Love Inspired Historical October 2013 Bundle: A Family for Christmas\The Secret Princess\Taming the Texas Rancher\An Unlikely Union (20 page)

As the three rose, Mr. Dawson glanced Chance’s way with a frown. “You take your meals in the kitchen?”

Chance spread his hands to indicate their surroundings. “As you can see, there’s no formal dining room here. Besides, it’s the warmest room in the place, so it’s quite comfortable.”

Dotty touched Mr. Dawson’s arm lightly for a second. “I always find food tastes much brighter when you eat it in the place it was prepared. I’ll be interested to hear what you think.”

Chance’s father gave her a considering glance and then nodded. “Of course.”

Eve smiled at the deft way Dotty was able to deflect Mr. Dawson’s focus. Bright taste indeed—what did that even mean? But perhaps the man wasn’t as intractable as Chance had tried to suggest.

When they sat down to the meal, Chance deferred to his father to say the blessing, which Eve saw as another positive sign, despite Chance’s stiff demeanor.

As the plates were being passed, however, she noticed that Chance was focusing on his food and not his father. Determined to keep the silence from getting awkward, she smiled at the older gentleman. “How was your trip, Mr. Dawson? That’s quite a distance you had to travel.”

“It went as well as any trip of that length can. I had the use of a private train car for most of the trip, so that made it bearable.”

“Father likes to travel in style,” Chance said dryly.

Mr. Dawson gave him an irritated look. “There’s nothing wrong with taking advantage of the things money can buy, if you have the funds.” Then he turned to Eve. “And speaking of travel, I understand you came in on the train recently yourself. If I may be so forward as to ask, where do you hail from?”

“A little town up in Arkansas called Iron Bluff. I doubt you would have heard of it.” Why was Chance keeping so quiet? It wasn’t like him.

“You’re right, I haven’t. And you were traveling alone?”

“Why, yes.” She tried not to squirm under his scrutiny. “I’d accepted employment offered by a friend of my grandmother’s who lives in Tyler, Texas. I was traveling there to begin work.”

“And yet you are here.”

To Eve’s relief, Chance spoke up before she could. “Eve’s plans changed when she found out Leo needed her help. It was quite a selfless act on her part.”

This time Eve wanted to squirm for an entirely different reason.

Thank goodness Dotty stepped in to change the subject. “And what exactly is it that you do, Mr. Dawson?”

“I’m a retired congressman. I also have interests in several land holdings and financial institutions that keep me busy.”

Dotty’s eyes widened, though Eve wasn’t certain the emotion in them was altogether genuine.

“That sounds quite impressive,” the widow said.

“Yes,” Eve agreed, trying to do her part to keep the conversation on a positive note. “It was good of you to take time out of what sounds like a busy schedule to come all the way here to spend Christmas with your son.”

Mr. Dawson cast a disapproving glance at his son. “Yes, well, it was becoming increasingly obvious that Chance wouldn’t be returning home for a visit anytime soon. I decided to take matters into my own hands.”

Chance finally spoke up. “
This
is my home now,” he said tightly. Then he turned to Eve. “The soup is delicious.”

She knew a cue when she heard one. “Thank you. Mr. Macgregor had some fine soup bones in his butcher shop this morning and it sounded like just the thing for a cold day.” Then she smiled Dotty’s way. “But wait until you taste the pecan pie Dotty baked for us. I’ve been fighting the urge to steal a bite all morning.”

“I’m sure it will be quite delicious.” Mr. Dawson turned back to Dotty. “And what about you? Are you from Arkansas, as well?”

“Oh, dear me, no. I was born and raised right here in Turnabout. In fact, I’ve never traveled very far from home. Other than to visit my daughter and her family over in Jefferson, that is.” She sighed. “But I’ve always dreamed about seeing more of the country before I pass on.”

“Perhaps some day you shall.”

Dotty nodded. Then she gave him an arch look. “I suppose you’re wondering, if I’m from around here, how I ended up living here in your son’s place.”

He smiled indulgently. “I do admit to a bit of curiosity.”

“My own home burned down a couple of months ago and I ended up in the boardinghouse. Then your son very generously invited me to stay here when Leo and Eve arrived.”

“I’m sorry to hear about your home.”

“I do miss it. But God had a plan. If that hadn’t happened I likely wouldn’t have ended up here in the midst of these young people and all their wonderful goings-on.”

“Goings-on?”

Dotty nodded and waved her hand expressively. “Oh, yes. The candy shop, and opening our new tea shop, and making a special Christmas for Leo—all wonderful things for an old woman with time on her hands.”

“I find you have a unique perspective on life, Mrs. Epps.”

Eve agreed.

But her friend merely laughed and waved away the sentiment. “Oh, please call me Dotty. The only people allowed to call me Mrs. Epps are children and strangers.” She gave him a smile. “Neither of us is in the first group and you are no longer the second.”

“I would be honored. But only if you call me Woodrow.”

Well, well.
Eve leaned back in her seat, a secret smile playing on her lips. Had Dotty managed to charm Chance’s father? The disapproving gentleman seemed so much less stern when he spoke to her. Friendly even.

Was she just doing this for the sake of keeping things from getting too tense between father and son? Or was there another, more genuine something brewing here?

She glanced Chance’s way, but he still wore that scowl that hadn’t been far from his expression since his father arrived. If she shared her current line of thought with him, would it deepen his frown or lighten it?

