The Prodigal's Christmas Reunion by Springer Kathryn

Author:Springer, Kathryn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Love Inspired
Published: 2011-10-15T04:00:00+00:00

The sudden uproar from the group drowned out the sound of Lucas’s heart hammering against his rib cage.

“What fire?”

“What happened?”

“Was anything damaged?”

“Is Erin all right?”

Zach ducked his head as the questions peppered the air like buckshot and held up his hand in a bid for silence. “The fire started in the Dumpster behind the café last night so there was no damage to the building. Erin was home at the time but I picked her up and took her down to the café. We took a walk through. Nothing appeared to be damaged or stolen.”

“Why did you think there would be?” Lucas asked.

All eyes turned in Lucas’s direction and the sudden silence proved more unnerving than their questions. Not quite the response he had expected.

“There’ve been a few—” Jack paused, searching for the right word “—situations lately.”

“Situations?” Lucas looked at Zach and dread pooled in his stomach. “What kind of situations?”

“You know what happens if one of us breaks the terms of the will,” Zach finally said.

“None of us inherits a thing.” Lucas pushed the words out through gritted teeth. “That’s why we came back.”

“But if life gets…difficult…here and one of us leaves, Samuel’s side inherits,” Vivienne added.

Lucas knew that, too. “So?”

Brooke sighed. “So life has been getting difficult.”

“Define difficult.” Lucas kept a tight rein on his impatience.

Vivienne looked at Arabella.

“Jasmine’s wedding dress disappeared. We found it later, completely shredded,” their older cousin said.

“It sounds like someone doesn’t want them to get married.” No matter what Lucas’s opinion on Cade and Jasmine’s upcoming wedding, he couldn’t imagine anyone going to such extreme lengths to prevent it.

“There’s more,” Zach told him.

More? Lucas had already heard enough.

“Zach’s gun and badge were stolen a few months ago,” Arabella said. “Someone wanted him to look bad.”

And Samuel Clayton’s side of the family excelled at making others look bad, Lucas knew.

“A bunch of Cody’s hired hands got food poisoning. Since I was the cook, I got blamed for it,” Vivienne added. “I almost gave up and went back to the city.”

The rancher took her hand.

“It wouldn’t have mattered,” Cody murmured. “I would have brought you back.”

Vivienne smiled but it was the last thing Lucas felt like doing.

As the list of offenses against his family increased, so did his anger. He couldn’t believe they’d kept all this from him. He shot Mei an accusing look.

“You’ve had a lot on your plate since you got back.” His sister’s dark eyes flashed a mute apology, leaving Lucas to wonder if that was the only reason they hadn’t kept him in the loop.

“We think someone on Samuel’s side of the family has been looking for a…weak link,” Brooke explained. “One of us who won’t stick it out if things get tough.”

Lucas didn’t have to ask who they thought that might be. The family prodigal, who’d made no secret of the fact that he would never return to Clayton.

“The fire at the café could have been an accident, though,” Arabella pointed out.

“Or it could be my fault.” Kylie’s shoulders slumped. “I work at the café and Vincent hasn’t forgiven me for breaking our engagement.

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