Restless Heart (23 page)

After he stacked the letters and tied them with the pink ribbon again, he started on the rest of the papers. By then Angeline had cleaned the pantry closet, which had nothing in it but dust and a can of old peaches, and scrubbed every inch of the kitchen until it sparkled.

He sat back and pinched his nose between his fingers. When he sighed, she hung up the rags on the side of the sink and sat down across from him. Angeline had learned how to be patient, although she wanted to shake him so he’d start talking.

“Everything he told us appears to be true. I still have trouble believing all of it, but those letters are in my mother’s writing.” He met her gaze. “I have a friend who works in the government in Colorado. I’m going to send him a wire to make sure this is all on the up and up.”

“That’s a good idea. No matter what papers Bennington has in hand, it doesn’t mean he’s not a shyster.” Angeline agreed with Sam’s methodical review of everything, but she still wanted to find out more. That curiosity of hers wouldn’t let her rest. “How long will it take your friend to find out the information?”

“Not long. A few days probably.” Sam gestured to the letters. “If you want to read them, go ahead. They are daily diaries of what I did growing up—when I lost my front teeth or broke my arm, even when I climbed a tree and got stuck.”

“She was allowing your grandmother to watch you grow up even if she wasn’t able to see you.” Angeline knew Sam’s mother had been a good woman, and this was a prime example of why. She had no connection to Mary Carver, no compelling reason to do what she’d done. Sparrow was a busy mother with a boy to raise and a house to take care of. Yet she’d spent her time painting pictures of young Sam’s life for his grandmother to read.

“Yep, I guess that’s what she was doing.” Sam’s gaze connected with hers, their depths still full of dark emotion. “It
would have been better to let me actually see my grandmother.”

“I don’t think your father or your grandfather would have allowed it. This was the best she could do under the circumstances.” Angeline wanted to reach inside and absorb all his pain. He’d gone through so much with his father’s death. This news, all of the history behind it, was like kicking him when he was down.

“What do you think I should do?” His question surprised her, but she’d been thinking about the answer since Mr. Ben-nington had left the house.

“I think we should find out what is true and what isn’t. If you want to get to know your family, we should visit Denver, but not live there.” She took his hand and kissed it this time. “Family is more important than any money. You only have one life to live, and living it with regrets will make it that much less.”

Angeline tried not to think about Eliza, but all the talk of family brought memories of her older sister to the surface. If only she knew where her sister was, she would find a way to see her.

“I can’t even begin to imagine how much fifteen million dollars is.”

Angeline shook her head. “Neither can I, but I guess it means I don’t have to darn your socks for winter.”

Sam chuckled. “Seems like that’s true. Would you want it? The money, I mean?”

Angeline wasn’t going to lie to him. “All my life I’ve lived without much except the bare necessities, and sometimes even those were a bit thin. I can’t say that the idea of having everything I’ve ever wanted doesn’t sound delightful, but it sounds scary too.”

He nodded. “Yep, that’s how I feel too. Let me go send that wire and then we’ll find out if we’re dreaming or not.”

Angeline kissed him hard. “I love you, Sam Carver.”

He smiled. “I love you too, Angel. Here, this is for you.” Sam opened her hand and put a shiny black stone in her palm. “I found it down by the lake when I was kicking dirt around.”

Angeline treasured each one of the gifts he gave her because they were from the heart, and no store-bought trinket could ever mean as much. Her hand closed around the pebble and she had an idea of what they could do if Sam truly did have enough money for anything.

Over the next two days, Sam went back to work on the chairs, making six of them to match the table so they could have folks over for dinner. Then, because he didn’t have work and the waiting to hear from his friend Philip was killing him slowly, he started on a rocking chair for Angeline.

After his mother died, one of the things his father had burned was her rocking chair. For some reason, he needed to destroy something and it was an easy target. Their house had not had a need for a rocking chair in the last ten years. Sam didn’t tell his wife, but he was hoping within a year, they’d need one.

