Chapter 56
Abbie is walking back to the kitchen when Mason comes running down the hall to her. “Miss Abbie, can I go see the horses with Grandpa?”
“After breakfast,” she smiles and takes his hand. “Let’s go eat.”
“I never touched a horse before. Do they bite?” he asks.
“Sometimes if you…”
The front door opens and Tucker steps inside and smiles at the three of them. His heart trembles at the sight. It feels right coming home to them.
Abbilene lights up and Mason runs straight to him.
“Mr. Tucker! Guess what! I get to go see horses!” Mason is so excited that Tucker laughs and ruffles his curls.
“See them? How about I teach you how to ride?” he asks.
“Oh,” his eyes are huge in his face. “Yes, Sir.’
“First we need to welcome our guests,” Tucker steps aside and Sterling walks in followed by Mr. Cochran.
Mason backs up into Abbie and grips her hand. She takes it and holds Coralie with her other hand. Here we go, she thinks.
Mr. Cochran smiles as he looks at Mason. “Well, you must be Mason Gilbert.”
“Yes, Sir,” Mason says.
“Thank you for coming Mr. Cochran,” Abbie says and turns to look at Sterling who is staring at Mason.
“Mason, this is Sterling, your Uncle. He is your Daddy’s cousin,” Abbie explains.
Sterling walks forward and squats down in front of Mason to look at him. His hand is trembling as he reaches out to touch is curls. “You look just like, Burton did as a child,” he whispers.
Mason smiles at him but presses into Abbie’s skirt. “I look forward to spending time with you Mason and telling you stories about your Father.”
Coralie squirms as if frustrated that no one has noticed her, and Abbie laughs and pats her back.
“Who is this little bit?” Mr. Cochran asks, stepping closer to look at her.
“We have a lot to discuss. Coralie is Mason’s sister,” she explains and watches Sterling for a reaction.
“Sister!” he jumps to his feet and Mason steps in front of Abbie as if to protect them.
Tucker grins proudly at him and walks over to take his place next to him, effectively blocking off their view of Abbilene and the baby.
Nora watches from the hallway and smothers a grin. “Gentlemen, perhaps some coffee and breakfast and we will fill you in on the details.”
“I could eat,” Mr. Cochran says with a laugh and follows Nora.
“Me too,” Mason quips and skips into the kitchen.
Abbie laughs and walks around Tucker to Sterling. “I have so much to tell you,” she says.
“I can see that.” He reaches out to touch her hand. “She’s beautiful,” and his eyes jump to hers. “You look happy, Abbilene. I’m glad to see it.”
“I am blessed, Sterling.”
“This must have been some trip. I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
Tucker watches them walk into the dining room with a frown, until Abbie turns and smiles at him. “Tucker?” she calls. “Thank you.”
“Anytime,” he responds and walks to her.
Sterling watches them and feels like an outsider watching an intimate moment. He hurries into the dining room.
“I missed you,” she says.
“Good.” He teases and Coralie reaches for him with a scream, startling them both.
“You missed me too, didn’t you, Sugar?” Tucker lifts her from Abbie’s arms. Together they follow everyone to the dining room.
Later, after the food is eaten and the children are with the grandparents, Abbilene and Tucker sit with Sterling and Mr. Cochran and go over the papers and the events of their trip.
“The paperwork is in order, Mrs. Gilbert.”
Abbie reaches for Tucker’s hand beneath the table and squeezes it for reassurance.
Mr. Cochran signs all the papers and stacks them before tucking them inside his leather bag. “You are now the legal guardian to these two children.” He grins at the emotion in her eyes. “They are very lucky to have been chosen by you.”
“I’m the lucky one,” she whispers and wipes at a tear.
“What happens next?” Sterling asks.
“Now we go over the business. The money will be deposited in an account at the bank in your name.”
“How long till she can access the funds?” Sterling asks.
“Why?” Tucker demands.
Mr. Cochran looks at them and smiles. “December 1st your money will be available.”
“Excellent!” Sterling smiles and pulls out a folder to lay in front of Abbie.
“I’ll let you all discuss business. It’s time for me to get home.”
Abbie walks him out and returns to sit once more.
“Tucker we are past accusing me of anything. I had a visit from Marcus Hadley of Hadley Mills. All our customers are being serviced by him until we are up and running. He threated to not give our customers back.”
“Can he do that?” Abbie asks.
“No, but he had a point that they may not trust us and come back,” Sterling says.
“That will be easily dealt with,” Abbie states.
“How?” Tucker asks.
“By undercutting Hadley’s price. He’s never been competitive. His quality isn’t as good as ours and once we are able to produce corn and flour our customer base will expand quickly,” Sterling says.
“Exactly,” Abbie says with a smile of relief. Giving Sterling co ownership was an excellent idea.
“I need funds Abbie to get the building started. I have found contractors willing to work through the winter. By Spring we will be up and running product.”
“That’s quick,” Tucker says with a frown of concern.
“It needs to be. I want to go over the design with you and make sure we can go to the families of our workers and reassure them that this won’t happen again.”
“Abbie, you know we can’t make that promise,”
