Bringing her hand up as her eyes watered, Miss Lutken let out a sob before stepping forward and pulling them both into her warm embrace. “Oh, dear. This is exactly the sort of man I’ve prayed for you. Whether you get your inheritance or not, I’ll go on to Heaven one day smiling because I know my precious Ellie met her match.”
“Hopefully not too soon though,” Ellie replied as Miss Lutken released them, and she glanced back at the house. “Do you know who’s been keeping things up at the house since I left?”
Her former teacher’s eyes blazed with anger. “It’s that Percival James. He moved in days after you were taken and acts as though he bought the place free and clear. Mark my words, sweetheart, you two need to watch your step. I don’t know all the details of your trust, but I do know the rumors Mr. James spread around. Your year isn’t up yet, and he’s the type to do anything to earn a few dollars.”
Miss Lutken was in the interesting position of being around other wealthy folks in town, mostly all mine executives or the folks who served them like attorneys and bankers. As such, she heard a great deal of the gossip. She wasn’t overly wealthy herself, but she managed to live alone comfortably after her parents passed by tutoring children in town. Ellie hadn’t been her only student at the time, but she knew the sweet older woman had always held a soft spot for her.
Micah’s arm tightened around her shoulders. “That’s why I’m here, ma’am. I plan to keep Ellie safe and support her the best I can.” He had, with every step they’d taken since they’d arrived in California, slept their first night at the hotel, and walked over to the house which held both memories and nightmares - he’d been her stoic support.
“I can see you mean that,” Miss Lutken said. “I’ve got to run, but oh, it did my heart good to see you. How long are you staying in town?”
“No longer than we have to,” Ellie said honestly. “If you ever find yourself anywhere near Cloverdale, Texas, I’d love to show you everything I’ve fallen in love with.”
Miss Lutken’s previously serious expression softened again. “Oh, I think I’ve got a good idea of what you fell in love with, dear. You’re in my prayers everyday.” Pulling Ellie and Micah both into one more hug, Miss Lutken sniffed and wiped her cheek as she turned away. “Be safe, honey.”
As Ellie watched Miss Lutken walk back up the street, a few things came into perfect clarity in her mind. First, she was so much stronger than she’d been when she left California. She had nothing to lose, regardless of whether the judge sided with Percival and the estate over Ellie and Micah. The only thing she needed was to go home to Texas with Micah by her side. Second, she no longer felt the pull to go inside the large Victorian before her.
“Micah,” she said softly as she studied the outside of the building she no longer had any desire to step foot inside. “What do you say we go find some tea before our meeting with Judge Edwards?” He’d told them he’d be in the office all day, and he would tell his secretary to send them through. “Then, we can go to his office and get this whole mess over with.”
Micah’s brow raised, and he glanced back towards the house. “You don’t want to go inside anymore?”
She certainly didn’t want to risk seeing Percival if he was present, but it was more than that. “No, I think I’m ready to close the chapter on this part of my life and go home.” If they could board the train going back home tonight, she’d be happy despite only having been in the state for less than twenty-four hours. “I’d like to get started with the rest of our lives.”
“This is, beyond a doubt, the most ridiculous piece of legal documentation I’ve ever had the displeasure of reviewing.” Judge Edwards tossed the papers from Ellie’s trust down on his heavy oak desk in disgust. “I knew it’d be a doozy when I got the letter from the judge in Texas. I studied the files I’ve gotten from Mr. Cartwright’s attorneys, but I never dreamed it’d be this ridiculous. I’m going to have a word with the local court system which certified this attorney.” He shook his head. “Makes me want to fight even harder for more strict standards of certification and a more centralized licensing board.”
Ellie seemed so shocked by the judge’s candor she’d been rendered speechless, so Micah did his best to step in. “So, you’re saying it’s unenforceable?” When they’d come inside, Judge Edwards told them it looked like the perpetrator of the stage holdup had actually been acting alone in an attempt to get some quick money, but Micah would still be on his guard until they left town. Still, seeing how angry the trust made Judge Edwards, he finally let out a little of the tension in his shoulders he’d carried the whole trip.
“Of course, it’s unenforceable,” Judge Edwards exclaimed before spouting off about ten different cases providing legal precedent for the inability to render a child stipulation, as well as the logical fallacies and general lack of legality behind the rest of the document. “As your Mr. Goddard told you, the marriage stipulation is one that can be enforced, and you’ve already met the requirement, but the rest of this reads like-”
Before he had a chance to finish, the sound of a shuffle in the room outside the judge’s office carried through the door, and Micah heard his secretary shouting. Judge Edwards shot to hisfeet, as did Micah with a pistol drawn, as the door swung open, and a man in a suit marched through.
