Page 2 of Wicked Cowboy
Bernie had saved my life and I worked every day to be worth that time.
It should have been me in a car crash, not him. I pushed back a small tear. “Your mom wanted me to share you with Ridley Steel, her best friend. Maybe she’s not that bad.”
The little girl’s face was white. She held me like I was a rock she’d never let go of as she said, “You and my dad were best friends. If I stay with you, I can visit their graves.”
“You can always remember them and how they hugged you.”
“I don’t want to go to Pittsburgh.”
I swallowed. “I vaguely remember Ridley. She was sweet, like your mom.”
Her face crumpled like paper, and she shook her head. “But this is my home.”
My entire body tensed. I couldn’t imagine my best friend had lost his life like this and left me his daughter.
What happened to Bernie's mother? Had Henrietta died when I was overseas? I’d not asked in months and just assumed she'd moved to Florida, retired or something. My investigators were on the case.
I glanced at my father, who had his arms crossed. Everyone had their price. I could afford whatever Ridley asked so she’d grant me full custody, so I could handle whatever Chelsea needed. Not that she needed to know that money bought anything. I took her hands in mine. “I promise to include you in any deal I make with Ridley.”
“Promise me that I’m staying with you permanently.” Chelsea hopped in a seat like she was a business partner. “Then, I can calm down.”
“You are home. I’m sure Ridley will be reasonable.” I said and rocked on my feet. Bernie’s girl shouldn’t be worried. I had the means to give her what she wanted if she named her price. Adrenaline pumped in my veins like this was a mission now to get the numbers to fix everything. I turned my head and asked, “Pop, did you get her something to eat?”
He took a step forward and placed his hand on the girl’s back. “I want to know how I can help Chelsea. Bernie was your friend, and she’s a good girl.”
Now he was about supporting friends? All my life, my father only ever talked about our business dealings. I widened my stance and decided fast I’d keep Bernie’s daughter as my own. “Go and get the girl something to eat. Then, I can figure out how to find Ridley and close the deal.”
She patted her stomach.
My pop nodded. “Fair enough.”
Chelsea then said, “Thanks. It’s true I’ve not eaten much. I’ll trust you, Carter.”
She trusted me? My heart twisted. I’d ensure this was her home. Bernie would want this even if the will stated I was to share with a woman whose smile and bright eyes had been memorable even though I’d only met her once.
No mention of his mother was listed in the will, so Henrietta must have died. I had no idea about Bernie’s wife’s family, other than she graduated out of foster care. So Ridley and I were to make a deal with no other family interference. I called out as they were heading to the kitchen. “Just to be sure, you don’t have grandparents?”
Chelsea’s nose wrinkled. “Mom said her foster family had been the Steels, and Ridley was the closest thing she had to a sister.”
Chloe had been like her sister and not just her best friend. I hadn’t known that.
I joined them and headed to the kitchen. If the chef wasn’t ready, I could make sandwiches, which was more than my father might know.
I stepped in front of them as we walked into the galley kitchen my mother had likely fashioned from one of her European vacations where she’d discovered the old-world charm of a huge table, but it had every modern piece of equipment. I opened the double door, stainless steel fridge and took out the prepared fruit tray. I placed it on the huge wooden table where those who worked for us mostly dined as I asked, “Do you have any other relative I don’t know who might show up one day? I want you fully protected, so no one shows up to mess with us.”
“No, just Ridley, who I guess I met when I was a baby getting baptized, but I don’t remember. I was too little.” Chelsea took an orange slice and popped it in her mouth. Her face got some color. I ignored how the chef came in the side door as Chelsea said, “Mom talked to her on the phone every day, but both my parents had no one else. Dad talked about you all the time before you moved home.”
I whispered we’d take some of the chicken the chef had made last night as the girl hadn’t eaten much. “Then you eat and let me talk to my lawyers and tell them the only custody issue will be Ridley, and the will mentioning that we share you.”
I tapped the table as the chef brought over some chicken.
“Remember, I don’t ever want to go to Pittsburgh. I can’t leave my parents like that.”
Bernie and Chloe had died. My heart was in my throat. “Got it.”
She cut the food as she asked, staring at it. “Who's going to go put flowers on their grave?”
Damn. I pushed back a small tear. Men don’t cry, and I needed to focus on the promises I’d sworn to Chelsea. So I said, "We’ll get those flowers soon. Let me find Ridley. She might be a non-issue.”
