From This Moment On - By Debbi Rawlins Page 0,69

hadn’t even gotten a mention. They knew because Matt had asked Frank Kessler if Lucy should also be present.

After checking her hair in the mirror so she could leave for the Watering Hole as soon as they were done, she stopped at her bed. She’d made it up, something she did about every other day, but this morning she’d left out Trace’s pillow. Picking it up, she lifted it to her nose. She could still smell him. Some of the dread drained from her. If the attorney made her edgy, she’d daydream about Trace, she decided, or replay last night.

Oh, God, that could get her in trouble. Maybe it was better she wasn’t all starry-eyed. Or thinking about Trace at the moment. If she was in too good a mood, no telling what she might agree to.

She hurried down the stairs and headed toward the voices coming from the den. Sitting on the red leather couch, papers spread on the coffee table in front of him, Frank Kessler looked out of place. He wore a sharp navy blue suit, yellow tie and shiny black shoes, his gray hair slicked back. She would’ve guessed he was from New York, not Billings, Montana.

He rose as soon as he saw her and extended his hand. “Nikita Flores,” he said, “it’s a pleasure to meet you. Frank Kessler.”

“Um, I go by Nikki.” She didn’t care for his weak handshake or the intense curiosity in his small dark eyes.

Matt had already claimed the chair that matched the couch, so she perched on the edge of the floral-patterned chaise close to the stone fireplace.

Mr. Kessler smiled and gestured to the unoccupied side of the couch. “I promise I won’t bite.”

She returned the smile. “I might.” Then darted a grudging glance at Matt. He wasn’t amused. “Just kidding,” she said to Mr. Kessler, who appeared unfazed. “I’m fine here.”

“First off,” he said, “please accept my condolences on the loss of your father.”

A snide remark nearly tripped off her tongue, but she drew in a breath, reminding herself the goal was to get this reading over with. “Thank you.”

“Matt has requested that we keep this short because you have to go to work.” He’d slipped on a pair of glasses and was sifting through several legal-size papers while he spoke. “The Gunderson Trust is quite straightforward. The land and house, including any and all structures, are covered by the trust. Paternity hasn’t been challenged, and since Wallace legally acknowledged you as his daughter, Nikki, in the eyes of the law—”

“When?”

Kessler looked at her over the rim of his glasses. “The beginning of March...I believe it was a couple of weeks after you and Matt had visited him. He signed an affidavit verifying your relationship to him, and then he updated his will.”

She wasn’t sure why she’d bothered to ask. What did it matter? Wallace had always known she existed. Legally recognizing her didn’t make a damn bit of difference. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have interrupted.”

“Ask anything you want, Nikki,” Matt said, and she noticed his expression seemed strained. “Now’s your chance.”

“I’m good for now,” she said.

“Feel free to stop me at any time.” Kessler seemed patient and professional, but something about him bugged her. “Let’s see,” he said, his attention going back to the document. “In accordance with the terms of the trust, the land and structures, as I mentioned, now belong equally to the two of you. What gets tricky and isn’t clear is ownership of the livestock, which is worth a substantial sum and we’ll get to that in a minute.

“Equipment, inventory, vehicles registered to the Lone Wolf, those sorts of things obviously aren’t covered by the trust, which was drawn nearly a hundred years ago. Those items are considered personal property and Wallace has left them to Matt. I have an itemized list for each of you. Any questions so far?” He looked up until they both shook their heads.

No point arguing now. Nikki knew division of the land and house was something she and Matt had to sort out in private, which should be a short conversation, given she wanted nothing. But knowing Matt, it wasn’t a discussion she was looking forward to. He’d been okay earlier, but now he seemed irritable. She hoped it wasn’t over Wallace leaving him all that stuff and not including her. She didn’t give a crap about any of it.

“Now, about the livestock.” Kessler’s gaze moved over the words on the next document. “Fortunately you two are on good