Page 2 of Mountain Men Heroes
Her aunt’s eyes turned a shade of blue that denoted determination. All the Morgan women had it. Her father called it the Morgan-pointed look.
Esmeralda crossed her heart and tucked away the invisible key in her pocket like they used to do when she was a little girl and her aunt’s expression softened. That seemed to do the trick. Her aunt graced her with a smile and patted her hand.
“Go, child. I’ll cover for you.”
Bless her sweet heart.
The familiar, deep raspy voice of her uncle carried over the crowd.
Shit. Her uncle was headed their way, most likely to take her aunt home, but that wasn’t the problem. With him came another set of stiff, by-the-book trench coats.
“I’ll call you when I land.” Her aunt shoved a set of keys into her hands. With a quick peck on the cheek, Esmeralda waved at her approaching uncle and ducked around a few distant relatives huddled under several black umbrellas on the steps. From the few words she caught, someone thought the tainted past of the late Morgan and his troubled daughter served as a hot topic to whisper about. The chilled wind carried faint notes of words like untrustworthy and tainted.
Anger bubbled in the pit of her stomach until a bitter taste entered her mouth. Not that she wanted to give any excuses, but her life choices were no one else’s business. Now that she was set to take over, they’d either have to accept her past or not. She didn’t quite care. She’d fallen in love with the enemy ages ago, but fate had other plans. And for that they wanted to label her as a villain? Screw them!
She might not have the best hearing, but even the dead could pick up on the shameful tone tossed her way. Once tainted in the eyes of the high and mighty of her father’s inner circles there was no going back. Money didn’t make you a decent human being. These people were more vicious than wild animals.
Trying not to catch the tip of her heel on jagged bricks of the walkway, she didn’t bother to acknowledge any of the old hens mixed up with a few well-creased suits. No one had time for that crap or fake sentiments. She risked a glance at her watch as she reached the graveled road.
With a double click, the doors to the Town Car flicked open and she slid in and not a moment too soon. Several trench coats were already weaving through the crowd to catch up. “Sorry.” She hit the lock switch and turned over the motor. “Not this time, boys.”
Having Morgan as a surname made bodyguards one more thing she had to deal with on a regular basis.
But not today. Esmeralda hit the little green button on her cell phone before the first full ring finished.
“Ms. Esmeralda Morgan, I’m calling about your travel arrangements.” Curt and to the point. Her father’s secretary never cracked a smile or, God forbid, exchanged pleasantries.
“Yes, Ms. Stevens.” With the phone tossed to the passenger side, Esmeralda craned her neck around to check for passing cars, not that there would be many on a single lane cemetery road, but hey, one tended to be a little more careful when the view out the windshield was acres of stone slabs in a variety of sizes.
“I’m calling to confirm your flight times. I have you for an eleven-thirty departure.”
How could she forget? “I’ll be there. Thank you for the reminder, Ms. Stevens.” With a flick across the smooth glass, she ended the call and stuffed the phone back into her coat pocket, mentally adding a note to pick up something on her trip to smooth the rough edges of her soon-to-be assistant.
Just the thought of dealing with Stevens on a daily basis made her pulse plummet.
She had one more stop and then she could be on her way. Executing her father’s last wishes in secrecy took some finagling, but the end was in sight.
The drive passed in a blur and within minutes of stowing her single carry-on, the skies opened up and drowned out the shrinking skyline of New York City.
Two
“Home sweet home.”
Esmeralda shut off her rental car and took in the sight of the one town on earth her father vowed she could never return to. Vowed until he lost all color to his face that over his dead body would any kin of his ever return to Savage Ridge, Alaska.
Why he picked it as his final resting place still sat heavy on her mind.
Hard to believe that twenty-four hours ago her surroundings were gray and colorless compared to the postcard-worthy view beyond her windshield.
Snow-tipped mountains gave way to a crystal-clear sky so blue it made the world look like it glowed with an invisible energy. Cold air filled her lungs and she tilted her head back to catch the first rays of Alaskan sunshine as the sun greeted the morning. As precious as the stones her father pulled from the frozen ground. More so in her opinion, but no board member could pocket that value.
“Hey sweetheart, you lost, or in need of a little help?” A deep craggy voice shattered her moment of Zen. Esmeralda shot the intruder a sideways glance and returned her attention to the gas pump.
Squinting, she held up a hand to block the rays angled just so to hit her square in the face.
Ash-blond hair caught the rays of morning light momentarily hiding his face. Before she could blink, he towered over her. By then, it was too late to make a fast withdrawal to the safety of her car or the store. He appeared out of nowhere that she could see and covered the distance of the small parking lot in a handful of strides.
She shifted positions and placed the sun at her back. Smeared grease covered most of the guy’s coverall, and the grungy orange material looked faded and tattered in places from prolonged use. A small, white logo stood out on the sleeve, marking him as a mechanic from the shop around the corner. He must have been watching to catch her all the way over here.