Tracie Peterson: Dawns Prelude

Marston looked at her oddly for a moment. He seemed uncertain-almost confused by her declaration. Good, Lydia thought. The prey has fought back. If I can only manage to keep them imbalanced with my reactions, then I will have the advantage.

"We hardly need Mr. Robinson to handle affairs for you," Mitchell finally stated. He motioned Marston to join him on the couch. "Mr. Sterling is far better equipped to deal with this situation. He has represented our father and the Grays' business dealings for the last twenty-some years."

"Perhaps for that very reason I prefer to have my own legal representation. To approach Mr. Sterling," she stated quite logically, "would seem a conflict to his position with you and your desires."

"Not at all," Mitchell interjected quickly. "Mr. Sterling can easily represent all of us. He can clear up the mistakes and see our father's true intentions fulfilled."

"1 cannot say what your father intended, except through the instructions he left behind." Lydia tilted her head as if considering the situation quite intently "Your father was a brilliant man-a solid businessman, well known for his ability to manage his affairs. How could any of us suppose that this matter went unattended by him? Should I honestly believe that your father my husband-had no understanding or knowledge of the law?"

You play a dangerous game, Lydia," Marston replied, narrowing his eyes.

"I play no game at all," she responded. "I was there, you will remember, the day the contract was signed between my father and yours. My wedding day was no more of my choosing than the terms of the will were of yours."

Marston tensed. "It was clearly a mistake and you know it."

Lydia shook her head. "That is hardly a part of my understanding. That is why I have chosen to rely upon Mr. Robinson for assistance in this situation. I am a mere woman of twenty-eight, uneducated and ignorant, as you have so often pointed out. I was forced into marriage with your father as a means to benefit his financial standings. Now that he is dead, I am no longer obligated to such an arrangement."

Marston appeared ready to leap from the couch. "And neither should our father he obligated to that arrangement."

"Your father isn't obligated to that arrangement," she countered. "However, my lawyer assures me that the terms of the wills must he abided by, and I intend to take his counsel. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a great deal to attend to." She got to her feet, not at all surprised that Marston and Mitchell jumped up to stop her.

This dispute is not resolved," Mitchell protested.

She looked at him for a moment and nodded. "I am sure you arc correct, but at this juncture, I can do nothing more. Mr. Robinson is the one to whom you should speak. He clearly has studied the wills and has approached the finest legal minds in the area for their counsel. I believe it would benefit you both to sit and discuss his findings at length with him."

With that, she left both men gap-mouthed. She'd never seen any Gray man at a loss for words, but it was clear Mitchell and Marston were confused by her reaction. The prey had managed to escape to live another day.

"I don't understand why this should be so difficult," Marston began. Nash Sterling seemed to wilt a bit in his chair. "We've bought off people before."

"That was before the politics of the town shifted. You know how hard it has been these last few years. Your father was always ranting…" He paused, as if realizing he was about to say something completely inappropriate. "Well, you know how it angered him. Anyway, all of that to say, there is little I can do. No one is willing to risk the wrath of those in charge."

"Cowards," Mitchell declared.

"Be that as it may," Sterling said, "it is what we are up against. We can tic things up for a while-have the legal documents reviewed and assessed for any inconsistencies. But in the end, I believe the result will be the same."

"All right. So if it can't he done legally," Marston began, "perhaps we can do it illegally"

"Bribing a judge and paying off people at the courthouse is illegal," Sterling countered. "What else do you have in mind?"

"I believe what my brother is implying," Mitchell said carefully, "is that people often change their minds when a threat or ultimatum is delivered. We have incriminating evidence and information on nearly every judge and lawyer in this town. We have sworn statements on dozens of powerful men, along with witnesses who will swear to whatever we ask of them."

"And you believe, after the well-known business affairs of your father and the very public announcement of his death and funeral, people are simply going to let this come to pass?" He shook his head. "Robinson is no fool. He has already enlisted the help of a great many people. He has taken the will quite seriously. He knew the details before I did."

"Then you are a fool," Marston replied in anger. "I blame you for not helping my father to see a way out of this mess."

Sterling frowned and tightened his expression. "If I were you, I would find a way to work with your stepmother rather than antagonizing her. Surely she has little desire to be the decision maker at a casket production company. She is quite young and may even remarry, and then she will be less concerned about her well-being.-

"But that is exactly why we need to resolve this immediately," Mitchell declared. "She might very well marry, and then the Gray fortune will pass to her husband's control. We will never see a dollar returned to us. Once word gets out that she has a vast fortune at her fingertips, men will flock to court and woo her."

"As I said, perhaps the trick is to win her over. Show your concern. Explain to her that the weight of such a responsibility will only cause her misery. Maybe start by simply offering to oversee things for her. Tell her you'll report to her and let her know what's happening."

"I suppose it's worth a try," Mitchell said, looking to Marston for his opinion.

Marston knew it wouldn't work. Lydia had already started to show a hit of backbone. She was slowly but surely learning to stand on her own two feet. It hadn't been long since their father had died, but Lydia seemed to be transforming before their very eyes.

"We can only try," Mitchell encouraged. "Perhaps we can have Evie help us. Lydia has always liked Evie."

Marston nodded, not yet willing to share his thoughts on the matter. "It's possible. We shall give it consideration and see if a plan can be developed." Marston didn't miss the look of relief in Nash Sterling's dark blue eyes. Imbecile! If he'd done his job properly, they wouldn't be in this mess.

Leaving the office, Marston was in no mood for his brother's fretful conversation. "I have been careful with my own investments, but this may not bode well for my family We might he forced to reconsider our standard of living," Mitchell confessed.

"Bah, please be quiet," Marston said as he climbed into the carriage. "Nothing is going to change. We simply have to find a way to fight hack to win." He eased his hat down over his eyes as if he intended to sleep on the ride home. " Lydia is not going to tell us what to do. She has no idea of our strength and resolve."

"Do you suppose she'll really want to remarry-after all she's been through?"

Marston pushed his hat hack. "Why do you say that?"

Mitchell looked almost embarrassed. "Well, we both know our father was not the easiest man to live with. Maybe Lydia doesn't like being married."

"Women don't know what they like or dislike. They really have no mind for such things. They understand entertaining and raising children but are otherwise useless unless properly trained. Father was simply attempting to make her acceptable to society"