“Mmm,” she mumbled, but she didn’t wake up.
He walked to the door, wondering if he should remind her of the board meeting at ten. But he chose not to. She knew about it and the decision was hers. Shilah’s future was in her hands.
Chance rushed into his office at fifteen minutes to ten. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” Cadde glanced at his watch. “We have a few minutes. How’s everything in High Cotton?”
“Great. Uncle Ru is back cowboying.”
“I know. I called.”
“Aunt Etta told me and I guess she told you she doesn’t want the land. She’s leaving it to us, her heirs.”
“Yep.” Cadde reached for his jacket. “I promised her I’d get one of the lawyers to draw up the papers, but we still need to do something about our parents’ house.”
“Maybe when Kid gets back.”
Once again, they put off the dreaded task.
He picked up his briefcase. “Let’s go.”
“This is just a business formality, right?” Chance asked as they walked out of Cadde’s office. “I mean, you have the agreement with Jessie.”
Cadde shook his head. “No. We tore it up.”
“What? But…”
“I’m going to trust Jessie to do the right thing. Isn’t that what marriage is about?”
“Yes, but you’ve talked to her, right?”
“No, the decision is hers.”
“What!” Chance followed him like a pesky mosquito. “I’m not understanding any of this.”
“We’re trying to build a marriage on trust. Do you understand that?”
“Well, yes, but if we needed votes we should have waited for Kid.”
Cadde stopped and faced him. “Relax. I’ll handle the board meeting.”
They walked in and took their seats. Jessie’s seat was vacant. But all of Roscoe’s cronies were there: Percival, better known as Hooter Caldwell, Hubert Gillespie, Owen McGrew, Hank Parker, J. T. Hardeson and George Pettibone.
Hooter Caldwell chomped on his cigar. “What’s this meeting about, Cadde? We just had a board meeting.”
“Yeah,” Owen McGrew piped up, “you’re not bringing up those Louisiana leases again, are you?”
Cadde scooted his chair forward. “Roscoe held on to those leases for a reason, have you ever thought of that?”
“Roscoe was plumb crazy and I never understood him most of the time.”
“But you understood it when he made you money?”
“Hell, yeah.”
“Jessie’s not here,” Hooter commented. “Has she been notified of the meeting?”
“Yes,” Cadde replied with all the patience he had. “I live with her, remember?”
“That don’t amount to a plank of wood on a cold, freezing night.”
Cadde placed his hands on the table and stood, every muscle in him ready to pounce on Hooter as if he were no more than a cockroach. Everyone but Chance seemed to move their chairs back.
“I didn’t mean a thing.” Hooter chomped a little harder on his cigar. “I have a twisted sense of humor.”
“Yeah, Cadde, Hoot just flew in from Vegas and his mind’s a little muddled.” Hub Gillespie tried to smooth things over.
Cadde wasn’t letting it drop, though. “Because of Roscoe I’m honor bound to respect your positions on this board, but if another crack like that is made I’ll find a way to get your ass off this board. Roscoe left a lot of loopholes in your agreements—for his benefit, and I inherited them when I became CEO. I can bring in investors as I see fit and if I feel there is any insubordination by a board member, I have the power to remove him. If you don’t think I can, try me. Am I clear, Hooter?”
The man coughed and sputtered, as if he were choking. Owen hit him on the back and the cigar shot out onto the table. Without a word, Hooter reached for his handkerchief, wiped the table, and positioned the cigar back in his mouth.
“We’re clear, Cadde, mighty clear.”
Before Cadde could say another word, the door opened and Jessie walked in. Dressed in a dark business suit, heels, her hair pulled back into a knot, she looked like an entirely different person. But he knew her. He knew her body. Now he had to trust her.
“Sorry I’m late. I got caught in traffic.” She removed her sunglasses and took her seat across the table from him. “What are we talking about?”
“Cadde hasn’t said anything yet,” Hooter replied, placing a hand on Jessie’s arm. “And may I say, my dear, you look lovely.”
“Thank you,” Jessie said, easing her arm away.
Lecherous old man! Keep your hands off my wife.