Love Finds You in Last Chance, California Read Online Free PDF Page B

message.”
    “Uh-huh.” Uncle Joe leaned back and crossed his arms, but a compassionate look filled his faded blue eyes. “He told you about the note Benjamin took out.”
    Hurt shimmered from Alex’s voice. “So all this time you knew and didn’t tell me? Why?”
    Sorrow clouded his face. “Wasn’t my place. Your father was my best friend. I couldn’t betray his trust.”
    A gentle hand squeezed her shoulder and Alex looked up at Martha. “Honey, don’t you go blamin’ your uncle Joe. Your papa told him to keep quiet. He didn’t want you getting riled at Joe.”
    Alex sat up straight and felt her scalp bristle. “You both knew? I can’t believe this!”
    Martha sank into her chair and straightened her dress before answering. “Yes, and if he hadn’t died, it would’ve been your father’s place to tell you, not ours. Your papa was a strong man and once he’d made up his mind, one didn’t go against his wishes.”
    “Not even after he died? I went into Mr. Elton’s office blind. Felt like I’d been tossed into the creek in the middle of winter.” Alex laced her fingers around her mug of coffee but didn’t lift it to her lips.
    Joe fingered his mustache and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. Martha and I discussed it, and we planned on tellin’ you. But then Clarence asked you to come and we knew you was about to find out.”
    Martha raised her hand. “We’d best pray and then eat. Joe, would you bless this food?”
    Joe uttered a short prayer and then raised piercing eyes that looked straight into Alex’s heart. “We didn’t mean to hurt you.”
    Alex picked up her spoon, took a bite of stew, and sighed. “I’m not angry. Well, maybe I am a little, but I can’t stay angry at you two for long.” She smiled weakly. “But I’d like to know what Papa was thinking. It’s not like we need more breeding stock. We’re getting along fine.”
    Joe’s snow-white head shook from side to side. “He wanted more than just gettin’ along for you, darlin’. He wanted to make sure you’d be provided for proper-like, if’n anything should happen to him.”
    “And look where that’s gotten me.” Alex took a deep breath and blew it out. “I’m sorry. I hate this. Why couldn’t Papa have left things the way they were?”
    Joe stretched out his short, dusty legs and reached for his mug. “Life can’t stay the same forever, Alex. Ever’thing changes some time or other.”
    “But I don’t understand why he’d choose to go into debt. Papa meant the best, but this mortgage puts me in a tough position. I don’t know if the horses have been paid for, and Mr. Elton says Papa left the bank with a bag of gold the day before his accident. Did he leave it with either of you?”
    Martha sat upright and stared first at Alex, then at Joe. “Gold? I had no idea he was carrying gold.” She turned a distraught face to the quiet man. “Joe?”
    “Don’t remember seein’ or hearin’ about any gold. I reckon it’s possible he kept it on his person for safe keepin’. Your papa told me about the bank loan, but I figured he’d send payment straight to the breeder in Los Angeles.” He drummed his work-roughened fingers against the polished surface of the pine table. “There’s one more thing….”
    Alex leaned forward and narrowed her eyes, not liking his tone. “Yes? What else don’t I know?”
    “Your father was carryin’ ore samples to the assayer at Last Chance the day he died. He wasn’t seen in town, so it’s a safe bet he didn’t make it before he fell off his horse.” He scratched his whiskered chin and frowned. “Not sure why I didn’t think about that ’fore now.”
    Martha gasped and clasped her hands over her heart. “What you talkin’ about, Joe? Why would Ben have ore samples?”
    Joe scraped his spoon across the bottom of his bowl and then wiped up the broth with a slab of bread. He took a large bite, chewed, swallowed, and shook his head. “You know Ben’s had a