Over the Barrel (24 page)

"That
certainly has not changed," Blair stated.

"I am
sure it has not.
 
When Jane, your
mother, was born, Imelda refused to come to her christening.
 
Her actions embarrassed my parents to
the extent that Father wired her and said she was out of his will until she
showed an effort to change her selfish ways.
 
He permitted her to live in the house
until she found a husband."

"Aunt
Imelda never married!
 
Did she do
that to ensure she maintained her resources?"

"Yes, I
believe so.
 
Father saw through her
schemes and rewrote his will.
 
Upon
his death, his grandchild, if still living, would inherit the estate and
whatever funds remained in trust.
 
He stated that if she were under the age of majority, her assigned
guardian would receive a stipend to maintain the house until such a time that
the grandchild could inherit it.
 
In
her passing, all proceeds would automatically be forwarded to the grandchild's
first born.
 
That was you."

"Was
Mother aware of these holdings?"

"Yes,
she was.
 
Imelda was permitted to
stay at the house under a maintenance stipend because Jane had fallen in love
and wished to follow her husband to Africa as a missionary.
 
They returned to the States when she was
found to be with child and lived in the house until your birth.
 
Imelda's rage grew during that time
because Jane would not open the accounts for her use.
 
My daughter was a very wise woman,"
Malcolm said proudly.

"My
memory of Mother has faded over the years," Blair said, sadly.
 
"She used to laugh all the time and
dance with Father in the middle of the sitting room.
 
I do remember the times when Aunt Imelda
called them simpering fools."

"Jane
was a happy child who grew to be a happy woman.
 
She was also very caring.
 
When your father had the opportunity to
serve in the Louisiana hospital ward during an outbreak of consumption, Jane
was right by his side.
 
I was
notified of her passing three months later when Imelda was unable to convince
the bank to release the account to her."

"That
was when I was sent to stay with her permanently."

"Since
I knew that Imelda had neither a fondness for your mother or for children, I
wired her with an offer to take you on as my ward.
 
She insisted you stay and receive an
education and convinced me that you would have a better chance in life if you
were offered the opportunities that civilization provided.
 
She also said there would be a price for
those opportunities, and if I cared about your future, I would assist.
 
Her words made sense, and I agreed to
provide her a monthly allowance to care for you until you were old enough to
make your own choices."

"I
truly wish you would have just taken me."

"I, as
well," Malcolm sighed.
 
"You were of nine years then.
 
My wife passed away the following spring, and I was struck by grief.
 
I sent a letter to Imelda, telling her
of my loss and requesting that she permit you to come and live with me.
 
She refused, stating that it was
improper for a man alone to care for a female child.
 
She demanded that you stay in her
residence until you turned eighteen."

"She
didn't want to lose the money you were sending her," Sloan observed.
 
"Her demands were certainly not
because she had any affection towards the child."

"This
is true; however, I did not recognize it for what it was at the time.
 
I sent a portion of my
inheritance—a
 
small
fortune—to the bank, with a conservator to distribute it to Imelda on a
monthly basis and to make certain Farbor Mansion was maintained."

"I
remember that banker.
 
He used to
close the door, so that he and Imelda could argue without my hearing
them," Blair said.

"He is
a good man.
 
He has located here
recently and is in charge of my personal affairs.
 
He saw the things that were occurring
with you and urged me to physically come and take you.
 
By that time, however, I was lost in
gambling and drowning my sadness in whiskey.
 
I failed you, child.
 
Please, forgive me."

"I hold
nothing Aunt Imelda did as your responsibility, Grandfather.
 
I am just sorry all these years were
lost without my knowing you."

"As am
I."

"Please
continue your story, Malcolm.
 
What
happened once Blair turned eighteen?" Sloan urged.
 
He placed his hand on Blair's arm and
squeezed it reassuringly.

"As I
told you, I found the nuggets on the Peak.
 
I used that money to further the spread and build this house.
 
I wired Imelda on Blair's eighteenth
birthday and demanded she be sent to me.
 
Imelda refused, stating that the child was attending a highly regarded
school for young women and that to remove her would be an act of selfishness
and cruelty."

"
She
said that?
 
Grandfather Malcolm, I hated that school
more than her wickedness.
 
The
matrons lived to please her, which meant demeaning me.
 
I would have given my right arm to leave
that place."

"I am a
foolish old man, my dear granddaughter.
 
I wanted the best for you, and nothing less.
 
I put forth the money to pay for your
school and boarding with hopes that you would be happy."

"Boarding?
 
I already told you that she forced me to
stay at the house.
 
Since I had to
take a carriage or walk every day, half the time I went elsewhere.
 
It was money foolishly spent,
Grandfather.
 
I am sorry."

"I am
aware of that, child.
 
I had
requested an update regarding your progress and the Administrator advised me of
your delinquency.
 
I confronted
Imelda and told her that if she did not see to your education, then I would
send for you immediately, without consequence to her.
 
But I also told her that if she refused
to enforce this request, I would cut off the personal allowance that she
received while living there."