Ellie gasped, and Micah had a strong hunch who’d darkened the judge’s door. Judge Edwards’s secretary appeared in the doorway behind him, face pale as she stammered. “Judge, I’m so sorry. I told Mr. James to wait until you were finished, but-”
“Quiet, woman,” Percival James spat as though she was nothing more than an unpleasant mess on the bottom of his shoe. “This meeting is a farce. Archibald Cartwright’s death was an awful tragedy, but his will was iron clad.” Micah had shifted himself to where he stood in front of Ellie, but he could see the look on the judge’s face moments before he let out a barreling laugh. The sound carried, deep and boisterous, as James’s face reddened so much it was nearly purple.
“Iron clad? This trash isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. Come, Percival, take a seat. I’ll be happy to explain all the laws I believe were broken and legal precedent ignored for the sake of you ending up with either the entirety of the money in the trust or Mrs. Sutton’s hand in marriage and subsequently the entirety of the trust anyway. Either way, you win with these documents along with the ones already filed with our court system here in Cartwright.” He reined in his laughter, raising a brow at the man who looked to be about ten minutes from having a stroke.
Judge Edwards rounded the desk, his mountainous appearance dwarfing Percival’s much smaller frame. “I’m not even convinced Cartwright came up with all these terms, as it does seem to benefit you quite heavily, but I plan to find out.” He narrowed his eyes, and Micah would’ve laughed at the sniveling coward before him if he hadn’t been unsure whether the man was about to snap.
“Every single one of those documents were signed and accepted by the court,” Percival stammered. “Archibald’s signature is on all of them. He’s the one who worried for hisgranddaughter’s fate and didn’t want to turn her out on the street when he passed. He came up with the idea to have me marry her for her own protection.” James eyed Ellie where she peeked out from behind Micah, his expression more of a leer than curiosity. “She’d make a fine wife, I’m sure.”
The very idea, not to mention his audacity, turned Micah’s stomach and sent his blood boiling. His fist clenched by his side, involuntarily but no less fiercely. Unfortunately, he was still three feet away from the man when Judge Edwards pushed him back. “Don’t make me have to throw you in jail, Sutton. You can’t defend your wife behind bars,” the judge growled. When he spoke that way, he sounded every bit the cowboy he’d seemed on the stage.
He was right. As much as Micah would love to lay the man out, it would only result in his being unable to protect Ellie the way he needed to. “Then get him out of here, Judge,” he said through gritted teeth. Watching the way he’d looked at Ellie, the suggestion in his voice as he’d spoken, it was all too much.
“Helena,” Judge Edwards directed toward his secretary. “Please go inform the sheriff we’ve had an intruder in my chambers. If he hasn’t removed himself in the next minute, he’s welcome to take him to jail.” As the woman scurried away, he shifted his attention back to Percival. “I’ll make sure it’s in broad daylight, too. My offices here are right in the middle of town, as you’re well aware.” He lowered his voice once more and spoke again. “I have three daughters, James, my youngest around Ellie’s age. I know the last judge in this circuit was in your partner’s back pocket, but I’m not buyable. I’m not easy to sneak up on either. I’ve built a career coming in behind corrupt judges and taking out the trash, and I’m quite good at it. You don’t want to make an enemy out of me, but I fear it may be too late.”
Percival’s sniveling, haughty face went pale before he took a step back. Turning his attention to Micah and Ellie, he narrowed his eyes. “This isn’t over. Far from it.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Oh, Micah,” Ellie breathed as she watched the waves lap on the shoreline the same way they had when she was a girl, when she and Mama had come to the beach and found the starfish. “It’s as beautiful as I remember.”
As Micah had promised, they’d left Cartwright as soon after the judge’s ruling as they could catch a stage. Micah had stayed awake the entire night before, guarding the door of their hotel room, lest Percival or any of his men try something. No one had even tried, but they’d left for the stage stop early that morning in the hopes of missing anyone who might mean them harm.
It hurt her heart not to have the chance to say goodbye to Miss Lutken, but she knew the woman understood. Perhaps, at some point, she could write her a letter and send her train fare to come visit them in Texas. Now, she had the money to do whatever she wished, though the only thing she really wanted was to return to the ranch with Micah and begin their lives together.
Micah wrapped his arms around her, his attention solely fixed on her. “Yes, it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”Understanding his meaning, Ellie blushed until he lowered his lips to hers. They’d be pulling out of Los Angeles later that day, but the stage had run early enough Micah had been able to bring them to the beach. It was likely the last time she’d ever see it, but standing here with Micah made her feel complete in a way she hadn’t felt since the day she came with Mama.
