Redemption

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Colt downed the rest of his coffee, thankful for Grace’s brew once again. He was getting sick of his own coffee so much he could hardly drink an entire cup full.

“You heading off, Colt?” Grace asked as Colt put his empty cup in the dishwater.

“Yeah, I’ve gotta… gotta start on that project today,” Colt nearly groaned.

“Oh,” Grace gave a knowing nod. “How are you doing?”

Colt shrugged. “Fine. It’s just a little awkward right now. I’ll get over it.”

He sounded more confident than he actually was. It felt more like he was in some fog and he couldn’t get out no matter how hard he tried. He was way beyond just feeling awkward.

They heard the front door opened and a masculine laugh echoed down the hallway, followed by a female voice.

“Would you stop that?” It said.

Colt recognized that voice immediately. He looked at Grace in a panic and bolted for the back door. He waved briefly and managed to clear out before the couple appeared in the kitchen. He heaved a sigh of relief and walked toward where his horse was standing, still saddled and ready to ride.

He double-checked the cinch and made sure everything was as it should be before walking into the bunkhouse where his office was. Several cowboys waited for him in the back room around his desk, watching anxiously for him to show up so they could get to work.

“Sorry to keep you all waiting,” he apologized.

Some of the men shrugged and others grunted.

“I figured that we ought to get some things straightened out before we start on this job.” Colt rounded his desk as he spoke. “The rules are as before when you were working normally on this ranch. I’m your boss just the same as Sherman Cooper is. My word is law, and if you have a different opinion, I expect you to present it with respect in a calm fashion. I’ve done the math and I’ve decided that you all will get paid at the end of every week, because we don’t really know how long this will take. Does that suit everyone?”

The men all nodded.

“Good. Now everyone go get your mounts and meet me out there in half an hour,” Colt said.

The men left the room and Colt sighed. This was it. He was actually going through with this.

*****

“Inheritance? Jessie has nothing of the sort!” Myra couldn’t believe the words coming out of her husband’s mouth.

“I kept it a secret so things like this wouldn’t happen,” Jacob shuffled his feet, the morning sun lighting his graying hair and illuminating the regret on his face.

“I don’t understand, Jacob. Where did this inheritance come from?”

Jacob rubbed his forehead with his fingers. “My aunt left it to her.”

Myra narrowed her eyes into slits. “Jessie was only three when your aunt died. Why didn’t she leave it to Jake?”

“Because you know how she was. She wanted her wealth to go to a woman,” Jacob explained, his tone hinting that he did not cherish the memory of his relative.

“And you kept it from us. Why? How does Jake know about it and not Jessie and me?” Myra asked him.

“The whole town knows, Momma,” Jake explained.

Myra shot a glare at her husband.

“Would you sit down?” Jacob said, getting flustered with their son.