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mouth opened and closed on a large smile. “Oh, yes.” She
clapped her hands. “Kenton's back in the country and came by
yesterday to check on us. He said he’d be back today. That’s right.
Robbie sent the boys in for something and he met them in the living
room.”
    Chastity's fist balled by her side. Fear and
anger wrestled inside. Robbie knew the rules. No one was to get
near her children. That’s why she took Mariah with her and Sven
yesterday, so he could keep the boys safe here. Did Maude ask her
son to come to the ranch and look around? To get information about
her children? The old witch was definitely up to something.
    “You said he just got back into the
country?”
    “Hmm. Yes, I think he said that. He didn’t
stay long. Just asked about his uncle and the boys.” Ms. Cook took
another bite of cinnamon bun as Sven walked in.
    “Who asked about the boys?” He asked while
pouring a cup of coffee.
    Ms. Cook grinned up at him. She’d forgotten
to put in her partial plate and large gaps were highlighted in her
smile. “Kenton asked yesterday when he came to see us.”
    Sven looked at Chastity. “That’s great.
Haven’t seen him in a while. I hope Jamison gets here soon. We can
knock out a few things before Kenton comes back today.”
    She looked at him, brow raised. “No one said
he was coming today.”
    “I know, but he will. His uncle is dead and
he has questions.” He looked at her meaningfully. She nodded. Sven
had been Mr. Baxter's right hand for over twenty years and knew
more about the deceased's family than he let on. The sound of a car
door closing caught everyone’s attention.
    “Kids, put your plates and bowl in the sink,
and go to the family room. I’ll be in as soon as I finish my
meeting.” She waved them up. Panic teased her belly, her children
would not be exploited under any circumstances. “Play fair on the
games and have at least one tea party with Mariah.” She gave each
one a kiss on the forehead and sent them marching toward the back
of the house, safely away. Inhaling, she ignored Sven’s raised brow
and headed toward the office. A moment later, he followed. After
Ms. Cook brought Mr. Jamison to the office, they sat down to
strategize.
    An hour later, they were still no further
along. “If she takes this to court, there’s not a whole lot we can
do about it, is there?”
    “No, she won’t win. She can’t win. Mr.
Baxter had every legal right to leave his money to whomever or do
with it however he pleased,” Mr. Jamison said. “I’m stumped as to
why she’s doing this.”
    “She hated him and this is her last dig at
him for ignoring her all those years.” Sven paced the floor,
stopping just short of the dark paneled walls.
    “So she thinks this is one way to make sure
he doesn’t get what he wants?” Chastity asked.
    Sven nodded.
    “She’s crazy. That doesn’t make sense.”
    “It doesn’t have to. She hated the way he
treated her, now it’s her turn.” Sven waved away her comment.
    “But he’s dead.” Chastity tried to make
sense of the woman's rationale.
    “She plans to stop his last request.” Mr.
Jamison said thoughtfully. He laughed. “No wonder David put so many
things in place. He knew his sister well.”
    “You ready to go to court?” Chastity asked,
completely stumped.
    “Believe it or not, I think David Baxter
planned for her to take his estate to court. Once they file the
papers for a trial, another packet will be released to me from his
vault. His banker has already contacted me with a few
triggers.”
    “Triggers?” Chastity wondered when this
rollercoaster would end. All she wanted was the chance to raise her
children in peace, without the debilitating fear from her past
choking her.
    “Yeah, I’ve got some packets coming to me,”
Sven said, rotating his neck. “Mr. B. made a lot of contingency
plans. Some of the big envelopes contain plans and information to
be used in case certain things happen. He worked on them for