On The Texas Border (20 page)

Abby rested her head on Jonas’s shoulder.

“Why don’t you go home and get some rest,” Jonas suggested. “I’ll call you if anything happens.”

She moved her head. “No, I want to be here.”

“Abby.”

“I’m fine, really.”

Mr. Brewster passed away in the early hours of the morning, with Abby and Jonas by his bedside.

Abby thought she was prepared, but when it happened, a dam broke in her. Agonizing sobs shook her body and she couldn’t control them. Jonas held her, unable to take the tortured cries.

“Abby.” He stroked her hair. “He’s at peace now.”

“But I feel so cheated,” she said. “I never had the chance to know him. I never—”

“That’s probably why he dictated all those tapes. He told you everything about his life…the good and the bad.”

T
HEY BURIED HIM TWO DAYS LATER
. Dignitaries came from all over the state of Texas to pay their last respects. Mr. Brewster was very well-known. Abby stood with Jonas at the graveside and she saw a tear ooze from his eye. He quickly brushed it away, still holding all his emotions inside.

Maria and her staff had prepared a meal for after the funeral. The mansion was packed. Her mother had attended the funeral, and Abby appreciated her presence. The past was fading into an unclear future.

She searched for Jonas in the crowd. She hadn’t seen too much of him in the past two days. He had been busy making funeral arrangements and getting Mr. Brewster’s affairs in order. She saw him across the room, talking to a congressman who represented the Rio Grande Valley. He seemed to be on speaking terms with all the dignitaries here. That didn’t surprise her. Jonas had been at the helm of Brewster Farms for a long time. She wondered how it could be so easy for him to leave.

She wished they had talked about the future in her apartment, but they had been too busy discovering and enjoying each other. She loved being with him and would do anything to be with him. That thought got her. Her job meant the world to her, but if Jonas asked, she’d give it up. Now she knew what her
mother had meant when she’d said that Abby would know when love was real. That she’d feel it in her heart. She’d given Jonas her heart the first moment she’d looked at him. Her divorce and her parent’s problems had her questioning her feelings. But love didn’t come with a guarantee. It only came with faith and trust. And in her heart, she knew she and Jonas would be together forever. They just had to get through the days ahead.

Brenda and Stuart came up to her. “How are you?” Brenda asked tentatively, and Abby could see that she was nervous about speaking to her. The revelation about her biological father had been a shock to the whole town, and no one was sure what to say to her.

Abby smiled. “I’m fine, really, and thanks for the letter. It meant a lot at a very difficult time.”

Brenda and several of her high school friends had written her a letter saying they loved her and she was still Abby to them.

Brenda visibly relaxed. “Gosh, Abby, I’ve been wanting to call you, but…”

“You didn’t know what to say,” Abby finished for her.

“That’s about it. Brit, Candy and I were worried about you.”

“Thanks, Brenda. I’m adjusting.”

“I’m sorry about Mr. Brewster,” Brenda said.

“He’s at peace now.” Abby repeated the words Jonas had said to her, and it was the way she felt. Mr. Brewster had led a long and full life. Abby planned to write his story. It would be her personal gift to him…a gift from his daughter.

Brenda leaned closer and whispered. “I’m so glad
about you and Jonas. I’ve been trying to fix him up for years.”

“You can stop now,” Abby said in a teasing tone.

“She’ll move on to someone else,” Stuart put in.

Brenda poked him in the chest. “Don’t start.”

Stuart shook his head, then said, “I’m happy about you and Jonas, too. I wish he wasn’t set on leaving. I don’t know if I can work for Jules.”

“Everyone feels that way,” Brenda added.

“Now that Mr. Brewster is gone, Jonas doesn’t feel that he can stay here.”

At that moment, Jonas walked over to them. He looked different today. He wore a dark suit, white shirt and a multicolored tie. She liked him in a suit. She liked him in jeans and chambray shirts. In fact, she liked Jonas in anything he wore—or didn’t wear. Her blood started to heat up at that thought.

“Hi,” he said to everyone.

“The service was beautiful,” Brenda said.

“Yeah, you did him proud,” Stuart added.

“I hope so,” Jonas replied. “I wanted everything just like he requested.”

Stuart shoved his hands into his pockets in a nervous gesture. “I was just telling Abby, I don’t know if I can work for Jules.”

“Sure you can,” Jonas insisted. “He’ll be one of those absentee bosses, and you, Perry and Juan will basically run things.”

“I don’t know, Jonas. I have a feeling Jules will jeopardize all our jobs.”