* * *

Chance sat through most of the meal keeping a tight lid on his emotions. As soon as his father had walked in the door, all those old feeling of inadequacy and resentment had come flooding back. But by the time the meal was over, he’d managed to get past that. He wasn’t the same kid he’d been back in Philadelphia—a lot had changed since he’d come to Turnabout. And as far as he was concerned, he’d changed for the better.

He was never going to be the kind of man his father wanted him to be. And he was fine with that. The people here in Turnabout saw worth in him—he glanced across the table—even Eve. And he was beginning to realize that mattered to him.

Mattered a great deal.

As they rose from the table, his father turned to him. “I thought I’d walk down to this bank I now have a partnership in and look it over. Care to accompany me?”

Chance was tempted to say no, but instead he nodded. “Of course.”

Almost as soon as they stepped out on the sidewalk, his father started in with his questions. “So how did this Pickering woman come to be stranded here—something about helping a child?”

“Leo, a ten-year-old boy, got in a spot of trouble and was booted from the train. When Eve saw he was alone and in need, she came to his rescue.” He met his father’s gaze without blinking. “That’s the kind of woman she is.”

“And you’re sure they weren’t traveling together?”

Did his father think the two of them had pulled an elaborate hoax on him? “I’m quite sure. And the sheriff has since verified Leo’s story.”

“So now you think these strays are your responsibility?”

Chance gritted his teeth, then forcibly relaxed his jaw. “That is the last time I want to hear you refer to Leo and Eve that way. They’re good people. And I feel privileged to have them in my life.”

“Good grief, son, you sound as if these two are lifelong friends. You only just met them a few weeks ago.”

“Let’s just say that for as long as they are living in my home, they are under my protection.”

“And how long might that be?”

“For as long as they need a place to stay. I’m in no hurry to see them go. Now, why don’t we change the subject before one of us crosses a line he shouldn’t.”

His father gave him one of those authoritarian looks, but this time Chance maintained a controlled expression and waited him out.

Finally his father nodded. “Very well. Tell me about this Adam Barr fellow we’re going to meet. He’s one of the men Judge Madison recruited to travel here with you a year and a half ago, isn’t he?”

“He is. Adam is a friend. As you undoubtedly already know, he’s not actually your new partner—his adopted son, Jack, is. Adam is just managing the business until Jack comes of age.”

“I did some research into the men who accompanied you here.”

Of course he had.

“Do you know Adam Barr spent time in prison for embezzlement?”

“I do.” His father looked surprised at that. “I also know he was innocent of the charges.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because he told me.”

“As simple as that?”

“Yes. As simple as that. Because I know Adam. He’s an honorable, responsible man who values truth and justice. He would no more steal than he would cut his own throat.”

“And are you familiar with all of the clauses he put into your loan agreement?”

“Of course.”

“So you know that your loan is due, payable in full plus interest, at the end of this year.”

Chance stiffened as he realized what direction this discussion might be taking. He’d known about the due date of course. When he’d first approached Adam about getting the loan, they’d discussed the project and how long it might take to complete. Adam had suggested they make it a one-year loan but Chance had been certain he could finish up much sooner than that. “Adam and I discussed the availability of an extension on this loan should I need one.”

“And did you get that in writing?” His father was wearing that I-have-you-now look.

“There was no need. Adam’s word is enough for me.”

“But Adam isn’t the only decision maker involved here, is he?”

He had been when the loan was signed. Eileen Pierce had always been more or less a silent partner. “So, are you saying there will be no extension?”

His father grasped his lapels. “I’m not in the habit of throwing good money after bad. One should always be a good steward of his money.”

No matter who got hurt in the process.

“To extend such a loan, I’d have to first be convinced there was a good chance of seeing a return in a reasonable amount of time.” His father seemed mighty pleased with himself. “Or have something else I want in exchange.”

There it was. “And what might that be?” But he already knew.

“For you to come back to Philadelphia, where you belong. Hang it all, Chance, this provincial backwater is not for you. You belong in Philadelphia where you would have access to the finer things in life. And where your family is.”

“I disagree.” Chance was pleased that his voice was calm and measured. “I think I fit in much better here in Turnabout than I ever did in Philadelphia.”

“You can’t possibly believe that.”

“I do. I have my own business here, which I enjoy and am actually good at. And more important, I have the respect of my friends and neighbors because of who
I
am, not what family I come from or how much money I have access to.”

His father drew himself up. “These so-called friends, have you shared with them your...your problem?”

So his father was finally ready to confront him on this issue. “Say it, Father—my
shame
—the fact that I can’t read. For once just call it what it is.”

His father gave him an annoyed look. “There’s no need for these melodramatics.” He glanced around. “Thank goodness there’s no one close enough to overhear.”

Chance swallowed the retort sitting on his tongue and took a breath. “To answer your question, the only person here who knows about my
problem
is Dotty.”

“Ah, yes, your friend Dotty. Interesting woman.”

“Dotty has been a good friend to me this past year and a half. And she understands my inability to read because she had a brother who suffered the same condition.”

That seemed to take his father aback and he was silent for a few moments.

Finally, Chance broke the silence. “This matter of the loan—I’d prefer we keep that between you and me for the moment. There’s no need to bring Adam into this.” When his father raised a brow, he added an argument he knew would carry the most weight with him. “It is, after all, a family matter.”

His father thought a moment, then nodded. “Very well. For now.”

Chance fired off a question of his own. “Tell me, why are you in Turnabout? I mean, why did you
really
come here?”

“You’re my son and I wanted to see you. Isn’t that reason enough?”

“You wanted to see me, or you wanted to check up on me? It seems you’re more concerned with finding fault with my home and houseguests than with understanding my new life.”