Ladd Fortune (11 page)

Malcolm didn’t know much about Albert’s
children, but apparently Ernie wasn’t concerned with them. And
since it was his name on the title, legally he didn’t have to be.
In the end, it seems Ernie agreed and swore to his dying sister
that he’d include Delaney’s daughter in any will thus ensuring the
property stayed in Ladd hands.

It was a promise witnessed by Ashley
Fulmer, one she had been prepared to testify to in a court of law,
had matters made it that far. But they didn’t. Ernie acquiesced by
signing a life estate deed for the sole benefit of Felicity
Wilkins. Malcolm suspected she wouldn’t be pleased to hear of
Jeremiah’s challenge to the deed, either. From what he could tell,
the woman was firmly entrenched by Delaney’s side.

Pulling up to a yard already littered
with pickup trucks and the occasional compact and sedan, Malcolm
was surprised by the sheer number of vehicles. “This is some
shindig, isn’t it?” Malcolm said as they found a space some
distance from the house.

“
Ashley is somewhat of a hub
in this town. If she invites you to a party, you come.”

Delaney logged those in attendance by
their vehicle. The Parkers were here, which meant Felicity was
here. Mary Beth and her clan were accounted for, the Fosters,
Shores... Malcolm only half-listened as they hiked up the hill to
Ashley’s home, a ranch-style painted barn red and adorned with
flower pots spilling over with color. There was an old wagon wheel
propped up on one end of the home and what seemed to Malcolm the
mandatory rockers set out across the front porch.

“
Makes me wish I brought
that pie,” Malcolm muttered. He’d purchased a peach pie, but
Delaney told him to leave it behind, something about an ongoing
feud between Ashley and Fran for title to Best Pie at the county
fair.

“
Trust me,” Delaney told
him, easily scaling the steep slope in her jeans and boots, the
same slope of land that caused him to be winded from the exertion.
“Ashley would have tanned your hide, you walked in with that
pie.”

Nick chuckled and Malcolm wondered
again, was everything a feud in these parts? It was pie. Wouldn’t
she overlook the flavor? As it stood, he was empty-handed. In his
world, showing up to a party without a hostess gift translated to
poor manners. But a newbie to these parts, he wasn’t about to
argue. Nick had been a trusted ally for near twenty years. If his
woman said leave the pie, Malcolm would leave the pie.

The trio reached the house, cruising
around back to where the action was in full swing. With most of the
guests dressed in jeans and boots, Malcolm felt somewhat out of
place in white linen shorts and navy silk T-shirt, but he didn’t
own any jeans and boots. Hiking boots for scouting properties, yes,
but not the cowboy variety. Those were Nick’s department. As
expected, there was a grill in the corner loaded to the brim with
burgers and dogs, a steady billow of smoke rising into the blue sky
above. Malcolm picked up the scent of a smoker, too, but didn’t see
one. There was a live band beyond the grill, a group of middle-aged
men belting out a lively tune he didn’t recognize. But then again,
country music wasn’t his norm. He preferred jazz, rock, and the
occasional hip hop.

Closer to the house was a long table of
food, draped with a classic red and white calico print cloth, laden
with plates and bowls heaped with food. As he approached, Malcolm
recorded the menu to memory: corn on the cob, coleslaw, biscuits,
fried chicken, fried something he didn’t recognize, mashed
potatoes, cornbread, and greens of some sort. They looked like
sautéed spinach, but he’d bet they were something else. Southerners
weren’t known for their penchant for spinach. His stomach growled.
It all looked good. But as hungry as he was, there was something
more important on his mind. He surveyed the people milling about
the grill, the house, the band, searching for sign of
Lacy.

Delaney paused. “Hungry?”

“
Famished,” Nick
replied.

“
Not yet,” Malcolm
lied.

“
Well, I’m starving,” Nick
said. “Mind if we leave and grab a bite to eat?”

