Free Mountain Heiress: Mountain Midwife by Cassie Miles

Rousseau. She arranged for a monthly stipend to be paid from her estate for the care of the property. I can’t give you an accurate statement of the amount because we haven’t determined the final figures.”
    “How about a ballpark number?” Gabby asked.
    “It would be sufficient to pay monthly bills and provide for basic living expenses.”
    So far, so good. Even if she didn’t stay at the Roost, a caretaker would need that stipend. “What else?”
    “In order for you to inherit the estate, Michelle stipulated that you and/or your brother, if we can ever locate him, must agree to live at the Roost for the period of three years. You cannot be absent for more than two months per year.”
    She’d never heard of anything like this. “Can she do that? Tell me where to live? When I can come and go?”
    “The will is very specific. Of course, you can fight it. These terms are odd, somewhat Draconian. But a legal dispute would take years to work through the court system.”
    Confused, she looked toward Zach for some kind of reassurance. He shook his head. No help from that direction. “What if I refuse?”
    “If you choose not to live there, you forfeit your claim on the estate. It will be sold, and the proceeds will go to Sarah Bentley’s Forest Preservation Society.”
    “Who?”
    “Ms. Bentley runs a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and managing the local flora and fauna.”
    And why should she receive the bulk of the estate? What was going on here? “I don’t understand.”
    Fox rose from his chair and joined her on the leather sofa. When he took her hand and held it between both of his, she felt trapped and threatened at the same time. Maybe she should walk away before it was too late. Rule number three when confronting a mugger: run like hell.
    “It’s all right,” Fox assured her. Like his nephew, his teeth were exceptionally white; she imagined those fangs sinking into her neck and sucking her blood. “I’ll do all that I can to help you.”
    “Can you rewrite the will?”
    “I’m afraid not. I promise that you won’t walk away empty-handed. However, in order to participate financially in the bulk of your great-aunt’s legacy, you must live at the Roost.”
    She didn’t like it. But she didn’t have much choice.

Chapter Seven
    On the street outside the attorney’s office, Zach sucked down a breath of fresh air. He’d been stifling while he watched Fox use his wiles to manipulate Gabby into a corner. The lawyer was like a rattlesnake that had cornered a baby rabbit and was playing with his prey. “I don’t trust that guy. He’s up to something.”
    “Like dictating the terms of my life,” Gabby said. Her arms were filled with the fat legal file and the portfolio with the inventory of artwork. “Is it possible that Fox invented those crazy terms? It doesn’t seem like something Michelle would do.”
    He wasn’t so sure. “She was really interested in the Rousseau family heritage. I know she did research online to trace your ancestors. Did you know there was a famous artist named Rousseau?”
    “Henri Rousseau,” she said, shifting her burden from one arm to the other. “He was a Postimpressionist. And there was also a famous philosopher. Those are the names that pop up when you do a search for Rousseau, but our family isn’t related to either of them. I guess that Rousseau is a fairly common name in France, like Russell.”
    Taking the hefty file and portfolio from her, he directed her to the right. “Let’s get something to eat.”
    “Kevin offered me a strong drink as soon as I came into the office. I wish I’d taken it.”
    Getting drunk wasn’t a solution, as he well knew. But he understood her desire to escape from the complications that had been literally laid at the doorstep of the Roost. “I don’t blame you for being overwhelmed.”
    “Here’s the crazy part. I was seriously considering moving here. Michelle’s old studio at the Roost would make a