Angel made her way back down to the track where she found Jada, Cody and Carlos working out some of their horses. When Cody saw her coming, he walked over and said “I think we have a decent shot at some races this season. Our stock is some of the best horses. Speaking of we got an interesting call earlier, seems Damon’s grandfather has heard about our stock, and that we hired Jada he wants to come tour the stables. Of course, he wants to discuss Gambler and Heartbreaker’s stud service while here.”
She nodded at Cody and said, “You’re going to be ready to pull your hair out when I tell you what I found out a few minutes ago.” At his arched brow she filled him in on the Kingsley Ranch and the horses that were in the stables there belonging to them. She told him point blank “I’ll be heading over there with Grant and his men shortly and I would like you and Jada to accompany me, bring the men and trailers.” We are going to inspect the horses. I have called the vet he is going to meet us there. Grant has all the legal paperwork and the local Sheriff’s Office is going to accompany us.” Cody sighed and said, “I’m going to have to interview all his workers then, because I don’t want anyone around our animals that have a questionable history with the animals.” Angel smiled and replied, “You know you have complete and total control over who touches our babies.”
When Kyle found out what they were doing, he volunteered to ride along as well. When the Sheriff arrived with her and her men the Kingsley’s were beyond angry. There were a lot of threats thrown around, but she knew they couldn’t do anything. The Sheriff himself was relieved to have the Kingsley’s out of his town. When the Kingsley’s trainer tried to impede them the Sheriff’s deputies had ensured that they could get to all the animals.
Angel found out why when she saw the condition of the stables. While not complete run down the Kingsley were working with a skeleton crew on their ranch. This had allowed the stables to fall into disrepair. The vet took his time checking over every animal present and Cody found all the paperwork which went with the horses. Jackson and Kaleb stood near their sister as each animal was checked off the list of what was supposed to be present. No one was too shocked when they realized that three of the more expensive animals weren’t present. When the Sheriff confronted the Kingsley’s the elder became belligerent and the younger tried to pick a fight with Angel which wasn’t his brightest move. Somehow, he had gotten past the sheriff and swung at Angel which had ended up with him on his back in the mud with her foot on his chest.
Jackson was staring stunned, as was Kaleb neither of them had seen her move, one second the younger Kingsley had been heading for her the next he was out of commission.Jackson said “Wow, how did you do that?” Grant threw her a what am I here for look and said, “She is very fast to be honest with you.”
Kingsley Sr. began complaining when the Sheriff’s loaded his son up for assault. Kingsley Sr. shut up quickly when the deputy told him that he could produce the missing horses or face criminal charges. When the officer went to cuff him and read him his rights, he broke and said he’d sold the horses a week ago. When he acknowledged this the deputies loaded him up with his son. Hannah had shown up at this point and she was sending her paralegal to the Sheriff’s Office to find out who he had sold the horses to.
Angel took a moment to take in the property itself, for the neglect it had recently seen it was a beautiful place. It was well worth the reduced amount she’d paid for everything. Someone had once lovingly had the land sculpted and the lake had been maintained and there was a boat house and guest houses. She hadn’t realized this place was even larger than her own place. Thankfully, the land itself and her own shared a common land line.
She had no idea what to do with a house no one was going to live in for a few years. Her father had come up with the solution; he wanted to lease the house from her until the boys were of age to decide if they would like to live there. She had a feeling her brothers would be more apt to insist on building their own homes somewhere on Wild Creek Ranch. She would have honestly just handed the place over to her father, but Hunter wouldn’t have it. He told her he’d lease it only if she’d accept the money, it was worth.
Hannah had assured her she’d work out a reasonable contract. By the time they made it home it was after five and they needed to get ready for the family meeting. To say those two hours flew by would be an understatement. Between the necessary phone calls, she had to make because of the Kingsley debacle, and the things she had going on she spent nearly an hour on the phone. She quickly showered before slipping on one of her summer dresses, her jean jacket and a pair of her new western boots. She pulled her hair into a low ponytail on the side of her head and her curls dangled over her shoulder down her chest. She applied a bit of lip gloss before grabbing her purse and heading out the door. The boys were waiting on her she noted they had dressed in their Levi’s and nice polo’s. Their look was completely deceiving because they looked so innocent.
