Page 90 of Whispers of Helena
His hesitation is brief, his mind already working the angles. “It would have to be drawn up by someone legitimate. Notarized. Not just that, it would need to be done by someone who was alive and operating when you were with the living.”
Then, suddenly, something shifts in his expression. A glimmer of possibility.
“I might know someone.”
It’s justafter seven when Eli and I find ourselves standing on Ruth’s porch. Eli lifts his fist to knock, but before he makes contact, the door swings open.
“Come on in, boys.” Ruth doesn’t even glance at us as she turns back toward the living room.
Eli and I step inside, and he closes the door behind us. Wetake our usual spots on the couch while Ruth settles into her recliner, flipping the lever. The footrest pops up, and she grabs her beer from the side table, eyes fixed on the TV.
“Hope you boys have a good reason for showing up unannounced,” she grumbles. On-screen, a group of women wearing too much makeup and too many sequins throw drinks at each other. “You’re interruptingDynasty.”
Eli leans against the arm of the couch. “We do. Silas needs a will.”
Her eyes flick between us, suspicion creeping in. “What are you two up to?”
I exhale. “Bennett’s lawyer came by yesterday with an offer to buy the ranch. Without a will, the land could default to the county, and if that happens, Everly will win it for sure.”
“Shit,” Ruth mutters under her breath.
“Yeah,” Eli agrees. “So we need a little help.”
Ruth takes a long drink, then cocks her head. “And what exactly do you think I can do to help?”
Eli hesitates before dropping the name like a bomb. “Gregory Nelson.”
Ruth’s face darkens instantly. “You know damn well that name is banned from my presence.”
“Ruth, come on. It’s been ten years. This is important. Wecannotlet Devil’s Ridge fall into Bennett’s hands.”
“Ten years isn’t long enough,” she snaps. Another deep sip, then she returns her beer to the side table. Crossing her arms over her chest, she glares. “That fucker cheated on me with Marybeth Reynolds, Eli.Marybeth. Reynolds.”
I lift my hands in surrender. “We know. And believe me, we wouldn’t ask if this wasn’t the only way to get this done.” I sigh, softening my voice. “Ruth, that land is my home.Ourhome. It’s where my wife belongs. If we lose it, think of the hands. Think ofyourbrother. They’d be out of work. Or worse, working under Bennett.”
Her features twitch, that stubborn edge giving way just a fraction. But still, her arms stay crossed.
“Even if I were to acknowledge that cheating bastard’s existence again, what the hell am I supposed to say?Oh hey, Gregory, my dead friend’s ghost needs you to forge a will. Think you could help out the undead?”
I shake my head. “No. Eli and I will do the work. We'll put together a will ourselves, using Harold Kennedy’s name as the lawyer. I worked with him years back, so his office might not think it’s odd. And with him being dead, well, he can’t exactly deny writing it.”
Her brows raise. “And you think Nelson will just slap a stamp on it?”
Eli glances at me before looking back at Ruth. “No.Youwill.”
The footrest on her recliner snaps shut so fast it nearly launches her forward. “Are you drunk?” she scoffs. “How exactly do you expect me to do that? And what if the county, or a judge, orsomeone with a brainfigures it out?”
I lean in. “They won’t. Should be open and shut, if they even ask for it at all.”
Ruth eyes me, waiting. I don’t flinch.
Then her eyes sharpen. “Andhowexactly do you expect me to get in his office to stamp it?”
Eli hesitates. Then, with a deep breath, he takes the hit.
“You’ll need to seduce him.”
Ruth’s head tilts back, and she barks out a laugh so loud it startles her cat off the windowsill. “Oh,fuck off,Eli Montgomery.”