“
You go ahead.” Malcolm
walked a few steps with them and caught sight of Lacy. His insides
warmed. Decked out in fitted red tank and white miniskirt—a very
short miniskirt—Lacy kicked up her black booted heels as she moved
about the dance floor. He smiled, tapping Nick in passing. “I’ll
catch up with you kids later.”

Nick followed Malcolm’s line of vision
and grinned. “You do that.”

As Nick and Delaney headed for the food
table, Malcolm ventured toward the dance floor, more designated
section of yard than floor. Off to one side of the band, dozens of
men and women danced in rows, except for Lacy. She was one of the
coupled dancers being twirled about by some nondescript
man.

Of course she was. The band
ended the song and immediately picked up with a country tune he did
know.
Cotton-Eyed Joe
. The dancers instantly formed several lines. Lacy’s dance
partner swept her into his arms and spun her around. Even if she’d
wanted to line dance, the guy probably couldn’t keep his hands off
her. That’s the way it would be for Malcolm if
he
were out on the dance floor with
her.

As the band played, the
fiddler took center stage, swinging his body back and forth as his
hand whipped bow over strings. Dancers whooped and hollered and all
stepped in unison, their movements quick and agile, even the oldest
among not missing a beat.
Where did you
come from, where did you go
.
Where did you come from, Cotton-eyed
Joe
?
If it hadn’t
been
...

Lacy spotted him and smiled mid-twirl.
Malcolm wondered at her dance partner. A man of medium build, brown
hair, nothing special, he could be someone from her past. Could
also be someone new. Lacy was the kind of woman who attracted men
like bees to honey. The man led Lacy around with visible skill, his
focus completely tied up in her. Malcolm smiled. Sorry to break it
to you pal, but that one’s taken—though the two were certainly
enjoying themselves, Lacy and her partner. But it was hard not to
with such a catchy, upbeat tune. Watching the show, Malcolm was
struck by the high spirits of the crowd. Was there a way he and
Nick could incorporate the music into the hotel? Not their average
version of entertainment, that’s for sure, but it certainly fit the
region. And staying authentic to the region was one of Harris
Hotels’ trademarks.

His eyes was his tools and
his smile was his gun, but all he had come for was having some
fun
. Dipping and swaying, rocking to the
music, Lacy seemed all the more animated now that Malcolm was
watching her. A swell of pleasure unfurled inside him. “Enjoy it
while you can, darlin’...” he drawled quietly to himself. Malcolm
Ward was about to cut in.

Lacy continued to look his way, despite
her partner whooping and shouting. A move that told Malcolm there
would be no need to cut in—she’d find her way to him eventually.
Better to let the bird fly home than chase her around the yard and
back.

The song ended and Lacy’s partner
lifted her from the ground. Admiring the view as she kicked her
boots up behind her, Malcolm waited. The band rolled into another
twangy tune, this one just as lively as the last but completely
unfamiliar to Malcolm. After a moment of chit-chat between Lacy and
the man, it appeared she was making her excuses to come see
him.

Malcolm chuckled at the crestfallen
look on the man’s face. Clearly he wasn’t ready for the love fest
to be over. But Lacy was headed his way and that’s all Malcolm
cared about.

Trotting over, Lacy landed before him
and gaily greeted, “Hi, Malcolm!”

“
Hi, Lacy.” He slid his gaze
up and down her then slung it toward the band. “Looks like you were
having fun out there.”

“
Oh, I
was
. I love to dance!”

“
I remember.”

A fleeting confusion brushed the
sunshine from her features but didn’t linger. “Do you like to
dance?”

“
I do, but I’m afraid I
couldn’t keep up with this crowd.” She giggled. “Your partner
looked like he knew a thing or two about the dance
floor.”

“
Who, Calvin?”

Malcolm shrugged. “He and old
friend?”

Lacy smiled. “Calvin Foster and I grew
up together. He’s a year older than me, but our families have known
each other forever.”

“
Ah...” he replied, relieved
to know there was one less hurdle to getting next to the pixie
standing before him.

“
I didn’t know you were
coming today,” she said.

“
Wouldn’t miss it. From what
I hear, this is the only place to be today.”

