and Nick exchanged a look, but Russ sat back down and continued eating his chocolate cake. When she took her first bite, she understood his enthusiasm.
“Do you mind if I record our meeting?” Nick asked, putting a small tape recorder on the coffee table.
“No. That will be fine.”
Nick picked up the tape recorder, announcing into it the date and time and the participants. Then he looked at Isabella. “Are you Isabella Paloni, great-niece of Maria Paloni, deceased resident of Rawhide?”
“Yes, I am. I got married about eleven months ago, but after my husband’s death, I took back my maiden name.”
“Were you aware that you are the beneficiary to Mrs. Paloni’s estate?”
“She wrote me that she was leaving me everything.”
“Is that why you came here?”
“No! I came because I didn’t even know she existed. When I received her letter, I called her. She invited me to come.”
Isabella’s eyes filled with tears.
“Have a drink of milk,” Russ said softly, leaning toward her. When she did so, he said, “Good girl. Now eat some more cake.”
Nick turned off the tape recorder. “Want to wait a few minutes?”
“Please.”
“How old is your baby?” Nick asked. To her surprise, he looked interested.
“She’s six weeks.”
“Her father passed away before she was born?”
“Yes,” she said, glancing at Russ.
“My wife is expecting in seven and a half months. We just found out at Thanksgiving.”
Russ looked surprised. “I didn’t know. Congratulations, Nick.”
“Thanks. I don’t exactly know what to expect. I’ve never been around babies.”
“You’ll learn quickly,” Isabella said, relaxing a little.
“Well, my twin and his wife, my wife’s sister, just had twin babies about a month ago, so I’m learning a little.”
“Twins?” she asked in horror. “I don’t know how anyone manages. I got punch-drunk waking up every four hours with Angel.”
“That’s her name?” Nick asked.
“Actually, her name is Angela, but I call her Angel most of the time.”
“Ready to start again?” Nick asked. “Maybe after we finish I can see Angel. I’d like to bring my wife over to see her, too.”
“I think Mom and Anna brought enough food for dinner tonight,” Russ said. “Why don’t the two of you join us?”
“That would be great,” Nick replied. “Sarah is tired of my company after the blizzard. Is that okay with you, Isabella?”
“Yes, of course.” She didn’t feel she had a choice. It wasn’t her house.
Nick turned the tape recorder on again. “Now, Miss Paloni, are you aware of the extent of your great-aunt’s estate?”
“No. It doesn’t matter.”
Nick looked surprised. “But—”
“She offered me something more important to me than money. She offered me a home, family. But it was too late.” Again her eyes filled with tears. Her teeth settled in her bottom lip, trying to prevent a major meltdown.
Russ leaned forward. “You don’t have any family?”
She kept her head bent, not wanting to face him. “I do, but I don’t want anything to do with them.”
“Why?” Russ demanded.
“I really don’t see the need to talk about this. I was going to live with my great-aunt, me and Angel, but now we can’t.”
Nick intervened in what had become a very personal conversation. “But you can live in her house, because it’s yours now.”
She hadn’t thought of that. But even if she lived there, she wouldn’t have what she wanted for Angel. “I was hoping to have a family for Angel.”
Nick said calmly, “You might marry and provide Angel with brothers and sisters.”
“No!” She didn’t bother to explain, but her answer was firm. Very firm.
Both men stared at her. She clarified. “I never intend to marry again. I won’t give some man control over me or my daughter.”
After a moment of silence, Nick said, “I gather your marriage was not a happy one. Um, how did your husband die?”
She looked him in the eye. “I didn’t kill him. I consider my father to be the killer, though my husband died in a car accident.” Dark thoughts filled her as she added, “But it was my father’s fault.”
“Finish your cake and milk, honey. You’re going to wear yourself out with all this emotion.” Russ watched her to make sure she did what he’d said.
“Fine. You’re always urging me to eat.” She took a bite of cake. “It’s very good cake.”
“Red is famous for it.”
“You didn’t say who Red is,” she reminded him.
“He’s my grandmother.”
Nick protested even more than Isabella. “You’re just confusing her. That’s not fair.”
“No, it’s not,” Isabella said, relaxing against the sofa.
“Why not? It got you to smile, didn’t it?” Russ asked.
“Yes, it did, but now give me the real answer.”
“Okay. When my dad and his brothers were little, their mom died giving birth to my youngest uncle, Chad. Red was a crippled cowboy who did odd jobs for our grandfather. He asked him to move into the house and help him raise the boys. My grandfather died, but Red stayed on and took care of the house. Then Uncle Jake, the oldest brother, realized that if his brothers didn’t marry, they’d have no kids to leave the ranch to.”
Isabella frowned. “Wait a minute. Why did you say if the others didn’t marry? What was wrong with Jake?”
“He was divorced and thought marriage wasn’t for him,” Russ said with a grin. “But once he managed to marry the other three off, his new sisters-in-law decided he deserved the same treatment.”
“Smart ladies,” Isabella said.
“You met two
