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Joshua’s jaw dropped. It was a slick move, designed to put a wrench in their plans. He wasn’t sure if the argument had merit, but it would surely grind things to a halt. “Sounds like they threw whatever they thought might stick against the wall.”
Theo jammed his hands into his back pockets. “Yes. I think you’re right. Now a judge has to decide on the matter. It really messes things up for us. The Alloy Corporation might not want all this hassle and legal wrangling. And it’s going to cost us a small fortune if it’s litigated.”
Litigation! This could seriously affect both of them financially. He didn’t have money to defend lawsuits!
“I can’t believe Boone would go to those lengths,” Joshua muttered. He was well aware of the sheriff’s ill will toward him, but he’d never imagined Boone would resort to filing legal papers to impede them. This situation had truly spiraled out of control.
“It wasn’t Boone. Matter of fact it wasn’t any of the Prescott men. Or the O’Rourkes.” Theo chewed on the inside of his lip. “It was none other than your ex-fiancée, Honor Prescott.”
Honor? Theo must have gotten his information wrong. There was no way Honor would go the route of filing an injunction against them.
“No. That doesn’t sound right,” Joshua said, shaking his head in disbelief. Sweet, kind Honor. “She wouldn’t do such a thing.”
Theo twisted his mouth. “Yes, actually she would. And she did! That’s exactly what Eric told me. She filed legal paperwork to impede our sale of the ranch. She’s citing imminent harm to the animals at the wildlife preserve.”
A fierce anger raced through Joshua’s veins. She had used the information he had given her the other day regarding selling the ranch to try to undermine them. Who did Honor think she was to tie their hands in such a manner? This was a spiteful act. Honor had never been a vindictive person. Was this payback for the past? Bitterness over the will? Or just a way to let him know he had no business here in town. If so, he wasn’t just going to roll over and play dead.
“Can you let Winnie know I need her to watch Violet for another hour or so?” Joshua asked.
Theo frowned at him. “Where are you going?”
“To the wildlife center. It’s about time I got a few things straight with Honor.”
Theo called out after him, imploring him to come back. Joshua didn’t heed his brother’s pleas. He strode off toward the direction of Bud’s truck, feeling grateful the keys were in the ignition. He didn’t want to have to go back inside the house and allow Violet to see him like this.
His youthful years had been full of swagger and rage. As a grown man he had made a conscious effort to be even-tempered and calm. In many ways, his past troubles had been a result of his inability to control his temper.
Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. In his estimation, it was one of the most powerful Bible verses. It had always resonated with him.
At this very moment, Joshua knew his anger was beyond anything he’d experienced in adulthood. A part of him felt like the wild, reckless boy of his youth. The feelings surprised him. He’d been of the belief that he had gotten rid of that boy a long time ago. But Honor had pressed every last one of his buttons by embroiling him and Theo in a legal battle. He felt like a volcano that was about to blow sky-high.
* * *
Honor held a baby lynx in her arms and firmly placed the bottle in her mouth. She grinned as Glory greedily guzzled the milk. The baby lynx was finally showing signs of thriving. She had rejected food for days, raising alarm bells with Honor. Seeing Glory eating caused a feeling of triumph to surge up inside her. For all intents and purposes, Honor was serving the role of mother. Honor wrinkled her nose. Some might find it silly, but she loved her ability to mother and nurture the animals. It filled up an emotional void in her life.
It filled, she realized, her own yearning for motherhood. Ever since laying eyes on Violet, her own loss had been pressing on her heart. She still mourned the loss of her child. Sometimes, in the still hours between darkness and dawn, she thought about what might have been.
The quiet of the center settled around her like a warm, cozy blanket. It was such an idyllic setting. It was a great place to listen to her own thoughts as they rambled around her brain. It was important, especially in the past few days.
As someone who had grown up in a big, bustling family like her own, it was a wonder she didn’t mind the isolation of the wildlife center. There was something calm and peaceful about being out here with all of the animals. She loved what she did for a living. It had been worth all the years of being in Michigan away from her loved ones. Running the wildlife center was a dream come true. She still wasn’t sure what she had done in this lifetime to receive such a blessing.
Heavy footsteps sounded in the distance. Perhaps it was Clay Mathers, one of the workers. He didn’t usually stomp around the place though. She turned toward the door, watching as it swung open with a loud crashing sound.
Joshua stood there, all six feet of him, bristling with a ferocious anger. It radiated from him in waves. His blue eyes glittered with animosity. Honor shuddered. She had never in her life seen Joshua look at her with such condemnation in his eyes. Even at his worst, he had always gazed at her with love radiating from his eyes. It was a bit unsettling to see this version of Joshua.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Joshua demanded.
“You need to lower your voice. I’m trying to get her to sleep,” Honor said, placing her finger to her lips in a shushing motion.
Joshua’s face hardened. “I need to talk to you. Now!”
“I know why you’re here,” she said in a loud whisper. “And I’m very sorry if you’re upset with me, but I had to take action before you sold the ranch.”
“No, you didn’t,” he said in a low voice. “You could have just let things be instead of meddling. This doesn’t concern you.”
She glared at him. “Meddling? I’m doing my civic duty for this town.”
“It’s not your business!” he spit out. “It’s Ransom land.”
