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Inside what had been his father’s pride and joy office sat the people he loved most in the world. The twins practically jumped out of their chairs and bum-rushed him first. At six-feet-two inches, they were tanks. Their bear hugs nearly knocked him on his backside. Archer and Owen would make a mean line on the football field. Conrad was followed by Hudson. All his brothers had gotten the height gene, a fact that still rankled Chloe. They were all built, too, whereas she was tiny. Some folks made the mistake of assuming that made her the weak one of the family. Kade almost laughed out loud at that thought.
Chloe could handle herself. Her judgment in men, however, left a lot to be desired. Her daddy issues had caused her to swing the complete opposite way to a floater who couldn’t be tied down. Or so the bastard had said. Apparently, he couldn’t be bothered to pay child support either. How anyone could turn a blind eye to their own child left Kade scratching his head. Separating from an abusive parent, he understood. But an innocent child?
Another wave of guilt slammed into him for what he’d done to Zeke’s kid. Zeke would have been an amazing father, unlike Kade.
After a round of hellos and how’re you doings, Harrison Guidry checked his cell. The lawyer had been a lifelong friend of Beaumont’s. His pot belly said he sat on his backside most days. Guidry wore a black Stetson and jeans. His stomach hung over the gold belt buckle holding up his pants. Other than jeans, the lawyer wore a button-down shirt and a pair of worn boots. When Guidry wasn’t sitting at a desk, he was on a horse.
Taking their seats in the foldup chairs that had been brought in for the occasion, everyone fixed their gazes on the lawyer.
“Anytime you’re ready,” Kade said when Guidry cleared his throat and checked his watch.
“Not everyone is here yet,” Guidry said, refusing to meet anyone’s gaze. Was that a bad sign? Was there a woman in the background no one knew about except the lawyer? Someone who would lay claim to Beaumont’s estate?
Kade took the lack of eye contact as an omen. Before he could ask Guidry who or what they were waiting for, someone entered the office behind them.
After turning around, Kade’s jaw practically smacked the floor. A person he’d never laid eyes on before stood at the doorway. He was the spitting image of Beaumont Sturgess.
“Welcome,” Guidry said before Kade could pick his jaw up from the tile and form a sentence. “Take a seat.” He motioned toward the empty chair near the door. Kade hadn’t noticed it before, but then he hadn’t counted chairs when he’d walked in.
A low murmur filled the room. Disbelief. Shock. Anger.
“Who the hell is this?” Kade asked the lawyer.
“I’m standing right here,” the stranger said with a smirk Kade would like to wipe off the man’s face. “You can speak directly to me.”
Kade turned in the stranger’s direction. “Fine. Who the hell are you?”
“Beaumont Sturgess, the Second,” the stranger said, folding his arms across his chest as he leaned against the doorjamb. “But everyone calls me Beau.”
“If you’ll be seated, we can begin the reading,” Guidry said.
“Not until we get an explanation,” Hudson countered.
“We share the same father,” Beau said smugly.
From the looks of it, Beau was close in age to Kade. Did he want to know the man’s age? Being the oldest had meant being in charge in Beaumont’s eyes. Suddenly, it mattered to Kade since the eldest would have more influence on voting to get rid of the ranch. Of course, Beau might want the same thingifhe had a rightful claim on the place.
Damn. Was Kade questioning whether or not Beau was related? The guy was Beaumont’s clone.
“How old are you?” Kade asked.
“We’ll get to all the details,” Guidry said.
Kade shifted his attention to the lawyer. “Did you know about him?”
Guidry nodded.
“Of course you did.” Kade shouldn’t be surprised Beaumont’s best friend would know all the sordid details of the man’s life, including his mistresses and illegitimate children. “Are you expecting anyone else to show?”
Guidry frowned as he shook his head. The lawyer had always put Beaumont up on a pedestal for reasons Kade would never understand. Beaumont’s infidelity had been common knowledge. The abuse he’d dished out to his children had to be known as well. Beaumont had measured a person by the size of their wallet and ability to compete in the business arena. He’d thrown away anyone and anything that was broken, in his opinion, including racehorses with no potential. Growing up, the man had proven his point that he only rewarded winners by lining up his kids on report card day at meal times. The one with the highest grades ate first while the others watched. Then, the second highest was served. Scraps were left for the last one to be served. At least, that had been his intention. Once Kade had figured out what was going on, he’d refused to eat until everyone had filled their plate first.
His punishment for rebelling had meant going to bed without supper every report card day. The hunger pangs had been worth the frown his rebellion had put on Beaumont’s face. At least until his brothers and sister figured out how to sneak food to him. His siblings had refused to allow Kade to go to sleep hungry. Each would slip a piece of fruit or a dinner roll in their pocket before being excused. Considering he had five siblings, he hadn’t gone hungry for more than a couple of hours until they’d safely sneaked into his room.
“Your father requested Beau’s presence today.” Guidry scanned their faces. His voice jolted Kade out of his reverie.
“None of us should be shocked,” Archer said with disgust.
Beau laughed. The haughty sound was like fingernails on a chalkboard.
