Holly and Charity met Joseph in the kitchen, where she explained her talk with Gertrude .
Joseph shook his head. “She seems to be concerned about the inheritance. She may want to try and take it from you now that you will no longer be only Charles’ widow but also Jason’s wife.”
“Can she do that? The money is for Annie and Ben,” Charity asked.
“I don’t know,” Joseph answered honestly, “I think you have two choices. Speak to someone who can offer you advice or wait until you hear what Gertrude plans.”
Charity shrugged, “How can I ask for advice when I have no idea what she’s talking about? She said she’ll speak to her attorney in Cheyenne. She only just arrived in Belle. She can’t do anything today. Let’s see what she’ll say to me tomorrow. I’ll go to the hotel in the morning and speak to her again. Then I can decide what to do.”
Chapter 10
Gertrude pulled the door of the Mercantile open and was immediately greeted by Henry Stewart, the owner.
“Good afternoon, Miss Rossman. It’s good to see you. How long has it been? Two years?”
“Yes, it’s been two years since Charles’ funeral, which was the last time I was here in Belle.”
Henry flashed her a broad smile and asked, “Did you come back for Charity’s wedding? The entire town is looking forward to it.”
“That’s exactly why I came back. Did you know that when Charity marries Jason Shepherd, he will have control of my deceased brother’s inheritance? That is unacceptable. I’ve come back to make sure that the inheritance goes to Charles’ rightful heir,” Gertrude informed Henry in a voice reserved for strict schoolmarms.
Henry swallowed before he thought of how to respond to Gertrude’s remark. “Miss Rossman, I don’t believe you have any reason for concern. Annie and Ben are Charles’ children, and any inheritance will go to them regardless if Charity remarries, I’m sure. Jason and Charity are both honest and caring people.”
Gertrude laughed. “Do you genuinely think any man, including Jason Shepard, would ignore the fact that he has money at his fingertips from my brother’s estate once he marries Charity?”
Henry shook his head. “If you believe that, then you don’t know Jason Shepard the way the rest of us do. He’s a respectable man.”
Gertrude frowned and stomped her foot. “I can’t believe you would say something like that when we all know what money does to people. I’ll not see my grandfather’s hard work and my brother’s inheritance fall into the hands of any man, including Jason Shepherd.”
She spun on her heels and left before Henry had time to answer.
Gertrude approached the building that housed Jason’s office and stopped for a moment to catch her breath. Determined, she strolled forward into the building, up the stairs, and walked directly into the mayor’s office.
Jason’s secretary started to greet her, but Gertrude saw that Jason’s office door was open, and stalked passed the secretary toward Jason’s office.
Jason stood and greeted her, “Miss Rossman, I had no idea you were in town. Did you come for the wedding?”
“No,” Gertrude stated. “I came to stop the wedding or at least stop you from taking possession of my brother’s inheritance.”
Jason’s eyebrows lifted, and then he scowled as he thought over Gertrude’s statement. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Miss Rossman. I have no intention of claiming any inheritance Charles left to Charity. That’s her concern and her concern alone. I am quite prepared to support her and the children well, and I’m not in any need of an inheritance from Charles or anyone else. If you’ve come to stop the wedding, I guarantee you will have a battle on your hands.”
Gertrude huffed, “We’ll see about that.”
“While I’m still in a gentlemanly mood, I’m going to ask you politely to leave my office before I need to call someone to escort you out. Good day, Miss Rossman.”
Jason sat back down at his desk, steepled his fingers, and stared at Gertrude.
Gertrude's eyes flashed with rage, but she did her best to control her temper. “I know what you’re up to, Jason Sheppard. I spoke to an attorney concerning ways to keep you away from my brother’s money. We’ll see what the court says.”
Jason's face lifted in a slow smile, and he answered, “I look forward to it. I believe you will be embarrassed in any court case if you choose to continue with this chain of thought. Now, once again, I’m going to ask you politely to leave my office. Good day, Miss Rossman.”
“Regardless of your words, you will hear from me again,” Gertrude asserted, fisted her hands, glared at Jason, and left the office.
Gertrude left Jason’s office in a huff and did her best to be polite to people who greeted her on the boardwalk as she hurried back to the hotel. She barely glanced at the manager before going up the stairs to her room. She mumbled under her breath that it had been a waste of time to come to Belle and give Charity a chance to do the right thing. Tomorrow she would catch the stage back to Cheyenne and allow her lawyer to handle the situation.
~ * ~
Jason left his office a few minutes after Gertrude assuring his secretary that’s he’d be back for his next appointment. He strolled toward the café, not sure how to explain to Charity what had occurred or that Charles’ sister thought him a gold-digger.
Charity had just finished taking an order when Jason entered the café. He could tell by the look on her face that she was surprised to see him in the late afternoon and possibly understood why he’d come to see her. She waved
