Denim & Diamonds (26 page)

which your father executed before his death. It gives all the personal property, equipment and livestock to you. It was his wish that I hold that until you had lived on the ranch for a year.”

“Thank you,” she whispered as she held the envelope to her chest.

“And here is your check for one million dollars, as promised,” Mr. Cooper handed her the check, bowing slightly as he did so, “It is my pleasure to present this to you. Congratulations on a job well done.”

Tears streamed down Beth’s cheeks and her legs felt like they were about to give out. A shout erupted from the hallway, the door flung open and people spilled into the library – Beth felt herself being hugged and slapped on the back – tears streamed down Charlotte’s cheeks, Katie danced around the room, while Aidan and Joe and Cole whooped and hollered and gave high fives all around. Shep jumped around, barking at everyone.

Beth called for everyone’s attention. It took nearly a minute for the small group to quiet down enough for her to speak. And when she did, her voice cracked with emotion, “I just want to say thank you. You are the most wonderful group of friends anyone could ever hope for. You pulled together, and helped me when you didn’t have to. Over the past year, you have become my closest friends. More than that, you became my family when I didn’t have any.”

Beth held her check high and continued, “And the bonuses this year are going to be
awesome
!”

The little group erupted in laughter and loud cheers. It was pure chaos, until the attorney rapped his knuckles loudly against the desk.

“There is one more piece of business to take care of, and then I will leave you all to celebrate,” he said as he leaned over the desk and wrote out two more checks. Beth looked at Beau, but he shrugged and arched his eyebrows.

“Beau Frakes and Charlotte Blake, it is with great pleasure that I carry out my last duty as Mr. Jameson’s personal representative and trustee,” Mr. Cooper said, finally smiling, “It was Mr. Jameson’s wish to

leave you two, his dear and loyal friends, a cash bequest of one hundred thousand dollars each.”

Charlotte
fell back into a wingback chair, a hand clutching her chest. Beau’s jaw went slack, and he looked as though he could be pushed over with a feather. He accepted the offered check and stared at it. Then he spoke, his voice barely a whisper, “But why? I had no idea. Why now?”

“It was Mr. Jameson’s wish that you be rewarded if you showed your loyalty to the ranch by remaining here to help his daughter succeed. He wanted you to help her on your own, and he didn’t want there to ever be any doubt in anyone’s mind, especially his daughter’s, that you might have been motivated by greed.”

Beau lifted his eyes and looked at each person in the room, one by one, until his gaze settled on Beth and happiness washed over his features. Without taking his eyes off her, he said, “Thank you, Mr. Cooper. You have no idea what this means to me.”

“Good luck to you all. It has been a pleasure
." Mr. Cooper said, snapping his briefcase closed.

Beau took Beth’s hands in his. She looked up at him, her emerald green eyes glistening with unshed tears. A hush fell over the room and all eyes focused on the cowboy and the heiress. Her head was spinning, and she barely heard Beau speak to her.

“Beth Jameson, I’m not one for fancy words, but I have loved you since the moment I pulled you from your wrecked car. I loved you when you passed out in my arms. I loved you when you helped me with the horses in the middle of a blizzard. I love you more than words can say.”

Her lips parted in anticipation as he leaned down and kissed her, then he whispered, “I love you.”

A single tear fell down Beth’s cheek and she nodded, “Yes, oh, yes! I love you, too!”

Joe let out a whoop, and the room quickly turned to a loud celebration, with hugs all around. Even Mr. Cooper got in on the celebration, and gave Beth a hug and a peck on the cheek. Someone cleared his throat and Beth turned to see Quinn standing in the

doorway. She felt his presence like a dark cloud, until Katie moved next to him and slipped her hand into his. She looked at Beth and raised her eyebrows. Beth nodded and smiled. She hadn't seen that coming, but they'd be good together.

Charlotte
slipped from the room and returned moments later with a bottle of champagne and several crystal glasses. The attorney did the honors. He pulled the cork with a loud pop, and filled the flutes.

“The old man always said this should be kept for a special occasion. I think this fits the bill,”
Charlotte said, giving Beau a peck on the cheek and then hugging Beth. Everyone raised their glasses in a toast. Shep woofed his approval, his feathery tail wagging.

Beau kept hold of Beth’s hand the whole time, his dark eyes sparkling. She looked up at him and could scarcely believe this was real. It was like a dream come true, and she didn’t ever want to let go of him.

He leaned down and whispered to her, his breath tickling her ear, “Wait . . . You don’t have a boyfriend, do you?”

She looked up into his shining eyes and laughed, “Not yet . . .”

D
enim & Diamonds is Lori Robinett’s first novel, and combines her love of writing with her real world experience as a paralegal. She lives on a small hobby farm in Callaway County, Missouri with her husband of twenty years, along with a menagerie of miniature horses, dogs and cats.

Though she dreamed of being a writer since she was ten, it wasn’t until she discovered National Novel Writing Month in 2004 that she learned the joys of writing those two magical words: The End. She is an eight time winner of NaNoWriMo and has served as Municipal Liaison for the
Fulton, Missouri region. She has been interviewed for newspaper articles and television news features for her accomplishments with NaNo, including leading her region to multiple Top 10 finishes.

Lori is a member of Book-In-A-Week, the Callaway County Writers Group and the Columbia Chapter of the Missouri Writers Guild. Her professional life also includes writing. She is the former editor of The Gavel, the quarterly newsletter of the Mid-Missouri Paralegal Association and has served on the editorial board of The Reporter, the journal of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations. Lori has had articles published in Secrets and Strategies, Writing for Dollars!, WordBeats, and the Heritage Writer. She’s also
had short stories appear in The Storyteller Magazine, Bridges (Callaway County Writers Group anthology), and Well Versed 2014.

Visit Lori’s website:
www.LoriLRobinett.com