Chapter 8 - The Red CoatRebecca denied it.
Not aggressively.
Too quickly.
“I haven’t been inside Stall Nine in years.”
Ethan looked confused.
Daniel crouched beside him.
“When did you see her?”
“The rainy day.”
Daniel remembered a storm three weeks earlier.
“What happened?”
“Claire told me to stay upstairs.”
“Then how did you see Rebecca?”
“I came down because I wanted juice.”
Ethan pointed at the picture.
“They went outside.”
“Did you follow them?”
He nodded.
Rebecca’s eyes closed briefly.
Daniel asked, “What were they doing?”
“Looking at the wall.”
“Which wall?”
“Stall Nine.”
Rebecca turned toward the window.
Daniel stood.
“You told me you met Claire because she found documents.”
“She called me.”
“You came here.”
“Yes.”
“You said nothing.”
“I didn’t think it mattered.”
“What were you looking for?”
Rebecca’s voice sharpened.
“The agreement.”
Owen laughed.
“So you lied again.”
Rebecca glared at him.
Daniel said, “Why did Claire know about it?”
Rebecca did not answer.
“Rebecca.”
“She found one of Dad’s letters.”
“What letter?”
“A reference to the agreement.”
“Where?”
“In an old desk.”
“Then why storage?”
“She claimed she had moved several boxes there.”
Daniel stared.
“And you believed her?”
“I believed she was nosy.”
“You trusted her enough to search with her.”
“I didn’t trust her.”
Ethan tugged Daniel’s sleeve.
“There was another person.”
Everyone looked at him.
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Man or woman?”
“A man.”
Owen stiffened.
“What did he look like?”
“Big.”
Rebecca’s face changed.
Daniel caught it.
“You know.”
“No.”
“You do.”
Rebecca grabbed her keys.
“I’m done being interrogated.”
Daniel blocked the doorway.
“Was it Grant?”
Owen went perfectly still.
Rebecca whispered, “No.”
Owen stepped forward.
“Is my father back?”
Rebecca looked at him.
“I haven’t spoken to Grant in fifteen years.”
“That’s not what Daniel asked.”
Daniel stared at his sister.
“Was Grant here?”
Rebecca whispered, “I don’t know.”
Ethan suddenly said, “He called her Becca.”
Rebecca closed her eyes.
Owen’s face drained of color.
Grant was one of the only people who had called Rebecca that since childhood.
Daniel felt the pieces moving.
“Where is he?”
Rebecca’s voice shook.
“I don’t know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“He contacted me in January.”
Owen turned away.
Rebecca continued.
“He said he wanted to discuss the trust.”
“Why?”
“He claimed Grandma’s agreement was invalid.”
“Is it?”
“I don’t believe so.”
“What does he want?”
“Money.”
“How much?”
“Two million.”
Daniel stared.
“For what?”
“To surrender whatever claims he thinks he has.”
Owen laughed without humor.
“He doesn’t have a claim.”
Rebecca looked at him.
“He says he does.”
“Why?”
“Because the original agreement disappeared.”
Daniel thought of Claire searching Stall Nine.
“If the original is gone, what happens?”
Rebecca answered reluctantly.
“There are copies.”
“That didn’t answer me.”
“Grant argues the copy was altered.”
“Altered how?”
“The beneficiary schedule.”
Daniel frowned.
“What beneficiary schedule?”
Rebecca looked toward Ethan.
Owen caught the glance.
“Oh, no.”
Daniel turned.
“What?”
Owen spoke before Rebecca could.
“The trust doesn’t benefit all descendants equally.”
Rebecca snapped, “You don’t know that.”
“My mother told me Grandma changed it.”
Daniel looked between them.
“Changed it to what?”
Owen replied, “After what happened to me, Evelyn decided adults in this family couldn’t be trusted with Cedar Ridge.”
Rebecca said, “That’s not exactly—”
“Then explain it.”
Rebecca slowly sat.
“The land remains in trust until certain conditions are met.”
“What conditions?”
“The primary beneficiary has to reach thirty years old.”
“Who is the primary beneficiary?”
Rebecca’s silence became unbearable.
Daniel asked again.
“Who?”
Rebecca looked at Ethan.
Daniel felt something cold move through him.
“No.”
“It isn’t ownership the way you’re thinking.”
“Rebecca.”
“Grandma made the youngest generation the protected beneficiaries.”
“Meaning?”
“At the moment, Ethan holds the largest beneficial interest.”
Daniel stared.
“He’s seven.”
“The trustee controls the property for him.”
“You.”
“Yes.”
Owen folded his arms.
“And if Daniel is removed as operating manager?”
Rebecca’s head snapped toward him.
“What?”
“That’s what Northstar needs, isn’t it?”
Daniel understood.
“If I lose control of the dairy company, you could approve a lease or sale.”
“No.”
“Could you?”
Rebecca hesitated.
“Under certain circumstances.”
Daniel stepped back.
His son was drawing at the kitchen table.
Completely unaware that adults had been arranging his future around money, land, fear and secrets.
Daniel whispered, “Claire knew.”
Rebecca shook her head.
“I never told her Ethan was beneficiary.”
Owen looked toward the hallway.
“Then someone else did.”
Outside, an engine started.
Daniel ran to the window.
A black pickup had been parked beyond the hedgerow.
It accelerated onto the county road.
Owen reached the window beside him.
His face hardened.
“I know that truck.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Whose?”
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Owen stared at the disappearing taillights.
“My father’s.”
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