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It took him three tries to find the right key, but finally, he unlocked the box and pulled out the yellow-aged piece of paper.
“Here is the original paperwork I signed.”
Reading over it, she could see how the wording was confusing. How they misrepresented the terms and how he signed something while under the influence of alcohol could be a sure way to get the ranch back.
But what about Cal?
Yet, she couldn’t let her family down. Not after everything they’d gone through.
“Do you think we can still fight this?”
“Yes,” she said. “It could take a while.”
A frown crossed his face. “Darling, I want to clear my name. I want the truth to come out, but I’m on borrowed time. Cancer is spreading through my body, and I have maybe a few months at the most.”
Grief rocked her. She’d just found him after nearly twenty years, and she was going to lose him again.
“I’m ready. But it would be great to clear my name. To tell your grandmother that she was the only love of my life. Yes, I got married again, but it was to try to help a poor woman and it didn’t work. Your grandmother’s love filled my heart, and no matter what she did, I couldn’t help but remember Mary.”
“That’s not fair,” she said. “I just found you. I want to clear your name and get you out of this hellhole and back on the ranch. I want to bring my family back and let us all heal from the wrong that was dealt us. Please, you’ve got to stay for a little while.”
“I’ll do my best, darling, but every day I grow weaker,” he said.
“We’re going to get you some decent care. A doctor who can help make you stronger,” she said, almost certain there wasn’t such an individual out there, but wanting to do something that would prolong his life just a little longer.
She took a photo of the document with her phone, and then she handed it back to her grandfather.
“Put this in the safe and lock it up,” she said. “I’m coming back for you tomorrow. We’re going to find you an apartment. This drafty old place can’t help you. And there is probably mold growing in these walls.”
“No, I can’t afford an apartment,” he told her.
“Yes, you can,” she said. “I can get you an apartment that is built for senior citizens. It will be newer and cleaner, and there you’ll be with other older people.”
She could tell he didn’t want to argue with her and was growing tired.
“Get some rest. I’ll be back tomorrow. I’m going to speak to the people on this list and get as much information as I can from them.”
He nodded.
“Lillian,” he said, gazing up at her. “Thank you. You’re the only one who has faith in me, who believes me. That means a lot.”
She hugged him. “I’m just glad I found you. Here is my phone number. If you need anything at all, you call me.”
A smile spread across his weathered face, and he sighed.
“Every day, I’ve prayed that someone would clear my name, and now, in my last days, you came along. I’m so happy.”
She went to the door. “I’ve missed you.”
“Me too,” he said, and she walked out the door before she started crying. Lawyers did not act with their emotions but rather their brains, and she needed to do everything she could to keep her feelings bottled. But this was hard. Damn hard. She wanted to shout from the rooftops that her grandfather was the man she imagined and not the one everyone betrayed.
CHAPTER 11
When Cal got home that evening, he went looking for Lillian. He ran into Nathan in the kitchen.
“Hey,” he said, glancing up from the dinner he was fixing. “How do you feel about spaghetti tonight? Later, I want us all to sit down and talk. We need to discuss this situation with the ranch. My father gave me some insight.”
“My grandfather gave me some insight, too, and he wants to see Mr. Bradley and remind him of their agreement. If he doesn’t get Lillian to back off, he will tell everyone something. He wouldn’t tell me what the big secret was, but he was not happy that Lillian was dragging this up.”