"So you
gave no penalty to her should I refuse to comply."

"No.
 
It would not have been her fault and I
did not feel it right to punish her for something you had done."

"When
did this conversation occur?" Sloan asked.

"Around
Blair's nineteenth birthday."

Blair looked
at Sloan knowingly.
 
"So that
is the reason she was so eager to send me away so abruptly.
 
I would no longer be a burden, and she
would not lose her income.
 
Do you
think she was the one …"

Sloan's
expression caused Blair to be silent about her theory that her aunt had
arranged the kidnapping.
 
"It
appears that she knew she could buy some time with your long journey here.
 
I would also not be surprised if she had
requested the school matrons to be particularly harsh with you to force you to
react."
 
Sloan tapped his chin
thoughtfully.
 
"She must have
pocketed quite a bit of money by cheating you of the things your grandfather
wished for you."

"It is
notable that, since I was expelled, it would not have been her doing.
 
She made herself appear innocent for my
lack of cooperation."

"Yes,
and since I told her that she would not receive any sums if you did not attend
school and do well, she assumed she had found a loophole in the
agreement," Malcolm added.
 
"Now that I know the truth, all her donations shall end
immediately.
 
I will have my
conservator escort her from the property and have her placed in a work
house."

"Grandfather
Malcolm?
 
If I may ask this of
you?" Blair said hesitantly.

"Go
ahead, Blair.
 
You look
frightened.
 
Please, child, what do
you wish of me?" the old man asked.

"Would
it cause financial difficulty for you to maintain the stipend until such time
as I can return to Farbor Mansion and make proper arrangements?"

"Not at
all.
 
But why would you want me to
show her mercy?"

"My
plans are not at all merciful, Grandfather, but they are fair."

"What
are you planning, Blair?
 
I know
that look on your face all too well, girl," Sloan asked quietly, his
eyebrow raised.

"I will
tell you later.
 
But first, I need
some answers." Blair answered.
 
"Grandfather Malcolm, do you have any evidence of what you are
saying to be true?"

"Blair!"
Sloan reprimanded.

"No,
son, don't scold her.
 
She has a
right to be suspicious.
 
Yes,
darling.
 
I have all the telegrams,
letters, and messages since the moment I left Philadelphia.
 
I am somewhat of a packrat."

"I
don't mean to offend; please forgive me." Blair said politely, "and
yes, I do have reason to be suspicious.
 
Please tell me what your dealings are with the town."

"I am
the primary provider of cattle and ranching jobs.
 
I hold several water-rights and own over
three thousand head of cattle," he shrugged.
 
"I go into town now and then to
play some poker and share a glass, but nothing more."

"Whom
do you drink with?"

"Usually
the sheriff.
 
He and I are old
friends.
 
He was with me when your
grandmother was killed."

"What?"

"We had
a gang of outlaws running through the trail.
 
They were hitting small towns, mainly
bordellos, and killing off the entertainers and anyone associated with
them," Malcolm said, sadly.
 
"There was an epidemic of the chills going around, and my dear wife
had brought some soup to the ladies.
 
That was when they attacked."

"I am
so sorry, Grandfather."

"Tell
me, sir," Sloan asked, leaning forward, "did they attempt to
implicate a local Indian tribe?"

"Why,
yes," Malcolm looked surprised.
 
He then narrowed his eyes.
 
"How did you know?"

"I lost
my first wife in the same manner down in Texas.
 
I was a Ranger back then and
investigating the case." Sloan squeezed Blair's hand, letting her know
that he was not ready to reveal that he was still involved in law enforcement.

"Your
poor boy," Malcolm's tone was sympathetic.
 
"Do you know if the bandits were
ever found?"

"No,
not yet.
 
Tell me," Sloan
accepted the glass of lemonade brought to him by Carlos, "What would
Imelda benefit by Blair's death?"

"Hmm,
she would likely try to assume ownership of the house and the maintenance
account.
 
Why do you ask?"

"And
you?
 
What would you benefit?"

"Me?
 
Absolutely nothing!
 
These questions, sir, are
offensive."

"Please
forgive me," Sloan lifted his hand.
 
"I am just concerned for her safety."

"As am
I." Malcolm calmed himself.
 
"And if you ask what is truly on your mind, the answer is
yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes, I
do believe Imelda would attempt to dispose of the child for her own
benefit.
 
If I might offer a
suggestion?"

"I'm
listening."

"Have
you ever run a ranch, Sloan?"

"Just a
small spread.
 
Why do you ask?"

"I will
go back to Philadelphia and leave the spread in your hands while I settle
affairs with the estate.
 
This way I
can keep a watchful eye on the woman and make certain she causes no mischief."

"How
can you do that if the estate is owned by Blair?"

"We can
have me placed as her temporary proxy.
 
Wait," Malcolm raised his hand before Sloan had a chance to
protest, "We will draw up the papers so that if anything happens to her,
all rights are transferred to you.
 
If you are killed, the house goes to the staff to share.
 
Agreed?"