When they arrived at the restaurant, they were led into a private dining room. Aiming for neutral territory her father had reserved the private dining room at Luke’s Roadhouse Grill. Turns out her father had known the owner for a long time so reserving the room on short notice had been easy enough. Once everyone arrived their server appeared to take their orders. After everyone was settled in, and their orders taken.
Angel started by saying, “What happened earlier today is not something I think any of the parties thought through.” If Grandpa McDaniel’s had stopped to think he would have realized, he was being manipulated. On the flipside he was manipulated by our Grandpa Denae, because our Grandpa Denae was manipulated by his wife.” At their shocked looks she continued saying “I have just found my family and I am not about to let pettiness take that away from me, nor will I let malicious need of others control my life.” This was said while staring her grandmother Marigold down, she sighed heavily and said, “In a lot of ways you and Stacia are alike Grandmother Denae, because you both wanted what would make yourself look best, not what was best for the boys.” She paused once again and said “I don’t speak for Kaleb or Jackson, their old enough to make their own decisions. They were, very upset with what happened this morning, after all they just found out they have grandparents, uncles, and a sister. Yet those family members were trying to come against one another. Kaleb and Jackson have something they’d like to say.”
Kaleb’s look encompassed everyone as he said boldly “I’m the more sedate twin, the more rational and for all intents and purposes more serious. So, when I say I will remain with my sister come hell or high waters, I mean that. Living with Angel has been the first slice of normal I’ve ever known. Do you know what that’s like? I’m guessing none of you do, but Angel gets that she has been there. I don’t want to have hard feelings against anyone here, but if you try to take me from her I will make your life a living hell.” Marigold’s eyes had consistently gotten bigger, and their uncles were wincing as their mother received the comeuppance she deserved. When Kaleb broke off Jackson joined in saying “While I reiterate everything my brother has said I’ll add this, I am not the calm brother, I can cause chaos you wouldn’t even dream of. I’m not threatening you I am being honest. The things you can give us do not amount to even a tenth of what she can give. Yes, you would give love, or try to buy it. But she gives peace of mind, structure, she’s teaching us how to cope with life, no one has ever made us do anything. She takes no crap, and she makes us do everything she would because she knows it works. You see how run down she is. It’s because she has no choice, you saw Stacia, and could you imagine three grandchildren as restless and aimless as she was? I will not follow in my mother’s footsteps or my father’s. I’m following the example of my sister and making my own path.” By this point Marigold was crying uncontrollably, it was at this point Angel realized while her grandmother genuinely cared for them, she would always be a little bit like Stacia. It saddened her that this was so.
Her grandpa Jamison said “For my part in this debacle I apologize to you, Angel and your brothers. It was represented to me as you weren’t given a choice in this matter. Not that it was a choice you actively made.” Angel nodded and replied, “I can understand that, and I forgive you for your part.” Their grandpa Harrison looked sheepish as he said “I was only trying to please my wife I didn’t intentionally set out to cause you or the boys any hurt or harm. I would never intentionally harm any of you, I hope you can believe that and forgive us.” Angel shook her head sadly and said “Don’t you get it Grandpa Harrison; you can’t apologize for what she did. I can and will accept your apology and forgive you because I believe it’s genuinely meant. But she has to do her own apologizing.” At which point her grandmother snapped “I will not apologize for wanting what is best for my grandsons. You know they would be better off with us. I don’t know why you are being this way.” Michael her oldest uncle broke in saying “Everyone here knows that actually isn’t the best decision mother. I will tell you what my father won’t because he loves you. While I adore you as my mother and love you completely, you are one of the most self-absorbed people I’ve ever met. Stacia got that trait from you; you don’t want the boys because you want to raise them. You want a second chance to get it right. But chances are you’d teach the same traits to them that Stacia had. I will not allow you to alienate my only niece and nephews because of your bigotry.” Marigold was staring at her son in disbelief, his father looked resolved, and Gabriel was nodding. Marigold sputtered loudly and said, “How dare you talk to me that way, I am your mother!” she paused then said, “Come Harrison, I won’t be maligned anymore, we are leaving.” It was the first time she remembered her grandfather not doing what her grandmother said, as he shook his head and said “I want to be included in their lives Mari, I want to be a part of their growth and successes. If that means not catering to your every whim then so be it because I will not lose my family.” He watched sadly as she stormed from the restaurant.
The servers arrived about this time, she noticed her grandmother Belle was at least speaking to her Grandpa Jamison again though she didn’t think she was ready to forgive and forget so quickly.