Jace opened the envelope with the papers he’d found; they’d looked to be copies of the mortgage transfer documents. Kelly had told him nothing was locked. Maybe some places should be.
Jace hadn’t been part of many contracts. Much of the information in them was Greek to him. He needed to make sure he followed through, though on any opportunity that presented itself. Ari deserved nothing less.
“Jason, Jason Kendall. Oh, man, it is you.”
Both Jace and Ari looked up. A man in a dark suit and white shirt stood in front of their booth. “Douglas, Doug Thurston,” he grinned, pumping Jace’s hand.
“You’re the last guy I expected to find here,” Doug said. “Are you back or just visiting?”
“I’m here for a while,” he answered. Gesturing at Ari, whose eyes were wide and staring at the new arrival, he introduced them. “This is my son, Ari. Ari, this man is an old friend of mine.”
“Hello,” Doug said and offered his hand. “How old are you?”
Ari put his hand in the larger one and said, “I’m four.” He emphasized the word four saying it louder than anything else and holding up three fingers.
“Four, you’re a really big boy.”
“And I help my dad all the time,” he replied.
“Great. Do you hire out?”
Ari looked confused. “It was a joke, Ari,” Jace said. Ari went back to his sundae.
“What are you doing here?” Jace asked Doug.
“This is still the best ice-cream store in three counties,” Doug said. “I’m on my way home and thought I’d stop in and get some of that—”
“Nutty Black Cherry,” they said simultaneously.
“It’s still a favorite.” Doug grinned.
“Sit down a moment.”
Doug signaled to the clerk, then slid into the booth with Jace. “What are you doing now?” Jace asked.
“You’ll never believe it, but I’m a lawyer.”
Jace stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter. “The terror of Duchess County is now an attorney?”
“Three-piece suit and all,” Doug said, indicating his clothes. “I live over in York now.”
“Married, children?”
“Wife of six years, baby girl, eleven months, most gorgeous child on earth.”
Jace smiled. “And your practice. Are you with someone or on your own.”
“I struck out on my own two years ago. Things are going well.”
“Glad to hear that,” Jace said and he really meant it. The two of them were lucky to have survived their reckless teenage years. The last sheriff who caught them had wised them up—thankfully—telling them their choices were to either end up dead or in jail. Jace didn’t take him seriously, at first, but decided to give school a try. It would get him out of the Kendall and his father didn’t care. The old man was always willing to pay for him to go away. And despite his delinquent talents, he was a good student. Doug must have gotten the message, too. They each went their own way and the sheriff’s prediction remained untrue.
“So what are you doing?” Doug asked.
“I spent several years in South America, but I’m back at the Kendall. I’m helping get the place in order.”
“I heard it was sold to Kelly Ashton of all people.”
“Why of all people?” Jace asked.
“You don’t remember her? The little kid who used to sit on the fence and watch us. She was always there, looking over the horses and wishing she could ride one.”
“Sheldon probably wouldn’t allow it,” Jace suggested.
“It wasn’t him. Your old man would holler at her every time he saw her. She’d hide among the trees. I knew she just wanted to be part of the place. She was like you, Jason. She loved the horses.”
“There were no horses left at the Kendall when I arrived,” Jace said. “Apparently, they were all sold before the place was.”
“What a shame. It would be fun to tear through the county again on horseback.” Doug chuckled. Jace knew he was reliving the past. For a second, Jace thought of riding. He could almost feel the unique exhilaration he felt for the second or two he and horse were airborne.
“There are only two mares there now. Ari and I ride them. But nothing like you and I used to.”
“How long are you planning to stay at the Kendall?” Doug asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Dad, we’re staying, right?” Each time someone mentioned them leaving, Ari was afraid it might be true.
“Yes, Ari, we’re staying.” His son had bonded so quickly to the Kendall. Jace knew it was the stability that the Kendall represented that appealed so strongly to Ari; he understood that staying here would mean a better life than wandering the world.