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With a groan, seeing they weren’t going to bend, Lila took his hand and let him pull her along, following him up the stairs to her room.
“You guys have got to stop making me nap. I’m too old.”
“You’re never too old for a nap. You’ve had a full-on couple of weeks, and I don’t want you getting sick again.” Colin was a worrier, he might seem light-hearted and without a care in the world, but when it came to those he cared about most, he worried.
He helped her take her clothes off then tucked her into bed with a kiss on her forehead. He sat against the headboard and she cuddled up to his side. “Colin,” she said.
“Yes, Lila?”
“Are we really okay, now?”
He ran his hand over her hair and her eyes closed with the soothing movement. “I’m sorry for storming out earlier. I was too scared to believe that this is what you really want. I thought Sara was my friend, I trusted her and she hurt me badly. So I started to question if my choice to share a woman with my brothers was right or wrong. I went and spoke to Max; he made me see that I was giving her exactly what she wanted. She wanted to hurt me. This is right. You, me, Gavin and Trace and I won’t let anyone tell me different. I trust you to tell us if we ever do anything you’re not comfortable with. I know you won’t play games. I’m so sorry I hurt you, though. Forgive me?”
She smiled. “Of course. I love you.”
“Love you, too, shorty.”
*****
Lila held on to Gavin’s hand tightly, Colin on her other side as Trace led the way into the lawyer’s office. It had been two weeks since Clay’s funeral and she felt calmer, more at peace with herself and their relationship.
“Welcome everyone,” old Mr. Marsh greeted them. He’d seemed old when she was a kid, he surely had to be over eighty now. “I’m sorry you’re here on such a sad occasion. Clay was a marvelous man.”
“That he was,” Gavin agreed. Reaching over, she grabbed Trace and Colin’s hands, holding on tight.
“Well, I’ll get on with it as I’m sure you all have things to do. I’ll warn you first, though, that the will is a bit unusual. If it was anyone but Clay I would have strongly advised against what he has done, but he was adamant that this was the best way to go about it. I also have a letter here from him that you all need to read together. First, I’ll read the will to you.”
Lila tuned out the legal stuff. She wasn’t even sure why she had to be here. Clay had to have left the ranch to the boys. Maybe he’d left her something little, though.
“Okay on to the bequests. To Gavin, my rock, the son who made me proud with his steadfastness, his honor and his courage I leave my land. I know you will protect it as I did. To Trace, my calm, unflappable son with a heart of gold, I leave all the horses and stables. You have a gift with them, something I’ve rarely ever seen.”
Okay, so she was starting why the lawyer had said this was an odd will. Sounded like Clay, rather than bequeathing the whole ranch to all three men had sectioned it off.
“To Colin, who could always make me laugh, even as a little kid, I leave all the cattle, dogs and other assorted animals. Finally, to Lila, my daughter and the heart of my home, I leave the house, I hope it brings her the stability and security she’s always needed.”
The four of them looked at each other, dumbfounded.
“But-but, he can’t leave me the house,” she protested. “The guys should get that.”
All the men, including the lawyer, scowled at her.
“These were Clay’s last wishes, young lady,” old Mr. Marsh scolded. “I hope you’re not saying you know better.”
“No, Sir,” she replied, suitably chastised.
“Now, as for the rest of his estate, including his stocks and bonds, he’s splitting that four ways between you all. Once that’s all settled it should total around the two million dollar mark. Now, I’m sure you’re all quite surprised by this. I’ll give you some time to process this and read his letter. First, though, I have some paperwork here for you to sign.”
Numbly, Lila worked her way through the paperwork that lawyers seemed to thrive on.
Not only had he left her the house, but also half a million dollars? It was unfathomable. Looking around, she found the boys looked as shocked as she did.
“Now, I’ll leave you alone for a bit.” He handed a piece of paper to Gavin then left.
“It’s not right,” she blurted out again. “That’s your house more than mine.”
“And how do you figure that, Lila?” Trace asked calmly. “Because I think it’s everyone’s house and Clay left it to the person he wanted to have it.”
“Let’s see what the letter says,” Colin suggested.