“I have to go. Please understand that,” Jonas said in a firm voice. He knew his friends didn’t understand his reasoning, but it was personal and he
couldn’t explain it any further than that. As long as Abby understood, that was all that mattered.

Stuart and Brenda walked away, and Jonas stepped in front of Abby. “You do understand why I have to leave, don’t you?”

She fingered a button on his jacket. “I know it’s been your goal since you were fifteen and that it’s important to you, but…”

A man walked up and offered his condolences, interrupting her. After he left, Jonas turned back to her. “There are so many people here, and we need to talk.”

“Yeah,” she replied, glancing around at the crowd.

Edna whizzed past them giving instructions to a waiter. She was making sure everyone had enough food and drink. She was acting as Lady of the mansion and was obviously in her element.

Jonas stepped so close to her that Abby could smell his aftershave. “Let’s go somewhere more private.”

It’s what she’d been waiting for. “I’d like that.”

He took her hand and headed for the foyer. Mr. Foster, Mr. Brewster’s attorney, stopped them.

“I’d like to get the will read as soon as everyone leaves,” he said to Jonas.

“This evening?”

“Yes, Mr. Brewster wanted it read right after the funeral.”

“I see.” Jonas glanced at Abby, then back at Mr. Foster. “I guess it’s just as well to do it now. I’m ready to get out of here.”

Abby watched his face. He’d earned his freedom
and he would take it. Again she hoped it was the right thing for him…and her.

“I’ll meet you in the dining room in ten minutes,” Mr. Foster said. “I’ll tell the others.”

“There’s no need for me to be there, so I’ll—”

Mr. Foster turned back. “Ms. Duncan, Mr. Brewster requested that you be there.”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t want anything from him.”

Jonas heard the anxiety in her voice and nodded to Mr. Foster. “Don’t worry, Abby,” he said, as Mr. Foster walked away. “Brewster knew how you felt. We discussed it a few days ago. The bulk of his estate will go to his family. He said they weren’t anything to brag about, but they were his family. He made me the executor, and I promised to carry out his wishes, which—” he sighed “—will probably be to make sure they don’t squander every dime.”

The tension inside her eased. She didn’t want anything of monetary value. He’d given her what she wanted: the article in the paper. That was all she needed—to know he cared enough to have done that.

A thought struck her. If Jonas was the executor, that meant he couldn’t leave right away. He’d have to take care of Mr. Brewster’s affairs. She wondered if he’d thought of that. Oh, damn, she wanted to talk to him…

As the last person left the mansion, Abby, Jonas, Edna, Jules and Darby made their way to the dining room. Mr. Foster was already there, with his briefcase and papers strewn on the table. He motioned for Jonas to sit next to him. Abby sat beside Jonas, while the other three took seats across the table.

“I’ll make this short and simple,” Mr. Foster be
gan, adjusting his glasses. “Mr. Brewster wanted this done after the funeral so everyone could get on with their lives.”

“That’s a very good idea,” Edna said, shifting in her chair.

“Mr. Brewster thought so.” Mr. Foster picked up a legal document. “It’s really very simple. He left monetary amounts to several members of his staff who have been with him for years. He left monetary amounts to the hospital and clinic so they can continue to operate without difficulty.” He pushed papers to the center of the table. “Here are the amounts, if anyone would like to read them.”

Edna immediately snatched up the papers.

Mr. Foster started to read. “‘To the following people, I bequeath one million dollars each—Edna Kline, Jules Kline and Darby Combs.’”

“What!” Edna shoved the other papers away in anger. “Who gets the—?” Her eyes settled on Abby. “Oh God, that stupid bastard.”

“Mrs. Kline, please,” Mr. Foster appealed.

Edna waved a hand. “Go ahead. I’d love to hear the rest of this nonsense.”

Abby’s stomach felt like one big knot, and she couldn’t shake a sense of foreboding.

Jonas was confused. From his talks with Brewster, he had assumed that the bulk would go to Edna, Jules and Darby. Evidently he’d been wrong. He’d told Abby she didn’t have to worry, but it seemed that Brewster had changed his mind. Jonas didn’t know how she was going to react to this.

Mr. Foster focused on the document in front of him. “‘To my daughter, Abigail Duncan…’”

Oh, please, no, don’t do this to me.
She clenched
her hands so tight that she felt her nails dig into her palms. She wanted to get up and run from the room, but she couldn’t move. She could only listen to Mr. Foster’s words.

