Page 38 of In Step

I pulled my car alongside the homestead’s garage just as the sun dipped behind the bush, casting a creepy orange glow over the military row of seagulls perched on the ridgeline of the house. The line of heads turned as one, and I almost shivered—straight out of a Hitchcock movie.

I cut the engine and sat for a moment, gripping the wheel like the safety bar on a roller coaster, until finally my shoulders slumped, and my head fell forward onto my hands, the wave of relief shuddering through my body.

It was done.

My lawyer, Ashley Burrant, had barely batted an eye. After reading the copy of my mother’s will and perusing the accompanying farm and legal documentation, he’d listened to my intention to claim settlement and why I was concerned for the farm’s security once my father was served with the demand. Ashley said he’d need to check a few things but would get the paperwork underway. It might take a week, but he’d let me know when we were ready to file with my dad’s lawyer. And he’d include an injunction to prevent my father doing anything to reduce the farm’s value in any way, including selling its equipment or stock. Plus, we would be demanding an audit of the farm accounts.

Once that was all done, in Ashley’s words, “Let the games begin.”

Ashley warned that if my father chose to fight, he could tie me up in court as he’d threatened. But Ashley was happy the original agreement and will were clear, and he thought my father would struggle to come up with any legitimate challenge. In which case, he’d face hefty costs if he lost, not to mention the farm assets would be frozen until things were settled. It might just be enough to stop him.

I could only hope.

Either way, it was finally going to be over. I didn’t give a damn if I came out of it with nothing more than my university debt paid, providing there was enough for my sister and nephew to get a much-deserved leg up in life.

My father could go to hell.

I slumped in my seat, checked the rear-vision mirror, wiped my eyes, and for the first time in years, wished I still drank. The thought of kicking back on my couch with a water or coffee just wasn’t doing it for me. Then I remembered my dance lesson with Abe and a flicker of a smile crossed my lips. An hour in Abe’s arms would be better than any drink.

A disgruntled meow broke through the quiet and I huffed out a laugh. “Okay, okay.” I climbed out and opened the back door, hauling the cat cage free. “Welcome to your temporary home.” I spun a slow circle. “Man, I’m not gonna need arm day at the gym with you around.”

The porch light snapped on and Leroy appeared in rumpled grey sweats and an old black jersey coming apart at the shoulder seam. “Heard you drive up. Did you get whatever you needed done?”

“Yes.” I wandered over. “Thanks for giving me the day off.”

“No problem. Who’s that?” He squinted into the cage. “Was it exchange day at the vet’s or something? Rabbits for cats?”

“Ha fucking ha. This is Tank. And he was... unexpected.”

Leroy barked out a laugh. “I bet he was. Excellent name, by the way.” He peered at the cat through the bars of the cage. “Gavin saw you coming a mile off. And someone’s been eating way too many cat biscuits.”

I sat the heavy crate down on the deck. “Just a few. His owner’s an elderly man with zero backbone as far as Tank is concerned. Gavin said Tank won’t see another year if he doesn’t lose some weight.So, the owner agreed to let Gavin give him to me for a few weeks, see if I can trim the poor thing down. I figure a young Bossy running rings around him might help.” A thought suddenly occurred to me. “I hope I didn’t overstep. I’ll keep him inside. His owner said he apparently walks on a leash.”

“A leash?” Leroy chuckled and shook his head. “And it’s fine. Gavin should be paying you for all the free care you give his misfits.”

I shrugged. “It’s just a few weeks. How’s Judah? Cora sounded a bit freaked when she called on the radio.”

Leroy’s smile slipped away. “He’s still spinning. It’s a bad one. Morgan was way up north when Jam called, so Mum’s been with him.” Leroy rolled his eyes. “God knows how that went, but I caught sight of Morgan’s SUV screaming past not long ago, so I’m about to go down and check.”

I hesitated. “Will you tell Judah I hope he gets better soon?”

Leroy stared, clearly surprised. “Yeah, of course.”

“And, ah, can we talk sometime? It’s nothing urgent.”

More staring. “Is something wrong?”

I shook my head. “No, it’s nothing like that. Just an overdue conversation, but there’s no rush. Maybe sometime over the next weekend or two? Weeknights, we’re all too tired, right?”

Leroy’s gaze narrowed. “So, it’s gonna be one ofthoseconversations, huh? Now, I’m really intrigued. What have you been up to? You better not be leaving me.”

I rolled my eyes and said nothing. Who knew what the outcome would be?

“Sorry.” He gave a quick smile. “But if there’s no rush, can we leave it a week? I’ve got plans for Fox this weekend.”

“No problem.” Other than a set of very frayed nerves. I reached for Tank’s carrier. “I better get this guy upstairs.”

“Hang on.” Leroy stepped back inside and then reappeared with a large, square Tupperware and a sheepish grin. “I was actually keeping an eye out for you. I...wewanted to give you this.” He shoved the container into my hands. “It’s a cake. You didn’t tell us it was your thirtieth birthday, dipshit.”

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