a boy’s orphanage. His probation officer keeps a close eye on him, but Renée believes it’s only a matter of time before he runs away and joins a gang.”
Sam couldn’t imagine the day-to-day emotional upheaval her sister-in-law experienced as a social worker. “Renée’s a special woman.”
“I’m lucky to have Renée even though I share her with hundreds of kids,” he said.
“What about your condo? When do you two plan to move in?” Her brother had purchased an old warehouse along Detroit’s riverfront. Company offices and a condo were to occupy the top two floors while the rest housed a recreational center and shelter for homeless children.
“Renée and I decided against the condo.”
“Really?”
“We want our kids to grow up in a neighborhood with other families. And Renée worried about moving away from her mother. For now we’re keeping Renée’s house and making plans to expand.”
“You said kids as in plural.”
Duke grinned. “Don’t tell anyone but Renée’s pregnant.”
“Oh, Duke, that’s wonderful!” Sam fought a pang of envy as she hugged her brother. “When is she due?”
“Middle of January.”
“Is Timmy excited?”
“He doesn’t know yet and we don’t want to make the news public until after Timmy’s surgery at the end of August.”
The boy had been born with a clubfoot but because he’d been shuffled from one foster home to another through the years he’d never had the deformity corrected.
“Would you call me when Timmy checks into the hospital? I’d like to send him a gift to cheer him up.”
“Sure thing.” Duke cleared his throat. “Matt hasn’t known Amy or her daughters long. Has he said much about their relationship?”
Sam laughed. “You’re one to talk. You met Renée in December and married her in February.” Her teasing remark earned her a pinch on the arm. “Hey!”
“How does Matt feel about inheriting an instant family?”
“How did you feel about marrying a woman who’ll always be involved with other people’s children?” Sam countered.
“Touché.” Duke chuckled. “That Rose sure is opinionated and Lily, with her blond curls, is nothing but a handful of cute.”
Sam’s turn to share her personal news. “I bought the old Peterson homestead on Route 38 two weeks ago.”
“I’m listening,” Duke said, offering his undivided attention.
That’s what she loved about her stepbrother—he never rushed to judgment like Matt did. Duke heard a person out before offering an opinion. “I need to be part of a worthwhile cause. I hate working in Daddy’s office. There are days I can’t breathe let alone concentrate.”
“I’m sorry, Sam.”
“For what?”
“I should have taken your complaints more seriously when you came to Detroit before Christmas. I could have spoken with Dominick.”
“I wasn’t ready to do anything then. But I am now,” she insisted, hoping to reassure herself as well as her brother.
“What exactly are you doing?” he asked.
“The same thing you and Renée have done for homeless kids, except I’m opening a sanctuary for neglected and abandoned horses.”
“An admirable cause but are you ready to work with horses again?”
“Yes.” She didn’t have a choice—not if she intended to move on with her life. She needed to put her fears to rest if she wanted to experience again the special relationship with a horse that she’d always treasured. “I’ve been visiting the SPCA equine center for several months.”
“Does Dominick know you’re hanging around horses?”
“No,” she admitted, then rushed on. “Daddy would have made a big fuss if I’d told him. I’m taking things slow and working with horses that are mild-tempered.” For now. She eventually wanted to help all horses—even the unpredictable ones.
“Does Matt approve?”
“He’s having fits because the property’s in poor condition and with the wedding preparations he doesn’t have time to help out.”
“I could—”
“Thanks but I don’t need help from a man who can’t pound a nail without hitting his thumb.”
Duke mussed her hair, then smiled. “You’ve got a big heart.”
“So do you, Duke. Or else you wouldn’t be sharing your warehouse with homeless kids.”
“If you need help making financial decisions—”
“Thanks, but Wade Dawson volunteered to handle my money.”
“Dawson is your financial adviser?”
She nodded. “His uncle owns Dawson Investments.”
“Do you trust him?”
She had no choice—not if she wanted to prevent her father from discovering her plans. “He’s competent.” Good-looking. “And he’s insisting I withdraw money on an as-needed basis to keep the balance of my savings earning interest.”
“Smart man.”
Trusting men outside her family wasn’t easy for Sam. But Wade made her want to believe he wouldn’t take advantage of her—even if he discovered her shortcomings.
Sam would never allow another man—even a nerdy one—to make her feel that vulnerable ever again.
Chapter Three
“That’s insane!” Wade shouted into the phone. The drilling company he’d contacted after Samantha Cartwright had left his office yesterday phoned back with a quote for the Peterson homestead—a hundred dollars per square foot drilled and an estimated drill depth to hit water of 1,100 feet. A $110,000 may not be a big deal to a Cartwright but it was a damned big deal to Wade, whose retirement fund would take a hit until he recovered Samantha’s money.
“What do you mean you’ll have to use diamond bits?” The company manager droned on about the pricey bits needed to break through bedrock. Then he spewed data from well logs of properties in the area to justify his cost.
The one thing preventing Wade from suffering cardiac arrest was the news that the first available drill date for the property was early September. Wade suspected if he mentioned the Cartwright name the owner would rearrange the company’s schedule and break ground tomorrow. Wade
