university, and Toby’s married and has a baby. She only works part-time, mostly on their own stock.”
“Well, her life’s a snap,” Isabella drawled.
Sarah laughed. “It’s not easy being a member of the Randalls. I gave it considerable thought before I agreed.”
Nick’s head whipped up. “Hey! It didn’t take you that long!”
“Of course not, dear. I was only teasing.”
Conversation flowed back and forth as they ate, and Russ couldn’t help thinking Isabella fit in well. But he was anxious to hear about the new problem.
He told Isabella and Sarah to remain seated while he and Nick cleared the table and served the rest of Red’s cake.
“Oh, I shouldn’t have any, but I don’t think I can resist,” Sarah said, longing in her voice.
“I think you should have some cake. A balanceddiet includes some treats, you know. It will make your baby happier,” Isabella said with a smile.
“Ooh, I like your way of thinking. I’ll have to remember that when I go in to see Jon in a couple of weeks.”
“Jon is your doctor?”
“Jon is the only doctor,” Nick said, smiling, “but we’d choose him, anyway.”
“Does he treat his own family? I thought doctors weren’t supposed to do that.”
“Doc came out of retirement to deliver Tori’s baby, but Jon was right there, of course. Otherwise, he hasn’t had a conflict. Besides, he’s related to half the town now. That would make things difficult.”
“And Caroline is planning on returning to Rawhide to practice when she finishes,” Russ added.
“When will that be?” Isabella asked.
“I’m not sure,” Russ said. “I think she’s going to specialize in pediatrics, so she may have two years left.”
He and Nick brought the cake to the table and rejoined the women. Silence fell as they all took blissful bites of the cake.
Then Nick said, “Uh, Isabella, I need to talk to you about a phone call I received today. I can wait for privacy, but it needs to be tonight.”
She put down her fork and looked at him. “My father got my letter and called you.”
“Yes, he did.”
Sarah offered to move away from the table if Isabella wanted privacy.
“No. Everyone will know about my father soon enough. What did he say?”
“He said you showed him the letter and asked him to handle everything. He suggested I box up your aunt’s belongings and send them directly to him. Don’t even bother going through them.”
Everyone watched Isabella for her reaction.
“What did Great-aunt Maria have that he wants?”
“Smart lady,” Nick said.
“What did you tell him?” Isabella asked without waiting for an answer.
“I said, I see, and thanks for calling.”
“Nice, but that certainly didn’t satisfy him, did it?”
“No. But I told him we were in the early stages.”
“And?”
“He ordered me to ship everything, again emphasizing no need to go through it.”
“Again I ask you what Aunt Maria had that he wants?”
Russ looked at Isabella. She was quite different from Abby. His wife had been quiet, rather shy, gentle. Isabella was determined, strong.
Nick hadn’t answered. Now he asked a question. “What is Paloni Industries?”
Isabella didn’t answer right away. Finally she said, “It’s the family company. It’s been around for 150 years, and my father has been in charge for the last thirty years. He’s expanded it a lot.”
“Your great-aunt owned controlling interest.”
Isabella froze. “That’s impossible!”
“No. According to what I can determine, your aunt gave your father power of attorney some time ago. She has received huge sums of money from its operations. One year the money stopped coming and she threatened to reclaim her power of attorney. There was a check sent to her almost immediately. She was going to have the company audited.”
“Good for her,” Isabella said, determination in her eyes.
Nick watched her carefully. “So now you own controlling interest in Paloni Industries. And unless you
“Well, her life’s a snap,” Isabella drawled.
Sarah laughed. “It’s not easy being a member of the Randalls. I gave it considerable thought before I agreed.”
Nick’s head whipped up. “Hey! It didn’t take you that long!”
“Of course not, dear. I was only teasing.”
Conversation flowed back and forth as they ate, and Russ couldn’t help thinking Isabella fit in well. But he was anxious to hear about the new problem.
He told Isabella and Sarah to remain seated while he and Nick cleared the table and served the rest of Red’s cake.
“Oh, I shouldn’t have any, but I don’t think I can resist,” Sarah said, longing in her voice.
“I think you should have some cake. A balanceddiet includes some treats, you know. It will make your baby happier,” Isabella said with a smile.
“Ooh, I like your way of thinking. I’ll have to remember that when I go in to see Jon in a couple of weeks.”
“Jon is your doctor?”
“Jon is the only doctor,” Nick said, smiling, “but we’d choose him, anyway.”
“Does he treat his own family? I thought doctors weren’t supposed to do that.”
“Doc came out of retirement to deliver Tori’s baby, but Jon was right there, of course. Otherwise, he hasn’t had a conflict. Besides, he’s related to half the town now. That would make things difficult.”
“And Caroline is planning on returning to Rawhide to practice when she finishes,” Russ added.
“When will that be?” Isabella asked.
“I’m not sure,” Russ said. “I think she’s going to specialize in pediatrics, so she may have two years left.”
He and Nick brought the cake to the table and rejoined the women. Silence fell as they all took blissful bites of the cake.
Then Nick said, “Uh, Isabella, I need to talk to you about a phone call I received today. I can wait for privacy, but it needs to be tonight.”
She put down her fork and looked at him. “My father got my letter and called you.”
“Yes, he did.”
Sarah offered to move away from the table if Isabella wanted privacy.
“No. Everyone will know about my father soon enough. What did he say?”
“He said you showed him the letter and asked him to handle everything. He suggested I box up your aunt’s belongings and send them directly to him. Don’t even bother going through them.”
Everyone watched Isabella for her reaction.
“What did Great-aunt Maria have that he wants?”
“Smart lady,” Nick said.
“What did you tell him?” Isabella asked without waiting for an answer.
“I said, I see, and thanks for calling.”
“Nice, but that certainly didn’t satisfy him, did it?”
“No. But I told him we were in the early stages.”
“And?”
“He ordered me to ship everything, again emphasizing no need to go through it.”
“Again I ask you what Aunt Maria had that he wants?”
Russ looked at Isabella. She was quite different from Abby. His wife had been quiet, rather shy, gentle. Isabella was determined, strong.
Nick hadn’t answered. Now he asked a question. “What is Paloni Industries?”
Isabella didn’t answer right away. Finally she said, “It’s the family company. It’s been around for 150 years, and my father has been in charge for the last thirty years. He’s expanded it a lot.”
“Your great-aunt owned controlling interest.”
Isabella froze. “That’s impossible!”
“No. According to what I can determine, your aunt gave your father power of attorney some time ago. She has received huge sums of money from its operations. One year the money stopped coming and she threatened to reclaim her power of attorney. There was a check sent to her almost immediately. She was going to have the company audited.”
“Good for her,” Isabella said, determination in her eyes.
Nick watched her carefully. “So now you own controlling interest in Paloni Industries. And unless you
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