A Bullet to the Heart by Kathy Wheeler (most read books of all time .TXT) 📕

The urge to back away shook Jo, but her eyes darted to Wyn. He stood at the ready. Prepared to fight her demons. His power stiffened her spine and she glared at Wallace. You can’t scare me.

But Wallace grew defiant. He rose from his chair and leaned in her direction.

It caught her off guard and she flinched.

Wallace was not one to let bygones be bygones. He stalked forward.

In a move only fairytales could write, Wyn was there blocking the horrid man.

“Sheriff,” Simon the elder barked.

Wyn grabbed Wallace by the arm and dragged him across the room.

Jo let out a long-held breath and hid her shaking fingers in the folds of her skirt.

Eleanor’s feeble cry whispered throughout the room.

“Hush now, Mama, everything will be fine,” Lydia assured their mother.

Jo tuned Eleanor out and made for the window, desperate for air. It was difficult to discern the line between sky and sea. Only the rough surf’s foamy waves beating against the rocks differentiated the two.

The snick latch startled Jo and redirected her attention.

“Well, let’s get this over with,” Lydia said.

Simon, Sr. wasted no time. “The Claremont property on Nantucket Island, along with all currency, and assets have been incorporated into the Montgomery Legacy Trust—”

Jackson was on his feet. “What do you mean?”

Sr. clarified. “Upon the death of your mother, Mary Claremont Montgomery, Victor incorporated the full Claremont Estate into the Montgomery Legacy Trust.”

Simon indicated Jackson return to his seat.

Jackson plopped back down like a tantruming toddler. The more she was around Jackson the more she wondered how he’d frightened her for so long. Her memories seemed jumbled and out of sorts.

Senior made eye contact with each of Victor’s four heirs before going back to the documents laid out before him. “All assets of the Montgomery Legacy Trust, including, but not limited to, Montgomery Enterprises, the New York City penthouse, Montgomery Island, Catskills properties, as well as Claremont Estate, are hereby transferred to the ownership of my three nieces, Josephine Ophelia Weatherford, Lydia Eleanor Weatherford, Victoria Tevis Weatherford, and my son, Jackson Montgomery, equally.” He looked up again. “There are, however, conditions attached to this inheritance.”

An uneasy silence hovered over the room.

Simon resumed reading. “From the date of the reading of this will, each of the existing heirs shall make The Manor House at Montgomery Island their primary dwelling and shall be married within one year from the date of this reading. Failure to meet either of these conditions will render this will null and void.”

“This is bullshit,” Jackson ranted.

Jo was inclined to agree. She laid her cheek against the cold pane unable to digest what Simon had read. Her rage was so deeply buried it choked her from the inside out.

“My father was a lunatic, as this will clearly shows.”

“Mr. Montgomery, please,” Simon chastised.

It took Jo a moment to realize old Simon was addressing Jackson and not Uncle Victor as Mr. Montgomery, sending a shock of emotion crashing through her. Victor was truly gone.

“All assets of Montgomery Enterprises, including, but not limited to, the New York City penthouse, Montgomery Island, Catskills properties, as well as Claremont Estate, shall be liquified and funds distributed to the town of Stone, the county of Clover, the state of Connecticut with the exception of the bequeathals to staff as previously defined, if the conditions are not met by all remaining heirs.”

As the words penetrated, Jo turned and grasped the window’s frame to keep her balance. “Four of us?” She enunciated his words back, certain she hadn’t heard correctly.

Lydia’s astonishment mirrored her own.

“I’m afraid so, Josephine. You, your sisters, and Mr. Montgomery.” His words were not uttered unkindly.

Jo couldn’t stand the thought of his pity.

The elder Guthrie angled his head, spearing each of them as if they were unruly children. “To clarify, this means the estate as a whole. If any one of the four of you violate any terms of the will, then the will, in its entirety, is void. The staff shall receive their inheritance, of course, as was stated.”

God, would this day never end?

Apparently, not. “Guthrie & Guthrie Attorneys at Law will continue to serve as co-trustee of the Montgomery Legacy Trust along with Josephine Ophelia Weatherford, Lydia Eleanor Weatherford, Victoria Tevis Weatherford, and Jackson Montgomery, until such time the conditions of the will—which I have enumerated—have been met.” He cleared his throat. “Victoria Tevis Weatherford will manage the day to day operations of Montgomery Enterprises as Chief Executive Officer.”

“What does that mean?” Lydia asked.

Jo managed a nonchalant air. “I wasn’t trained to handle that kind of responsibility. Nor do I care.” She desperately needed out of this room.

Tevi snorted. “I spent my whole life being trained for that kind of responsibility.”

Simon, Sr. ignored their commentary. “I am granting override authority of Montgomery Enterprises’ Chief Executive Officer to Josephine Weatherford, Lydia Weatherford, and Jackson Montgomery, collectively.”

Tevi lurched forward, slammed her hands on the desk across from old Simon. “What the hell?”

The old man let out a resigned sigh. “Miss Weatherford, please.”

Jo’s sisters huffed out their frustration while her own heart pounded, blood rushed her ears, and black dots teased the edge of her vision. Leave it to Victor and his unmitigated attempts to rule over them from the grave. Only she and Jackson were unified in their horror. He looked as if he could commit murder while she felt as if she could.

Tevi dropped back into her chair, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I’m afraid so, Victoria.” Only Simon, Sr. referred to Tevi as such. “As I said, all of you must comply to the conditions of these wills.” He sorted through the documents, stacking them in an order beyond Jo’s capability to comprehend. “I can appreciate that Victor’s conditions to your inheritance is unorthodox. However, please understand that my responsibility is only to ensure the conditions have been met as described.” He looked up at them. “Now, the only thing left are the required signatures.”

9

M

iss Weatherford?” Simon the elder jarred her to her surroundings. “Your signature?”

Jo quickly blinked back sudden tears