Numb with joy and yet partially filled with dread, Summer tried to explain to Larkin the reprieve Atherton had decreed.
Shed barely gotten a word out when Frank bounded up, knocking over his chair. April? What in hell am I supposed to do for six months?
The judge, whod reached the door to his private chambers, turned. If thats an honest question, Mr. Marsh, my suggestion is get a job. And set regular visits with your son. Money cant replace a mans bond with his children. With that, Atherton disappeared.
Frank immediately turned his wrath on Summer. You. You got to the crazy old coot. He shook a forefinger in her face.
Thats absurd, Frank. Ive never laid eyes on the judge.
Perry Blake gripped Franks arm. Take it easy. Shouting wont change the verdict. Six months isnt so long. Adams will understand a slight delay. You cant possibly think Summer could raise that kind of money, even if she had six years. Come on, he muttered in an undertone. Lets go have a drink, and draft a letter to Ed.
Frank shook off his lawyers hand. Once again he rearranged his jacket. Dont think youve heard the last of me, Summer. There are other courts and other judges. Other ways to force your hand.
Dont threaten me, Frank. Because of your infidelities, Ive endured total humiliation in a town my great-grandfather built. Your idle threats roll off me like water off a slicker.
Idle? His smile turned cold. To come up with anywhere near your half of seven million, youd have to sell every cow on the ranchincluding strays. And thats assuming you can manage to get them to market on your own.
What do you mean, on my own? I have the same crew Ive always had.
Tossing back a lock of blond hair, Frank merely clenched his fists and stalked from the room.
She reached around Larkin, snagging Perrys sleeve. I wont underestimate Frank again, she told him. Its taken me a while to realize hes capable of double dealing. But if theres so much as a hint of trouble on the Forked Lightning, Ill know who to look for.
Now, Summer. Franks understandably upset. He obviously hasnt stopped to calculate how many steers youd have to sell to make three and a half million bucks. Even ifby some freak accidentselling your beef brings that amount, you wont have the capital to rebuild a herd. Within a year youd be bankrupt and the land would be auctioned. Either way, Ed Adams will get the Forked Lightning. Patting her hand, Perry pasted on a phony smile, closed his briefcase and followed his client out.
Stunned by a statement she feared was true, Summer sank back into the chair, the fight drained out of her.
Larkin Crosley grimaced. Bart would hate the SOB Frank has become. If Id had any inkling, Id have urged your dad to put the Forked Lightning in a blind trust for Rory.
Summer dredged up a wan smile. Dad would never have admitted to being wrong about Frank. And even if Id known he was screwing around on me from the time I was pregnant with Rory, I wouldnt have told Dad. Dont worry about might-have-beens, Larkin.
I wish I had money put aside to help you beat that rat at his own game, Summer. Perhaps Bruce Dunlap at the bank
A shake of her head cut him off. Im still paying on a farm loan I took out three years ago to buy feed over that really hard winter.
Another bank here in Burns, then?
Perhaps. She didnt sound hopeful. Well, theres no sense sitting around here. Before I head home, Ill stop at a few banks and pick up their loan applications.
Will that prevent you from getting home in time to meet Rorys bus? Crosley shoved back his sleeve and checked his watch.
I asked Audrey to fill in today. I had no idea how long the hearing would run. Turns out its a good thing I did ask, what with going to banks and swinging by Doc Holders. He said if the eagle recovered sufficiently, I could take her home. I think she has a nest in the gorge. Maybe Rory would like to help me try and spot a papa eagle. If, as I suspect, hes dead, Ill have to fetch the babies down tomorrow.
So you werent kidding about the eagle?
You know I never kid about injured wildlife. Theyre threatened now from all the strangers who flock into our area, acting like big game hunters. How can anyone whos ever lived here sell out to developers? Those corporations create huge resortsor chop the land into little pieces for vacation properties. Theyll overrun the mountain and the valley with folks who dont give a damn about the environment.
Crosley shrugged. Its happening all around us. Kids inherit the family ranch and equate their inheritance to dollars and cents.
I inherited not only the land, but its spirit, too.
Summer, the soil is in your heart and blood like it was in your daddys and grand-daddys. Others, strangers, dont necessarily see what you see.
I know youre rightbut She broke off midsentence and stood. Speaking of strangers, a man by the name of Coltrane Quinn pitched in and helped with the eagle at Myrons. I vaguely remember seeing a horse trailer, and Quinn had the look of a rancher. Have you heard of any places around Callanton changing hands?
Nope. The old man scratched his head. Cant say I have. Maybe hes just passing through. Pendleton Roundup is coming up.
That was last month, Larkin. Schools started already. Summer hid a smile when the old lawyer dragged out his pocket calendar to check the date.
Huh, youre right. Time gets away from me, he said. Well, if your Good Samaritan wasnt rodeo-bound, I dont know. A drifter, maybe? We get plenty of those. Best keep your distance, Summer.
She nodded. But she couldnt so easily dismiss the image of Coltrane Quinn. The man dressed like a working cowboy. Not flashy like a rodeo chaser. His serious gray eyes reminded her of clouds that rolled in over the gorge right before a rain. His arms, when shed grabbed for the eagle, had been solid as iron. The man was no weekend wrangler.
He had a cowlick in the center front of his dark hair that reminded her of Rorys, although Rory was blond. Quinns hair had been walnut-brown. All in all, hed presented an intriguing picture.
Larkin spoke, interrupting Summers speculation about the helpful stranger. You were a million miles off. I said, call me if you find a backer. Ill take a gander at any contract they draw up.
Of course. But dont hold your breath. Everyone in this neck of the woods is pretty much land-rich and cash-poor, like me. Thanks for being here for me today, Larkin. Dad would be pleased.
The old man shrugged off her gratitude. I didnt do anything. Im getting deaf as a post. Ive tried hearing aids, but those dang things make every little mouse squeak sound like a lions roar.
Impulsively, Summer hugged him. Youve believed in and stood behind the Callans for as long as I can remember. Youre like family. Something Im very short of, Im afraid.
Larkin shook out a clean white handkerchief and blew his nose. Why dont you take back the name Callan, and cut Frank Marsh out of your life forever?
I cant do that, she said with a rueful smile. Rorys a Marsh and he always will be, regardless of Franks and my differences. Our son already feels abandoned by Frank and were both still reeling from losing Dad. I may cave on this deal, if for no other reason than to get Frank to pay attention to Rory. Maybe if he gets the money hes after