Accidental Knight: A Marriage Mistake Romance(5)

Nodding, I close my eyes for a moment, and then draw a deep breath before unsealing the flap.

I can’t help but smile, even as tears sting my eyes like hornets at the sight of the tan Post-it note with JONAH REED printed across the top of it.

Gramps adored those little sticky notes. They were tucked inside every card, every gift he ever sent me.

I pull out the three-inch square slip of paper and blink back more tears at the familiar handwriting.



Bella, you followed your head to California.

I know who put those thoughts in your head, so this time, I want you to follow your heart.

Trust me.

Love, Gramps



The subtlety makes me grin. In my twenty-four years of life, I’ve never heard my grandfather say a bad word about my parents outright, even though the opposite was true for them.

He hadn’t this time, either, but his meaning shines through crystal clear. I can almost see his eyes twinkling and one winking at me.

“I trust he had something important to say?” Sheridan asks, maybe a little curious, but ever the professional.

“He did.” I slip the note back in the envelope and tuck that in my purse. “He just...he wanted to make sure I’d get through this. Guess he knew it was coming, sooner or later, if he had this will set up with you.”

Sheridan nods. “Well, then, I’ll ask one more time, any questions?”

I draw in a deep breath, letting it fill my lungs and settle deep inside me. “For now, nothing. We’re good.”

“Great. There are papers at the ranch that you’ll need to sign, too. Please return them at your convenience.” He hands me a business card. “Here are all my numbers. Office. Cell. Home. Call any time, Ms. Reed. Day or night.”

I watch as he stands again, takes his sweet time, and winces. Poor guy.

I won’t be calling him unless I absolutely have to. He needs to be home in bed resting, not dealing with this mess.

“Would you like me to call your parents back in? I could give you folks some privacy, or stay, if you’d like.”

“Not today, but thanks.” I stand. Not ever.

He’s already had enough of Mom’s outbursts for this lifetime.

He walks me to the door, and then through a front office to a small waiting room where my parents are sitting in red leather chairs. Mother snaps shut her compact mirror as we step in the room and stuffs it in her purse. She was more than a little put out over how private the funeral was.

I’m sure she was looking forward to showing the entire town of Dallas, North Dakota, what a wonderful life she’s had since leaving here decades ago.

Dad stands and crosses the room. “All set?”

“Yes,” I say, and then turn, holding out a hand to the lawyer. “Thanks again, Mr. Sheridan.”

“It’s been my pleasure,” he says, shaking my hand.

Dad bids him a curt farewell, and then the three of us walk out the door and into the sunshine.

And wind. Seems like that harsh, sudden wind is always blowing whenever it pleases in North Dakota, a permanent caress reminding everyone who and what created this landscape of hills and flats.

“You can follow us to the hotel,” Dad tells me.

I nod, walking to my car. It’s a souped up Jeep that Gramps bought for my high school graduation. We lived in Oregon then, and he’d insisted I’d need the four-wheel drive if I was going to be driving from California to Oregon all the time, and of course to North Dakota to see him.

It hurts that this is the first time the Jeep made a trip to North Dakota.

Stupid me. I kept thinking there was time.

Wrong. So wrong.

If only I’d known.

The hotel isn’t far, right on the edge of town. My parents are already standing by their rental car when I park.

“We’ll discuss this in our room like civilized people,” Mom says. No sense of irony whatsoever. “No need for busybodies overhearing our private business and running their mouths. This town never changes with its wretched gossip.”

My stomach keeps churning, and her attitude just makes it worse.

“I mean, what do we even have to discuss? I’m here to collect my stuff, check out, and head to the ranch. You’re welcome to join me. That’d be a better place to talk, anyway.”

“Absolutely not!” Mom’s eyes are huge, staring at me in disbelief. “That place was falling down years ago and must be in worse shape now. It can’t possibly be safe to live in, Annabelle.”

Falling down. Right.

Her definition: any place that doesn’t have its own hot cocoa bar and indoor waterfall.

I don’t say that, of course. There’s no use.

I’ve always known how she felt toward Gramps and his perfectly charming ranch, but let it go years ago when he asked me to. He said not to let her problems become mine.

Good advice then, and now.

A bout of hope fills me as I think about the place. Gramps won’t be there, but Edison will, and I can’t wait to see him again.

“Don’t tell me you’re serious?” Mother steps up, looking me over like she wants to check for some exotic fever.

“I’m going. Somebody needs to look after Edison.”

“That old horse was ready for the glue factory years ago,” Dad jokes grimly. I think.