“
Oh, it is, it is,” she
chirped. “Ashley has always thrown the best parties.” Lacy glanced
around and she frowned. “Did you come with Delaney?”

Not wanting anything to dampen Lacy’s
mood, he nodded. “But I ditched them right quick,” he teased. “I
wanted to see you.”

She rewarded him with a bashful smile.
“Oh, Malcolm, don’t be silly.” Sliding shiny black curls behind her
ear, she scanned the party grounds. “I know Delaney doesn’t much
want to see me.”

Delivered as a casual observation,
Malcolm detected something melancholy in her statement. “Oh, I
wouldn’t say that. I’d attribute it more to her current
circumstances. She has a lot on her mind at the moment.”

“
Jeremiah,” Lacy said
flatly.

Malcolm arched a brow. “Among other
things, yes.”

Lacy flashed a hot glance. “Well she
doesn’t have to worry. He’s not here—wouldn’t dare set the first
foot on Ashley’s property.”

Malcolm didn’t expect him to be. “So
how’s your friend Loretta?” he asked. “Ever learn what she and the
boy were up to?”

“
No. We’re friends in
Atlanta but other than Friday, I haven’t seen her.”

“
Are you having a good
time?”

She tipped her chin upward and dished
out a small pout. “Not really.”

“
Why not?”

“
I seem to be persona non
great around here.”

“
You mean grata.”

A question gathered in her eyes.
“Huh?”

He shook his head. “Never
mind.”

She dismissed him with a wave. “Same
thing.”

Malcolm noticed her staring across the
crowd and he followed her gaze. On the opposite side of the food
table, an attractive brunette strolled to a stop. As she skimmed
the crowd, she didn’t appear happy to be here. More tense, edgy
than a Memorial Day picnic warranted. Conservatively dressed in
white T-shirt and jeans, a red scarf tied at her waist in lieu of
belt, she looked familiar. “Something interesting?”

“
No,” she snapped, but her
stare turned glower.

“
If eyes were daggers,
someone would be dead right about now.” Lacy swung a petulant gaze
his way, as if she were about to object. Instead, she smacked her
beautiful, glossy red lips closed. Suddenly struck by the
resemblance, Malcolm slipped her a knowing gaze. “Your sister, I
presume?”

She turned, mouth agape. “How did you
know?”

He glanced back in the direction Lacy
had been staring and commented, “She’s the only other woman here
with black hair and memorable blue eyes.”

“
There’s nothing memorable
about Annie.” She swiped him with a foul look. “She’s mean. Pure
hate.”

From what Malcolm understood, she had
good reason. But bringing that up with the beautiful young woman
before him was not going to happen. “How about I get you something
to eat?” he asked.

“
No, thank you,” she
replied, absorbed by her sister’s presence.

Getting nowhere fast, Malcolm decided
to switch tactics. After all, he was here for information, and of
course, the company of a beautiful woman. “Have you talked to
Jeremiah since he’s been back in town?”

“
No,” she snipped. “And I
don’t intend to, either.” Her expression abruptly changed, dulling
the point of hate to a blunt, prurient curiosity. Malcolm checked
the source and saw Lacy’s dance partner stop and embrace her
sister.

Suddenly, Lacy kicked into motion. In
stunned silence, Malcolm watched her strut across the lawn,
smoothly threading her way through clusters of people until she
landed front and center between the man and her sister in a swan
dive of sorts. Her body language was fluid, easy, resembling none
of the tense discomfort he had witnessed only moments ago. Malcolm
rubbed his chin. He had to hand it to her, she made an amazing
transformation. Which peaked his curiosity. Why did she find this
man so interesting? Was it the fact he was talking to her sister?
Determined to find out, he made his way closer.

Lacy had become animated, coy. She was
standing near the man, touching his arm every so often in what
Malcolm recognized as full flirtation mode. Longing stirred. She
was laying it on thick, and where the man should be enthralled with
the attention, he wasn’t. Oddly, he was more interested in her
sister at the moment. Intrigued by the turn of events, Malcolm
shifted his weight, continuing to stare.