Colters' Daughter (Colters' Legacy #3)(57)

“I wish I knew what to say,” her dad said. “I hate to see you hurting so much, baby girl.”

She turned to look at him. “Tell me what happened. I need to know. With the meadow, I mean.”

He looked discomfited, as if he had no desire to cause her more distress. When she continued to stare at him, he sighed.

“It’s true we tried to buy the land for years. The owner’s name was Jacob Hancock. It’s also true it had been Hancock land for much longer than we’ve been here. We slowly bought up the land around us to expand our holdings, but he always refused to sell. Said it had been part of his family for generations and he was holding onto it for his son and daughter.”

Callie swallowed but she held her jaw firm, determined that she’d not show one iota of emotion.

“Your mother loved the meadow. We persisted. Once a year we’d approach Hancock about selling. He never would. We finally gave up about a year before your mother found out she was pregnant with you. We figured we’d never lay our hands on it.

“Then a few months before we found out about you, Hancock’s wife came to see Adam. Said her husband had passed away, she had two young children to raise and that she needed the money. She was visibly upset and worried. I got the impression that his passing had been a shock both emotionally…and financially. She hinted that he’d hidden some of his financial difficulty from her and that she thought they were better off than they were in reality. When he died, she discovered that she basically had nothing.

“We talked about it. We wanted the land, and we could afford more than fair price. We paid her twice what it was worth because she had those kids to raise and we wanted her to be provided for. You know the rest.”

Callie nodded. Yes, she did. They’d surprised her mom with the land when she was pregnant with Callie and then Callie had been born there.

All this time Max had hated and resented her family for taking what he considered his. He believed her dads had leaned on his mom after his stepfather had died.

It appalled her.

Her dads were the most honorable men she knew.

How could someone be so cold and calculating as to track her down in Europe and execute a planned seduction? It was more than simple seduction. He’d lied to her. He’d demanded her submission. Was it all an elaborate charade? Was he even someone who craved dominance and submission or had he simply seen it as a way to get what he wanted?

The worst lie of all. He’d told her he loved her and talked about their children, for God’s sake.

She swallowed the rage and grief and curled her fingers into tight fists.

“I’m so sorry, baby girl. So sorry that you had to be involved in his fight against us. It kills me that someone used you because of a misunderstanding with me and your dads.”

She shook her head adamantly. “It’s not your fault, Dad. It’s mine. I let him use me. I let him manipulate me. That’s on me. Never you.”

Ethan looked like he’d argue further, but she simply turned her head and stared out the window as they drew closer to town.

When they pulled up at the sheriff’s department, she breathed a sigh of relief when she didn’t see Seth’s truck out front. He was out on a call.

She turned to her dad and then leaned across the seat to hug him. “Thank you. I’ll just wait here for Seth to come back, and then I’ll get my truck and go out to Lily’s for a while.”

“I can stay with you.”

“No. You go. I’m okay.”

He reluctantly nodded.

She started to get out but then she stopped and turned back. “I love you, Dad. And thanks. For everything.”

He smiled. “Love you too, baby girl. I’ll see you later.”

She nodded and then closed the door. She waited until her dad drove back down the street before she started toward the bank. It took a little longer than she would have liked. Apparently cleaning out a savings account and converting to traveler’s checks wasn’t an everyday occurrence. Or at least not in Clyde.

Half an hour later, she walked out and tensed when she saw Seth’s truck parked on the street in front of the sheriff’s department. By now she was certain he’d know she was coming. Her mom and dads had likely been on the phone to let him know.

And she still had to see the realtor.

Hoping Seth would be patient and not come looking for her, she ducked into Clyde’s only real estate office.

An hour later and after much arguing with Janice, Callie walked out of the office with an envelope tucked under her arm. She headed down the sidewalk to the sheriff’s office and stepped inside where she was greeted by the receptionist who waved her on to Seth’s office.

She hesitated outside the door but then knocked softly.

“It’s open,” Seth called.

She pushed in and Seth shot to his feet when he saw her standing in the doorway.

“Hi,” she said quietly.

He hurried around and without a word, enfolded her in a bone-crushing hug. “I’ve been so worried.”

She smiled as she pulled away. “I just came by because I wanted you to know I’m not angry with you.”

He stood back, his gaze taking in her bedraggled appearance. “You look like shit.”

Trust her big brother to be blunt.

“I feel like shit,” she said honestly. “But I’ll get over it.”