Having a child with Angeline would be the greatest gift he could ever receive. Knowing a life grew within her would be more than wonderful. He could make a crib or a cradle later on, but a rocking chair, well, that was something he could make now. She could always sit in front of the fire in it, reading. Angeline had already started going through his meager collection of books.

“Sam?”

He looked up to see Angeline at the back door waving a yellow piece of paper. A telegram.

Sam dropped the sanding tool and ran for the house as fast as his bum leg could carry him. She looked as nervous as he felt, her blue eyes shining in the afternoon sun.

“I didn’t open it.”

“You could’ve. I don’t have any secrets from you.” He took the paper with sawdust-covered, shaking hands and opened it.

At first, Sam could hardly believe what he was reading. Bennington had been telling the truth about all of it. “Looks like I have a family and a wagonful of money in Denver.”

“A family?” She smiled and clapped her hands together. “Sam, that’s wonderful!”

“Yep, three aunts and their families are in Denver.” He kissed her hard. He had thought he’d lost every bit of his family when his father died. Although he had his Angel, Jes-sup, and Lettie, there had been no blood relations to speak of. He’d been an orphan and now, he had a large family just waiting for him. “Do you want to take a trip?”

She nodded. “Yes, let’s plan on going to Denver. First you need to speak to Mr. Bennington though. He’s been waiting for four days now.”

“Don’t like lawyers,” Sam grumbled. “They make me itch.”

“Now, he hasn’t bothered you since you asked him to wait. In fact, he’s been at the Blue Plate for every meal. Alice tells me he sits at the same table each time.”

“Is he sweet on Alice?” Sam pulled her against him. “I’ll warn him off.”

Angeline chuckled. “No need. He seems to be sweet on Lettie.”

Sam gaped at her. “Lettie? Well, she’s as nice as a porcupine. What in the world would he see in her?”

“Everything. She’s smart, sweet, funny when she wants to be, and fiercely loyal. Not to mention the fact that beneath the scowls, Lettie is quite pretty. And she runs a newspaper as her second job.” Angeline nibbled on his earlobe. “I think perhaps before we head over to speak to Mr. Bennington, we need to celebrate your good fortune.”

Sam growled as his cock rose to attention, pressing against her skirt. “I’m up for celebrating.”

She waggled her eyebrows. “You’re very funny, Mr. Carver.”

Sam tossed her over his shoulder and headed into the house, eager to be naked with his wife.

“I’m pleased to hear you’re going to Denver. I know your aunts were apprised of my journey here and Miss Jane in particular wanted to be sure to extend an invitation to you.” Ty Bennington sat at their kitchen table, the first guest they’d had for supper.

Jessup eyeballed him with his usual table manners. The old man had told Sam to refuse the money. After all, he lived every day without a cent and he was just fine.

“I’m more interested in my children, or our future children.” He squeezed Angeline’s hand. “I want to be sure they’re taken care of. For us, well, we’re going to live here, but we’ll visit Denver whenever we can.”

“Perfect. I’m sure we can decide on someone to run Carver Industries in your stead. There are some good candidates we can speak to while you’re in Denver if you prefer.” Benning-ton sipped at his coffee with impeccable grace. The man really was a gentleman.

“I don’t know about interviewing folks for a job. I wouldn’t know the first thing about what to ask them.” Sam looked nervous about the possibility.

“We can provide you with questions, or even sit in on the interviews, but the most important thing for you to determine is whether you like the candidate. The man will be responsible for your entire family fortune. You must trust your instincts here.”

“I like that plan,” Sam said. “Who’s heading it up now?”

“Your Aunt Jane’s husband, Dominic Archer, is the acting president. He worked for your grandfather and then your grandmother. He’s got quite a bit of experience.” It was what the lawyer didn’t say that niggled at Angeline.

“You don’t think he’s the right person for the job.”

Ty’s gaze swung to her, his brown eyes full of surprise. “What makes you say that, Mrs. Carver?”

