“Of course we are.” My mother is clearly enjoying this process, and it lightens a little of the weight that’s been pushing down on me since Ruth left. “What’s more terrifying than a group of women ready to steal your money and ruin your life?” My mother shrugs. “Might as well make his fears a reality.”
It’s a gamble, threatening to take William to court. And if it was just one of them, I’d be worried he might decide it was worth the battle. If he’s as smooth with his wife as he was with these women, a single lapse in judgment can probably be overlooked.
But four? That’s a lot of shit for anyone to eat. Add on the financial cost of paying child support for all those kids—as well as the negative publicity that will likely cost him his political career—and there are a lot of reasons for William Sheppard to quietly sign away his rights and fade into the night.
My mother lays out the proposition we came up with, explaining to the women that we will pay all attorney fees and any additional costs that come up. All they have to do is sign on the dotted line.
I hold my breath when she’s done. I don’t know any of these women well enough to read their expressions, so it’s possible all three of them are about to tell us to pound sand.
When Taylor turns my way, I brace for her rejection.
Instead, she asks, “Why?”
I look to my mother, but she doesn’t seem ready to jump in. “Why, what?”
“Why are you doing this?” She gestures around the table. “You don’t know any of us. What’s in this for you?”
Everything.
But that answer isn’t what she’s looking for.
“My—” I stop, because Ruth isn’t technicallymyanything. “I know another woman in your same position, and I want to make sure she and her daughter are safe.” I hate not being able to claim Ruth. Hate that this is the way it has to be.
Hate that I might end up like Toby, sitting around for ten years like a sadsack, talking to Bert about all my problems while the woman I love goes on with her life.
Taylor looks me over, eyes narrowing. “That’s pretty freaking nice of you to do for a woman you onlyknow.”
The whole room of women stare at me expectantly. Including my mother, who’s watching me with a serene smile on her face. The expression of a woman used to getting what she wants who knows it’s about to happen again. And, as resistant as I was to it in the beginning, I hope like hell she gets what she wants.
Because it’s also what I want. And I’m tired of keeping my mouth shut about it.
“I don’t only know her.” I glance at my mother because I know she’s eating this up. “I love her. And getting William out of her life is the only way I can have her.”
Taylor’s lip curls. “I wish I could say that’s sweet of you, but I stopped finding anything men do sweet when William threatened to take my daughter away.”
“Is that why you moved? To get away from him?” I probably shouldn’t pry, but I can’t seem to stop the question from coming out.
“Absolutely it’s why I moved.” Anger seems to radiate off her in waves. “And it didn’t do me any freaking good. That bastard found me after only a few weeks.”
I lock eyes with my mother as my stomach drops. I’ve beenchecking on Ruth daily and she hasn’t said anything about William contacting her. But would she?
Or would she think I was too far away to help her and try to handle it alone?
I don’t think I want to find out.
I know I’m supposed to give her time to prove to herself she can be on her own. I’m supposed to make sure it’s safe here and then let her decide.
But thinking that William might find her and I won’t be there to do anything about it has my skin crawling.
I can’t sit still. Can’t stay in Wyoming. Not now that I know chances are good William is trying to find her. And Ruth has been in Maryland almost as long as Taylor was in New York before he found her.
Long enough to leave a trail to follow.
I stand from my chair. “I’m sorry to do this, but I’ve gotta go.”
I turn from the table without so much as a goodbye, moving toward the door at an almost run.
“Tuck.” My mother’s sharp voice stops me, turning my head her way. She gives me a smile. “Call me when you land.”
