Daniel sat down on the soft white leather sectional and got his phone out. He looked up the phone number for The Corral. Dialing, he hoped that Andy didn't pick up the phone. The last thing he needed was for him to worry that he wanted to bring harm to Katherine. I already have.
"Hello?"
Daniel was relieved to hear the boisterous voice coming from the background.
"Stop answering the damn phone like that! This is a business I'm trying to run. What's the matter with you?"
"Alright already! Thank you for calling The Corral. Can I help you?"
"I wanted to send a note of thanks to the owner. I know his first name is Andy but I'm not sure of his last name. Can you tell me so I can address this envelope?"
"Sure, his name's Andy O'Brian."
"I understand Katherine moved. I have a few things to send to her that she let me borrow. Do you happen to know where she went?"
"Nope. No one knows. Said she'll let us know when she found a place to settle down."
Daniel thanked the girl and hung up. He immediately fired up the computer. Then he sat there, not even knowing what state she went to. Did she go back to Michigan? Searching for Katherine O'Brian, the correct Katherine O'Brian, his Katherine O'Brian, was going to be a nightmare. He was definitely going to need some help.
His phone rang and Daniel saw that it was his father.
"Daniel, could you come by the house? I miss you, and Elda is cooking up some lobsters!"
Lobsters. Ask her if she has any biscuits and gravy.
"I can stop by, Father, but I'm not really hungry. I do want to speak to you about a couple of matters if you have time."
"Of course I have time, Daniel. I can't wait to see you!"
Even though he was exhausted, the excitement he heard in his father's voice made him feel good. For way too long he'd been a disappointment to the man who'd given him everything. He's just one more person I took advantage of to meet my selfish needs.
The hot water felt good, the water pressure was just right, but the sterile penthouse was not. There weren't any knickknacks, family photographs, nothing homemade, not even one item that held any kind of heart value. The closest thing he had was a grand piano. Not only did he not know how to play it, but no one else had touched it either.
With his plush towel wrapped around his waist, Daniel walked into his room to get changed. He opened up the closet and saw that practically everything he had was tailored specifically for him by designers. There were rows of custom made suits, stark white shirts, expensive ties, and way too many dress shoes. Daniel closed the door and opened up his suitcase. Inside was a clean pair of faded blue jeans and a blue flannel shirt. He smiled and got dressed.
He took the back elevator to the parking garage and got in his Lamborghini. It started on the first try. It didn't backfire or make any noise, other than the sweet sounds that it should have. He loved the car, but he just couldn't drive it and feel good. People that he cared about were going without simple, basic things. Over and over again the guilt poured through him. I didn't even earn all the luxuries I have. Not one single thing did I work for.
Carl stepped into the study carrying a file that contained information Francesco requested.
"Rosie Lynn Montoose? That's a mouthful, Carl."
"Would you like to review the file in private? I'm sure you don't need me to watch over your shoulder."
"Carl, thank you. You don't have to stay. Daniel will be here shortly and I need to speak to him in private. The paperwork for my son to take over the company has been drawn up for almost two years. I would like to present it to Daniel and hope the proposal is well received. I'm not getting any younger. I made sure you'll keep your job and be well cared for."
"I thank you, Sir. But if you don't mind me asking, what are you going to do with your free time, Francesco? I worry about you not having things to occupy yourself. Perhaps you can travel."
"Maybe, but that is something I shared with Lillian, God rest her soul. I miss her every day, Carl. I've been alone for over two and a half decades so you think I would have gotten used to it." Francesco let out a fake laugh, but Carl could see right through it.
"Very well. If you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know."
Francesco sat at his desk and opened the file as Carl left the study. The photograph showed an older woman with a friendly, happy face and beautiful blue eyes. He read the sheets of paper and couldn't find anything to indicate that she would blackmail his son. Maybe she really didn't know that John Williams was a fabricated name. She had no criminal past, not even a traffic ticket. Francesco did find out a critical piece of information, though. Rosie Lynn Montoose was losing her farm.
