sport. Sorry Im not up to your fashion standards, she said contemptuously. With luck, Doc Holder will save the bird so she can raise her young. Theyre an endangered species, Frank. And according to you, so are women like me. Her hazel eyes glittered in the heat of the moment.
The judge rapped again. Shall we leave personalities aside? Were here to discuss property. Mr. Marshsince the divorce, what do you do? The judge studied a paper.
Do? Frank seemed taken aback.
Yes, Atherton returned mildly. Do, as in work. As inoccupation?
Frank adjusted the padded shoulders of his designer suit. Face florid, he fingered the knot on his silk tie.
That question appears to have stumped you. The judge thumbed through a copy of the divorce decree. It saysJudge Davis ordered Mrs. Marsh to pay you two thousand dollars a month in support. And although you apparently share custody of a minor child, Mrs. Marsh is charged with paying one hundred percent of his care? Atherton glanced up, pinning Frank with the forthright question.
Summer closed her eyes. Until fall roundup, she had barely enough in the ranch emergency account to pay Frank the required monthly stipend. And if beef prices dropped a cent a pound as was rumored, her ledgers would be riding a fine line between the black and the red until well after spring calving. Was this judge going to raise the amount she had to pay Frank?
Your Honor, Perry Blake interrupted, looking uneasy. Surely you realize the Forked Lightning Ranch provided my clients only income. Mr. Marsh left a good job to marry the ex-Mrs. Marsh. However, Mr. Adamss development company has offered him a management position once the resort is built. A facility of this size I can get you a prospectus if youd likewill put many of the valleys unemployed to work again. But thats all in the future, of course.
Summer kept her expression impassive, although her heart plummeted to her feet. Her suspicion had been correct. There was a high-paying job at stake, in addition to whatever Frankand Jillwould make from the sale. The judge ignored Perry. Mr. Marsh, Im very familiar with my county. The address you currently list commands the highest rent around. Do you have a source of income not named in this brief?
Frank blanched, and deferred the query to his attorney.
This time Blake shifted uncomfortably. Your Honor, Mr. Marshuhresides with his fiancée. Shes one of the areas top Realtors. Its her address you have there.
Fiancée? Atherton rocked in his chair and toyed with his pencil. So, is Ms. Gardner present during your sons visitations?
Summer stiffened suddenly. Frank hadnt asked to visit with Rory since the divorce. Shed left messages on his voice mail, begging him to call Rory, who still felt confused and angry at her over his dads departure from home. Thus far, her messages had been ignored.
Jill collects antiques, Frank blurted, cracking his knuckles.
Everyone at the table, including Franks own attorney, seemed unable to make a connection.
Theyre expensive, Frank said. Jills condo isnt an appropriate place for a boy used to cavorting outside. But after this deal goes through and Jill and I marry, were going to build a much larger home. Then Rory will have a room of his own, Frank finished lamely as all eyes remained fixed on him.
Judge Atherton rolled a pencil between his palms. He finally pulled a yellow legal pad from under the pile of papers and began to scribble notes. After jotting several sentences, he stopped, capped his pen and sent Frank and his attorney a frosty glare. Ive reached a decision.
Everyone except Larkin Crosley leaned in to hear. Crosley didnt move until Summer tugged him forward, quietly repeating Athertons words.
The judge laced his hands together over a buttoned vest. Im allowing Mrs. Marsh six months to try and come up with the $3.8 million dollars it will take to buy out Mr. Marshs interest in this property. He tapped a bony finger on the map Perry had passed around. Ill have the court secretary set a new date to meet again in April. Youll all be notified as to when and where well reconvene. At the April meeting, Ill check Mrs. Marshs progress and either render a final decision, or revisit options set forth by the lower court. Until then, this hearing is adjourned. Rising, he made a neat stack of his papers and picked them up before leaving.
Numb with joy and yet partially filled with dread, Summer tried to explain to Larkin the reprieve Atherton had decreed.