Secrets by Brenda Joyce

not getting Miramar!” Rick roared.
    â€œI don’t want Miramar!”
    â€œYou liar. You want it. You always have. And now’s your chance to have Miramar.” Abruptly Rick grabbed Slade’s arm and pulled him into his room. Slade shook him off as Rick shut the door.
    â€œYou miserable old bastard,” Slade hissed. “Now is my chance! Is Miramar all you can think of? Your son is dead. James is dead. Miramar belonged to him. You think I can step into his shoes so easily?”
    â€œI think you have no respect,” Rick raged. “No respect for me, for your grandfather, for Miramar, for tradition. You have no choice . You’re the oldest now. The oldest inherits. It’s always been that way in our family. Always. My father was the second son, but he made something of himself! He fought in the war for Mexico’s independence, and later was rewarded—with Miramar. He worked hard from the day he gained title until the day he died, but not for himself. He worked to leave a legacy for me—for you. You are my heir now, and one day your son will be your heir! That is tradition, and tradition doesn’t change!”
    â€œYou’re living in an age that doesn’t exist! Give up! Move on! Forget the past! For God’s sake, in a few months we’re going to be in the twentieth century!”
    â€œThen do it for James,” Rick shot back. “He knew how much you loved Miramar. We’d discussed it. He would want you to take over now. He would—”
    â€œDon’t you speak about him as if he were still alive!” Slade was enraged. James had always been Rick’s favorite, always, but then he had been the heir. In that instantit occurred to Slade that Rick really loved Miramar best—better than his own son.
    Rick gripped Slade’s arms. “If you don’t marry her, we’re losing Miramar.”
    Slade went still. “What kind of bullshit is this?”
    â€œThe rancho has been mortgaged. I had no choice. Times have been bad and getting worse. The depression of ’93 really hurt us. But I never thought it would come to this.”
    Slade stared.
    â€œI haven’t been able to make a mortgage payment in over two years. But that was fine—until six months ago when some fancy banker from New York took over the Bank of San Francisco. They’ve threatened to call in their loan. They only changed their tune because of James’s impending marriage—and the dowry Elizabeth is bringing to us. They don’t know James is dead. When they find out, all hell will break loose. They’ll foreclose in a flash. They won’t try to operate the rancho. They’ll break it up, sell it, all of it, in tiny little pieces. You’ve got to marry Elizabeth, and soon. If you don’t, they’re going to take Miramar away from us.”
    Slade was shocked speechless.
    â€œIt’s the truth,” Rick said, releasing him. He paced away. He turned to look at his son. “We’re not just broke. We’re bankrupt.”
    Slade stared in disbelief.
    â€œIf you don’t marry her, then Edward will. We need her money and we need it now.”
    Slade heard himself say, “Edward doesn’t care about Miramar. He never has.”
    â€œYou’re right. The only thing he cares about is women and an occasional game of cards. But he’s young. And he’s smart. And he’ll do what he has to do.” Rick left the rest unspoken: not like you .
    â€œWouldn’t Victoria be happy,” Slade said sarcastically. That woman would do anything for her son, even if it meant forcing him into a loveless marriage with his dead brother’s fiancée so he could inherit the rancho. Of course, contrary to what Rick thought, Edward wouldnot agree. Or would he? Edward was loyal, too; it was a Delanza trait.
    â€œWell?”
    Slade felt trapped, backed into a corner. He didn’t want to stay. He