Something occurred to me. “Wait, was this last book part of a deal?”
“No. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to write another one in that series.” Maria was quiet for a few seconds. “If you finish it, I can promise you the publisher will pay youveryhandsomely.”
I closed my eyes. It would help the rescue so damn much. I could already use the money I’d inherited, but I somehow had a feeling Ruth wouldn’t like that. Those were separate from the rest.
But this money, however much it would be…well, if I didn’t want to do it, but would anyway, then my aunt’s spirit had no right to tell me what to do withthatmoney. Right?
“Okay. It’s a deal. Give me a week and we’ll talk again.”
There was obvious relief and a smile in Maria’s voice. “Thank you, Lake. I’ll keep in touch.”
We said goodbye, and River, who had been standing by the desk since he came in, gazed at me curiously.
“What was that about? You look like you’ve just run a marathon.”
“That was Ruth’s agent, Maria. She wants me to finish the book Ruth was writing before her death.”
River blinked rapidly a few times. Then a slow smile spread on his lips. “Oh my…My best friend will be a bestselling author.”
I rolled my eyes, but smiled anyway. “Oh fuck off.”
Smirking, River turned to go. “Fucking right off!”
I watched him leave, giggling as he went. I loved the guy. I really did.
But was there a chance I could actually pull off writing a quarter of the final Anneliese Harris novel?
I didn’t have a clue. But I’d think about it.Jesus.
Chapter 10
Theo
I stared at the pile of ramen on my counter.
As I separated them, I realized Lake had had to go to at least two different stores to get these, because there was no way he would get them from a regular grocery store and would’ve had to go to an Asian market instead.
I smiled as I picked one to add to my dinner.
The guys had told me I could eat with them, but I’d decided I needed to wind down on my own tonight. Lake had understood, he’d told me he’d come to move the horses and do evening chores with me later though.
I was a bit tired and dirty, so I decided to make myself a sandwich as an afternoon snack, and then get back to work. I knew better than to take a shower and nap at this point. I was getting older which meant that any sort of giving myself a chance to rest would lead to a nap longer than I wanted to allow myself. Not because I had so much work to do, although yeah, there was always something, but because it would ruin my sleep during the night.
That evening, Lake and I had led the horses in and fed them and the dogs. Lake looked troubled, less attentive to me but always concentrated on the animals as he should. Something was on his mind, but I didn’t feel like we were close enough for me to ask about it unless he made it my business, so I just said goodbye to him as we separated in the yard.
* * * *
The next day got hectic for no particular reason. Well, the usual reason, I guess.
I was cleaning the stables all by my lonesome, when River wandered in.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” he asked, peering inside the stall I was mucking.
“Yeah, sure. My office?”
“That works.”
I followed him into the cramped space and went past him in the doorway.
