Page 16 of The Cowgirl's Secret Love
See? Totally no aggressive posturing.
Brandon stepped back slightly as if even Finn’s words were powerful enough to knock him off balance. “Same thing as always. I want my inheritance. I don’t know what the hell you guys did to my dad, but it’s just not right.”
“We’re not going through this again. You’ve taken it up with lawyers, and you’ve been told that your father was of sound mind when he rearranged his finances.” Zach stepped beside Finn. “You want to do another round in the law courts, it’s your pocketbook that will end up hurting.Again.”
The other man wore a sour expression, as if assessing the value of everything in front of him and finding it lacking. “What a pile of shit.”
Finn wasn’t about to argue. He didn’t give a damn what Brandon thought. If he couldn’t disregard the broken-down buildings and see the value in the land, that was his problem, not Finn’s.
Bruce Travers’s biggest complaint about his son had been that Brandon refused to see beyond the surface to the true possibilities.
Well, that and the fact Brandon had pissed away the money his father provided him for years. Instead of using it for investments and to get ahead, he’d blown it on frivolous or borderline legal activities, yet still kept running back to the family coffers to try again.
The well had dried up. Bruce Travers had gone looking for new protégés to train. He’d found Finn. He’d found Zach. Both of them willing to learn and work damn hard, and in the end, they’d profited a hundredfold.
Brandon had not been thrilled when he discovered he’d been cut out of the will. Or more specifically, Bruce Travers had brought on Finn and Zach as partners. Shortly after discovering he had terminal cancer, Bruce had removed himself from the corporation entirely and left it under their control.
Finn had paid all of Bruce’s living expenses for the last year of his life, spending time with the man as he slowly lost his battle. Brandon had never been in the picture. Not more than a couple quick visits during the four years Finn and Zach had spent with Bruce, during which Brandon managed to insult everyone and make himself obnoxious.
Yet he had still thought he should collect his daddy’s money.
“You need to leave.” Finn got the words out without snarling. He was pretty proud of himself for that. “If you want to talk, use a lawyer.”
“Hey, this is all because of him. As soon as he tells me I can leave, I’ll be happy to wipe the shit off my shoes and get the hell out of here.”
Brandon pointed to the vehicle where the representative from the law firm Bruce had used was finally opening the door and rising to join them.
Alan Cwedwick looked every part the legislator in a made-for-TV movie with the faint tracing of silver at his temples and his well-shined leather shoes and high-class suit.
He stepped forward, black leather case held firmly in one hand even as he shook his head, lips twisted in amusement. “Okay, boys. Head to your separate corners.”
“Alan,” Finn said in acknowledgement. “It’s good to see you, but I don’t remember giving you permission to bring trash onto my property.”
“You shut your goddamn mouth,” Brandon said once he reached a safe position one step behind the lawyer’s back. “I didn’t come here to be insulted—”
“Brandon, perhaps you should wait in your vehicle until Mr. Marlette, Mr. Sorenson, and I finish discussing business.”
“How about I just go and wait at the hotel? I’ve seen everything I need to see here.” Brandon stomped away before getting an answer. He lifted a hand as he walked, jabbing a finger at Finn as if he were poking a voodoo doll. “You’re hiding something. I will find out, and in the end, you’ll pay.”
“Always pleasant to see you, Brandon,” Zach called after him before lowering his voice. “Watch out for that pile of dog shit you’re about to—well, damn. Too late.”
Finn pinched the bridge of his nose, but in spite of his frustration, he couldn’t stop his snort of amusement. “Is it possible for you to not beyoufor just a few moments?”
Alan wrapped an arm around Finn’s shoulders and squeezed. “Good to see you guys again. Although I do apologize for having to haul Brandon along. He really is a rat bastard, isn’t he?”
“If you know that, why did you inflict him on us?” Finn asked.
They headed up the porch stairs and into the main house. Alan looked around, his assessing glance a lot more like the one Finn was sure had been onhisface when he’d first seen the disaster.
Then the lawyer refocused his attention and answered the question. “It wasn’t my idea. Bruce put a number of stipulations in his will that triggered a couple weeks ago, and unfortunately, bringing Brandon here was one of them.”
“Since Bruce had no idea before he died that we would buy property in Alberta, that seems a bit of a stretch,” Zach said dryly. He offered Alan a chair, taking over one of the stumps they’d been using as a footrest.
The three of them settled. Alan opened his briefcase and brought out a set of papers for both of them.
“You know Bruce had a tendency to do things outside the norm, and in this case I hope it won’t be too detrimental.” Alan adjusted his reading glasses. “I like you two. Always have. I think you’re decent, outstanding young men worth way more than that jackass pouting his way back to town. However, since it’s not my money but Bruce’s that we’re talking about, we need to follow his orders.”
“He made us partners. Then he removed himself from the company. How does he have any say in what we do anymore?” Finn was ready to brace himself.