Chapter 7
Daniel drove through the security gates and up the long driveway of his father's estate. It was definitely beautiful. Acres of manicured property surrounded the mansion that was way too big for just Daniel and his father. Francesco and Lillian had planned on a large family. She was much younger than Francesco and he'd planned for a wonderful life with her. Those dreams were crushed by her untimely death, but Francesco didn't have the heart to sell the place because his wife had put so much of her love and personality in each room.
Carl opened the front door and greeted Daniel. "You may wear your other clothes, Daniel. You've met the requirement so there's no need to dress like that anymore." Carl openly laughed.
"I'm comfortable in these, Carl. My attire doesn't change or make who I am. Good to see you again." He shook Carl's hand and walked away, leaving the man standing there, staring at his blue flannel back.
Daniel knocked on the study door, then entered it after he heard his father's booming voice.
Francesco hurried to his son and gave him a tight embrace, then kissed his cheek. "Daniel, welcome home!"
"Thank you, Father."
"You didn't have to put those clothes back on, Daniel."
"These clothes are what I feel comfortable in. You should try it sometime."
Francesco smiled at his son's suggestion. "I'm glad you learned the lessons in life that will always benefit you. I'm sorry I had to go to such extremes, but I hope you understand why I did what I did. It was very hard for me to send you away, Daniel."
"Thank you for doing it. I'm not the same man I was when I left. I'm a better one because of you."
"Daniel, I need to ask you about this woman Rosie." Francesco couldn't hide the look of concern on his face. "You were close to her?"
"I love Rosie. She has been sort of a mother to me."
"You worked on her farm, no?"
"Every day I worked long, hard hours. She isn't a young woman, and she was working just as long and hard as I was. Then she'd go in the house and prepare these meals that were like heaven. She even has a couple of horses I became close to. They're magnificent animals."
"Do you know a lot about this farm?"
"Rosie said her husband bought it some years ago and built a home there. His name was Albert and he died a decade ago, but she kept the farm going. It's just her and a man named Sam, who works the land. He has a family and lives a few miles away. He comes over and helps her out, but I don't think they get along as well as what Rosie claims. He's pretty stern and not very pleasant."
"How is the farm doing? Is it successful?"
"I think it is. She paid me well, and I was able to save up a decent amount. I kept a thousand dollars when I left in case of an emergency and to buy my plane ticket, but then I left the remaining money with her. I hope it helps her out."
"You gave her your money?"
"She needed it more than I did. I knew I was coming back here and would have access to everything. That's what I want to talk with you about, Father."
"Don't tell me you wrecked your car … "
"It's about the car and a few other things. But no, I didn't wreck it. I don't want it."
"Daniel, you don't have to have another sports car. This one should last you for quite a while."
"I'm sure it would. I just don't want it."
"You don't want it?"
"It's a waste of money, Father. I don't want that penthouse either. I want both of them sold."
"What has gotten into you, Daniel?"
"Rosie just about kills herself every single day keeping that farm running. She doesn't have any other ranch hands to help her other than Sam. Now that I'm gone it could take her quite a while before she finds more help."
"Daniel, I have to tell you something. I don't want you to be angry with me."
"What is it?"
"You know that I love you and I know you got to spend a great deal of time with this woman and grew to trust her while you were in Tennessee. I still had to make sure you were protected. I had Rosie investigated."
"You what?!" Daniel quickly rose to his feet. He was furious.
"On paper only, Daniel. I didn't find anything that would suggest that Rosie knew who you were and would try to get money."
"Oh my God! She isn't even like that at all!"
"I realize this, Daniel. She isn't hiring any more ranch hands. She never intended on it."
"Wait. What are you talking about?"
"Rosie is losing her farm, Daniel. The three hundred acre farm is being foreclosed. It seems that back taxes, loans, and bad debt sunk her."