are better than von Heusen.'
'Such a compliment!' he teased, bowing low as he opened the door to the
lawyer's office.
Tess started to reply, but instead smiled at the tall, lean man behind
the desk.
'Mr. Barrymore, how are you?' she inquired, walking forward, reaching
out her hand. The man rose instantly to his feet. He reached out for
Tess's hand, but his eyes were on Jamie. Jamie winced inwardly,
realizing this man had been in the saloon the other night when he had
met von Heusen's boys.
Tess didn't see the recognition in his eyes.
'Mr. Barrymore, this is Lieutenant Slater. Lieutenant, Mr. Barrymore,
who has helped my family for years.'
Mr. Barrymore was still staring at Jamie. 'Mr. Barrymore!' Tess said
more sharply.
'Oh, my dear, my dear, I am so glad to see you! Of course, you know that
Joe left everything in your name' -- 'That's why I'm here,' Tess said.
'Of course, of course' -- 'No, you don't understand. I want to turn over
half my holdings to Lieutenant Slater.'
'Half your holdings?'
'Half.'
At last, Mr. Barrymore looked at Tess. The pen he held in his hands
nearly snapped as he stared at her.
'Half?'
'Half.'
He cleared his throat and stared at Jamie.
'That will make you a very rich young man.'
'I intend to pay the lady, but the money is going to be due to her in
payments over the next few years. Can we draw up a schedule?' Jamie
said.
Tess stared at him then.
'You're going to pay me?'
'Of course. You didn't think I was just going to whisk away your
property.' 'Yes, but' -- 'Tess,' he said softly.
'You're--I mean, the land is worth it.'
He thought she was going to leap to her feet and scream. She managed not
to.
She leaned over the desk and smiled at Mr. Barrymore.
'Make sure he pays the premium price then, will you?'
'Well, yes,' Mr. Barrymore said nervously. He looked at amie, then he
looked at Tess, then he cleared his throat.
'You're sure this is what you want, Tess?'
'And Mister--er--Lieutenant Slater, would you, uh, like ~,to explain how
you want these payments to be made?' . Certainly,' Jamie said. He
rattled off sums and amounts, and Mr. Barrymore began to write quickly.
'And When we're done with this,' Jamie said, 'I need to make and Miss.
Stuart is go' rag to do so, too. In the case deaths, the property is to
be equally divided in between my two brothers, Cole Slater and and in
case of their deaths, to their heirs.'
smiled at Tess reassuringly.
