The Rancher by Kelli Ann Morgan Read Free Book Online Page B

gangly man announced, looking down his nose through round wire spectacles.
    “You found ‘im.” Cole tilted his hat backward and wiped the sweat from his neck.  He scooped a ladle full of water

    from the bucket at the top of the well and placed it in a short tin cup.
    “At last.” The man’s heels clicked together and he bent forward slightly, his head and chin tilted up.  “Mr. Redbourne, my name is Charleton Tacy. I wonder if I might have a moment of your time.”
    “What can I do for you, Mr. Tacy? I’ve got a lot of work to finish up before we head out in the morning.” Cole brought the cup to his lips and started to drink.
    “Oh, I’m so pleased I caught up with
    you.   I represent Mr. Alaric Kurtis Johansson, sir.” Mr. Tacy reached down and picked up a small, dusty, black case and held it in front of him.
    Cole choked on the water in his mouthand   he   spit   it   out,   spraying   theunsuspecting Mr. Tacy in the process.

    The man pulled a limp handkerchief fromthe pocket in his brown twill suit coat anddabbed at his face.
    “I guess you haven’t been expectingme?” he asked, wiping the splatteredwater droplets from his glasses.
    “No, sir. Alaric’s dead.”
    “Precisely. Might we go inside?”
    Cole turned and walked toward the
    house without another word. When he reached the door, he looked back to find that the odd man had not followed. “You comin’?”
    While Mr. Tacy scurried to the frontdoor, Cole glanced out into the corralwhere his father and Raine were workingwith one of the new horses.  He caught Raine’s eye and motioned for him to comeinside with a jerk of his head.

    Mr. Tacy tipped his bowler hat as heslid past Cole into the house.
    Cole was now accustomed to the wideeyed looks he received whenever he andhis brothers stood together in a room.  Thesame look appeared on Mr. Tacy’s facewhen Raine and his father joined them inthe parlor.
    After some brief introductions, Coleasked again, “Now, what can I do foryou?”
    Mr. Tacy removed his hat and set it onthe edge of the small round table.   Hereached down into his bag and retrieved asealed manila envelope.  He set it downon the table in front of him.
    “Let   me   express   to   you   our condolences.  My firm has worked with the Johansson family for a very long time

    and we are deeply sorry for your loss.” He folded his hands in front of him, resting his forearms on the table, closed his eyes, and nodded.
    Raine, Jameson, and Cole all stared expectantly at the messenger.
    “Yes, well, on to business.  A few days before young Alaric passed away he came into our office and added a beneficiary to his   will.   That   beneficiary,   Mr. Redbourne,” he looked at Cole, “is you.” Mr. Tacy pushed the envelope toward a disbelieving Cole.
    Cole laughed darkly. “Are you trying to tell me that, what...?” He shot a glance at his brother and father, then shifted in his
    seat.
    “What exactly   are   you trying to tell me,
    Mr. Tacy?” Cole asked, his eyes squinting

    in apprehension.
    “If you will just open the folder.” The man nodded at the thick package now in front of Cole.
    Cole looked down at the oversized
    envelope.  His mouth went dry.  Alaric’s name jumped at him from the unopened packet. He ran his forefinger and thumb across the corners of his mouth before he
    reached out to pick it up.  Carefully, he opened the flap and pulled out a familiar looking   folded   leather   binder   and carefully relieved its contents.
    This document was nearly identical to the property deed and will he had just received from his father.
    “Do you know what this is?” Cole searched Jameson’s face for any hint of recognition.   He looked at Raine who

    shrugged.
    Cole’s eyes jumped to the bottom of the page where the names were listed— Friedrich Kurtis Johansson, Alaric Kurtis Johansson,   and   Cole