“‘I would like to say I’m sorry. I know you don’t want anything from me, but I could not leave this earth without acknowledging you in some way. You have so much talent, and the only way I could think of to encourage that talent was to give you a voice to explore and expand your capabilities. So I bequeath to you the
Hope Herald
and its monies to use as you see fit. Use it wisely, Abigail.’”

Her insides trembled. It wasn’t what she’d expected at all. Mr. Brewster had given her the one thing she couldn’t refuse. How could he know her so well?

He is my father. We have the same genes and the same stubborn pride,
her heart answered.

“Now for the bulk of the estate,” Mr. Foster said, withdrawing a long legal document.

Everyone waited. Mr. Foster cleared his throat. “Mr. Brewster has written a letter that he’s instructed me to read. Please remain silent until I finish.” He glanced at Jonas. “The letter is to you.”

Jonas swallowed. “I’d much rather read it in private.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Brewster wanted it read aloud.”

Jonas nodded, knowing Brewster had planned everything to the end, in control as always. Somehow Jonas knew that the words he would hear now would touch his very soul. He braced himself.

Mr. Foster began to read. “‘Jonas, you and I started out on shaky ground, but over the years that ground has become solid and secure. We have
worked together, argued together and built Brewster Farms into what it is today. You learned everything I taught you with an eagerness and intellect that always surprised me. All the laborers respect you and the locals admire you. You became the man I wanted my son to be.

“‘I know you have toiled each day with one goal in mind—freedom. At fifteen you used to mark each day with a big X on the calendar. You did that for a whole year, then you went back to school and began to learn and grow, and the calendar was put aside. It’s in my safe if you’d like to have it.

“‘Even though you didn’t mark the days any longer, you were still marking time in your head. Each day meant you were closer to freedom, closer to leaving Hope and me behind. That never changed, and I hate to take that away from you, but I want to do what’s best for you and for Hope.

“‘At this point I know you’re getting angry, but please try to hear what I’m saying. Over the past twenty years you and I have argued on numerous occasions. A couple of times you left, but you always returned. This last time you left because I had hurt Abigail, and I didn’t think you were coming back. But you did. There’s a reason for that. You return because Brewster Farms is your home. It has been for a long time.

“‘Love is an emotion that’s not easy for me. We are much alike in that, but I’ve loved you as much as anyone in my life. So forgive me for what I’m about to do, but I feel it is only right. This is my last bequest. The rest of my estate, my monies and holdings in land, especially Brewster Farms, I bequeath
in its entirety to the man who deserves it, Jonas Parker.’”

Abby glanced at Jonas. His sun-browned skin was white, and he gazed straight ahead with a dazed expression. She wanted to reach out and touch him, to reassure him, but he was in a place she couldn’t reach. She recognized that he had to handle the contents of the letter in his own way.

Jonas stared across the room, seeing nothing, but hearing those words over and over inside his head. He wasn’t breathing or moving. He was only hearing a jumble of phrases that had him caught in a vortex of emotion.

You became the man I wanted my son to be…. The calendar is in my safe if you’d like to have it…. Brewster Farms is your home. It has been for a long time…. I want to do what’s best for you and for Hope…. I’ve loved you as much as anyone in my life.

The words held him, and he could feel his heart beating with the same intensity as that scared, lonely fifteen-year-old’s. His hand tightened with the same excitement as when he’d marked off each day on the calendar. His eyes burned with the same emotion as when he’d received his diplomas and Brewster had sat in the front row. All those feelings jolted through him, and freedom became something he could see clearly. He
was
free. He’d been free for a long time. His stubborn pride was the only part of him that wouldn’t admit it. God, he’d been free all along. Why hadn’t he seen that before?

Everyone’s eyes were on him. He got up and slowly walked out of the room.

“Jonas,” Mr. Foster said, but he didn’t respond.

“What’s the matter with him?” Edna asked sharply. “You’d think he’d been given a death sentence.”

Abby quickly followed him. “Jonas,” she called, but he kept walking. She was still in a state of shock herself, but she knew Mr. Brewster was right. This was Jonas’s home. That’s why she’d had so many doubts about his leaving. She’d said she didn’t want a thing from Mr. Brewster. Now she did. She wanted Jonas’s happiness. And happiness was here at Brewster Farms—with her. In a flash she knew that. She was Abe Duncan’s daughter and she belonged in Brewster’s valley…as did Jonas.

Jonas stood at the bottom of the steps and glanced beyond the mansion, to the gates and fields of vegetables and fruits, to the workers settling back to their jobs after the funeral.