“We might be the poor relations, but I can tell when someone is telling a half-truth, or not giving all the information they have.” She raised her brows, waiting for him to contradict her.

He grinned sheepishly. “Your wife is very intelligent, Mr. Carver.”

“She is that, and more.” Sam winked at her. “I want to meet this Dominic Archer, then decide if he’s the right man for the job.”

“Mr. Archer is a good man, a smart man, but he’s a lot older than you. I’m afraid he might not be around long.” Mr. Bennington shrugged. “I’m only thinking of the company and its leadership. However, your plan is a sound one. We can definitely decide while you’re in Denver.”

Angeline was proud of Sam and glad to know that Mr. Bennington would be traveling with them in two days’ time back to Denver. She was hoping to have someone to assist them since her own travel experience was limited to horses,
carriages, and wagons. She’d never been on a train or in a fancy coach. The very idea was intimidating.

After everything was cleaned up and the lawyer left, Ange-line tugged on Sam’s hand and pulled him outside to take a walk. The sun had already set, and the twilight was bright enough so they could see where they were going. She held his hand as they strolled toward the lake.

Sam was quiet, but he was thinking about a million different things, as Angeline likely was too. Their lives had already changed so much in the last year, now things were about to change even more.

As they arrived at the lakeshore, Sam breathed in deeply. The lake had a calming effect on him, one he was certain came from his mother and her people.

Angeline turned to Sam and opened his hand, placing the black rock in his palm this time. “I want to build a house here for us, our family, our children. I want to wake up to the sun on one side of the lake, then see its mirror image on the other side at the end of the day. I want you to teach our children to swim in it. I want to make love in it and be here for the rest of our lives.”

Sam stared at her, realizing she was absolutely right. Coming to the lake had suddenly made it all clear in his mind. He knew it was the right thing to do. It was already their home. Now all they needed was a house.

Sam’s smile was as wide as a country mile. He whooped and held her up in the air, spinning her around until she protested. “My angel, you are a genius! We’ll design a perfect house, then we’ll build it when we get back from Denver.” He kissed her, then spun her around again, laughing.

The air had turned summery, and the warmth of the lake beckoned. She sucked in a breath when he set her down and she looked at the water, then back at Sam.

“Can I have my first swimming lesson now?”

He grinned. “Oh, I think we can arrange that.”

They shucked their clothes quickly, eager to find out just how warm the water was. Sam hadn’t been swimming in years, but he’d never forgotten how. He led her out past the “squishy mud” between her toes and into the deeper water.

“Now you can float. Don’t fight the water, be at peace with it. It can’t drown you if you don’t let it.” He held her arms. “Now kick your legs slowly.”

She struggled a bit, but soon had the rhythm of treading water. He smiled at her and pulled her against him, water splashing up between them and into his nose.

Angeline laughed and swatted his shoulder. “Sam!”

“I can’t help myself. I love you so much, I need to be near you always. My body just takes over.”

And take over it did. His cock rose to attention, pressing against her wet thigh in the water. She raised her eyebrows at him.

“See?”

“You don’t need an invitation Sam. Make love to me.” Her simple statement summed up their relationship.

They loved, and were loved. No apologies, no need to stand on ceremony. Sam would never hurt her and she would never hurt him.

“Wrap your legs around me.”

Her long legs wrapped around his waist, nestling her opening nicely against his waiting cock. He jerked against the wiry curls caressing him. She smiled and leaned forward to kiss him.

Since Sam could still stand with his head above water, he braced himself on the bottom and slid her down until he was fully sheathed inside her.

The lake, the woman, the perfection of the moment was not lost on him. This was where they were meant to be,
where they would make babies and raise a family. He thrust slowly in and out, feeling each movement in the water around him. It was the most sensual experience of his life.

Her hard nipples rubbed up and down his chest as they moved. Their tips teased him, making him hotter and hungrier for her. He took her hips and started pushing her down as he thrust up.

Water splashed between them, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was mating with her, being part of Angeline in this special place. His balls tightened as he drew closer to his release.